Bandits kill 23 in fresh attacks on Kaduna communities

 Twenty-three persons have been killed in fresh attacks by bandits on five local government areas (LGAs) across Kaduna state.

Samuel Aruwan, the state commissioner for security and internal affairs, confirmed the killings in a statement on Tuesday.

According to Aruwan, the government received reports from security agencies that bandits attacked communities in Kaduna, including border areas, leading to the death of 23 people.

“Following the security situation across the state within the last 24 hours, the Kaduna state government has received reports from security agencies of the killing of 23 citizens in different attacks on soft targets in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Chikun, Igabi and Kauru local government areas,” he said.

“The attacks on soft targets in these local government areas occurred around Kaduna state’s boundaries with neighbouring states.

“In Birnin Gwari LGA, 10 citizens were killed by bandits in an attack on Ungwan Gajere, Kutemeshi ward. They are: Abdu Hasan, Sufyanu Musa, Faisal Zubairu, Abdullahi Hasan, Ali Abdu, Rabiu Aliyu, Zubairu Yau, Bukar Yusuf, Mamman Ibrahim and Dankande Musa.”

He listed those who sustained injuries as Baushi Alu, Rabe Sani, and Usama Sani.

“In Igabi local government area, bandits shot dead one Dayyabu Yahuza between Sarkin Baka and Dankyawai village, near Gidan Kurmi,” the commissioner said.

“In Giwa local government area, armed bandits invaded Janbaba village. One Yakubu Sule was shot dead.

“In Kishisho village, Kauru local government area, gunmen suspected to be from a neighbouring state killed five persons listed as: Danlami Sunday, Abbas Abou, Sati Yakubu, Shaba John, and John Francis.

“In Chikun local government area, five citizens were killed by bandits in Gwagwada-Kasaya village in Kunai ward. They are Habila Ibrahim, Samaila Audu, John Musa, Birnin Aboki, Ali Aboki.

“Similarly, in Agwa, Chikun LGA, one Bitrus Joseph was shot dead in an attack by bandits. Also, in Chikun local government area, one bandit was killed near Bugai, when members of the community repelled an attack.”

According to the statement, Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, expressed sadness over the attacks and sent his condolences to the families of the victims.

The governor also prayed for speedy recovery for those who were injured in the attacks.

The commissioner added that the officers of the Nigerian air force were engaging the bandits in some parts of the state, and noted that residents would receive feedback on their progress.

- THECABLE

FG to Nigerians: Be ready to bear pains of higher petrol prices

 

The federal government has forewarned Nigerians to get ready to bear the pains of increased petrol pump price as crude oil prices climbs above $60 per barrel.

Timipre Sylva, minister of state for petroleum resources, said this on Tuesday, at an official launch of the Nigerian upstream cost optimisation program.

On Monday, TheCable reported that analysts and market watchers are anticipating an increase in the retail price of petrol in fuel stations across Nigeria as the process of crude oil on the global market crossed $60 per barrel.

Sylva said with no provision of subsidy in the 2021 budget, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) cannot continue to bear the cost of under-recovery.

He said while the federal government revenue has improved by the rise in crude oil price, it cannot be fretted away in subsidy payment.

“Since we are optimizing everything, NNPC needs to also think about the optimization of product cost because as we all know oil prices are where they are today at $60,” Sylva said.

“As desirable as this is, this has serious consequences as well on product prices. So we want to take the pleasure and we should as a country be ready to take the pain.

“Today the NNPC is taking a big hit from this. We all know that there is no provision in the budget for subsidy.

“So, somewhere down the line, I believe that the NNPC cannot continue to take this blow. There is no way because there is no provision for it.

“As a country, let us take the benefits of the higher crude oil prices and I hope we will also be ready to take a little pain on the side of higher product prices.”

Currently, petrol is being sold at a range of N160-N165 per litre in many filling stations across Nigeria, however, this price was set when crude oil traded just above $43 per barrel four months ago.

