Armed men early Sunday morning broke into a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) parish in Ogun State, killing the pastor and kidnapping some worshipers.
Commander of the Ogun State So-Safe Corps, Soji Ganzallo, on Sunday morning, reported that the event happened at about 12 am on Sunday, July 2, at Abule-Ori in the state’s Obafemi Owode Local Government Area.
According to him, his officers have already freed seven churchgoers and killed one of the captors during a raid.
In a statement signed by the So-Safe Director of Information and Public Relations, Moruf Yusuf, Ganzallo “the special operation team of the Corps, Owode-Egba Zonal Command, under ACC Jimoh Rasaki Omoniyi, received a distress call that some of the members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Desire of Nations Parish, under Ogun Province 22, Abule-Ori in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area were attacked during a vigil, while seven members of the church were kidnapped and the pastor killed.”
He stated that officers of the Corps were charged to go after the suspects to rescue the victims unhurt, stating that “the officers swung into action immediately.”
Ganzallo further disclosed that the efforts of the corps yielded a positive result as “the seven victims were rescued unhurt while one of the kidnappers was killed and many of the suspects sustained serious injury during a fire exchange.”
He also said that a manhunt had been started for the fugitive alleged kidnappers by the combined police and So-Safe Corps squad.
He observed that the deceased kidnapper’s body had been left at a neighboring mortuary.
The Economic Commission for West African States (ECOWAS) says it is in support of President Bola Tinubu’s efforts aimed at repositioning Nigeria as the true giant of Africa.
President of Guinea- Buissau and Chairman Authority ECOWAS Head of State and Government, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, said this during a private visit to Tinubu on Saturday in Lagos.
He said that the economic steps so far taken would not only be for the good of Nigeria but the entire West African sub-region.
Addressing newsmen after the visit, Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communications and Strategy to the President, Mr. Dele Alake said the visit was strictly private.
“It was a meeting between two African brother-presidents and it was very cordial. Of course, the visiting president appreciated the steps taken by President Bola Tinubu within the last month.
“He said he is ready to cooperate with Nigeria and President Bola Tinubu at all times just as the rest of the world have commended him over his recent policies.
“They also spoke of the ECOWAS head of government meeting which is imminently coming up and also spoke on other areas of cooperation,” he said.
The meeting was attended by Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Dele Alake, among others.
The Guinea-Bissau leader has left after the over three hours private meeting.
Helpless Mrs Otagbor was burnt to death by an irate mob
The Police Command in Cross River has launched a manhunt for the killers of a woman accused of witchcraft in the Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Gyogon Grimah directed that the perpetrators be arrested and prosecuted according to the law.
This is contained in a statement by the Spokesperson of the command, SP Irene Ugbo, on Saturday.
The commissioner who described the incident as unfortunate, noted that no person had the right to take another life under any guise.
The deceased, Mrs. Martina Itagbor, a mother of four, was accused of witchcraft following the death of two young men in a car crash that also left many injured.
Following the accusation, the mother of four was beaten and burnt to death by some youths of Old Ntem community in Akamkpa council area of Cross River.
The Police said the heinous crime was one the police frowned at and would do everything necessary to ensure such did not repeat itself again.
According to him, “The issue of jungle justice is one crime that the Police do not take lightly and as such, we have already commenced a manhunt for those responsible for the dastardly act.
“Those responsible, no matter highly placed, will be arrested and prosecuted according to the laws of the land.”
Meanwhile, Governor Bassey Otu has said that the state, like every other part of the country, is governed by constitutional order and that no form of brigandage and criminal acts will be tolerated.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbeche, Otu directed the law enforcement agency to arrest and ensure that the perpetrators met with the full weight of the laws.
The governor said that the allegation if proven true, was repulsive and against all civility.
“My attention has been drawn to the alleged burning to death of a citizen of the state in Akammkpa Local Government Area of the state by some unscrupulous, wild, and criminally- minded youths.
“It is sheer savagery and cowardice for the youths or anybody to take the laws into their hands, more so, involving a helpless woman.
According to the governor, “Such abhorrent acts have no place in our constitutional democracy that Nigeria practices which our state is part of.
“Our people must do away with all relics of culture that promote violence, murder, and criminality such as in this instance.
“To this end, I am directing the Commissioner of Police in the state to mobilise all tactical and investigative assets and ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous act are brought to justice.
