There’s hardship in the land, says emir of Zazzau

Shehu Idris, emir of Zazzau, says Nigerians are suffering as a result of “palpable hardship” in the country.

While delivering his Sallah message at his palace in Zaria, Kaduna state, the monarch said intervention is needed at both the federal and state levels.

He enjoined farmers and herders to coexist peacefully and avoid rumours that fuel crisis.

“The suffering requires the attention and assistance of the governments at both federal and state levels,” he said.

“Similarly, we are urging our people to continue to promote peaceful coexistence. Fulani herdsmen and farmers should respect the interest of one another. People are also urged to avoid rumour mongering and give maximum cooperation to security agents.

“Kaduna state, local governments and the house of assembly should take measures that would bring about development in the areas of agriculture, animal husbandry and education.

“If these sectors are giving necessary attention, they are capable of bringing about peaceful coexistence and the end effect is improvement in the lives of our people. ”

He added that buying farm produce in large quantity from farmers would also assist the less privileged.

He advised residents to pay close attention to the movements of their children in order to curb drug abuse  among the youth.

- THECABLE

Simon Godwin Idoko: Youngman who graduated with First Class after writing JAMB six times dies few days after NYSC

Simon Godwin Idoko, the young man, who graduated with First Class degree in Pure and Applied Chemistry from the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto State is dead.

DAILY POST gathered that Idoko died on Monday at the age of 29 few days after completing his National Youth Service Corps, NYSC.

Idoko was attached to the Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu State, where he served as his Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) in the Chemistry Department as graduate assistant.

The real cause of his death is still sketchy at the moment but sources said his burial is ongoing in his country home, Udaburu Owukpa in Ogbadibo LGA of Benue State.

Speaking on the development, Mr. Emmanuel Odoh, chairman, Udaburu Development Association, Home Branch said the young chemist died Monday morning in Okpokwu LGA after a brief ailment.

“Yes, he died this morning. He’s about to be buried as we speak,” he said amid tears.

Meanwhile, his friends and associates have flooded his Facebook wall with condolences messages.

His childhood friend and kinsman, Ameh Godwin, said he has been sick for days now, but did not give details of the real ailment.

He wrote, “Ogbee! This sounds unbelievable and heartbreaking. You made us proud by graduating with first-class after writing UTME (JAMB) six times, today, you have been snatched by the cold hands of death in a mysterious way.

“We spoke few days ago and you promised you were going to be fine. What happened? Is this the ‘fine’ you assured me? This is sad. What a wicked world.

In April 2018, the Nigerian mediasphere literally went up in flame with the story of the young, resilient and resolute achiever.

Idoko, a native of Udaburu Owukpa, Ogbadibo LGA of Benue State, said his dream of becoming a medical doctor or pharmacist was frustrated after sitting for UTME for five times without success.

Still not discouraged, Godwin decided to apply for a different science-related course and was offered to study Applied Chemistry at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto where he graduated with a first-class, garnering a total of 4.75 CGPA.

- DAILY POST

Man beheads wife, then throws head into canal

A man in Hyderabad India has been arrested for allegedly killing his wife at Srinagar colony in the city. 

According to the police, the accused, Pradeep Kumar and the victim Manikranti got married in 2015. 

Later, they parted ways due to marital disputes. 

On Sunday, Pradeep visited Manikranti’s house and beheaded her, after which he dumped her head in a canal, thehansindia.com reported on Monday.

The CCTV footage showed that the accused was running with a sickle in one hand and the severed head in another hand. 

ID of the man who beheaded his wife

Traffic police who saw the accused near a bridge with bloodstains on his shirt informed the police. 

The man was then arrested. And for now the police are on a search for the severed head.

Manikranti had filed a case of domestic violence against Pradeep some time ago and he was arrested. Pradeep, who was recently released on bail, resorted to the brutal killing to seek revenge, the police said.

This is not the first time of such an incident in Hyderabad. In July, two men in Telangana murdered a man by beheading him, and then took the severed head to the police station and surrendered.

- PM NEWS

Hausa leader blows hot over Fulani herdsmen killing of farmer

The Head of Hausa community in Akwa Ibom, Alhaji Hassan Sadauki, has condemned the Aug. 8 killing of Mr Friday Etor, a farmer from Ikot Obio Nso, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of the state, by suspected herdsmen.

Sadauki made the condemnation while reacting to the incident, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo on Monday.

The community leader noted that the Hausa/Fulani settlers in the state had coexisted for years with the farmers without any such incident.

“It very sad indeed; we are not praying for such a thing to happen again.

“We the Hausa/Fulanis that reside within this very environmen have been enjoying very peaceful coexistence with the host community,” Sadauki said.

He charged the Hausas/Fulanis residents in the State to be law abiding and report any misunderstanding they might have with the people to their leaders in the state for peaceful settlement.

Sadauki reminded them that there could be no meaningful development in any atmosphere of rancor and misunderstanding among the different ethnic groups in the state.

“There was no reason for the killing and attack; though as human, even in one family we are bound to have one misunderstanding or the other because of individual interests.

“So it is very uncalled for to lose a life. We pray that relevant security agencies will do their best to bring the perpetrators to book.

“No matter the level of misunderstanding, there should be a peaceful way to dialogue and find a way out of such a situation. We have the Myetti Allah in the state which represents the Fulani herdsmen.

