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Author: Day Break

Kaduna Students: Kidnappers Demand ₦500 Million Ransom
Gunmen who abducted 39 students from the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Afaka, Igabi local government area of Kaduna state have demanded N500 million for the release of the students whom the Kaduna state government says comprise 23 females and 16 males.
Three parents of some of the abducted students have confirmed to our correspondents that the abductors have reached out and made a demand of N500 million for their release.
This is also as the kidnappers have released three videos showing the students in what appeared to be a forest area.
Kaduna State Government is yet to respond to the videos and ransom demand as the state Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan did not respond to calls and text messages sent to his phone.
However, Governor Nasir El-Rufai had in an interview with Channels TV and monitored by Daily Trust, on Friday ruled out the possibility of paying ransom or negotiating with the bandits.
Social media account of students
Using the abducted students Facebook accounts, the gunmen released three videos showing the students surrounded by gunmen in military uniform flogging them.
Some of the students earlier rescued from the college identified their friends and schoolmates from the videos to our correspondents.
In the first video released on Friday at 1:07pm through the Facebook account of Kelvita K. Dan, the 30 seconds video showed the abducted students in what appeared to be a forest area following which the gunmen pointed at a man in a red shirt and asked him to speak. “My name is Abubakar Yakubu,” he said.
“A student of Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation Kaduna. I am appealing to the Governor of Kaduna state, the state government and Federal government,” before the video ended.
Kelvita’s Facebook post appealed to the Nigerian government to come to their rescue by paying the N500 million demanded by their abductors.
She stated: “Please we really need your help, they are asking for N500 million.”
Roll call of students
Daily Trust reports that as soon as the second and third videos were posted through the Facebook page of Tasha Sandra, some of the students earlier rescued by the military burst into tears as they pointed out their friends and schoolmates.
Miracle Jacob, who sobbed uncontrollably, identified 11 of the abducted students from the video and gave their names as:
Rose Okoye,
Kauna Daniel,
Blessing Babale,
Regina John,
Rachel Adejimo,
Benson Emmanuel,
Susan Jatau,
Amina Yusuf Sale,
Jamila Yusuf Sale,
Sarah and Maman Ahmed.
Most of the female students were unclad with only wrappers tied around their chest while majority of the male students were shirtless.
She said one of the schoolmates they call Maman Ahmed was six months pregnant while Rose Okoye was preparing for her wedding.
In the second video posted around 11:30 am on Saturday, the gunmen were seen flogging the students while they screamed and appealed to the government to come to their rescue.
“Our life is in danger, just give them what they want,” some of the students screamed.
Others said: “They should just pay the ransom and allow us to go, our parents need us.”
The third video showed a gun pointed to a man identified as Benson Emmanuel who appealed to the government to secure their release.
“Most of us here have been badly injure, time is going, most of us here are having health issues and they are complaining about the government trying to send security operatives to come and rescue us which is almost impossible, because they have surrounded us saying anybody that comes from anywhere to try to rescue us or do anything by force, they are going to take our lives.”
“We are appealing to government to come now that is early because these people have bad mind towards us, we are appealing to the government to help us,” he said.
In the video, the voice of one of the bandits could be heard in Hausa saying a female should be allowed to speak and the camera was panned to a woman identified as Maman Ahmed.
Speaking in Hausa, she said: “Salamu alaikum, I am one of the students that were abducted from Forestry Mechanisation the day before yesterday. We are appealing to the government to help us. We heard they are saying that they will send soldiers to rescue us, we are urging them not to send anyone because they have assured us that if soldiers come, none of us will return home,” she said.
March 13, 2021
Don’t Dare Me Or I Will Teach You A Lesson-Wike To Akpabio
Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has drawn the battle line with Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, over the latter’s recent verbal attack on South-South governors.