“I further wish to warn against all of such acts as we have laws and statutes to deal with such of wrongdoings and disagreements.”
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has said they have no intention of further increasing the pump price of petrol.
According to the Chairman of IPMAN Southwest Zone, Alhaji Dele Tajudeen, Nigerians should disregard reports making the rounds that the Association plans to increase the price of petrol to N700 per litre.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on May 29, told Nigerians that the era of subsidy was gone.
Speaking Friday in Ibadan, Tajudeen urged Nigerians to disregard the reports and stop engaging in panic buying insisting that there is no plan to increase the price above the price it is being sold at the moment.
“Even in the PIA, it has been clearly stated that the subsidy must be removed, so, I want to commend him for removing the subsidy and I want to say that we are in total support totally. This is because the subsidy was a scam.”
He said the slight increase in pump price was because of the transportation cost and that Nigerians should be at rest as the commodity will not be out of reach for the masses.
“I want to disabuse the mind of the people that they should not panic about it, there is no cause for alarm, we are in control and there is nothing like that.
“So, people should be rest assured that there is no way they can buy petrol more than the price it is being sold now.
“If we look at the price from NNPC retail limited, which is an integral part of NNPC limited, they have more advantages than independent marketers and major marketers.
”So, it was the retail price that they announced they had never given a specific price to the independent marketers.
“However, I have read what somebody put into the paper, it is just speculation, it is not a reality. Nothing like that I want to assure the masses.
“There is no way the price can go to N700 as we speak, because even if the FX is N700 or N800 that has not nothing to take the price of petroleum from N500 to N700,” Tajudeen said.
He noted that the product had been deregulated, hence the differential in prices was due to transportation as it is related to location.
”If you are moving products within Lagos the price may not be more than N300,000 but if you are moving up to Ibadan or there about it could be as much as N500,000.
”And if you are going to Ilorin, it could be as high as N700,000 that would account for the difference in prices.
“I want to say with all sense of authority that as of today within Lagos metropolis nobody should sell more than N515 to N520 per litre.
”Though NNPC has given us the price, the reality of it is that what we buy from the market; because NNPC limited is not the only source for our product, we get it from private depots.
“So, whatever we buy is what we put on our own margin and sell.
”But as of today, the highest you can get anywhere should be around N550; Lagos N510 per litre; Ogun State between N500 and N520,” Tajudeen said.
One of the most prominent women in African tech — and Google’s pioneering West Africa Director, Dr. Juliet Ehimuan, has left the company after 12 years.
Dr. Juliet Ehimuan, one of the most prominent African women in tech and an instrumental leader in Google’s regional growth, has announced her departure from the company via LinkedIn, stating her intent to take on a broader role within the regional tech landscape.
A respected figure in the tech industry and key player in Google’s African initiatives, Ehimuan unveiled plans to collaborate with corporate executives, global investors, African governments and start-up founders to drive growth, excellence and digital transformation within the African tech ecosystem and the broader business landscape.
Africa’s tech ecosystem has seen significant interest from global leaders recently – this month alone, Sam Altman of OpenAI, Bill Gates and tech investor Erik Moore were all in Lagos, where they each convened the local tech ecosystem – projecting their interest and positioning themselves as players in Africa.
These high-profile engagements underscore the global tech community’s recognition of the wealth of innovation and potential on the continent, the fact of Africa’s place as a destination for investment up and down the tech value chain, and their desire to connect and engage with it.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has approved the appointment and redeployment of more General Officers Commanding (GOCs), Commanders and other officers to enhance administrative and operational efficiency of the Nigerian Army.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Friday in Abuja.
Those affected include VU Okoro, a major general, from Department of Army Operations to 2 Division as GOC; HT Dada, a major general, from Defence Intelligence Agency, to 82 Division as GOC and Muhammed Usman, a major general, redeployed from 2 Division to 82 Division.
Also redeployed are: Maj. Gen. KA Isoni, as Commander Army Headquarters Garrison; and Maj. Gen. AE Abubakar, from 7 Division/Sector 1 OPHK, to 3 Division as GOC and Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN.
According to Mr Nwachukwu, the new Corps Commanders are Maj. Gen. GO Adesina, Commander Signals Corps; Maj. Gen. OO Oluyede, Commander, Infantry Corps; and Maj. Gen. HG Tafida, as Commander, Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps.
