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  • Exposed! How Christian girls are abducted, Judges marginalized in Yobe, Borno states – investigation

    Exposed! How Christian girls are abducted, Judges marginalized in Yobe, Borno states – investigation

    By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

    What could be regarded as extreme cases of abduction, abuse and forceful conversion of Christian underaged girls into Islam in Borno and Yobe states, North East Nigeria has been exposed.

    Similarly, an age long severe discrimination marginalization against Christian Judges in Borno State has also been uncovered.

    According to information so far extracted from family members, Christian leader, lawyer and activist of Borno and Yobe states, the number of those abducted and forcefully converted to Islam and married out without the consent of their biological parents are on the increase. The situations has also degenerated uncontrollably in the aforementioned states.

    Sadly, parents of those who attempted to challenged the ugly trend in protests were reportedly made to face severe government wrath by using bodies such as Islamic Religious Affairs Ministry, Islamic Jihad organisations, Sharia Law, as well as Sharia Jihad terrorism courts in the states, to harass and intimidate the parents from further protest.

    The most recent cases include that of Four (4) Christian girls abducted from Gadaga district Garin-Goge village in Fika LGA of Yobe state by Muslim youths allegedly recruited for the purpose.

    In particular, top on the news of recently adopted christian girls have been identified as Cecilia Mathias, Veronica Mathias, Linda Mathias and Jara David respectively.

    A family member of one of the victims, Musa Mathias Bayaro, who spoke to DAYBREAK NIGERIA, confirmed the development, lamenting that their Father, Mathias Bayaro died in 2019 when the first incident of abduction of their younger sister took place.

    Musa also disclosed that one of their sisters was again abducted in March 2024 by same body, adding that up till date the lady is yet to be rescued by his parents and relatives despite writing to the police authorities on the abduction of their sister.

    The first of their sister’s incident happened when she was left at home because she was not feeling fine, when an Islamic Religious Affairs group came and abducted her. He said while they were fighting for her release with their traditional ruler, Idris Abaji, they later moved to Yobe state police CID and reported the case and nothing has been done.

    “I believe government, our Governor is aware of all these things, because he use to sponsor them”, he alleges.
    He said he reached this conclusion that the Governor is behind it because according to him: “You know they’ve their group, called Islamic Religious Affairs ministry (AKA Moral). So, the moment they take your person to them you’ve no power.

    “You fight it with the police nothing happens. And even this one we’re fighting now, we’ve written to the IGP office 3 times and no action was taken. This incident of abduction happened in March 2024 while the first one happened in 2019.

    “Two of my sisters, one of our neighbor’s daughter and one of our uncle daughter’s abductions happened in 2019. Then one of our neighbor’s daughter happened in 2023, in Goge village, our village, in Fika LGA. No Muslims girl has been abducted”, he lamented.

    On whether it could be bandits or terror group that came for their abductions, Musa disagreed sharply, saying “They’re not bandits. The recent one we’re fighting now happened on a Sunday; we went to the police station, after leaving there, one of the traditional rulers sent his messenger to called my mother almost after 10-11 pm in the night.

    “When my mother went there, he told her that her daughter is in Damaturu with Muslims religious affairs. If you want to see your daughter you people should go there. So, I took money from one of my older sisters and told a lawyer and one of my uncles to go there”, he said.

    Musa who spoke extensively said “When they went there, the commissioner of the religious affairs ministry said no, they didn’t bring any girl to them this year. After that when we write to Abuja, to IGP office, when they ask the commissioner of police they said yes the girl is with them.

    “I tried again, we write to the IGP, I’m waiting for their feedback now.
    “My Dad died in 2019 after that first abduction happen”, he narrated.

    A letter addressed to IGP, Abuja office and made available to our reporter is titled: Complaint on Abduction Against a Group call Islamic Religious Affairs (AKA Moral), and one Mallam IDI, district head of Shembre, Fika LGA of Yobe state”, and was signed by Maryamu Mathias for Mathias Bayaro’s family with GSM contact number: 09122840544.

    He also stated that “We’ve spent more than two million naira. It is my either sister Maryamu Mathias doing the fighting with her money.

    Also contacted, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) FIKA LGA of Yobe State branch chairman ,Pastor Mamza John Wulfu, also confirmed the abductions, saying legitimate efforts were made to rescue and reconciled some of the abducted girls with their parents but to no avail.

    He also revealed that while some girls agreed to marry their abductors, parents of some were paid bride price and were seen coming and going back to and from their parents and Muslims husband home at will for visit, adding that for the current one, the brother shunned CAN on ground that their efforts were not good enough or yielding results.

