Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Category: News

You can add some category description here.

Armed bandits kill pastor, kidnap over 21 people in Niger State
Amed bandits have killed a pastor at Chukuba village in Shiroro local government area of Niger state.
Pastor Jeremiah Ibrahim, a resident pastor of ECWA Church in Kobwa Kuta was shot dead by bandits during an attack on the village in the early hours of Thursday morning, December 10.
It was gathered that the late pastor had gone to check his farm in Chukuba and decided to visit a colleague who is the Resident Pastor of Chukuba, when he was killed.
The bandits also kidnapped the wife of the Resident Pastor of Chukuba and other community members.
The deceased was buried in his hometown at Garatu, Bosso local government area of the state on Friday, December 11.
In a similar development, bandits armed with sophisticated weapons stormed Kukoki, Bassa/Kukoki ward in Shiroro local government on Friday and kidnapped 20 people.
A source told confirmed that the properties were looted and residents have deserted the community for fear of another attack.
December 13, 2020
Reps Minority Caucus Rejects Sole Administrator For NDDC
Press Release
The minority caucus in the House of Representatives has rejected the appointment of a sole administrator for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by President Muhammadu Buhari describing it as disservice to the people of the Niger Delta region.
The caucus rather called on President Buhari to, without further delay, inaugurate a governing board for the NDDC as required by the Act establishing the commission.
The lawmakers, in a statement by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu (PDP Delta), on Sunday, described the appointment of a sole administrator for the NDDC “as a further pathway to deprive the people of the Niger Delta of the much desired infrastructural development in their area”.
The caucus stressed that “the recourse to a sole administrator instead of the governing board, is ill-advised as it will promote corruption, alienate the people, trigger disagreements and worsen the managerial sleaze that is crippling the commission and impeding the development of the area.
According to the lawmakers, “the earlier resort to an Interim Management Committee and now a sole administrator, instead of a governing board, has heightened apprehensions in the region. This is not healthy, particularly given the strategic place the Niger Delta occupies in national economy and development.
“Our caucus therefore urges President Buhari to douse the tension by immediately inaugurating a governing board for the NDDC as provided for in the establishment Act, so that the people of the Niger Delta region can start enjoying the much-needed infrastructural development through a properly constituted commission”.
Signed:
Hon Ndudi Elumelu
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives
December 13, 2020
FG disagrees with Katsina gov, says only 10 schoolboys still in captivity
‌
The Federal government yesterday through presidential spokesman Garba Shehu disagreed with Katsina State Governor, Bello Masari, over the number of boys abducted from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State.
Masari had said earlier on Sunday that 333 boys were still missing.
However, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, told the BBC Hausa Service that only 10 boys are with the bandits.
The BBC Hausa bulletin read, “The Government of Nigeria has said its security forces have surrounded the location where gunmen have kept schoolchildren abducted from a secondary school in Katsina State.
“Spokesman for the President, Mallam Garba Shehu, told the BBC only 10 children were remaining in the hands of the gunmen according to their colleagues who escaped from the gunmen.
The number is below figures released by school authorities at the beginning. Garba Shehu said the school children who escaped said 10 of their friends were still with their abductors.”
December 13, 2020
333 students still unaccounted for –Gov Masari

Rescue a matter of time, says defence minister as service chiefs visit Katsina

Governor Aminu Masari on Sunday said 333 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara are still missing.
He made the disclosure in government house Katsina when the Minister of Defence, Gen. Salihi Magashi (retd.), led the nation’s service chiefs on a sympathy visit to the state over Friday’s bandits’ abduction of students in the state.

Those on the entourage included the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Air Staff, and the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency.
Governor Massari said, “The children so far kidnapped cut across the state because the boarding school houses all children from all parts of the state and some even from outside the state.
“It has a population of 839 and so far we are yet to account for 333 students. We are still counting because more are coming out from the forest and we are calling those parents that have phone numbers to find out whether or not their children have gone back home.
“Based on the available record we have, we are still searching for 333 students through either the forest or their parents to ascertain the actual number that has been kidnapped.”
Governor Masari also said the bandits were yet to contact either the government or anybody on the abduction.
He assured that efforts were being made to ensure the students’ release.
“We, as a government, are yet to be contacted by any group or person responsible for the kidnap of the students.” he said.
General Magashi, in his response, assured the state of the Federal Government’s assistance.
He said, “I was here around August on the same kind of mission to sympathise with the government regarding the farmers-herders’ clashes. Today, we are here also to sympathise with you over the recent abduction of secondary school students which is a more or less ruthless exercise conducted to temper with the education of the students.”

He later assured after a closed door meeting with the governor that all the abducted students would return home safely “within the next few hours”.

The minister and the service chiefs were in Katsina on a sympathy visit over the abduction of the students on Friday by bandits.
Others in the entourage included the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Inspector-General— of Police, the DG, DSS and the DG, NIA as well as heads of security agencies in Katsina, including the Commissioner of Police.

The Defence Minister said from the briefings he was given by heads of security agencies on the ground, the rescue of the students was a matter of time.
He said, “With the brief we received from the sister security agencies in the state, this task will be very simple.
“Within the next few hours, we will ensure that these people are back without any collateral damage to the people of Katsina State we have strategised. We only need prayers.
“All hands are on deck to ensure that within the armed forces and the police the task will be accomplished.”
Governor Aminu Masari thanked the delegation for the visit, assuring that the state was making every efforts to ensure the release of the students.