“In case of any misunderstanding, they should bring it to th notice of Myetti Allah for peaceful settlement, instead of taking laws into their hands. I can recall that in the past, we have settled such misunderstandings amicably.

“I pray that we coexist in peace and harmony. I pray to the Almighty that this should be the last; we should not be having crisis among ourselves

“I use this medium to draw the attention of our faithful to the fact that they should be law abiding citizens,” he said.

- DAILY POST

Bus driver commits suicide in Lagos

A 43-year old bus driver has committed suicide at a mechanic workshop in Shomolu area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

The victim, Kabiru Bello reported drank sniper, an insecticide.

Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Bala Elkana, in a statement on Monday said the incident occurred on Saturday.

“On Saturday, at about 1256hrs, Shomolu Pedro Police Station received an information that one Kabiru Bello ‘m’ 43yrs old, of No 77 Owode Ibeshe, Ikorodu Lagos allegedly drank a liquid substance suspected to be sniper chemical in his Volkswagen commercial bus with registration number AKD 724 XM, while at a mechanic workshop at Ladylack Bus stop, Shomolu.

“He was rushed to Adesola Clinic, Shomolu where he was confirmed dead. Homicide detectives visited the scene. One empty bottle of chemical substances suspected to be sniper was recovered. The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command said it has recovered two single barrel guns from fleeing armed robbery suspects.

According to Elkana, the incident occurred on Saturday.

“On Saturday, at about 2130hrs, Ilemba Hausa Police Station received a distress call that one Wale Lawal was dispossessed of his laptop by some armed robbers.

“A team of policemen deployed to the scene gave the hoodlums a hot chase and they abandoned their black Honda vehicle with registration number: Lagos KJA 705 BU.

“On the spot search was carried out on the vehicle and two locally made single barrel guns with twelve life cartridges, one laptop and one mobile phone were recovered inside the vehicle. The vehicle was moved to the station for further investigation. Investigation is ongoing,” he said.

- PM NEWS

Minimum wage: Implementation may be delayed as Nigerian govt gives reason

The Federal Government has attributed the delay in the implementation of the “Consequential Adjustment” of the N30,000 new minimum wage to the unrealistic demands of labour unions.

The Chairman, National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC), Chief Richard Egbule, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

Egbule explained that the current demand of the labour unions would raise the total wage bill too high and that was why government could not accept their proposed salary adjustments.

“Labour is asking for consequential adjustment and government in its wisdom had made budgetary provision for an adjustment of N10, 000 across board for those already earning above N30, 000 per month.

“However, the Unions have refused this offer, saying that because the increase in minimum wage from 18,000 to N30, 000 was 66 per cent, therefore they want 66 percent increment across board.

“We told them that the minimum wage was not raised from N18, 000 to N30, 000 through percentage increase but as a result of consideration of economic factors including ability to pay.

“However, we said that if they want consequential adjustments in percentage terms, we will use a percentage that when applied will not exceed what has been provided for in the budget.

“The computation based on percentage which government had given to labour, was 9.5 per cent from level 7 to 14 including level 1-6 of those salary structures that did not benefit from the minimum wage.

“And then five percent from level 15 to 17. Labour countered the offer and proposed 30 per cent increase for level 7 to 14 and 25 per cent for level 15 to 17.

“One point we keep repeating is, it will be unfair that because you gave the person earning minimum wage N12, 000, you give a level 17 officer almost N100, 000 if you apply 25 percent,’’ he said.

Egbule added that at the last meeting between the Federal Government and the labour unions, the government proposed a 10 per cent increment for level seven to 14 and a 5.5 per cent increase for level 15 to 17.

He advised labour to come to a compromise because government had so far been magnanimous in agreeing to increase salaries without any threat of downsizing.

“Labour is currently stretching out and eating up the time that people could have used in benefiting from the adjustment because the new minimum wage was implemented since April.

“My advice is for labour to accept the terms for now and prepare to fight for the harmonization of salaries that is coming up. Harmonization of salaries will take care of this issue.

“The committee has already been formed and awaiting inauguration. I want them (labour) to know this and liberate us from this unnecessary log jam,” he said.

- DAILY POST

Robbers ‘invade police barracks’ in Delta

Suspected armed robbers have dispossessed residents of the “B Police Barracks” along Benin-Onitsha expressway in Asaba, Delta state, of their belongings.

The SUN quoted some of the residents as saying the suspects have been taking advantage of the darkness at the barracks occasioned by lack of electricity supply to carry out the act.

The transformer serving the barracks was reportedly vandalised about two months ago.

“Since then, robbers have been coming here to dispossess us of our property. We have lost power generating sets, handsets laptops and personal effects to the dreaded thieves,” a female resident was quoted as saying.

“There is uncleared vegetation at the other side of the barrack, through which they gain access to the barrack. They have been tormenting us lately. They come through the bush, and because there is no power supply, everywhere is always dark, so we cannot see them coming in.”

Another resident reportedly said they contributed N3,000.00 each to fix the vandalised transformer but that, since one month ago that they took the step, nothing has changed.

“Our lives are under serious threat as a result of darkness which the hoodlums are taking advantage of. We are very worried at the moment. We have not heard anything since we contributed money to fix the vandalized transformer,” the person was quoted to have said.

The residents appealed to the state police command to investigate the matter and “save us from the hands of these tormentors”.

However, Adeyinka Adeleke, commissioner of police in the state, dismissed the issue of robbery but admitted that the barrack had been in darkness due to the vandalised transformer.

- THECABLE