    Allegation of marginalization in appointment of christian judges

    On the allegation of complete absence of a single judge of Christian extraction under the current administration of Governor Umaru Zulum in Borno state, a lawyer working with the state government confirmed the allegation, saying theren is none for now.

    The lawyer who spoke on condition of anonymity said there were sizeable number of them in Borno government service previously but left based on conditions of service by retiring after completing their mandatory years of age as civil servants or otherwise.

    According to him, Judges appointments are based on political participation and not gotten on platter of gold.

    While he acknowledged that appointment of judges are matters of government policy, the lawyer explained that qualification is a constitutional issue, adding that once your are called to the Bar, it gives you automatic leverage to be qualified to be a judge.

    While he admitted that there were appointments of judges in the state recently, he said “I did not know of any Christians that applied”.

    Earlier, an investigation conducted, compiled and made available to our correspondent by a Borno Born activist and Director General Centre for Justice on Religious and Ethnicity in Nigeria, Rev. Kallamu Musa Ali Dikwa, revealed that the worst place to live by Christians in Nigeria is the far north, particularly Borno and Yobe states.

    Rev. Ali Musa Dikwa’s elaborate statement made available to newsmen is titled: “The Abduction of Christian Girls, Persecution and Injustices experienced by Nigerian Christians in The Far North of Borno and Yobe states”.

    “The worst place for Christians to live in Nigeria is the far northern states, particularly Borno and Yobe states. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs created by the Borno state governments has assisted the Boko -Harm and ISWAP in the abduction of under aged Christian girls from the ages of 13 to 17.

    “These abducted girls are then forcefully converted to Islam and married off without the consent of their parents. Whenever the parents of these under aged girls protest, the so-called Ministry of Islamic religious Affairs will use the Islamic Jihad terrorism Sharia Law at the Sharia Jihad terrorism courts in the states to harass and intimidate them from further protest.

    “The Ministry of Islamic jihad Affairs in Yobe state under the leadership of Governor Mai Mala Buni has taken over the jihad work of Boko-Haram and ISWAP. The Yobe state Ministry of Islamic Jihad Affairs recruited and is paying Muslim youths in Yobe State for the continuous abduction of under aged Christian girls.

    “Four (4) Christian girls were abducted from Gadaga district Garin-Goge village in Fika LGA Yobe state by the recruited Muslims youths. The girls are: Cecilia Mathias, Veronica Mathias
    Linda Mathias and Jara David.

    “After the 2015 general elections when former president Mohammadu Buhari took over from former president Goodluck Jonathan, the Muslim politicians, Islamic clerics from Borno and Yobe states re-strategized for Boko-Haram and ISWAP terrorist groups to come out from the bush/forest in the name of repentance.

    “They were urged to change the ways of their operations and with the help of the two (2) governors through the ministry of Islamic jihad affairs, they were sponsored for the abduction of Christian girls.
    Ministry of Islamic affairs in Damaturu the Yobe state capital has a committee for abduction of Christian girls.

    “The chairman of the Islamic jihad sharia Law is also the chairman for the abduction of under aged Christian girls.

    “The committee for the abduction of Christian girls have a representative of the commissioner of police from the police command, DSS command, Civil Defence, NABTIP, Road Safety and VIO.

    “The committee’s office is at the Damaturu emir’s palace
    In the year 2023, two (2) under aged Christian girls Rejoice Markus and Faith Timothy were abducted and kept at the emir’s palace.

    “When we visited the committee we discovered that there are other eight (8) abducted Christian girls also kept at the emir’s palace.

    “I challenged the committee and the emir of Damaturu that they were working hand in hand with the Boko-Haram and ISWAP terrorist groups by doing their jihad bidden by the continuous abduction and keeping these under aged Christian girls for the purpose of converting and marrying them off.

    “They promised that they’re going to kill me, they even organised their Muslim youths at the palace to attack me but they didn’t succeed”, he stated.

    He also noted that “In Borno state from 1999 to 2005, Christians have over six (6) High court judges , but in 2005 when a Muslim chief judge retired the next two (2) in hierarchy were Christian while the third and fourth are Muslims (but not of Kanuri tribe) and the fifth and sixth were Christians .

    “The then governor of Borno state Ali Modu Shefiff picked and appointed a junior seven (7) judge from hierarchy, justice Kashim Zanna as Chief Judge of the state the his seniors were provoked and had to find their ways to Federal High Courts and left the state for them.