- THECABLE

Barcelona told they made ‘big error’ selling Luis Suarez

 

Celta Vigo striker, Iago Aspas, has insisted that Barcelona made a ‘big error’ by selling Luis Suarez to Atletico Madrid.

Aspas said this after Suarez netted a record-breaking brace during Atletico Madrid’s 2-2 draw with Celta Vigo on Monday night at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Suarez’s brace against Celta means the Uruguay striker is now the first player to score 16 goals in his first 17 games for a Spanish top-flight team in the 21st century, beating Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 15 goals.

The 34-year-old left Barcelona for Atletico Madrid last summer transfer window after the Catalan club terminated his contract.

“The truth is he [Luis Suarez] is a true forward, a winner even in rondos and training matches. He always gave 200 per cent,” Aspas told Marca.

“What you see on the pitch is what he’s like training.

“He has always been a striker who scores a lot of goals, I think it was a big error on Barcelona’s part, but they were struggling a bit with the wage budget.

“Atletico took advantage, moved quickly and signed a great striker. In fact, many of the points they’ve won are thanks to him and his finishing.”

- DAILY POST

NDLEA boss to clampdown on drug barons

The Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd.) has sworn to deal decisively with drug barons across the country.

Marwa made this promise while receiving the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) National Financial Intelligence Unit, (NFIU) Mallam Modibbo Hamman-Tukur, at the NDLEA headquarters on Tuesday in Abuja.

In a statement by the Head of Public Affairs (NDLEA), Deputy Commander of Narcotics (DCN), Mr Jonah Achema, Marwa said all hands must be on deck to fight the menace of drug abuse.

“It is the lives of our children and the children of the future generation that are at stake and we must do all that is necessary to protect them.

“We at NDLEA have vowed to bring the drug criminals down. We are putting a lot of efforts into our primary mandate of cutting down drugs. We will pursue this with single-minded purposefulness,” he said.

Marwa assured Hamman-Tukur of NDLEA’s cooperation, noting that there would be no competition but cooperation between the two organisations.

“We will ensure that we work together. We have made significant seizures in recent times. We have seized several tons of cannabis in Edo in addition to other cocaine seizures.

“We have also recorded a major seizure of cocaine worth millions of dollars in Tin Can Island Ports in Lagos recently. At the centre of all the seizures is intelligence. Intelligence is very vital,” Marwa stated.

Responding, Hamman-Tukur congratulated Marwa on his well-deserved appointment as the new NDLEA chairman, noting that all had seen the sign of success since his assumption of office.

He said there were clear signs that the drug war would be fought to its logical conclusion under his leadership.

He assured the NDLEA chairman of the full cooperation of NFIU and called on the agency to take advantage of the product of NFIU.

“Our work is to do data analysis 24 hourly on national security and deploy the data to all relevant agencies.

“Our application picks all the personal and bank details of every target, which are veritable operational intelligence in relation to drug trafficking, terrorism financing and arms trafficking.

“We have all you need, but what we need is synergy,” he added

- PM NEWS

IMF advises Nigeria to raise VAT to 10% by 2022

 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised the federal government to raise value-added tax to at least 10 percent by 2022.

In a country focus article published on Monday, the IMF executive board and its economists said the VAT rate should be increased to 15 percent by 2025; which it says is the average rate in countries belonging to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Nigeria raised its VAT rate from five percent to 7.5 percent in 2020.

“Nigeria has one of the lowest revenue levels as a share of GDP worldwide. A large share of revenues is spent on the country’s public debt service payments, leaving insufficient fiscal space for critical social and infrastructure spending and to cushion an economic downturn.

“In this context, mobilizing revenues through efficiency-enhancing and progressive measures is a top near-term priority. Revisiting tax exemptions and customs duty waivers, increasing and broadening the base for excise taxes, developing a high-integrity taxpayer register, enhancing digital infrastructure, and improving on-time filing and payment are important measures.

