Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Tuesday 26th April 2022
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 26/04/22
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‘Light Has Prevailed Over Darkness’ — Ondo AAC Party Welcomes Sowore After Court Dismissed Restriction To Abuja
The Ondo State chapter of the African Action Congress (AAC) has welcomed human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, to the state.In a statement, Alex Adeniyi, the state chairman of the party, hailed the court order which dismissed the restriction of Sowore to the Federal Capital Territory since he was arrested in 2019.
He also hailed the doggedness of the 2023 presidential aspirant, adding that his ability to overcome the odds has shown he is the right man to save Nigeria.Adeniyi also expressed the excitement of AAC members in Ondo to receive him in the state.The statement reads: “Just as the popular saying goes: after darkness comes light. In the history of mankind and Nigeria in particular, light has prevailed over darkness. Omoyele Sowore is back! “It is public knowledge that on the 3rd of August, 2019, the Buhari-led administration through the Department of State Services abducted the National Chairman of African Action Congress for calling for a nationwide protest codenamed ‘RevolutionNow’.”Omoyele Sowore was subjected to degrading treatment, even with the support of some Nigerian Judges. Until the 13th of April, 2022 Sowore was unjustly confined within the territory of Federal Capital. “The African Action Congress, Ondo State chapter is most gracious to God for vindicating our leader and we are glad to welcome him back home. Of course, many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord deliver him from them all.”Omoyele Sowore, the quintessence of capacity and character, you have displayed valiance in battle. You have demonstrated patriotism to Nigeria and love for Nigerian people. We believe 2023 will be a deserved victory. In a time when the Nigerian ship has finally shipwrecked, it is important that leadership is entrusted into the hand of those who have a genuine love for the masses, not some political businessmen. “At this critical time that Nigerians are now clamouring #WeCannotContinueLikeThis, indeed 2023 will be the end of the old era and a new beginning for the Nigeria of our dream.”
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Ex-Imo Governor, Ihedioha Asks Nigerian Government To Probe Over 100 Deaths At Illegal Refinery
A former governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha has asked the Nigerian government to investigate the recent fire incident at an illegal oil refinery in the state.He said this in a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Chibuike Onyeukwu.
On Friday, an explosion occurred at an illegal oil refining site in Ohaji/Egbema area of Imo state, with at least 110 people reported to have been burnt to death.The development comes amid concerns by stakeholders on the effects of oil bunkering across the country.Ihedioha expressed shock and sadness at the development.He described the incident as “unfortunate and avoidable, while calling for full investigation and prosecution of all those behind the carnage to avert future occurrence.”The statement read, “This is one loss too many. My heart bleeds for the victims, families and affected communities of this unfortunate and avoidable disaster.“It is a period of grief and sober reflection for our State, which has been bedeviled by insecurity and other challenges.“While calling for a deliberate action to nip the increasing activities of illegal refinery and bunkering in the state, His Excellency enjoins citizens to take adequate precautions and avoid activities that will expose them to danger or risk of losing their lives and property.”
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E2%80%99s-richest-man-elon-musk-acquires-twitter-44billion BREAKING: World’s Richest Man, Elon Musk Acquires Twitter For $44billion
Twitter says it has reached an agreement to sell the company to Elon Musk for around $44billion (£34.6billion).The deal was announced by the social media platform on Monday after days of negotiations between the world’s richest person and the Twitter board.
Musk had announced an offer to buy the social media platform on 14 April for $54.20 a share, or about $43billion.The additional $1billion price tag is understood to reflect the purchase of additional shares revealed by Twitter.The deal means Twitter will now be taken private, ending its run on the stock market which began in 2013.Musk will pay $54.20 cash per share for the San Francisco-based company, which will now be taken private after days of intense negotiations between the entrepreneur and the platform’s board.“Twitter has a purpose and relevance that impacts the entire world. Deeply proud of our teams and inspired by the work that has never been more important,” said Parag Agrawal, Twitter’s CEO was quoted to have said.
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Ebonyi Government Adamant As Catholic Church Seeks Release Of Priest Detained Since 2021
The Ebonyi State government and the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki traded words over the arrest and incarceration of a Priest, Reverend Timothy Ngwuta, in Abakaliki.SaharaReporters had earlier reported that Ngwuta was illegally detained by security operatives in Ebonyi State since 2021.