    “In 2015 former governor and present vice president Kashim Shettima recruited judges but all the Christians that applied were disqualified because of their Christian faith.

    “In 2022 governor Babagana Umara Zulum recruited judges also, all the Christians that applied were disqualified because they are Christians.

    “As i am writing this write up we don’t have a single Christian judge in Borno state and the other state government ministries in the state are facing the same thing where junior Muslim staff were promoted above senior Christians staff both in the state and the federal government agencies.

    “Particularly University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and University of Maiduguri itself turned into Kanuri and Islamic properties in the state.

    “We are urging Mr. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take action to correct this attitude of executive power by these terrorist minded Muslim politicians before it will become too late. Enough is enough”, he appealed.

    While all efforts made to talk with Borno state information commissioner was frustrated, his written reply deleted, attempt made to see Islamic religious affairs commissioner Yobe state, before the time of filling this reports failed, but still been made to hear their side.

  • Top Oil Producing States in Nigeria

    Top Oil Producing States in Nigeria

    By Engr. Pius Ebong

    Nigeria, known as the “Giant of Africa,” is a leading oil-producing country in the world. However, not all states in Nigeria contribute equally to its oil production. Here, we explore the top oil-producing states in Nigeria that you need to know.

    Nigeria’s oil industry is dominated by a few key states that contribute significantly to the country’s oil production. Let’s take a closer look at each of these top oil-producing states in Nigeria.

    1. AKWA IBOM STATE
    Akwa Ibom State, located in the southern part of Nigeria, is one of the top oil-producing states in the country. It is known for its high oil production and significant contributions to Nigeria’s overall oil output with about 504,000 BOPD.

    The oil industry plays a vital role in the economy of Akwa Ibom State, providing employment opportunities and generating revenue for the government with 55 billion naira projected for 2024. The state’s oil production is mainly concentrated in offshore fields, which are operated by both multinational and indigenous oil companies like Frontier Oil & Savannah Energy.

    2. DELTA STATE
    Delta State is another significant oil-producing state in Nigeria. Located in the Niger Delta region, Delta State is known for its rich oil reserves and is home to major oil companies such as Midwestern Oil & Gas Limited and Pillar Oil.

    The state government has been proactive in developing the oil sector by providing infrastructure and attracting investments. Delta State delivers about 346,000 BOPD, and its oil production is expected to increase in the coming years.

    3. RIVERS STATE
    Rivers State, located in the Niger Delta region, is another key oil-producing Nigerian state. The state is home to several major oil companies like NLNG and Shell Nigeria and has a significant number of oil wells.

    The state is said to produce about 344,000 BOPD from several of its oil fields including the Emohua field, and Asaramatoru oil field.

    4. BAYELSA STATE
    Bayelsa State, also located in the Niger Delta region, is an oil-rich state in Nigeria. It is known for its large number of oil wells and significant contributions to the country’s oil output. The state has been a major player in Nigeria’s oil industry since the discovery of oil in the Niger Delta region.

    On one hand, it has provided employment opportunities and generated revenue for the government. On the other hand, it has also led to environmental degradation and conflicts over resource control. Despite these challenges, Bayelsa State remains an important player in Nigeria’s oil industry and continues to contribute significantly to the country’s oil production delivering about 290,000 BOPD.

    5. IMO STATE
    Imo State, located in the southeastern part of Nigeria, is an oil-rich state holding more than 50% of Nigeria’s gas deposits. While it may not be as well-known as some of the other top oil-producing states in Nigeria, Imo State has been an important player in the country’s oil industry.

    The state government recovered a lot of its oil wells in 2021. Imo State produces 17,000 BOPD while hosting several energy companies like Addax Petroleum and Seplat Petroleum Development Company.

    6. ONDO STATE
    Ondo State, located in the southwestern part of Nigeria, is an emerging player in the country’s oil production. The state is known for its significant oil & natural gas reserves and has attracted investments from multinational oil companies like Chevron.

    The state is said to have about 14 billion barrels of crude oil in its wells combined and delivers about 60,000 BOPD.

    7. ANAMBRA STATE
    Anambra State stands as a significant player in the country’s oil sector, boasting 15 operational oil wells and a substantial reserve of 50 billion barrels of oil. With the capability to produce up to 100,000 barrels of oil per day (BOPD), the state contributes significantly to the nation’s oil output.

    The state’s oil industry is supported by various oil companies, among which Sterling Oil Exploration and Production Limited stands out.