“Once economic recovery takes root, Nigeria will need to increase the value-added tax rate to at least 10 percent by 2022 and 15 percent by 2025 —the average in countries belonging to the Economic Community of West African States— to create effective fiscal space.”

The Bretton Wood institution said its staff estimates that the naira is overvalued at the official market by 18.5 percent.

“Staff’s latest estimates suggest an overvaluation of the real effective exchange rate (applied on the current level of the official exchange rate) of 18½ percent, with the external position assessed as substantially weaker than what is consistent with fundamentals and desirable policy settings,” the report read.

“The current system creates uncertainties for the private sector because of multiple exchange rates and non-transparent rules for foreign exchange allocation. Unifying the various rates into one market-clearing rate would establish policy credibility.

“Sustained premiums in the parallel market and unmet foreign exchange demand indicate the need for further adjustment in the exchange rate to reduce the gap between supply and demand.”

It also estimated that real gross domestic product (GDP) growth will turn positive at 1.5 percent in 2021 and return to pre-COVID levels in 2022.

- THECABLE

Ondo: Amotekun arrests 200 cows, two herdsmen for invading farm settlement, attacking operatives

 

About 200 herds of cattle and two herdsmen were on Tuesday arrested by personnel of the Ondo State Security Network Agency also known as Amotekun Corps.

The herders and their cows were arrested for eating and destroying crops on a farm in Irese axis of Ifedore Local Government area of the state.

According to the corps, while trying to apprehend the herdsmen, some of its operatives were attacked while resisting arrest.

Confirming the incident, the Corps Commander in the state, Adetunji Adeleye, said the herders and the cattle were already in the custody of the corps at its headquarters in the state.

Adeleye added that his men were able to overpower the herders during the confrontation.

The Amotekun boss also disclosed that the herders will be handed to the relevant security agency for prosecution.

- DAILY POST

No room for cattle herders bearing AK-47 rifles in Edo – Obaseki

 Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has warned that there would be no room for cattle herders to bear assault rifles and other dangerous weapons in the state.

The governor made the remark on Tuesday at the Palace of the Iyase of Udo, His Royal Highness, Patrick Igbinidu, when he led heads of security agencies in the state on a fact-finding visit to Udo, Ovia South-west Local Government Area of the state.

Obaseki, who stated that his administration will not politicise security issues in the state, noted that efforts are being taken to isolate and deal with the issues as they emerge, so as to provide lasting security to communities across the state.

“We are on a fact-finding tour around some parts of the state today to access the security situation particularly as it relates to farmers and herders’ conflicts in the state.

“As a government, we do not believe that we should politicise security. It is important that we get the facts right and understand what exactly is going on. We had reports about the crisis or impending crisis around this axis.

“We have also had all sorts of anxieties. Well, I will call them speculations on social media about herdsmen being pushed off from neighboring states into this area and the escalating crisis or impending crisis,” Obaseki said.

According to him, “We have had situations that have resulted in conflicts between herders and farmers. Our position is that we have to manage this crisis carefully. Like I said, we should not politicise the issues of herdsmen in our society.

“We do not accept the situation whereby anybody will be herding cattle with AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons. We also understand that there are bandits and criminals who pretend to be herders but undertake criminal activities such as kidnapping in the name and guise of being herdsmen.

“I have always argued that we should separate these people and deal with each one accordingly. Today, we are here to undertake assessments ourselves and to assure the people of Ovia South West of adequate security being provided by the government to protect the people.”

The governor disclosed that his government is doing everything possible to provide adequate security to protect the lives and property of the people, adding that the security structure of the state has been rigid and revamped.

“We will not also accept the situation where people want to use the current security challenges to destabilise our country. We have no other country. Every country has its own challenges but they look for ways to resolve these challenges.

“We have major security challenges in the country as well as the whole of the Sahara region. I think leadership in this country should be responsible and ensure that we focus on the specific crisis, some of which is not anybody’s doing.”

