Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Saturday 16th April 2022
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 16/04/22
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Three Officers Wounded In Shootout As Gunmen Attack Police Observation Point In Anambra
Some unknown gunmen have attacked a police observation point in Anambra, injuring three policemen. SaharaReporters learnt the incident occurred late on Thursday along Ekwulobia Expressway.
It was gathered that the gunmen engaged the policemen in a gun duel, during which three officers sustained gunshot injuries. The spokesperson for the state police command, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, informed SaharaReporters through a text message that the house of Governor Charles Soludo was not attacked as being speculated. “Soludo’s house was not attacked. To set the records straight, Police observation point along Ekwulobia expressway came under attack late hours of yesterday 14/4/2022. “The Mobile personnel posted at the point, gallantly repelled the attack but unfortunately three of them sustained gun shot injuries during the gun battle with the hoodlums.”Following the quick deployment of operatives in the area by the command, calm has since returned in the area.”Meanwhile Operation is still ongoing. Further details shall be communicated,” he said. The recent attack followed an attack on Nteje Divisional Police Headquarters in Oyi Local Government Area of the state. The attack happened around 3am on Thursday. One person was said to have been killed in the attack. Meanwhile, Thursday’s attack occurred after four police officers were reportedly killed by gunmen at another police facility in the state, Atani Divisional Police Divisional Headquarters, on Wednesday.
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2023: Posters Depicting Vice-President Osinbajo As Betrayer Surface In Abuja
Posters describing the Vice-President of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, as a betrayer, was on Friday sighted in some parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.The poster which carried the photo of the VP looking away from the camera with two fingers across his cheek described him as “the Judas who betrayed his master” urging him to repent as Jesus was coming soon.This may not be unconnected to the Vice President’s recent declaration to contest the 2023 presidential election.
“I am today, with utmost humility formally declaring my intention to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of APC,” he had said in a post on his official Twitter page on Monday.This elicited reactions of Nigerians who called Osinbajo as former governor of Lagos state and APC national leader, Bola Tinubu had indicated his interest to contest in the election. Osinbajo and Tinubu have a history as political associates.Tinubu, as Lagos governor, had in 1999 appointed Osinbajo as Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the state, a position the law professor held till 2007.Osinbajo was a chieftain of the Lagos APC with his polling unit at Code 33, Unit 2 Victoria Garden City, Lagos.Tinubu, on Monday, dismissed the declaration of his hitherto political godson, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, to contest for the 2023 presidential election, stressing that he did not have any son old enough to make such declaration.Also, a chieftain of the APC Joe Igbokwe, advised presidential candidates in the party, including Osinbajo to “show respect and withdraw from the 2023 presidential race.”Igbokwe, a former spokesperson for the APC in Lagos, in a post on his Facebook page on Sunday, advised politicians who are also members of the party who had been helped by the former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, to withdraw from the race.Meanwhile, Osinbajo’s Chief Media Aide, Laolu Akande, announced that his principal is no longer a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos State.
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E2%80%94-femi-adesina-slams-ex Obasanjo, Others Hiding Hatred For Buhari Under Umbrella Of Insecurity— Femi Adesina Slams Ex-Leader Over Alleged Plot Against President
Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina has taken a swipe at former President Olusegun Obasanjo over the latter’s alleged plot to unsettle President Muhammadu Buhari. Adesina, in an article on Friday, alleged that Obasanjo and other critics of Buhari are hiding under the umbrella of insecurity to prove their hatred for the current President.
Though he gave a veiled reference, Adesina said there had been a report that the ex-president rallied all living former leaders to pass a vote of no confidence on Buhari and had waited for Obasanjo to debunk the story but that has not been done.
He recalled that the former Nigerian leader wrote Buhari an open letter asking the President not to seek a second term in office.
Obasanjo had, in an open letter ahead of the 2019 presidential election, told Buhari to jettison his second term ambition over the failure of his administration to tackle the nation’s challenges.