Wike threatened to deal with Akpabio if he dared speak negatively about Rivers State, insisting that Akpabio had no authority to talk about his state.
The Governor, who spoke on Friday when he inaugurated an office complex his administration built for the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Port Harcourt, alleged Akpabio was behind a recent publication by militant groups asking the South-South to account for N55trn derivation money.
The new three-storey TUC building has a 500- seater auditorium, conference room and fully furnished offices.
Wike said as a Governor, Akpabio carried himself like a god wondering why he failed an ordinary senatorial election if he had performed as a Governor.
Wike said: “It is unfortunate I read what the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Akpabio said. I will tell him to talk less. We will tell him that when he was the governor he was acting like a king. There was money that time. The exchange rate was N150 per dollar. Today, it is N500 for a dollar.

“Akpabio had money but he had the temerity to ask South-South governors what they are doing with 13 per cent derivation. Akpabio should not talk to Rivers State at all. He has no such authority. He is not qualified to talk to Rivers State.
“If he wants to talk he should concentrate in Akwa Ibom State or else we teach him a lesson here. Akpabio should know that enough is enough.

“If he should talk here I will teach him a lesson. I am not a sycophant and I am not an inconsistent person. I don’t give a damn. He cannot say he sees me in the villa.”
He added: “So, if he wants to talk let him concentrate on his state not to venture again talk about Rivers. If he does it again, he will regret. I am not one of those governors he can turn around. I am not that kind of person. People should say what they practice.

“I will show you a video where the President said they should come and learn from me what we are doing here. People forget they just come out and talk any how”.
Referring to Thursday’s inauguration of the permanent headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Wike said Akpabio failed to confirm from the South-South Governors the date that would be suitable for them.
None of the South-South governors attended the event, which occurred a day after Akpabio blasted them for demanding an inauguration of the board of the NDDC.
But Wike said: “He (Akpabio) went and asked so-called South-South militants that we should render account of N55trilion naira. Where did he get the N55trilion from?

“If we got N55trn then he got N200trn. You came to commission a project you can’t ask the governors when is suitable for them. Later they said they boycotted the programme. Boycotted what?

“You promised you were going to partner with me when we were doing the Eastern bypass but you ran away and now you are enjoying it. Akpabio be careful.
“Don’t go and pay money to people to type propaganda against governors. You will suffer for it at the end of the day.

“We know what Akpabio was doing as a Governor. He saw himself as god then. Now he has the temerity to insult South-South governors. We will meet one day. If he did well, why did he fail his senatorial election?
“You will finish from Abuja and you will come here. When you were begging governors to come and talk on your behalf. Now you are fighting us. I will abuse you back at the appropriate time. I am only making introduction today. What I will do be prepared.