    8. EDO STATE
    Edo State, located in southern Nigeria, is recognized for its contribution to the country’s oil production sector. With an average output of 33,000 barrels of oil per day (BOPD), the state plays a significant role in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.

    Companies like Pan Ocean Oil Nigeria Limited play a pivotal role in harnessing the state’s petroleum resources and driving economic growth.

    9. LAGOS STATE
    Lagos State, although not traditionally known as an oil-producing state, is a major player in Nigeria’s oil industry. The state is home to several major oil companies like Lekoil Nigeria Limited & Pinnacle Oil & Gas and has a significant number of oil-related activities.

    The state’s major oil wells located at Aje oil field in Dahomey Basin deliver about 40,000 BOPD, and its contribution to the country’s oil production should not be overlooked.

    10. ABIA STATE
    Last but not least is Abia state, an oil-rich state located in the southeastern region of the country with over 100 wells, with 50 currently operational. Despite this potential, the state’s oil resources remain under-exploited

    Only half of the existing oil wells are in operation, with the majority located in Ukwa West. Despite producing 11,000 barrels of oil per day (BOPD), the state falls short of realizing its full capacity.

    These states contribute significantly to Nigeria’s overall oil production and are key players in the exploration, production, and export of oil.

    The oil industry has had a profound impact on the economies of these states, providing employment opportunities, generating revenue for the government, and attracting investments. However, it has also brought challenges such as environmental degradation and conflicts over resource control.

    According to a 2024 investigation by Daily Trust, nine of Nigeria’s oil-producing states owe 1.6 trillion naira combined. As Nigeria continues to develop its oil industry, it is important to recognize the significance of these top oil-producing states and support their efforts in sustainable oil production.

    Engr. Pius Ebong is a Concerned Citizen of the true Federal Republic of Nigeria

  • IMF’s $2.5 billion loan to Nigeria; The devil is in the details

    IMF’s $2.5 billion loan to Nigeria; The devil is in the details

    By Othuke Evroh

    Ankara will no longer borrow money from the International Monetary Fund(IMF), declared Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish President.

    ”We undertook a debt of $23.5 billion when we took office. We paid off the debt in 2013. Aren’t we the ones who saved this country from the IMF yoke?” the President declared to his critics.

    ”Turkey’s economic indicators are at a very good level compared to other countries”, Erdogan this time told his AK Party in October, 2018, adding that the IMF chapter in the country has been closed for good.

    In a similar vein, many pundits in Turkey and abroad in 2020 argued that the major impediment of IMF loan to President Erdogan is IMF conditionality and its tendencies to weaken Turkey’s near fragile economy.

    These powerful statements by the Turkish strongman lays credence to the new school of thought that has emerged in the African continent in the last two decades. This school of thought believes that the prescribed conditionalities and structural reforms imposed on IMF debtors do not only favour the IMF in the long run, but most significantly, destroy the economies of the debtor countries.

    As such, it came as no surprise, particularly to the writer and the above mentioned school of thought that while the dust raised by the controversial $150 billion Samoa loan agreement between the EU and Nigeria is yet to settle, a US based expert, Bradley Rohrs, President of Rohrs Team, a US-based real estate consulting firm, in his comment titled, ”US-based expert exposes hidden dangers in Nigeria’s latest $2.5bn IMF loan”, published by the Nigerian Tribune of July 15, highlighted the dangers of the $2.5 billion IMF loan to Nigeria’s economy.

    This was sequel to Wale Edun’s revelation at the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank Group on April 20 this year. Mr. Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy of Nigeria while speaking at the annual meetings, stated that the $2.5 billion loan avails a 40-year tenure, a 10-year moratorium and 1 percent interest rate. The Minister further asserted that given the loan’s conditions, it is somewhat free.

    ”It is virtually a grant. It is about 40 years, 10 years moratorium and about one percent interest. That also is part of the flow that you can count”, the Minister declared.

    Though this concessionary loan of 1% interest rate and a moratorium of 10 years over a 40 years tenure, seemed to suggest ”smart borrowing”, Bradley Rohrs successfully revealed that Nigeria would not only be engulfed in a web of serious economic predicaments from 2034 owing to the consistent depreciation of the naira when repayment for the said loan commences, but will also end up repaying an outrageous amount of $30 billion.

    According to Rohrs, the terms and conditions of the loan will obviously ”contribute to the long-term insolvency of the country”. ”The loan needs to be paid back in Western currencies, and the naira is losing significant value every year, meaning this loan is going to end up costing tens of billions of dollars to Nigeria within a decade.