“Maj.-Gen. EL Ugwuoke is appointed Corps Commander, Ordinance Corps and Brig.-Gen. SI Musa, Acting Director Legal Services, while Brig.-Gen. ND Shagaya is now the Commandant Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport.
“Among the newly redeployed Defence and Army Headquarters Principal Staff Officers are Maj.-Gen. Emeka Onumajuru from Department of Special Services and Programmes (Army) to Defence Headquarters and appointed Chief of Defence Operations.
“Also appointed are Maj.-Gen. ES Buba who moved from Defence Intelligence Agency to DHQ as Director Defence Media Operations; Maj.-Gen. OR Aiyenigba, Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation; and Maj.-Gen. Jimmy Akpor, Chief of Administration (Army).
“Others are Maj.-Gen. HT Wesley from TRADOC to Army Headquarters as Chief of Special Services and Programmes, Maj.-Gen. Y Yahaya, appointed Chief of Personnel Management.
“Maj.-Gen. IM Jallo moves from Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans to Office of the COAS as Director Inspection and Compliance,” he said.
Mr Nwachukwu added that Maj. Gen. EA Anaryu, moves from the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre as Deputy Commandant, and Maj. Gen. NJ Edet, from Headquarters 9 Brigade to Headquarters 14 Brigade as the new Commander.
He added that Brig. Gen. JIB Manjang, was redeployed from Army War College Nigeria to the Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management as Deputy Commandant, among several others.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya during the Durbar celebration
Governor State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON on Friday played host to the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Dr Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III, CFR and other eminent traditional title holders of Gombe Emirate on a Sallah Homage as part Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
The visit witnessed a colourful royal Durbar and other traditional displays.
The annual Sallah homage to the Government House is an age-long tradition and is usually led by the Emir in the company of district heads and members of his traditional council.
In an address at the occasion, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya remarked that the successes so far recorded by his administration would not have been possible without the moral support of traditional, religious, and political leaders as well as the good people of the State.
“The achievements under my watch are not my making alone, the political, traditional, and religious leaders as well as men, women, and the youths; all played pivotal roles towards attaining these feats; so we are grateful to all”.
Governor Inuwa, who is also the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, used the occasion to assure the people of the State that the second lap of his administration will witness the provision of more dividends of democracy that will make Gombe stand shoulder to shoulder with its peers and continue to be a reference point to others.
He noted that in spite of the numerous socio-economic challenges, his administration has remained undaunted towards the provision of critical infrastructure and other social amenities as contained in his campaign manifesto.
The Governor appealed to the Emir of Gombe and other traditional rulers in the state not to relent in seeking for opportunities and ways that will further bring development to the people of the state.
He assured the people that his administration will not relent in seeking the support, cooperation, and wise counsel of the traditional rulers and opinion leaders in order to lead the State in the most effective, efficient, and equitable manner.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is proud of Gombe State based on verifiable indicators that promote and enhance the fiscal and physical development of the State.
He called on the people of the state to continue to exercise patience as Government at the national and sub-national levels are working to stabilize the economic condition of the people.
The Governor noted that it was the determination of his administration to create an enabling environment for economic development that led to the state’s emergence as number one in the Ease of Doing Business ranking for two consecutive times.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya called on the people of the state, particularly the youths to take advantage of the growing economic opportunities and possibilities in the state to engage in meaningful ventures and contribute to the growth and development of the State.
He expressed gratitude to the Almighty Allah and the Emir of Gombe for leading his council members and other Muslim faithful to the Government House for the traditional Sallah homage.
Governor Inuwa equally thanked the royal father for paying glowing tribute to him and acknowledging his administration’s modest efforts towards repositioning Gombe State as well as uniting the people through purposeful leadership.
Earlier speaking, the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Dr Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III, CFR paid glowing tribute to Governor Inuwa Yahaya, noting that there is no area in the state that has not witnessed the remarkable and developmental strides of the APC- led administration.
He scored Governor Inuwa’s administration very high in areas of roads construction; where he noted that over 700 KM of roads have been put up across the nooks and crannies of the State with special emphasis on the provision of ultramodern solar streetlights in the Gombe metropolis, revitalization of healthcare facilities, repositioning of the education sector; in particular construction and renovation of over 1140 classes; mopping up of out of school children and returning them back to the classroom, industrial revolution going on in the State; especially with the construction of the 1000-hectare Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park, prompt payment of salaries and settlement of outstanding gratuity of retirees, among others.