On July 15, 2019, Obasanjo wrote Buhari another letter saying the world, especially Western countries, has been warning Nigeria against descending into a state of violence because any outbreak would be difficult to contain. He urged Buhari to stop “the embers of hatred, disaffection and violence.”
Adesina in his article, wrote, “There was a story that made the rounds over the weekend. A former military leader, who also became a democratically elected President for two terms, has been reportedly mobilizing all living former leaders to pass a vote of no confidence in President Buhari, due to the county’s security challenges. It was reported that only Gen Yakubu Gowon baulked at the idea, and opted out. “I have been waiting for the story to be debunked, but it hasn’t happened. Let’s then assume that it is true. The agent provocateur has been known as an antagonist of Buhari for a number of years. “In fact, he publicly wrote a letter in 2018, commanding the President to “dismount from the horse,” and allow another rider to mount. The incumbent demurred. Is it not democracy? Let’s test our strength at the polls. “The former leader mobilized against Buhari, publicly endorsing his former deputy in office, whom he had earlier destroyed and treated like something the cat dragged in. “The election came, and they were all beaten black and blue. How does he then think Nigerians will accept his constant haranguing of government as something actuated by positive motives? It is sour grapes, pure and simple. “Do we have security problems? We do, just as many other countries of the world. How then do we solve the problems? That is what we expect to hear, and not playing of petty politics under the umbrella of insecurity. “Some of the issues are historical, transcending almost every administration we have had.. They are almost as old as the country. “Some others are relatively new; insurgency, banditry, kidnappings for ransom, and have the imprint of foreign backing, particularly in some parts of the North. What is the way out? “For the internecine ones, it is crystal clear that no government can legislate peace. The people themselves must resolve to live together, and accommodate one another. “No group can wish the other away under indigene versus settler sentiments. We must resolve for peace. They must not only seek peace but also pursue it. “As for insurgency, banditry and kidnappings, the government is rising to the challenges. Yes, there are successes and reversals at times, but there’s no doubt that the necessary efforts are being made. “It is, therefore, unconscionable to make it appear as if nothing is being done. It is a power struggle. A class struggle. An economic struggle. But at last, Nigeria shall win. “It is the sacred duty of the government to provide security of lives and property. Our Constitution says it in black and white. No leader will be happy to see his citizens killed. That is why more than any government before it, the Buhari administration has funded our security agencies, trained, equipped and motivated them. “They are out there, fighting to keep us safe. The least we can do is pray for them, encourage them, not engaging in petty power play, which amounts to dancing on the graves of the dead.”
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APC National Chairman’s Ex-wife, Fatimah Abdullahi, Joins Nasarawa Governorship Race
Fatimah Abdullahi, ex-wife of the recently elected chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Adamu has declared interest to contest the Nasarawa governorship elections. The 43-year-old public health practitioner hails from the Doma Local Government Area of the state.
Her declaration comes weeks after Adamu was elected as APC national chairman at the convention of the party held on March 26. In her manifesto, the medical practitioner cum politician vowed to accord priority to health, education and jobs creation and human capital development if elected as governor in 2023 amid other Socio-Economic, security challenges. She will be contending with the current governor of the state, Abdullahi Sule for the ticket of the APC.
Sule was elected the Governor of Nasarawa State in the 2019 governorship election under the platform of the APC.
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E2%80%98opens-discussion%E2%80%99-terrorists-who-killed-abducted-passengers-onboard Nigerian Government ‘Opens Discussion’ With Terrorists Who Killed, Abducted Passengers Onboard Kaduna-Abuja Train
The Nigerian government has opened a channel of discussion with the terrorists who abducted many passengers of a Kaduna-bound train over two weeks ago, according to relatives of the victims, Daily Trust reports. At least eight people were killed and many others abducted when terrorists planted explosives along the Abuja-Kaduna corridor, forcing the targeted train to derail.