This comes amid the lingering communal crisis between Ezza-Effium and Effium people of the Ohuakwu Local Government Area of the state since January 2021, which had resulted in the death of innocent persons and the destruction of property worth millions of naira.A soldier, who does not want his name in print, had said the Reverend Father who was recently posted to the community, was arrested and framed for being responsible for a crisis that had been ongoing for a while. According to him, Ngwuta was arrested while paying a visit to some of his parishioners who had now been displaced from their homes as a result of the crisis.“It was during one of these visits he was arrested and has since been detained without trial, nothing, an ordained Reverend Father for that matter.”He had noted that Ngwuta’s arrest had a political undertone as he called on the state governor, Dave Umahi to immediately order the release of the Reverend Father.Also, Parishioners of Saint Bernard’s Catholic Parish, Ugueze Effium, Ohaukwu Local Government Area had called on Ebonyi Governor, Dave Umahi to release their parish Priest, Ngwuta from detention.On Monday, the Catholic Church, Diocese of Abakaliki in a statement signed by Fr. Matthew Uzoma Opoke, Chancellor, Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki, said all efforts to secure the release Fr. Timothy Ngwuta on bail had been hampered by the Executive Order preventing any court in the state from entertaining matters relating to Effium crisis.The statement reads in part: “The Church in the name of God appeals to all the people of Effium and Ezza Effium involved in this inter-communal war, to lay down their arms and embrace the path of peace. Nothing justifies the senseless killing and maiming of innocent lives. Peace can never be achieved under the barrel of guns.“Since the matter is before the courts, we will not be making any more statements on the case. We urge all to withhold judgement and let the case run its course. We implore all people of goodwill to join us in praying God to touch those responsible for the incarceration of Fr. Timothy to listen to the voice of right conscience. We commend the whole process into the hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Priests and the Star of Evangelization. Pray for peace in our State and in the Country,” the church stated.Reacting, the Ebonyi state government through the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Cletus Ofoke, cautioned the Catholic Church to desist from saying that the priest was incarcerated in prison as a result of the executive order.Ofoke said, “There is nothing like Executive Order on the Effium crisis; there is nothing to that effect. Of course, the government can never issue an order stopping the court from doing its legitimate duty. It is aimed at tarnishing somebody’s image and maligning the government. There is nothing like that.“Once a matter is in court, nobody talks about it other than for the legal process to take its course. This is what the Ebonyi State government has done and the government has no hand in the Priest case. The case of the Priest is purely a legal issue from police to court.“So, nothing concerns Ebonyi State government and it is not only the priest that is being incarcerated over the matter there, in Effium. People are aware that so many people have been charged to court; some of them are in prison, and some of them are being tried in court. So, the priest is also a human being.”
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Police Rescue Nine Abducted Herders In Anambra, Recover Stolen Cows
At least nine of the 10 abducted members of the Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) have been rescued by the police in Anambra State.The members of MACBAN had earlier been abducted by gunmen in Obene Community, Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state, where they also lost over 300 cows.
The gunmen had demanded N4million ransom and a gun from the families of the victims.However, the spokesperson of the police in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement on Monday, said nine of the abducted herders were found.He said they were rescued in a joint operation with the military on Sunday.The spokesperson said the herders were found in a “bush unharmed” and that some of the stolen cows were also “discovered” in the bush.He did not, however, give the number of cows that had been discovered.“On April 24, 2022, some of the victims of the abduction were seen in the bush unharmed while one of the abductees is still missing,” he said.Ikenga, a deputy superintendent of police, said efforts were being intensified to locate the missing herder and some of the cows that are yet to be found.
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Gunmen Attack Nigerian Military Checkpoint In Bayelsa, One dead
File photo used to illustrate story.
One person was on Monday shot dead and a military personnel was injured following an early morning attack on a military checkpoint in Ogboinbiri Community at a wellhead owned by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) at Seibou oil field in the Southern Ijaw Local Government area of Bayelsa State.It gathered that the gun battle which lasted three hours led to the killing of one of the suspected militants.
File photo used to illustrate story.