“Some of the crisis we have in the sub-continent today has to do with environmental changes. We should all come together and look for ways to confront these emerging security problems and not to begin to take it out of context because of cheap political gains to create crisis in the country,” he added.

Earlier, the Iyase of Udo, HRH Patrick Igbinidu, said that the security challenges in his community have been on for a very long time.

According to the Monarch, “Farmers always complain about the activities of the herdsmen. When I received such reports, I had to call both parties to resolve the issues immediately. We have been on it for a very long time.”

At a town hall meeting, Obaseki assured the people that his administration would protect residents in the state as he is governor for all.

He urged “the Fulani community to collaborate with the government and security agencies to fish out criminals''

He added that his administration will create an area where the cattle will go regularly to eat, as they must not go to people’s farms, noting that this will stop cattle from moving round the community including in farmlands.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Philip Agbadu, assured of the readiness of his men in ensuring peace in the troubled areas in the state.

“I urge Fulani leaders to ensure that children are not allowed to follow the cattle for grazing as they may not be able to control them,” Agbadu said.

Earlier in his remarks, the leader of Fulani community in the area, Alhaji Muhammad Buhari, expressed appreciation to the governor for the fact-finding mission to the area.

Buhari noted that the Fulani community in the area are peace-loving people and has lived in the community for years and his people will always support peaceful atmosphere.

- PM NEWS

Lekki tollgate: Bloody clash looms as youths plan counter-protest

 

A bloody clash looms on Saturday, February 13, as another team of youths announced plans to organise a counter-protest at the Lekki tollgate.

The counter-protest was announced yesterday, shortly after some youths who rejected the reopening of the Lekki toll gate, launched a campaign called #OccupyLekkiTollGate.

The poster of counter-rally shared on social media showed that it is holding at the same venue and time as the one planned by the #OccupyLekkiTollGate protesters.

The counter-rally is trending on Twitter as #DefendLagos and #DemNoBornYourPapaWell.

The #OccupyLekkiTollGate protesters are claiming that justice must be served to youths allegedly killed by soldiers during the #EndSars protest.

But #DefendLagos team insisted that Lagos State witnessed the destruction of public and private properties during the #EndSARS protest, therefore further protest that will lead to destruction will not be tolerated.

“Let us protect what the destroyers left behind while we rebuild Lagos. Join the ‘defend Lagos’ rally at the Lekki toll plaza,” a message on the poster read with pictures of destructed buildings and other facilities during the violence that followed the #EndSARS protest in the state.

One of the promoters of the #DefendLagos protest, Olusoga Owoeye @olusogaowoeye said, “Show your love for our Lagos. Get your friends and your neighbors to be there. Join the DefendLagos Rally at the Lekki toll plaza on the 13th of February. We will not cede our city to criminals and insurrectionists. Lagos is our pride.''

Another promoter, @salamhunters, said, “We will defend and protect our Lagos from looters and arsonists.”

“We say no to all retard and opportunists planning evil towards Lagos,” @Adetade6 added.

@Kazeem_AS lamented that he is yet to recover from the damages caused by the last protest.

“I must be there to defend Lagos. I was born in Lagos. Even though I am from Ondo State, I lived all my life in Lagos. I will never allow any miscreants to destroy Lagos again, never will it happen,” Olumide Akin @holumyne said.

Iyalaya @lollylarry1 noted, “No one has the monopoly of madness. The destruction of Lagos by the foolish lots is enough. This time we are going to #DefendLagos and #DemNoBornYourPapaWell to do anyhow.”

However, some tweeps expressed fear that the protests may result in a bloody clash at the Lekki tollgate, urging the state government and security agencies to step in.

One of them, @AjayiWizeman, said “I am sure the #DefendLagos people will not come on Saturday and be civil. They will be dressed in the police, soldiers, and DSS uniforms alongside thugs. Dem no fit face thousands who will #OccuppyLekkiTollGate Na we set the date and time!”

