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Author: Day Break

Ex-DSS Official Gumi Met Bandits Near A Military Post
Security forces did not engage Kagara kidnappers to avoid collateral damage, former DSS official claims…
A former assistant director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Dennis Amachree, on Monday, explained that the security agents who were ordered to rescue victims of Kagara abduction didn’t engage the bandits in a gun battle in order to avoid collateral damage.
Amachree, who stated this on Channels Television morning show
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that the bandits could easily use the captives as a human shield if the security forces had engaged them in a battle.
He also said the compound where the popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, met bandits in a forest in Niger State to discuss the release of the abducted students and teachers of Government Science College, Kangara, was very close to a military post.
He said, “When you see bandits like that if their number is large, you will decide whether you want to get reinforcement to move in there. Then secondly, sometimes they have hostages with them and the hostages then become human shields for them.
“So, if you go in there, there will be a lot of collateral damage. So, these are the considerations. I am not currently in the theatre of what is happening there. So, I don’t know what the commanders of that area are doing but I can tell you they are not just sitting down.”
According to him, the security officials were asked to drop their weapons at a nearby military outpost before they were allowed to gain entry into the compound where about 700 bandits were camped.
Responding to insinuations in various quarters about why Gumi was able to easily access bandits while security agents were finding it difficult to do so, Amachree said, “It is not a matter of they don’t know. I think they know but you know, you just don’t jump into 700 fully armed people because the tactics have to be planned properly to handle things like that.”
February 23, 2021
Scores feared dead as heavy explosions, Gunshots rock Maiduguri
Heavy explosions and the sound of gunshots that engulfed some parts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital have claimed many lives with others injured.
This has forced many residents in the affected areas to scamper for safety.
The explosion and firing of Rocket Propelled grenades which started at about 5:45 pm up to the time of filing in this report were heard around Kaleri behind the University of Maiduguri, Adam Kolo, Limanti and Kagarmari wards of the metropolis.
Sources also said sounds of gunshots were heard around Fori and Cashew plantation general area near Giwa military barracks.
Sources said, armed insurgents were behind the attack attempting to infiltrate the city, as troops engaged them.
Maiduguri has been long without witnessing any Boko Haram invasion, even as the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru last Sunday while on Operational Visit to the state gave 48 hours ultimatum to troops to recapture Marte Local Government Area which is currently under the control of Boko Haram.
One of the fleeing residents of Kagalmari, Ahmed Abba near Pole wire Biyu of Gwange General Area in the heart of the city said “a heavy explosion which was detonated in one of the public gatherings led to the killing of scores and injured.
Also, sources said, one of the Rocket Propelled Launchers fired by the insurgents into Kaleri has killed an unspecified number of residents with others sustained injuries.
All efforts to get confirmation from the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Edet Okon proved abortive at press time.
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February 23, 2021
Reno Omokri Blasts Sheikh Gumi Over Herdsmen Killings
Reno Omokri has asked why Nigerians will allow Islamic cleric, Sheikh Gum appear on TV to make utterances in defence of bandits, Igbere TV reports.
Reno said this in reaction to Sheikh Gumi’s statement during an interview on Channel’s TV. Sheikh Gumi said bandits do not kill people and for those who have killed so far, it was “accidental”.
Gumi added that when bandits attack communities and burn houses, it is done in revenge and it’s an ethnic issue, not a criminal issue.
Responding, Reno wrote:
‘We must be mad as a nation, when a character like Sheikh Gumi, will come on national TV and say herdsmen don’t kill, and if they do, it is “accidental”.
‘This is the same man caught on camera telling herdsmen that it is Christian soldiers that are killing them to “ignite crisis”. The man did not even apologise for telling that lie. Gumi is not a negotiator for herdsmen. He is an enabler!
“If I tell you a joke, you will laugh. If I repeat it, you may still laugh. If I repeat it a 3rd time, you will think I am mad. If we can’t keep laughing at the same joke, why does Nigeria keep crying for the same tragedy? Daily, herdsmen kill us and we just cry. Are we not mad?”
February 23, 2021
Abia Government: Smart Adeyemi Suffering From Protracted Case Of Mental Illness
Our attention has been drawn to comments made by the Senator representing Kogi West in the Senate, @SenSmartAdeyemi on the floor of the Senate yesterday, Monday, 22nd February, 2021. While the Senate was debating a motion on how to protect schools across the country.