The deceased is identified as from Ukparatubo Community in Southern Ijaw.Sources within the community said that the gunmen stormed the military checkpoint in three boats and shot at the soldiers at about 6am on Sunday.The soldiers who were on duty and providing security at SPDC engaged the armed men in a gun battle.According to the source, “the soldiers shot dead one of the boys but one of the soldiers was wounded. The soldier is identified as Job and his rifle was taken away.”Attempts to get a reaction from the spokesman of the 16 Division of the Nigerian Army in Bayelsa, Captain Victor Odukoya, were unsuccessful.Military sources, however, confirmed the development, insisting that efforts were ongoing to recover the stolen military rifle and arrest the culprits.
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E2%80%94-igbo-congress 2023 Presidency: Amaechi, Wike’s Presidential Ambitions Dead On Arrival — Igbo Congress
The World Igbo Congress (WIC), a group of Igbos in Diaspora, has said the presidential aspirations of Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike are “dead on arrival.”The group, in a post on its Twitter handle labelled the politicians as “the preferred Fulani caliphate choice option” in the 2023 presidential election.
tweet reads, “The preferred Fulani caliphate choice option is dead on arrival. We have passed the rubicon.”Meanwhile, the Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo at the weekend expressed its support for Amaechi and Wike.Ohanaeze urged Ndigbo to jettison the artificial separation boundary adjustments created by the military, and reunite with their kinsmen in the Niger-Delta Region, saying that Ohanaeze Ndigbo Constitution, as written by their founding fathers, enshrined that Anioma in Delta and Ikwerre in Rivers State were part of Igbo-speaking states.The group maintained that Governors Okezie Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s support for Wike showed they had not abandoned their quest for an Igbo to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
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E2%80%93-nnamdi-kanu-assures-supporters My Trying Phase Will Soon Be Over – Nnamdi Kanu Assures Supporters
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has urged his followers and sympathisers to remain optimistic.According to him, his trying phase is at the verge of extinction.
Kanu’s counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, disclosed this as Kanu’s stance after he paid the IPOB leader a visit in the custody of the Department of State Services on Monday.He said, “The routine Court-Ordered visit to our indefatigable Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has just been concluded. We had incisive review of compelling legal processes we are exploring to ensure that the remaining 7-Count charge still pending is permanently laid to rest.“Onyendu extends his heartfelt gratitude to all UmuChineke for remaining steadfast and undeterred. He is, as usual, profoundly impressed by your demonstration of uncommon discipline, unity, understanding, loyalty, and forthrightness.“Onyendu observed that this trying phase is at the verge of extinction and the Name of ChukwuOkike Abiama will be eternally glorified.“Onyendu emphasized on VIGILANCE, particularly in times like this, and highly commended you all for your peaceful conduct, even on the face of seemingly unprovoked attacks. He encouraged you all to always be on guard, even in your prayers and supplications to the Almighty ChukwuOkike Abiama.“Be assured that we, in the legal team are not leaving any stone unturned towards achieving Onyendu’s freedom and it will surely end in Praises soon. Thank you all and remain blessed, Ezigbo UmuChineke.We move.”Kanu is currently facing charges bordering on terrorism and treasonable felony.
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E2%80%99s-security-challenges-%E2%80%94-northern-elders-forum-tells Leave Bishop Kukah, Face Nigeria’s Security Challenges — Northern Elders Forum Tells Buhari Government
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has advised the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to focus on how to solve the country’s persistent insecurity challenge rather than blaming the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah.The position of the group was made known by the Director of Publicity and Advocacy of the forum, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, who faulted the Presidency over the way it responded to the criticisms.