The terrorists had then opened fire on the train before abducting scores of passengers on the evening of March 28, 2022. However, nine days after the attack, the terrorists released the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Alwan Hassan, after collecting a ransom of N100 million from his family. Speaking with journalists in Kaduna, the relatives and friends of the abducted passengers on Friday said they have been assured by the Nigerian government that a channel of discussions with the terrorists has been opened. “After the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, we heard from the Federal Government through the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed that the government is in dialogue. That government is already discussing with the abductors of our relatives,” said Dr Jimoh Fatai, who has been designated as chairman of the group pressing for the release of their loved ones. “We are happy about it, we note it, we acknowledge it and we appreciate the efforts of the government in that regard. What we are now appealing for is that government should speed up the process,” he added. The news comes at the expiration of a 72-hour ultimatum issued by the relatives to the Nigerian government to open discussions that will see to the release of the captives.
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E2%80%93delta Buhari Made You Deputy Senate President For Grabbing Mace In Senate To Stop His Impeachment–Delta PDP Slams Omo-Agege
The Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lambasted the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, saying he was rewarded by President Muhammadu Buhari for carrying out illegality to save President Muhammadu Buhari.The party linked the senator representing Delta Central senatorial district to the “shameful and brazen invasion of the Senate chambers by unknown hoodlums, which led to the ‘Mace-grabbing’ saga on the very day that a debate was slated and signatories were even supposed to be taken, to commence impeachment proceedings on the President”.
“All accusing fingers of complicity pointed at the Delta Central Senator, as the mastermind of the sordid Senate invasion and Mace grabbing episode,” the PDP said.The Senate could not sit without the mace.The incident occurred in the 8th Senate and was captured on TV.The state chapter of the PDP while reacting to the Thursday’s governorship declaration speech of Omo-Agege, noted that it watched in “utter amazement and tasteless disgust, as the Deputy Senate President of the Nigerian Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, in what he described as a declaration speech for the 2023 Governorship of Delta State, under his party, APC, on Thursday, April 14, 2022, reeled out lies upon lies, one after the other, with deceitful political cunning before Deltans and the world.” The party in a statement titled, “Omo-Agege And His Catalogue Of Lies, Deceit; Has Nothing To Offer Deltans”, and signed by its state publicity, Ifeanyi Osuoza, dismissed the governorship declaration speech of the deputy senate president.It said, “A catalogue of lies and deceits. The Orogun politician is an unserious pretender with nothing to offer Deltans, except to tell them to continue praising President Muhammadu Buhari for his own political good fortune in becoming Deputy Senate President.””As for Senator Omo-Agege’s brazen lies that the Okowa administration has not created jobs for the youths or done projects in Delta, we would have loved to inform Senator Omo-Agege that in the last six years of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration, more than 200,000 youths, including over 4,000 from Omo-Agege’s own LGA, have been trained and empowered and are now proud independent entrepreneurs and job creators.“More will be created before the end of the tenure. We would also like to inform Senator Omo-Agege that legacy projects have been delivered in the area of education where he slammed the Isoko people, by flippantly describing their newly upgraded University and pride of Isokoland, as ‘glorified secondary school.’”It noted that after the mace saga, the Senator was elevated to the position of Deputy Senate President in the next dispensation, “allegedly in recognition of the incident on that fateful day when the Senate chambers were invaded, the Mace was carted away in bandit-like style and impeachment proceedings against the President, as well as other matters, could not be tabled”.It further read, “Of course, without prejudice to the final declaration of the court, Nigerians and indeed Deltans have not forgotten and will never forget the shame and disgrace of that gory and gang-style affront on our democracy still hangs over us and the association with the moniker “Mace grabber”, will always be the first impression and perception, rightly or wrongly glued and attached to any Deltan from that shameful episode, who aspires to become Governor of our great and nationally respected state. “We watched aghast, as Omo-Agege literally brought great dishonour and unpardonable disrepute upon the hallowed reverence and integrity of the Senate as the citadel of our democracy, where he superintends as number two man, as he dropped lie upon lie from his mouth and with a straight face, to the shame of many Deltans watching and the chagrin of discerning Nigerians, who observed this shallow brand of politics that impugned harshly on our intelligence and sensibilities.“Now, unless we are missing something, or maybe Omo-Agege is living in a different time zone, how exactly is he going to do that, when Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s tenure will end in 2023? Or perhaps is there going to be another similar “Mace-grabbing” invasion of Osadebe House before May 29, 2023? Nothing is beyond these desperate people at all. “On a final note, Senator Omo-Agege needs to be reminded, as a matter of serious consideration, that he has already committed his first irredeemable mistake by vowing and ranting that “he will chase away the Okowa-led PDP administration in Delta State”. In any case, however, let us sound it loud and clear that the PDP is very ready and prepared to meet whoever the opposition throws up as their candidate in the Delta 2023 Governorship election.”The statement described the PDP and Delta State as one.