Senator Adeyemi in his contribution stated that while his State Governor had awarded contracts for the renovation of schools, Abia is governed by drunkards. He then went ahead to say that the Governor of Abia State is a “champagne drinking Governor”.
Our initial response was to totally ignore the story because it is difficult to believe that a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will reduce both himself and the institution of the Senate to such gutter level, but having confirmed that indeed, the Senator made such comments, a response has become imperative.
Our view is that the Senator is either suffering from a protracted case of mental illness or is battling with occasional fits of schizophrenia which manifests in making careless, dishonorable, unrelated and incoherent statements.
This conclusion becomes irresistible judging from the total disconnect between the matter being discussed by the Senate and the comments made by the Senator as they affect the Governor.
If Senator Adeyemi was of sound mind, he should have known that when it comes to education, Abia is miles ahead of his home State of Kogi. Indeed, not just in education but in every single area of development.
If Senator Adeyemi had his faculties intact, he should have known that under the watch of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia State has maintained first position in WAEC Examinations in the entire country for five years now.
Kogi has not come close to the first 20. Never!
Ever since @GovernorIkpeazu became Governor in Abia State, there hasn’t been one single case of attack on any school anywhere in Abia State.
Senator Smart Adeyemi is clearly non compos mentis.
If not, he would have known that while his State is still awarding contracts for the renovation of schools, Abia had long completed more than 500 classroom projects scattered across schools in Abia State, and still counting.
It is obvious that Senator Adeyemi is battling with acute dementia and has lost every of his instincts as a journalist. If not, he would have known that just last week, the National Bureau of Statistics adjudged Abia State as No. 3 on the list of States that attracted foreign direct investments, with only Lagos and Abuja ahead of Abia State in the entire country.
It takes much more than drinking champagne to guide a state from zero foreign investnents to No. 3 in the country.
Kogi State featured prominently on the list of states that attracted zero investments. It is only a state that is peaceful and secure that has the capacity to attract such cross border investments.
Some weeks ago, the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) branded Kogi State unsafe for their consistent lip service to the COVID-19 pandemic. Senator Adeyemi was never heard to have either responded to that statement by the @NCDCgov or raise it on the floor of the Senate.
Yet, he has the effontery, or rather, the buffonrey, to abuse a Governor whose state has maintained one of the lowest COVID-19 fatality rates in the country through proactive measures to protect our people.
Between a Governor who has consistently denied the existence of Covid and the one who has put in place measures to protect his people, one wonders who is the drunkard.
Let us even interrogate the statements of Senator Adeyemi further.
According to him, his comments against Governor Okezie Ikpeazu were in response to some comments allegedly made by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe against the Governor of Kogi State in a social media post.
This response, without more, confirms that Senator Adeyemi is mentally unstable.
If Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe made negative comments against the Governor of Kogi State, the proper approach was to respond to the Senator directly.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, be vicariously liable for the comments allegedly made by Senator Abaribe.
Interestingly, Senator Abaribe clearly denied ever making such comments against the Kogi State Governor.
For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu does not take alcoholic drinks and he is shocked at the schizophrenic outburts of Senator Adeyemi whom he has never met nor had any dealings whatsoever with officially nor privately.
Governor Ikpeazu makes it abundantly clear to the Senator that save for the parliamentary privilege which he unfortunately enjoys, Senator Adeyemi would have been put to the strictest proof of his wild and senseless comments before a Court of Law.
Governor Ikpeazu concludes by advising the Senator to quickly seek psychiatric help before his case becomes unmanageable.
February 23, 2021
Reveal: Why We Didn’t Rescue Victims Of Abuja Air Crash
A man simply identified as John has explained why victims of the air force jet that crashed on Sunday were not rescued.
John, who told our Reporters that he was among the first set of persons who got to the scene of the accident, said the victims were alive after the the aircraft crashed.
He said it took over 30 minutes for rescue officials to get to the scene, disclosing that those on ground attempted to rescue the trapped occupants but smoke billowing from the ill-fated aircraft prevented from doing so.

John said while they were trying to put out the smoke, the aircraft exploded and they all fled to safety.
He said the crash happened 100 meters away from Bassa village, hence, no confirmed cases of ground casualties.
the aircraft crashed few minutes after leaving the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, killing all the seven persons on board.