    Rohrs also commented that the naira had depreciated by 50 percent in the past year, meaning that the interest would as such be 51 percent, that is, 1 percent plus depreciation of the naira. As such, Nigeria will definitely spend more both on interest and principal.

    ”This is an economy-destroying debt obligation”, he complained and continued, ”Of course, because payments do not start until 2034, when all the current politicians will be long gone when the loan comes due. I can understand why this was a tempting loan to take, but let us say the naira depreciation is only 10 percent per year, which is very generous. Even in the best-case scenario, that means by 2034, the principal of this loan will effectively grow from $2.5 billion to $7 billion. The payments will then be the equivalent of a billion dollars a year and continue for 30 years. So, for $2.5 billion today, Nigeria is agreeing to pay the Western banks $30 billion under a 10 percent inflation rate”.

    According to Rohrs, this loan comes with other concessions including removing subsidies on Oil and Electricity and establishing reforms to make it easier for Western banks to compete with Nigerian domestic banks.

    Consequently, I am of the conviction that yet again, just like the many other loans availed Nigeria by the EU, the IMF and the World Bank, this 2.5 billion dollar loan from the IMF does not only seem to represent what some analysts have termed ”The devil is in the details”, but is also aimed at impoverishing the the mass of resilient Nigerians.

    The IMF and the World Bank for the umpteenth time, have displayed wanton deficits in integrity and credibility. These two institutions have also shown that they can not be trusted in their core mandates when it concerns Nigeria and the entire African continent. The negative consequences of their nefarious financial cooperation and economic reforms or structural programmes are replete in many African countries, including Nigeria. Just like the United States and the EU, the IMF and the World Bank have, in the guise of democracy, grants, aid and loans, among others, treacherously and minaciously interfered unimaginably, in the political, social, economic and cultural existence of many African countries.

    In Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni can no longer get funds from the EU, IMF and World Bank to service the largest refugee camp in Africa because he signed the anti-LGBTQ+ bill into law. In March this year, the Egyptian central bank devalued its currency and removed fuel subsidies among others, as a condition to expand its IMF loan to $8 billion. This move is currently causing untold hardships in Egypt.

    Similarly, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana is at the verge of losing $3.8 billion World Bank funding over the next five years if he signs the anti-LGBTQ+ bill into law. Also remember that former President Goodluck Jonathan in his book titled, ”Against the Run of Play”, stated that he lost the 2015 Presidential election partially because of the unjust conspiracy led by ex-President Barack Obama of the United States, the former Prime Minister of Britain, David Cameron and the former President of France, Francois Hollande in the international community.

    It is worthy to note that the Nigerian economy started plummeting in 1986 following the implementation of the Structural Adjustment Programme(SAP), handed to the then junta government of Ibrahim Badamosi Babangiga by the IMF. Today as it were, the Nigerian economy is in shambles. With little or nothing to be desired following the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the advice of the IMF and the West, Nigeria is creepingly becoming an organized chaos.

    Nigerians are becoming very despondent over the many hardships unjustly inflicted on them as a result of the removal of fuel subsidies. As each day graduates to another, more and more hardworking Nigerians are being dragged into the already gargantuous poverty line. Yet, IMF has continued to prevail on the Tinubu’s led administration to tighten the noose around the necks of Nigerian, to eliminate electricity subsidy so as to contain debt vulnerability and pay back every loan acquired from the IMF, the World Bank and other Western nations, without recourse to the overall wellbeing, progress, growth and development of Nigeria and Nigerians.

    Just yesterday, NECA, MAN and NACCIMA at the 67th Annual General Meeting in Lagos, declared that the policies of the Tinubu’s led government are crippling businesses.

    Currently the new electricity tariffs are gradually grounding tertiary institutions and other essential services in areas classified as ‘Band A’. The naira has depreciated to over N1,500 to a dollar in the parallel market, inflation rate has surged to 34.19% in the month of June, just as food inflation and transportation inflation are now over 40%. Nigerians are hungry and Nigeria has become a land of lamentations under the renewed hope mantra.

    It is high time that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu got up from his slumber and steered Nigeria back on the path of economic prosperity. To do this, he must first and foremost muster the guts and temerity to call the bluffs of the IMF and its Western allies and implement the Nigerian people oriented policies and programmes. He should always remember that government exists to provide the good life. And for the IMF and its collaborators, I have but one thing to say, ‘Nigerians and indeed Africans are not unconscious of ”the devil is in the details”.