His comment trails the Presidency’s claim that Kukah had a hatred for the Muhammadu Buhari administration and was working with the opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party to stop the sale of Super Tucano fighter jets to the Nigerian Air Force.The group further said the federal government should ensure that the military operations satisfy the basic standards demanded by the weapon suppliers in order to avoid what gave rise to delays in weapons procurement from Western countries.It reiterated the earlier call for President Muhammadu Buhari’s resignation if unable to resolve the nation’s security problems.Speaking on behalf of the group, Baba-Ahmed said Nigeria has a problem with procuring weapons because of the conduct of the armed forces and related agencies on human rights issues, dealing with prisoners of war and people caught up in conflicts.He said, “You know, the presidency spokespersons have a way of deflecting criticism by making it personal. When you say that there is a shortfall in the quality of government, they find something to stick you with.“People like Bishop Kukah and I, are used to this. We don’t take it seriously. This organisation should be criticised and must be criticised, and those who are ready to do so should be willing to take some of the words that Garba Shehu and Femi Adesina recycle every once in a while when we point out certain facts about the failings of President in terms of securing the country.“But the truth is, maybe they know this, maybe they don’t know, the Nigerian government has problems procuring weaponry from Western countries, because these countries, in most cases, have standards regarding conduct by their armed forces and related agencies, in terms of dealing on human rights issues, dealing with prisoners of war, dealing with populations caught up in conflicts.“Everybody knows this. They will not sell you one bullet unless they are satisfied that you’ve met certain criteria. And they have raised issues over and over and over again. The Nigerian government knows this. But they need to improve the conduct of the Nigerian military, in the fight against the insurgency, against terrorists. They know this.“And when someone points them out, either it is because of lethargy, it takes them a long time to adjust, or perhaps the challenges of the conflict don’t allow them to make adjustments while they’re also fighting, I don’t know what it is, but whatever it is, it is true that if we have met, or comply with standards, set by countries that should give us weapons, well, sell us weapons, we would have a lot more weapons that we have now.“So, whether it comes from Bishop Kukah, or it comes from me, we made this point. We want to buy weapons from some countries and improve the way we wage this war. It can be done, it must be done if you want these weapons.“You certainly don’t want to go the option of some other members of the government who say procure weapons from anywhere in the world, or just bring in mercenaries to fight a war for you.“So, I agree with Bishop Kukah that the government needs to review its attitude, some of those issues raised by countries that are creating problems, well, seemingly creating a problem for us in terms of selling weapons, and that the onus is on us to improve those conditions. It’s fact and we need it now.“We must not go to the 2023 elections with the current state of insecurity or worse state insecurity, not just because of the elections, but because life is getting worse by the day and it’s time to reverse this trend.“We cannot continue to live like this. Every inch of this country has one form of security challenge or the other and there are solutions to them. It cannot be that there are no solutions to the insecurities.“There must be something wrong in the way we are running the country. We should say so. We should raise our voices and demand that the people we voted into office, the President, the National Assembly, and governors, they must do better. We can’t live like rats hiding in holes and running away every year from criminals.“We just can’t. We’re tired. If they can’t operate in the country, there is an option. There is a provision in the constitution for stepping down if you can’t perform the most basic function available to you, which is to protect and secure citizens.“That’s what we’re saying but a few people thought that extreme but it is a statement of fact.”
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Two Explosions Rock Oil Storage Facilities In Russian Military Base
Suspected Ukrainian missile strikes have blown up two oil storage facilities supplying President Vladimir Putin’s troops fighting for control of Donbas.Flames lit up the sky over Russia in the early hours of Monday, at the Transneft-Druzhba Oil Depot, located in the city of Bryansk around 70 miles from the Ukrainian border; it caught fire at 2am local time before a second fire broke out at a nearby military facility around 15 minutes later, Russian state media said on Monday morning.
One of the fires broke out in the video of the moment appeared to capture the sound of an incoming missile before a large explosion and fireball. Bryansk is a logistical hub for Russian forces battling Ukraine in Donbas, while the Druzhba pipeline is one of the main routes for Russian oil to reach Europe.The blasts came as British intelligence said Russia had “yet to achieve a significant breakthrough” of defensive lines in Donbas despite Ukraine imposing a “significant cost” on Putin’s forces.Britain’s Ministry of Defence said poor logistical and combat support were hampering Russia’s advances, as they did in the failed effort to take Kyiv. According to the report, Ukrainian defenders holed up in the Azovstal steel works in the southern city of Mariupol – which is still under siege – were also pinning down “many Russian units” and preventing them from redeploying to the Donbas front, while also exhausting Putin’s troops and reducing their combat effectiveness, the MoD added.Russia’s war on Ukraine – which was intended to take just days and end with the toppling of its pro-Western government – is now into its third month, with Kyiv claiming to have killed almost 22,000 Russian soldiers while destroying military equipment worth hundreds of millions of dollars in the process.In that time, Putin’s army has suffered a number of embarrassing losses – most notably the Moskva missile cruiser, which is thought to have been destroyed by Ukrainian missiles. The seeming inability to prevent Ukraine from striking targets inside Russia with missiles is also likely causing red faces inside the Kremlin.
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