Ibikunle Daramola, spokesman of the force, confirmed the incident, saying investigation was ongoing.
Our correspondent at the scene of the accident said at about 12pm, the black box and the cockpit recorder were all recovered.
He also saw lifeless bodies being taken into body bags and hauled into waiting ambulances.
Working with the Airbforce personnel, the investigators immediately began to map out the body parts of the aircraft lay strewn around the crash site.
The aircraft was said to have reported engine failure at 10:39am and crashed on the final approach path of Abuja runway 22 at 10:48am.
February 22, 2021
NDDC To Train Unemployed Youths At Innoson Motors
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says all is now set for the training of indigent Niger Delta youths on technical skills at Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company.
This is contained in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Ibitoye Abosede, and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Port Harcourt.
Abosede quoted the NDDC’s Interim Administrator, Efiong Akwa, as stating this after inspecting facilities at Innoson’s factory in Nnewi, Anambra.
Akwa, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Youths, Mr Udengs Eradiri, said that the training would commence at Innoson Kiara Academy, a technical and vocational institution, affiliated to Innoson.
”The youth will be trained in fabrication, assembly, painting and corrosion control, among others.
”We thought that due to the growing economy of the Niger Delta, it is important to begin to grow our own skills to be better and able to manage our economy.
”Though NDDC is already in partnership with Innoson on training of youths in different aspects of automobile maintenance, this visit is to firm up the partnership,” he said.
Akwa said that the commission decided to train the youth, with focus on setting up a vehicle manufacturing plant in the Niger Delta in the near future.
He stated that the Presidential Amnesty Programme had trained several youths from the region in the facility, with good results.
”So, we are aware that the training facility teaches skills, altitude and entrepreneurship.
”We know that if the youth learn one skill or the other, they should be able to translate it into financial gains,” he said.
Also speaking, Innoson’s Kiara Academy Chief Executive Officer, Mr Endi Ezengwa, thanked the commission for considering the facilities at Innoson motors for the training.
According to him, the region is blessed with so much talent that needed to be harnessed and channelled into constructive use, for the industrialisation of the Niger Delta zone.
”Innoson Group will, in due course, set up workshops in the Niger Delta zone, in collaboration with organisations like NDDC,” he assured.
February 22, 2021
Shortage Of Beef, Tomatoes, Onions Loom In Southern Nigeria
Acute shortage of beef, vegetables, tomatoes and onions, among other essential edibles from the North may soon hit Southern Nigeria, as foodstuff and cattle breeders have threatened to withdraw their services.

National President of the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AUFCDN), Muhammad Tahir, who disclosed this in Abuja, yesterday, explained that the association had lost property and several members and were, therefore, demanding N475b as compensation from the Federal Government.
He hinted that unless the Federal Government addressed its grievances on or before Wednesday, February 24, 2021, it would have no other choice than to withdraw its services.
The association, an affiliate of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said several letters written to President Muhammadu Buhari, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha and governors of the 36 states had not been acknowledged.
He, however, pointed out that the National Assembly had addressed their grievances by referring the issue to its Ethics and Privileges Committee, adding that the two weeks given to the committee to consider the matter was too long for the breeders.
The association also expressed concern over “incessant attacks” on its members and their property across the country including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
It revealed that despite its several complaints and engagements with the presidency, security agencies, and other relevant ministries that regulate its operations as contained in its three weeks ultimatum issued on November 7, 2020, its members have continued to suffer intimidation, frustration, humiliation, destruction of their property and carnage.
“During the #EndSars protests, our members were killed and their property destroyed. We demanded compensations for lives and property our members lost.
“We have also written to various security agencies on multiple taxation hampering activities of our members through illegal roadblocks at unavoidable and strategic locations on federal highways and demand tax worth N450,000 before reaching our destinations.
“It is sad that some of the federal highways are not accessible to our members, as a result of multiple taxation, armed robbery attacks and kidnapping of our members until ransom are paid,” he lamented.
Tahir noted that the recent violence in Shasha, Ibadan, Oyo State, claimed the lives and property of its members.
It urged the Federal Government to revisit its demands at various times to address the issues, which include, but not limited to compensation for lives and property.
Its other demands are: “To protect the rights of our members on transit and at their business places and dismantling of roadblocks on highways by hoodlums in disregard for laws of the country, especially from Adamawa, Taraba, Benue to Port Harcourt.