  • Reviving Bayelsa Plastic Factory not our priority- Bayelsa govt

    Reviving Bayelsa Plastic Factory not our priority- Bayelsa govt

    *State Government Abandons Own Plastic Factory While Shopping For Investors

    By Rhoda Godwin

    Bayelsa government has said that reviving the once thriving state-owned Plastics Company that employed over 1,000 workers was not its priority but rather it is working on attracting private investors.

    Mr Ibiere Jones, Commissioner for Trade and Investment of Bayelsa state in a recent interaction with journalists dismissed the idea of reviving the industry and said the policy of the Gov Douye Diri-led government was in attracting private investors.

    While Governor Douye Diri has been embarking on fruitless local and foreign trips in search of investors, his appointees are busy investing outside the state, showing a lack of confidence in investing in the state.

    For instance, recently, Douye Diri commissioned the Trend Place Hotel, located in Lugbe, a suburb in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    Trend’s Place Hotel and Suites is owned by Brig Gen Eric Angaye (Rtd) , a Security Adviser and Coordinator to Bayelsa government.

    The dilapidated state of the plastic factory which the current administration inherited in a working status casts doubt about the sincerity of the government’s investment drive.

    The commissioner who aught to be in the know seems to put the bulk on journalists. He said: “As a journalist, it is your duty to tell me what is happening there. I will go there and check. It is not only that work that I’m doing”

    The trade and investment Commissioner continued:

    “As if it is only Bayelsa Plastic that I will focus on. We are looking for investors not all those ones. Please I’m new, give me time let me settle down.”

    The factory formerly located along the Elebele area of the state has been stripped off all the machines and the hall that once house the machines also stripped of the corrugated iron sheets which were used for the roofing.

    A check last week by the Federated Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of journalists, Bayelsa State showed that the hall initially hosting the factory was empty with nothing on ground to show that machines were once mounted in the hall.

    Also the zinc sheets and the irons used for the building of the hall were plucked away while the premises has been taken over by weeds.

    Recall, that Bayelsa Plastic Industry was established around 2010 by Timipre Sylva, former Governor of the state to manufacture plastics, polytene bags and other plastic materials.

    It however worked briefly during the time of Henry Dickson with more than 1000 staff. Even though, it had some challenges but it was still functional until the current governor Douye Diri came on board in 2020 and concession the industry to a private firm who totally killed it.

    A group of journalists had visited the factory sometime two years ago and met the factory in a sorry state but was surprised to see that after all the reportage and calling the attention of the government to the sorry state of the factory, nothing was done until when the whole machines were looted.

  • Many Students Trapped as School Collapses in Jos

    Many Students Trapped as School Collapses in Jos

    An unidentified number of students are currently trapped at a school that collapsed in the Busa Buji area of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau.

    According to sources, Saints Academy School collapsed at about 11:30 AM on Friday while students were writing their examinations.

    Rescue operations are currently ongoing, and a combined team of security operatives is on the ground to carry out the rescue efforts.

  • Hardship: Nigerians turn to Frog for meat

    Hardship: Nigerians turn to Frog for meat

    Frog meat processing booms in Kaduna

    By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

    There is a booming frog meat market currently going on in the Kaduna, in Northern part of the country where cartons of prepared frogs meats are packaged and sent from Nigeria to neighbouring states and outside the country.

    The booming trade is attributed to increased consumption of frog meat in the country and export to neigbouring African countries, a development many attributed to the worsening economic hardship.

    Located at Unguwar Gwari, Kaduna North area of Kaduna State, the frog market is often besieged by youths bringing frogs they had caught from surroundings ponds and rivers for sale to make easy money and fight unemployment.

    The frogs are dried, sold in sorrounding markets and also exported as meat outside the state.

    A young man in the market who identified himself simply as Adamu, said said that with the rising cost of other sources of protein in the country, many people have found frog meat as an alternative source of protein which is readily available and cheap. “Frog actually taste like chicken and it is delicious, in the past there were strong inhibition against eating of frog as meat, but with the economic reality facing many Migerians that inhibition is gone. Many people now eat frog meat, there is no big deal about it. It is cheap and readily available, we even package it and sell outside the state like you can see, the demand is high.

    The frogs which are carefully seasoned with salt and pepper are dried in fire and packeged in cartons.

    Many of the Youths in the business said they are making huge profits on daily basis as demand for the frog meat in Nigeria and other neighbouring countries is growing on a daily basis.