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AIB Denies Azman Air Mishap Happened In Kano, Says Bureau Awaiting Report From Saudi Arabia
The Accident Investigation Bureau has confirmed the Azman aircraft incident, saying it happened at Jeddah Airport in Saudi Arabia on Thursday night and not in Kano as reported by some media platforms. The AIB disclosed that the incident was due to an alleged fire incident while the aircraft was taxing to take off.
The spokesman for the bureau, Tunji Oketumbi, said that though Nigerian authorities were yet to get a documented report from the Saudi Arabian authorities on full details of the incident, the report was expected to be submitted within 24 hours after such an occurrence, as established by local and international laws. Oketumbi said as soon as the bureau got the details of the incident, it would update the public on the matter. Also reacting to the incident, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria said the aircraft was not gutted by fire as reported on social media. A Twitter user whose family was part of the air passengers expected to arrive at Kano International Airport from Saudi had posted a video on his handle showing passengers rushing out of the Azman aircraft and thanking “Allah” in the Hausa language for saving them from the incident. Azman Air management is yet to react to the air incident.
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Police Arrest Two Suspects As Over 30 Thugs Invade Bayelsa Court, Stone Judge
Some suspected political thugs Thursday numbering over 30, disrupted proceedings in the hearing of a suit into the disputed ward, local government and state congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Bayelsa State High Court. The claimant, Alex Blackson and his brother, Osom Blackson, were injured during the stampede in the courtroom, while the presiding Judge, Justice Nayai Aganaba, was stoned.
The Judge was later whisked to safety by his police orderly. Most of the lawyers were chased out, while those who came with the claimant were brutalised. The hoodlums were said to have been provoked by the alleged insistence of Justice Aganaba to hear the suit filed by Alex Blackson, seeking an order setting aside the disputed congresses of the APC held in 2021. Meanwhile, the state police command has arrested suspects in connection with the invasion of the court. A statement by the police said the duo of Promise Ogilogi (male) and Azibabin Adiki (male) were arrested on April 13, 2022. “The Bayelsa State Police Command has remanded two suspects in prison custody for their involvement in the invasion of the Bayelsa State High court and attack on High court judge. The suspects; one Promise Ogilogi ‘m’ and Azibabin Adiki ‘m’ were arrested on 13 April 2022. “The Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, CP Ben Nebolisa Okolo, fdc has charged police operatives to intensify efforts to arrest the fleeing suspects and warn unequivocally, that the command is poised to deal decisively with anyone or group of persons who hide under any guise to disrupt the peace in the state. “The Command hereby assures members of the public, particularly the Judiciary that adequate security measures have been put in place to ensure the safety and sanctity of the courtroom and to forestall future occurrence,”
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E2%80%94ipob-reacts We’ll Reveal Criminals Behind Attack On Electoral Commission, INEC Officials In Imo—IPOB Reacts To Thursday’s Killing By Gunmen
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has disassociated itself from the attack by unknown gunmen on officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Imo State.On Thursday, gunmen attacked INEC officials who were carrying out registration in the Ihite Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State, resulting in the death of one person while two others have been declared missing.