@sageugo added, “This is the plot, they’ll pay some Twitter influencers to trend #DefendLagos from now till 13th February, then on the D-day, they’ll unleash the same hoodlums they used to destroy Lagos during the #ENDSARS protest for a bloody clash with the #OccuppyLekkiTollGate protesters.”

Koiki Olaseni said, “Eventually, the Police will ban all forms of protest to guarantee peace.”

@drjollyseg noted that “@jidesanwoolu this is the time to be proactive! If care is not taken, there will be bloodshed and needless deaths following a possible clash between the two groups. Don’t overrule a possible hijack by hoodlums again.”

- PM NEWS

‘Fractured arm, head injury’ — Oyo treats ‘victims of herdsmen attacks’

 

Bashir Bello, the Oyo state commissioner for health, says the state government has commenced the treatment of three persons said to be victims of herdsmen attacks in Igangan town.

He disclosed this on Monday, adding that Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, had ordered the relocation of the victims to Ibadan.

A statement signed by Taiwo Adisa, chief press secretary to the governor, noted that the commissioner stated this while speaking to newsmen in Ibadan, the Oyo capital.

According to the commissioner, the victims are 26-year-old Isaiah Seun, 71-year-old Emmanuel Aderogba, and Adekola Adeyemo, aged 65.

“Following the directive of the governor that the ministry should take charge of the three victims of herdsmen attack at Igangan, the permanent secretaries of the ministry of health, hospital management board and a team of medical doctors went down and combined with the chairman of Ibarapa North-West LCDA, to bring the three victims,” the statement reads.

“One is Isaiah Seun, a 26-year-old bricklayer and commercial motorcycle rider before the injury occurred. He had a head injury and was fairly conscious and alert when brought in. The second, an elderly man of 71 years, has a fractured right radius. He has also been hospitalised. The third man, a 65-year-old, also sustained head injury. He was a tree-felling machine operator.

“All of them have been taken care of; X-rays were done for those with fractures and head injuries. All necessary biomedical and laboratory investigations have been conducted. They have been attended to by both orthopedic surgeons and specialists necessary, and they are all doing well now in the hospitals. They are all at Ring Road State Hospital, Adeoyo.

“All bills will be settled by the hospital management board and the ministry of health.”

- THECABLE

EPL: Man Utd will not win title this year – Gary Neville

 Gary Neville has said Manchester United will not win the title this year, but expects his former club to challenge for it next season.

United dropped more points last week, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s late goal ensuring they drew 3-3 with Everton at Old Trafford.

With Manchester City thrashing Liverpool on Sunday, the Red Devils are now five points off the league leaders, having played a game more.

Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, Neville said: “They’re not there yet, I know it’s disappointing, but it isn’t surprising. I think they’re on the right track.

“It has been clear in the last few weeks. Drawing against Arsenal, drawing against Liverpool, losing against Sheffield United, drawing against Everton, that is not going to win you the title. And for me, I don’t expect Manchester United to win the title this year.

“But what I would expect is them to get closer to Liverpool and City and then I expect them next year to challenge.

“I expect them next year to challenge.” 

- DAILY POST

Stormy Daniels: Sex with Donald Trump worst 90 seconds of my life

 

Porn star, Stormy Daniels claimed sex she had with former President Donald Trump ‘the worst 90 seconds of my life’

Daniels shared the details of what she claims happened while chatting with former Trump fixer, Michael Cohen for his new podcast, which was released on Monday February 8.

Cohen spent time in jail for paying Daniels $130,000 hush money during the 2016 presidential campaign to try and cover up the alleged sex story.

The disgraced lawyer who Trump has branded a liar apologized to Daniels for causing her ‘needless pain’ by arranging the payment.

Trump is alleged to have had sex with Daniels months after Melania gave birth to their son Barron, who is now 14.

News of the alleged fling hit US tabloids shortly after, then re-emerged after Trump ran for office.

The former president – who met Daniels at a celebrity golf tournament a year after he wed third wife Melania – denies her claims of a fling.