  • Daybreak Retracts Report On Amnesty Boss

    Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa

    My attention has been drawned to a earlier report by our online publication about activities of Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) and Administrator, Dr.Dennis Otuaro.

    However, it has come to my notice that the reported Stories on “Ex agitators Vow to embark on Protest” and Ex agitators which “accused the PAP boss of neglect” as presented by Commander Ekpo Ubog in a Press Statement dated 7th July 2024 and 4th July 2024 have been discovered to be untrue.

    Daybreak online News platform has been progressively and positively reporting and covering activities of the presidential Amnesty Programme.

    Dr.Otuaro who is at the helm of affairs of the Amnesty Programme is a pragmatic and resourceful leader that has come to reposition the programme for the benefits of Niger Deltans by treating all beneficiaries equally.

    Daybreak News platform will always adhere strictly to the international practice of the profession of objectivity, balance and accurate reporting of news stories across the nation.

    I tender my sincerest apologies for the mix up of stories and any harm it may have caused. Please accept my apology and enjoined the general public to ignore the reports.

  • Kogi confirms two cholera cases, sets up response team

    Kogi confirms two cholera cases, sets up response team

     

     

    Olu Samuel,Lokoja

    The Kogi State Government has confirmned two cases of cholera in the state.

    The two cases were detected in Lokoja and Omala local government areas

    The confirmation was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the public relations officer of the state ministry of health, Dorothy Onoja

    Consequently the state government has constituted a cholera response team that would investigate reported cases, collect samples and administer appropriate treatment.

    Onoja said the response team comprised healthcare workers, surveillance officers, and laboratory technicians.

    “The state Commissioner for health, Dr Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza announced the setting up of the team in response to the outbreak of cholera in some parts of the country.” She said.

    Adeiza, the statement said has also unveiled a comprehensive infection prevention tools and reaffirming its dedication to ensuring a cholera-free environment.

    The Commissioner said Kogi State has been fortunate to have minimal impact from the current cholera outbreak, with two confirmed cases identified in Lokoja and Omala LGAs.

    “Fortunately, one case has already been discharged, and the other is currently undergoing treatment, with no fatalities recorded,” he said.

    He disclosed that the Ministry of Health has implemented stringent surveillance protocols, provided extensive training to healthcare professionals, and conducted widespread awareness campaigns to combat the spread of the disease.

    “We have equipped our healthcare workers with the necessary training and resources to ensure a swift and effective response to any potential outbreak,” Adeiza said.

    Furthermore, the commissioner stressed the importance of community involvement, noting that the government is collaborating closely with community and religious leaders and traditional rulers to educate the public on preventive measures against cholera.

    “Citizens are encouraged to uphold good hygiene practices, such as regular hand washing and consumption of clean water,” he said

  • Intrigues and power play that led to Arase’s removal as chairman of Police Service Commission

    Intrigues and power play that led to Arase’s removal as chairman of Police Service Commission

    By Joy Babayeju

    Revelations have emerged as to the circumstances that led to the removal from office of Dr Solomon Arase as the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC)

    Recall that a presidential statement on Monday announced Arase’s removal as the chairperson of the Police Service Commission (PSC). The president replaced him with Hashimu Argungu, a retired deputy inspector general of police, according to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Ajuri Ngelale, on Monday.

    The president also approved the appointment of Onyemuche Nnamani as secretary of the commission and Taiwo Lakanu, also a retired deputy inspector general of police, as member of the commission.
    The statement, however, did not disclose the reason for Arase’s removal from office.

    However, investigation by Daybreak Nigeria has revealed that his removal may not be unconnected with the recent exercise leading to the recruitment of 10,000 constables into the police police force.

    Trouble started when the former commission’s chairman insisted that due process and merit be followed in the recruitment of new officers into the Force. according to a source within the Commission who didn’t want his name in print, Arase was convinced that if the problem of the Police was to be tackled on a long term basis it must be tackled at the recruitment level especially those at the lower and mid cadre of the force, ” As a Former Inspector General of Police he understood the problem and was willing to do his best to solve it. He wanted the recruitment exercise to be based on merit and follow due process. He wanted those who wrote the computer based assement test and made the cutoff mark to be the ones considered for recruiemt into the force. There were clear criteria outlined for the exercise. In each state of the federation those who made the cutoff were to be given priority. There was also consideration for female candidates to ensure gender balance. This is the first time the commission was carrying out a recruitment process in line with its mandate, and Dr Arase wanted to set a standard that was to become the basic minimum. Unfortunately this is Nigeria. The powers that be wanted the exercise to be business as usual. They wanted the place to be flooded with candidates who didn’t even seat for the assessment exam, people who are not qualified, people of questionable character, whose qualification is based on a list from highly placed individuals, Poltical big wig and the likes. That was the situation we had to grapple with. Some big men wanted to hijack the entire process. Should we have just fold our hands and watch? At the end of the day we all complain of the type of police we have, forgetting that we have allowed the leeway for unqualified people with questionable character to enter the force. This is the problem. The pressure was so much, i believe this is what consumed the former chairman. If he had chosen the easy option of compromise, to do the biddings of vested interests, i bet you he would be sitted at his desk this morning”.