Subsequently, the commission suspended the Continuous Voter Registration Exercise (CVR) in the area. A video was released by the gunmen who were in black attire and screaming, ‘We don’t want elections’. Many had attributed the attack to the secessionist group, IPOB. Reacting in a statement on Friday obtained by SaharaReporters, the spokesperson for the group, Emma Powerful, says it is not responsible for the attack.The group, therefore, promises to fish out the perpetrators of the attacks in the South-East region. The group alleged that the criminals who carried out the attacks were sponsored by politicians and the Nigerian government so as to dent the image of IPOB. The statement reads, “We the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the command and leadership of our great leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU, strongly condemn the attack on INEC staff at Ihite Uboma LGA of Imo State. “We are also warning these traitors and enemies of Biafra behind these barbaric attacks to stop or be ready to reap the reward of their atrocities. “IPOB cannot afford to allow them to continue to terrorise our people or demonise our peaceful organisation as some uninformed people appoint accusing fingers at us. “IPOB is not happy with these criminal activities going on in our region because we don’t want this to continue and we are going to expose those behind this evil in the region. “Anybody involved in this act will regret it. We totally disassociate from this act of criminality. IPOB volunteers and ESN have no hand in this criminal act that criminals randomly carry out against our people. “We have made it clear to the public several times that IPOB members are not unknown gunmen and we cannot be because we have an objective which is to restore Biafra as a free, Independent and Sovereign Nation. “Anybody who is involved in this evil act on INEC officers at Ihite Uboma LGA will pay dearly. The masterminds are being sponsored by unfortunate politicians thinking they can jeopardise our decision to make Biafra freedom a reality. “We want to make it publicly known that IPOB and its security units did not attack INEC officers in Imo State. We are aware that Nigeria Government and their collaborators are sponsoring these criminal groups to attack our people in the name of IPOB to instigate a crisis so people can disassociate themselves from IPOB activities and the entire world will see IPOB as a terror group but they will fail and will not raise their ugly heads again. We promise them so. “IPOB will not relent in discovering those behind these devilish activities and expose them.”
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E2%80%99s-capital-city-abuja-first-time-after-3-year How Activist, Sowore Stepped Out Of Nigeria’s Capital City, Abuja First Time After 3-year Unjust Movement Restriction
For the first time in three years, human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore stepped out of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Thursday to visit Nasarawa State to meet residents of the state about his presidential aspiration. The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had on Wednesday upturned the ruling of the Federal High Court confining the activist to Abuja since August 2019.
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) had arrested Sowore in the early hours of August 3, 2019, for calling on Nigerians to take to the streets in peaceful demonstrations to demand a better country.
But President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime swiftly locked him up.
The activist was kept in unlawful detention from that period until December 5, 2019, when he was finally released on bail despite two court orders earlier sanctioning his freedom. In a twist of events, DSS operatives invaded the Federal High Court in Abuja on December 6, 2019, to rearrest him without any court order. He remained in unlawful detention until 18 days later when he was released by the secret police for the second time. The trial judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, had granted Sowore N100 million bail with two sureties who must be residents of Abuja and have landed properties within the Federal Capital Territory. The judge also ordered that one of the sureties must deposit N30 million with the court pending the determination of the case. Sowore was also restricted to the Federal Capital Territory pending the determination of the case. The activist, however, approached the Appeal Court over the stringent bail conditions, especially his restriction to Abuja. Delivering judgment in the appeal on Wednesday, the appellate court held that the ruling restricting the activist to Abuja was excessive. The court ruled that Sowore could now leave Abuja but not travel out of Nigeria. The activist has declared his intention to run for president in 2023. The activist is joining the presidential race for the second time after his first attempt in 2019. “After three years of unjust restriction and city-incarceration to Abuja, I stepped out of the FCT-Abuja city detention today to meet our people in Nasarawa state! ?#Revolutionnow ?#WeCantContinueLikeThis ?#Sowore2023,” the activist posted on Twitter.After three years of unjust restriction and city-incarceration to Abuja I stepped out of the FCT-Abuja city detention today to meet our people in Nasarawa state! #Revolutionnow #WeCantContinueLikeThis #Sowore2023 pic.twitter.com/q7hklOt5BD— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) April 14, 2022
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