“Now you have gone to look for trouble, I will give you trouble. You will never sleep again. This is why Nigeria cannot move forward. You ran to the other party for protection.
“The same party that say they are fighting corruption. You can just say anything. Abuse governors. Don’t dare me”.
March 13, 2021
LASG To Fast Track Infrastructural Development In Ikorodu
The Lagos State Government has expressed readiness to reconfigure the Ikorodu Roundabout in its bid to unlock traffic gridlock, checkmate the activities of the roadside traders and other impediments to the free flow of traffic.
The State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, made this known during a Stakeholders’ engagement with the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, His Royal Highness, Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi, Chiefs, prominent personalities and community leaders in Ikorodu, held at the Ayangburen’s Palace.
He explained that in the light of the exploding population of Ikorodu, there is need to fast track infrastructural development that will be commensurate with the growth rate of the area and in line with the State’s Transport Master Plan
Dr. Oladeinde reiterated that transportation is the engine room of the economy, noting that once the transport issue is adequately addressed, the ripple effects on other critical sectors of the economy would be positive.
“We have come today to discuss with you how we can maximise the space presently occupied by the Ikorodu Roundabout despite the challenges posed by the activities of public transport and roadside traders. Among other things, we want to remove the Ikorodu Roundabout and create laybys. This is just a step forward into getting a permanent solution to the gridlock in this area”, the Commissioner stated.
He also disclosed that the Ikorodu Roundabout reconfiguration is just one of the stop-gap measures to solve the gridlock in the short term, stressing that the State government is doing a lot to improve water transportation in the State, with Ikorodu well-positioned to benefit immensely, adding that the Orange Line Rail project is in the pipeline as part of the long term transportation plan expected to take off from Ikeja to Agbowa.
The Commissioner promised to integrate all the contributions made by the Oba and others into the current proposal on the reconfiguration of the Ikorodu roundabout and subsequently the multimodal transport plan of the State.
The Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi, disclosed that the expectations of the residents of Ikorodu over the long term plan are – the construction of Fly-Overs at Ikorodu Roundabout, Ogolonto and Agric Bus Stop by the State government – but he acknowledged that embarking on these projects will be capital intensive, hence the need to support the proposed roundabout intervention.
Oba Shotobi said, “I want us to support and rally-round the Commissioner for Transportation and his team on this noble project. We should not criticise him and his team so much that he will be demoralised. Let us accept this as we expect bigger projects in Ikorodu from the State Government”.
The Mogaji of Ikorodu, Engr. Bawa Allah, opined that the provision for service lane from Ikorodu to Majidun should be maximised by the State Government to decongest the road, adding that the construction of the Fourth Mainland Bridge and coastal roads will further ease traffic gridlock as there will be many outlets from Ikorodu.
In his contribution, the Chairman, Ikorodu Central Local Government, Mr. Wasiu Adeshina reiterated the need for enforcement, especially on traders who display their wares beyond the drainages at the garage, noting that the encroachment of roadside traders into the main road is a major contributor to the traffic gridlock being presently experienced.
March 13, 2021
Nigeria in a lot of trouble, COAS tells Reps
The COAS’ representative also said, “We are at your service, we are here to serve you as a people, to serve all Nigerians. And we cannot pretend that we do not know there is a crisis all over the country.
“The Chief of Army Staff cannot be at every location at every time. He is on the way trying to get to know his men. He took over barely a week ago. He is going around trying to get first-hand information as to the capability of the fighting force he is leading.”
One of the lawmakers, Aliyu Al-Mustapha alleged that criminals had been caught with arms and ammunition said to have been procured by the Armed Forces.
He said, “You can bear witness to the fact that Nigeria is embroiled in serious security issues and year in year out, appropriations were made and huge sums expended on procurement of arms and ammunition.
The House of Representatives’ ad hoc committee set up to audit arms and ammunition procured by the Armed Forces has criticised the new Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, for failing to appear before it in person.
The House Ad Hoc Committee on the Need to Review the Purchase, Use and Control of Arms, Ammunition and Related Hardware by Military, Paramilitary and Other Law Enforcement Agencies in Nigeria held its first investigative hearing in Abuja on Friday, where the COAS was represented by the Commandant, Army War College Nigeria, Maj.-Gen. Charles Ofoche.
Ofoche, while pleading with the committee for Attahiru’s absence, noted that COAS and other service chiefs were in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, and Enugu earlier on Thursday.
He said, “The country is embroiled in a lot of crisis, so they are moving around. And he thought he could make it down here this morning for this meeting, so the notice was quite short for me to come and represent him because he would have loved to do it personally and that is why there is no written note.”
The COAS’ representative also said, “We are at your service, we are here to serve you as a people, to serve all Nigerians. And we cannot pretend that we do not know there is a crisis all over the country.
“The Chief of Army Staff cannot be at every location at every time. He is on the way trying to get to know his men. He took over barely a week ago. He is going around trying to get first-hand information as to the capability of the fighting force he is leading.”
One of the lawmakers, Aliyu Al-Mustapha alleged that criminals had been caught with arms and ammunition said to have been procured by the Armed Forces.
He said, “You can bear witness to the fact that Nigeria is embroiled in serious security issues and year in year out, appropriations were made and huge sums expended on procurement of arms and ammunition.
March 12, 2021
It’s impossible to have joint security network in South-East —Umahi
The Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has said the security challenges of the states in the South-East region are not similar, thus cannot be solved with a joint security network.
Umahi, the Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, also said that the governors in the region were contented with the different security designs in the states because the personnel were working very well.
Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi.
He said this during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programmed on Thursday.
“What we have in South-East states in a Joint Security Committee which trains Neighbourhood Watch and the vigilante groups or other local security architectures at different states in the region. If anybody tells you that there could be security personnel contributed from different states to form joint security for this region, it is not a possibility. It is not workable even if the constitution permits it.
“Every state is peculiar and so is their security challenges. The problem is that those complaining about the lack of joint security for the South-East are not living in the region. They don’t have the knowledge of how security works in the region.
“The governors of the South-East states are comfortable with the different security architectures at various states because the personnel are working very well. There is a problem of insecurity in the region, but the issue is not peculiar to the region alone, it is a national problem.
“We are happy with what our local security personnel are doing at different states. We are not God who assures 100 per cent security but we are trying our best and this what our people want,” he said.
Umahi explained that having a combined security system will come with its deficits in terms of the arrangement of personnel from one state to another which they may not be acquainted with.
”Our local security architectures at different states know the terrain and the people very well and are given the opportunity to secure their environment and the people. That is the kind of arrangement we have in the South East,” he said.
March 12, 2021
EFCC Arrests 57 Internet Fraud Suspects, Recovers Two Pump Action Rifles in Ogun
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office on Friday, March 12, 2021 arrested fifty seven suspected internet fraudsters at their hotel hideouts and recovered two pump action rifles.
The suspects were arrested in Yewa Frontier Hotel & Resort, Ellysam Hotel & Suits, April Suits and IBD International Hotels, all in Ilaro, Ogun State.
The operation followed actionable intelligence linking them to alleged fraudulent activities, ranging from love scam on numerous dating sites, obtaining money by false pretenses and other cybercrimes.
Four exotic cars, mobile phones, laptops, two rifles and several incriminating documents were recovered from the suspects.
The suspects include: Olatunji Opeyemi, Akintunde Michael Oluwashola, Babatunde Gbolahan, Emmanuel Oluwadamliare, Ogundare Adewunmi, Popoola Salmon, Adebayo Toheed Olamilekan, Bakare Kudus, Michael Moyosoro, Olatunji Tosin, Ishola Wasiu, Ugwu Ekenedelichukwu David, Salaudeen Roqueb, Obafunmilayo David, Jimoh Fatai Abiodun, Idowu Adeola,Oladipupo Nurudeen, Olasoju Mohammed, Onipede Toheed, Bello Abdullahi, Olatunji Abiola, Ogunbayo Peter, Adeyemi Abraham Ismail, Toheed Oluwaseun, Abiola Mutiu, Shoneye Idowu, Badmus Farouk kayode, Ilyas Abubakri Olanrewaju, Oladeji Basit Babatunde and Ijiola Soliu Adewole.
Others are: Odewunmi Samuel Pelumi, Oyeniyi Telslim Olashile, Shogbamu Olatunbosun Lukeman, Adebanji Timilehin Michael, Bangbose Jonathan Olakunle, Ashore Damilare Godwin, Bello Tobiloba Abdullahi, Ogundeji Babaji Ibrahim, Bashir Ayodeji Toheed, Olaleye Biola Farudeen, Sunday Osunaiki Emmanuel, Adebowale Taofeeq Olamilekan, Babajide Oluwapelumi Bolaji, Oluyide Ridwan Olawale, Abdullahi Umar Farouq, Opeloyeru Kehinde Abdulwaheed, Adeola Olusegun Israel, Shittu Ganiyu Olamilekan, Abdullahi Narudeen Owolabi, Ganiyu Kudus Olawale, Biodun Okeowo Sunday, Aiyemidotun Moses Omolade, Alade Hammed Oluwatosin, Oladele Dolapo Temilope, Ogunrinde Gbenga Akanbi, Awobaju Koyinsola Damilare and Bello Uthman Olayithan.
They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
March 12, 2021
Money Meant for Arms Purchase Missing Under Buratai & Other Service Chiefs – NSA
The National Security Adviser, NSA Babagana Monguno, has revealed that funds given to former service chiefs for arms purchase not be traced.
On January 26, President Muhammadu Buhari removed the service chiefs in persons of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
The president had immediately appointed their replacements in persons of Major-General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A. Z. Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao, Chief of Air Staff.
But in an interview with the BBC Hausa on Friday morning, the NSA said neither the money approved by Mr Buhari for arm purchase nor arms was met on ground when the new service chiefs assumed office.