“We seek an agreement between state governments and the union to the effect that henceforth, if any violence erupt in any state and our members are attacked, we will immediately withdraw our services.”
February 22, 2021
Adesua Etomi Gives Birth To A Son, see (maternity Photoshoot)
Beautiful Nollywood actress, Adesua Etomi and her husband, Banky W have welcomed a baby boy.
Sharing the news on her 33rd birthday today, Mrs Wellington shared her maternity photos
February 22, 2021
Get ready To Pay N195 Per Litre For Petrol, IPMAN Tell Nigerians
Members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, have advised Nigerians to expect a higher petrol pump price in the coming days, saying the price may rise to N195 per litre.
They lamented what they described as “inconsistencies” on the part of the Federal Government, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiary, the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) on deregulation policy.
NNPC had last week ruled out immediate price rise until a scheduled meeting between the Federal Government and labour unions at the end of the month.
But IPMAN members have revealed that petrol may sell between N190 and N195 soon.
They said despite NNPC assurance of product availability, independent marketers could not access the product from NNPC depots forcing them to rely on independent depot owners for supplies.
Speaking to journalists after a meeting in Abuja at the weekend, Chief Executive Officer of Kankada Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, Danasabe Kakanda, accused the government of giving the private depot owners edge over independent marketers.
He explained that independent marketers were always left at the mercies of private depot owners from whom they rely on supplies even though they also own filling stations and compete with the marketers.
He said: “With the inconsistencies of government, Nigerians should expect the price of fuel to be between N190 to N195”.
Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer of Foste Nigeria Limited, Chief Austin Erhabor, urged the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva through NNPC to come out clear to explain to Nigerians whether they have deregulated the petroleum supply chain or not.
“It is time for them to separate politics from economics. Our business is dying. How can you be talking about deregulation and you are mentioning official pump price”, he queried.
Erhabor exonerated petroleum marketers in the ongoing uncertainty in the supply chain, saying the sector is suffering from confusing government policies.
“These private depot owners were not supposed to own filling stations. They were supposed to be in the middle between NNPC and the independent marketers. Is it fair for somebody that I am buying from, my competitor, I buy from you, you come and build station close to me, and you are the one that is supplying me, how can I sell? Because if you want me to die off the business, all you need to do is to supply to the level you are selling to me in your depots”, he added.
The Foste Nigeria Limited boss accused private depot owners of systematically edging the independent marketers out of business by
hoarding petroleum products to ensure that only their filling stations are loaded first.
“As we speak most of us have paid money to these depots without getting the product. And before your eyes, they are loading up their own trucks. These private depots are known”, he said.
On his part, former National Publicity Secretary of IPMAN, Dr Emma Ihedigbo, also said the oil marketers are no longer happy about what government agencies are doing with the petrol supply chain.
“What we are saying in effect is that we are crying out that, PPMC want to strangulate IPMAN members and all the businessmen dealing in petroleum products and we are no longer happy about it. And if nothing is done, we will come out and tell the world what is going on”, he said.
February 22, 2021
Nothing Wrong In Negotiating With Bandits – FG
The federal government has maintained that there is nothing wrong in dialoguing with bandits.
Last Wednesday, gunmen suspected to be bandits stormed the Government Science College (GSC) Kagara, Rafi LGA of Niger state, and kidnapped several students, members of staff, and some members of their families.
Abubakar Bello, governor of Niger, had noted that his government is doing everything to rescue the victims, including facilitating negotiations with the bandits.
While speaking during a radio programme monitored by NAN on Sunday, Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, responded to Nigerians who had spoken against the strategy of dialoguing with criminals.
Lai stated that nothing is wrong in dialoguing with bandits, as long as the ultimate objective is to make peace.
“After war, people still sit to dialogue. So if some people have taken it upon themselves to visit these people so that they can embrace peace, I don’t think there is anything wrong with that,” the minister explained.
Speaking further, he noted that the federal government will not pay any ransom to secure the release of abductees of GSC Kagara.
He also denied that ransom was paid to secure the release of over 300 children abducted in Kankara, Katsina state.
On the herders-farmers crisis in parts of the country, Lai said the government is taking steps to address it.
He said the steps include plans for intensive cattle-rearing to ensure that cattle rearing and crop farming don’t conflict.
February 22, 2021