    Also speaking on the purported ICIR ( International Centre for Investigative Report) report, he noted that the allegations raised in the report is before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. ” it is before a high court, the former Chairman instuted a civil suit against ICIR for them to come and defend their report. They resorted to blackmail and started raising accusations of intimation against him which was false. If they were so sure of their story, the court is open and one would have expected them to come to the open court and present their case, but rather they have been evading service”.

    The recent recruitment of 10,000 police constables by the Police Service Commission (PSC) may not have gone down well with some powerful persons in government, leading to the unceremonious removal of the Commission’s chairman.
    Even though PSC members are by law confirmed by the Senate and are expected to serve for five years, the same law expressly grants the President powers to unilaterally remove any member if he is, dissatisfied with his performance.

    According to section 4 (2) of the PSC Act, “A member of the Commission may be removed by the President if he is satisfied that it is not in the interest of the Commission or the interest of the public that the member should continue in office.”

    It would be recalled that on March 5, 2024, 171,956 candidates drawn from all the 774 local government areas in the country sat for the PSC examinations for recruitment as constables into the Nigerian Police Force.
    Arase who is a former Inspector- General had while justifying the need to get JAMB conduct the examination said “Nigeria needs the right police personnel with mental mobility and fertile minds to relate effectively with the public.”

  • Tinubu Orders Cost Analysis for New Minimum Wage

    Tinubu Orders Cost Analysis for New Minimum Wage

    — President Bola Tinubu has directed the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, to prepare and present the cost implications of a new minimum wage by today. This directive is aimed at establishing a realistic and sustainable wage figure for negotiations with organized labour.

    The order comes after the Federal Government’s offers of ₦48,000, ₦57,000, and ₦60,000 were rejected by labour unions, leading to an indefinite nationwide strike that was suspended yesterday. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had proposed ₦615,500 and ₦494,000, respectively, as the new national minimum wage, citing economic hardships and inflation.

    Tinubu convened a meeting with key government representatives, including the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and the CEO of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari. The meeting focused on resolving the contentious issues surrounding the new minimum wage.

    Mohammed Idris, speaking after the meeting, emphasized the government’s commitment to finding a balanced and realistic wage solution. He stated, “The President has directed the Minister of Finance to calculate the numbers and report back by today so we can have figures ready for negotiation with labour.”

    Idris reiterated that the government is not opposed to wage increases but must ensure that any promises made are sustainable and realistic. He added, “A new wage award must be acceptable and sustainable, involving not just the federal government but also sub-national entities and the organized private sector.”

    Following the suspension of the strike, the NLC and TUC explained their decision in a communiqué, highlighting the government’s commitment to a higher minimum wage than ₦60,000. They also expressed disappointment over the government’s inaction regarding the reversal of electricity tariff hikes and the discriminatory classification of electricity consumers into bands.

    The communiqué detailed the NEC’s examination of key issues, including the government’s proposal for a higher minimum wage and demands for the reversal of the electricity tariff hike. It noted that labour withdrew from the Tripartite National Minimum Wage negotiation due to the government’s refusal to go beyond ₦60,000.

    Labour has resolved to relax the strike for one week to allow for further negotiations. The tripartite committee resumed discussions yesterday, adopting an agenda for the one-week continuous negotiation period. Labour leaders warned that the strike would resume if no agreement is reached.

    In related developments, the Senate has urged the Federal Government to expedite actions to prevent further industrial unrest, criticizing some unionists for excessive actions during the strike, such as shutting down the national grid. Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasized the importance of continued negotiations and legislative support for a new minimum wage.

    ActionAid Nigeria also called on the government to resolve the industrial action promptly, highlighting the economic and social hardships caused by the strike.

    The coming days will be crucial as the government and labour unions work towards a mutually acceptable resolution on the new minimum wage.