Asked why the government is foot-dragging on fight against banditry, Mr Monguno said the president had done his best by approving huge amount of money for arm purchase but the equipment was not forthcoming.
“Now that he (President Buhari) has brought new people (service chiefs), hopely they will device some ways… I’m not saying the former service chiefs diverted the money, but the money is missing. We don’t know how, and nobody knows for now,” he said.
Asked whether the matter is investigated to trace the funds or the military hardwares, the NSA said the president would investigate the matter.
“The President will surely probe this matter. As we speak, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum too is also wondering where all the money went. I can assure you the president takes issues of this nature seriously.
“The fact is that preliminary investigation showed the funds are missing and the equipment is nowhere to be found.
“When the new service chiefs assumed office, they also said they did see anything on ground,” said the NSA.
March 12, 2021
Regina Daniels celebrates stepdaughter Naya on birthday
Actress Regina Daniels on Thursday celebrated her stepdaughter Naya on her birthday.
Naya is the daughter of Moroccan Laila Charani, the other wife of businessman Ned Nwoko.
Laila shared her daughter’s picture on Instagram with a lovely message attached to it.
“Happy birthday to my beautiful daughter! You are unbelievably precious to me. You are an amazing and charming daughter, I am so proud of you. happy birthday to my perfect little girl,” she wrote.
March 12, 2021
Kaduna Abduction: 172 Students, Eight Others Rescued, Several Still Missing
180 rescued, several students missing following attack at Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Igabi LGA
Troops of the Nigerian Army in the early hours of today, Friday, 12th March 2021 rescued 180 citizens, many of them students, at the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Igabi local government area of Kaduna State.
The armed bandits in large number had attacked the institution at around 11:30pm on Thursday and kidnapped several students and staff.
The armed bandits broke into the institution by breaching a perimeter fence. They then encroached about 600 meters to attack the first facility.
The Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs on receiving a distress call, alerted the 1 Division Nigerian Army and the Air Training Command of the Nigerian Air Force.
Troops of the Nigerian Army immediately moved to the school and engaged the armed bandits accordingly.
The troops successfully rescued 180 citizens; 42 female students, eight staff and 130 male students. However, about 30 students, a mix of males and females, are yet to be accounted for.