He described the achievements so far recorded by the Governor as monumental and unprecedented in the history of Gombe State.
He also described the commitment of the Governor as one deserving of applause of all men and women of goodwill.
The Emir of Gombe, who is also the Chairman of Gombe State Council of Emirs and Chiefs, assured Governor Inuwa Yahaya of the support of the traditional institution in the state in the overall interest of the people.
The royal father later led hundreds of horsemen clad in colorful robes and regalia to stage a spectacular Durbar to the admiration of the Governor and other dignitaries present.
The coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Friday tackled the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) over allegations that it was planning to increase the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
Others who signed the statement were officials of Oil and Gas Transparency and Advocacy Group, Civil Society Coalition for Economic Development (CED), Centre for Citizens Rights, Centre for Good Governance Advocacy and Action against Corruption in Nigeria, among several others.
In a statement jointly signed by the Convener, Dr Basil Musa and Co-Convener, Malam Haruna Maigida, in Abuja on behalf of others, the coalition said that IPMAN was running a parallel government which is inflicting untold hardship on Nigerians.
The CSOs said that information reaching them was to the effect that IPMAN was planning to increase petrol price to N700 per litre, a move which they vowed to resist by picketing IPMAN members’ filling stations across the country.
They accused the IPMAN of running a parallel government and inflicting pain on ordinary Nigerians through their unilateral adjustment of the price of petroleum.
They described the planned increment as unacceptable and called on the Federal Government to stop IPMAN from its alleged profiteering at the expense of ordinary Nigerians.
The CSOs said the move was an economic sabotage, coming at a time Nigerians are still trying to come out of the “price shock”, occasioned by the increment on May 29.
They said that Nigerians were already passing through difficult times over the recently adjusted fuel pump price with no palliative measures yet in place.
They vowed to mobilise their members and other stakeholders across the 36 states of the federation to embark on a protest, adding that the protest would target shutting down filling stations nationwide.
They added that Nigerians could not afford to be railroaded by IPMAN, in an alleged contraction of the position of the Federal Government on petroleum prices.
“As a Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), we are monitoring events and the proposed fuel pump hike to N700 per litre by IPMAN and we say it is unacceptable.
“If the government does not caution IPMAN, we see it as a deliberate collusion to drive Nigerians into unmitigated difficulties.
“As CSOs, we will not sit and watch that happen. We will mobilise Nigerians into a street protest and that should be taken from us.
“We watched the removal of the fuel subsidy regime by President Bola Tinubu in his inaugural address on May 29 and we take the dare consequences as part of the sacrifice, awaiting when the government would have settled to come up with ameliorative measures for the citizens.
“But for IPMAN to adjust fuel pump price will stoke protests because it is not in the interest of Nigerians,’ they said.
They said if IPMAN achieved the proposed increase, it would amount to over 451 per cent above what Tinubu Administration met in the office, thereby raising the fear of hyperinflation on the cost of goods and services.
They added that “IPMAN was largely behind the mystery litres of petrol consumption that suddenly dropped from 66 million per day to 40 million after fuel subsidy was removed.
“We advise the marketers association to brace up for a change as sharp practices in the downstream sector can no longer be condoned.”
Burkina Faso’s military government has suspended a French television news channel for a report on a jihadist insurgency which it said lacked objectivity and credibility, the latest escalation in a crackdown on foreign media.
Relations between Burkina Faso and its former coloniser France have soured since frustrations over worsening insecurity spurred two military takeovers last year.
French television channel, La Chaine Info (LCI), of private broadcaster TF1, was suspended for three months from June 23 over a report aired at the end of April, according to a statement by the national media regulator which was published on Thursday.
The media regulator said the report overplayed the scale of the insurgency and “seditiously” exposed “unverified” failures in Burkina Faso’s military response to the crisis.
TF1 did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The ruling junta has already suspended French-funded broadcasters Radio France Internationale and France24 for allegedly giving voice to Islamist militants staging an insurgency across the Sahel region, south of the Sahara.
In April, two French journalists working for newspapers Le Monde and Liberation were expelled from the country.
Burkina Faso is one of several West African countries grappling with an insurgency by groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State that took root in Mali in 2012.
The violence has killed thousands of civilians and displaced over six million people as militants have gained ground, according to the United Nations.