But Daniel still insists it happened. Recalling the alleged sexual encounter, Daniels claimed that an almost-naked Trump sat on the edge of a hotel bed waiting for her.

‘I just froze and I didn’t know what to say.” She said in the Podcast which came out Monday night, February 8.

‘He had stripped down to his underwear and was perched on the edge of the bed doing his best yet horrifyingly disturbing impression of Burt Reynolds.’

Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, continued: ‘I went to sidestep and he stood up off the bed and was like “This is your chance.” ‘And I was like “What?” and he was like “You need to show me how bad you want it or do you just want to go back to the trailer park?”

Daniels claims she then had sex with the ex-President.

She admitted the sex was consensual and has spoken about the alleged encounter before, telling an earlier interviewer that sex with Trump was ‘textbook generic.’

Read the original story Here

- PM NEWS

Pantami: FG may replace BVN with NIN

 

Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, says there are plans to replace the bank verification numbers (BVN) with the national identity numbers (NIN).

The BVN was launched in 2014 (BVN) by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to protect customer’s transactions.

Speaking on Monday in Abuja, the minister said the NIN is the primary and legal identity of all Nigerians, which should be included in their bank accounts, saying the BVN is not established by law.

He added that President Muhammadu Buhari is satisfied with the ongoing NIN registration across the country.

”The challenge is that the BVN records may not be 100 percent the same with NIN but what is most important is that the NIN is the primary identity of each and every citizen, including legal residents,” Pantami said.

“BVN is a policy of a bank and has not been established by law, NIN is the only mandatory number and the primary identification of our citizens and every other identification is secondary.

“The NIMC Act 2007 provides that all our citizens must be enrolled and the law gives them 60 days to enroll from the time the law was enacted and a maximum of 180 days and all permanent residents in the country and legal residents that have to stay here for a minimum of 24 months must be enrolled.

“So this is the primary identification of all and all other data bases are supposed to utilize this and not for NIN to utilize the BVN because it is the primary one.

“We discussed with the CBN Governor today on how to ensure that all our citizens with BVN will immediately be provided with the NIN. We are working on that but facilitating the process lies on CBN to make it much easier for our people.

“I made a presentation to National Economic Sustainability Committee and I drew the attention of CBN governor that we need to replace BVN with NIN because the BVN is a bank policy while NIN is a law.”

- THECABLE

President Biden threatens financial, visa sanctions against Nigeria, others over anti-gay laws

 

President of the United States of America, Joe Biden has threatened to sanction countries that have refused to make laws to accommodate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) people.

The President issued a presidential memorandum aimed at expanding protection of the rights LGBTQI people worldwide.

Sanctions against such nations may include financial punishment.

Nigeria is categorized as a homophobic country due to its anti-gay posture which has been increasingly criticised by global rights groups.

Recall that despite pressure from former US President, Barrack Obama, ex-President, Goodluck Jonathan signed the Same-Sex-Marriage (Prohibition) Act in January 2014.

The anti-gay laws in Nigeria, a leading ant-LGBTQI country in Africa, prescribes between 10 and 14 years in prison for anyone caught flouting the law either by cohabitation between same-sex sexual partners, public show of same-sex relationship, registration, operation or participation in gay clubs, societies and organisation, amongst others.

Whether the present administration in Nigeria will bow to the pressure from the US government and revisit the country’s anti-gay marriage law remains unclear at the moment.

Biden’s memo reads, “When foreign governments move to restrict the rights of LGBTQI+ persons or fail to enforce legal protections in place, thereby contributing to a climate of intolerance, agencies engaged abroad shall consider appropriate responses, including using the full range of diplomatic and assistance tools and, as appropriate, financial sanctions, visa restrictions, and other actions.

“All human beings should be treated with respect and dignity and should be able to live without fear no matter who they are or whom they love.

“The United States belongs at the forefront of this struggle – speaking out and standing strong for our most dearly held values.”