Some of the rescued students were injured and presently receiving medical attention at a military facility.

Pictures of some of the rescued persons, and the broken perimeter fence, are attached to this update.
Receiving the report, Governor Nasir El-Rufai thanked the troops for their swift response and the rescue of the 180 citizens. He also wished the injured students a speedy recovery.
As at the time of this update, a combined team of Army, Air Force, Police and DSS troops are conducting an operation to track the missing students.
March 12, 2021
Barber Allegedly Rapes 8-Year-Old Girl Inside Her Mother’s Shop In Oyo
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Oyo State Command, has arraigned one Olalekan Joshua, 16, before the Magistrate Adetuyibi at Iyaganku Family Court 2 for allegedly raping a minor
Olalekan, a barber and native of Ibadan from Onipasan area of Odejayi allegedly raped an 8-year-old girl in her mother’s shop on December 18, 2020 around 8pm.
The suspect was arraigned by the Anti Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit of the Command on Thursday, March 11.
Magistrate Adetuyibi P O. of family Court 2 Iyaganku Ibadan later remanded the suspect at Abolongo Correctional Service in Oyo and adjourned the case to 15th May 2021.
Speaking at the Command State Headquarters Agodi, Ibadan, after the sitting, the State Commandant Iskilu Akinsanya, who frowned at the incident, warned those indulging in such acts to desist as the NSCDC will not hesitate to punish offenders. He admonished parents to take proper care of their children and also encouraged them to be disciplined.
March 12, 2021