The memo directs US agencies working in foreign countries to work harder to combat the criminalisation by foreign governments of LGBTQ status or conduct, and directs the State Department to include anti-LGBTQ violence, discrimination and laws in its annual human rights report.

It calls for increased efforts to ensure that LGBTQ asylum seekers have equal access to protection, expanded training for US federal personnel, and potential increased use of priority referrals to expedite resettlement of vulnerable people.

It also instructs agencies to consider appropriate responses, including the full range of diplomatic tools, and potentially financial sanctions and visa restrictions, when foreign governments restrict the rights of LGBTQ people.

Biden announced the push during a forceful speech at the State Department, vowing to rebuild US credibility worldwide.

“To further repair our moral leadership, I’m also issuing a presidential memo to agencies to reinvigorate our leadership on the LGBTQI issues and do it internationally,” he said.

Recall that with less than two weeks to the end of his administration, former President, Donald Trump had weakened the protection for LGBT community by rolling back non-discrimination protections for such people seeking the services of health and welfare programs funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Few days after Joe Biden emerged winner of the November 3, 2020 presidential election, Dr. Emeka Nwosu, a former Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to ex-Senate President, Evan Enwerem, had told Africans, especially Nigerians that Biden should not be judged by the works of his former boss, Barrack Obama, who sanctioned LGTB rights and promoted Antichrist.

Nwosu noted that most people in Africa who were reluctant about Biden’s candidacy was because of issues such as LGBT and antichrist. He said Nigerians should, however, expect and hope that Biden runs his presidency different from that of Obama even though he was part of the government for eight years.

DAILY POST, in a special report had projected that the recent rise in homosexuals in Nigeria may have been influenced by the new democratic government in the United States led by President Joe Biden.

- DAILY POST

Mother of kidnapped Rivers councillorship aspirant dies, son also feared dead

 The mother of Hanson Chukwu, the kidnapped Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, councillorship aspirant in Rundele, Emohua Local government Area of Rivers State is dead.

Mrs Chukwu had gone into coma after her son was abducted.

Elder brother of Hanson, Friday, broke the sad news on to PM NEWS during a telephone conversation on Monday.

He said the family is faced with a double tragedy as his younger Hanson who was kidnapped on Monday January 25 may have also been killed.

According to him, Mrs Chukwu died on Sunday February 7,   as a result of the emotional trauma from the sudden disappearance of her beloved son.

Hanson a, PDP councillorship aspirant for ward 7 Rundele was reportedly picked up by members of the disbanded OSPAC vigilante group in Rundele, Emohua Local Government Area on January 25 and has since been missing.

Chukwu is a student of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education.

Unconfirmed reports indicated that a girl who witnessed his abduction by the suspected OSPAC operatives has also gone missing.

The State Police Command is yet to speak on the matter.

Meanwhile, friends and family members of Hanson are insisting that their son was kidnapped by officials of Rundele OSPAC.

Also women from Chukwu’s clan in Rundele community had also protested the kidnap of Hanson who they described as ‘outspoken.’

They accused Rundele OSPAC security of masterminding the killing of their son.

Tennyson Wokeh, a youth leader accused Rundele OSPAC officials of killing his brother just because of their oil bunkering business which Hanson always spoke against.

The immediate past President of National Association of Management Students, NAMS IAUE, Enyia Charles had also led some people from the area on protest at Rivers Police Headquarters, Moscow road Port Harcourt over the kidnapping of Hanson.

Earlier, the Rundele community has also cried out over the kidnap of their councillorship aspirant and outspoken son.

Hanson was kidnapped by gunmen when he went out from his house and every attempt to call his line is abortive.

Chukwu has been vocal in condemning operators of illegal refinery (bunkering) in his community. According to sources, he confronted those involved in oil theft business in his community, especially chiefs who he accused on being responsible for the continuous fire accidents ravaging farms, polluting the environment and impeding economic growth in the community.

It was alleged that Hanson was threatened by OSPAC outfit in his community before his kidnap.

- PM NEWS