He said, “The children so far kidnapped cut across the state because the boarding school houses all children from all parts of the state and some even from outside the state. It (Government Science Secondary School, Kankara) has a population of 839 and so far we are yet to account for 333 students.”
December 13, 2020
Abducted Katsina students will be rescued soon, defence minister assures
The Minister of Defence, Gen. Salihi Magashi (retd.), on Sunday, assured that all the abducted students of Government Science secondary school, Kankara would return home safely “within the next few hours”.
He gave the assurance in Katsina shortly before he led Service Chiefs to a closed-door meeting with Governor Aminu Masari.
The minister and the service chiefs were in Katsina on a sympathy visit over the abduction of the students on Friday by bandits.
Others in the entourage included the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Inspector-General— of Police, the DG, DSS and the DG, NIA as well as heads of security agencies in Katsina, including the Commissioner of Police.
The Defence Minister said from the briefings he was given by heads of security agencies on the ground, the rescue of the students was a matter of time.
He said, “With the brief we received from the sister security agencies in the state, this task will be very simple.
“Within the next few hours, we will ensure that these people are back without any collateral damage to the people of Katsina State we have strategised. We only need prayers.
“All hands are on deck to ensure that within the armed forces and the police the task will be accomplished.”
Governor Aminu Masari thanked the delegation for the visit, assuring that the state was making every efforts to ensure the release of the students.
He said, “The children so far kidnapped cut across the state because the boarding school houses all children from all parts of the state and some even from outside the state. It (Government Science Secondary School, Kankara) has a population of 839 and so far we are yet to account for 333 students.”
December 13, 2020
Leave us with Covid-19 if you can’t protect us from bandits, Kidnappers, others – Church tells FG
By Gabriel Udeh, Kaduna
Church leader has said that if federal government cannot protect them and members from armed bandits, kidnappers and armed robbers, it should leave them alone with covid-19 disease.
An Assistance Catholic Priest, Rev. father Juel Usman, made the remarks on Sunday during sermon he delivered at Catholic Archdiocese of kaduna, St. Mary’s Catholic Parish church, Unguam Boro, kaduna.
Federal Government, according to the priest, said religious worship centres, churches and mosques, are the breeding places of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. “People who suppose to talk, don’t want to talk about it. I’ll continue to talk. I’ll not stop taking about it”, he said. He said that the church would rather preferred covid-19, than to died in the hands of bandits, kidnappers and armed robbers ravaging the country.
Earlier, Rev. Usman, the third mass priest, threw the challenge question on the members of the congregation whether they preferred bandits, Kidnappers and armed robbers to covid-19, and got anticipated respond.
He lamented that “Even if we protect ourselves fro’m Covid-19, diseases, there’s no guarantee that we’ll survive bandits, kidnappers and armed robberies attacks and killings.
Rev. Usman who was wearing face mask while through out the church service however urged members to ensure they embarked on personal protective measures against the Covid-19, saying any members without face mask will not be allowed entry into the church next Sunday. While he caution against government planned lockdown, the priest appealed to members to complied with all Covid-19 protocols by wearing face mask, wash hands regularly, sanitize and avoid clouded places where necessary.
He also appealed to women to cooperate and avoid anything that would put pressure on their husbands already preoccupied and troubled with many problem during Christmas, while begging children to shield off Christmas cloths this years. He lamented the recent invasion of the government science secondary School in katsina state and several others, kidnapping students.
December 13, 2020
APC wins Council elections in Kogi
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won all the 21 chairmanship and 239 councillorship positions in the Kogi State local council election held on Saturday.
The Chairman of the state Independent National Electoral Commission (KOSIEC), Mr. Mamman Eri, who announced the election results on Sunday, said the APC candidate in Lokoja local government area of the state, Mr. Mohammed Dan Asabe, polled 41,731 votes to defeat Mr. Ahmed Yabagi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 14 votes.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Mr. Isah Yerima, scored 28 votes.
Other APC candidates elected in the election are – Joseph Salami (Adavi), Mr. Mustapha Akaaba (Ajaokuta), Mr. Ibrahim Abagwu (Ankpa), Mr. Mohammed Shuaibu (Bassa) and Mr. Shaibu Siaka (Dekina) and Mr. William Obiora (Ibaji).
Others were – Mr. Abu Odoma (Idah), Mr. James Onoja (Igala-Mela/Odolu), Mr. Taofiq Isah (Ijumu), Mr. Isah Abdulkarim (Kogi), Mr. Moses David (Mopa-Muro), Mr. Ibrahim Amodu (Ofu), Mr. Goke Oparison (Ogori-Magongo) and Mr. Abdulraheem Ohiare (Okehi).
December 13, 2020
Probe petroleum ministry over N116m spent on pens, SERAP charges Buhari
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged the President, Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva, to probe how the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources spent N116 million to buy biros, letterhead, and toners in 2015.
The organisation in a statement Sunday also asked the president and Sylva to investigate the amount spent on the same items between 2016 and 2020, and “if there is evidence of misuse of public funds, refer the matter to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for prosecution.”
The statement titled ‘SERAP asks Buhari, Sylva to explain how petroleum ministry spent N116m on pens, others’ was signed by SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
Part of the statement read, “A democratic government accountable to the people must be as transparent as possible and must not withhold information for self-serving reasons or simply to avoid embarrassment.
“We would therefore be grateful if you would indicate the measures being taken to probe the spending of N116m on biros, letterhead and toners in 2015, and disclose the total amount spent on the same items between 2016 and 2020 within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter.
“If we have not heard from you by then as to the steps being taken in this direction, the Registered Trustees of SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your Ministry to implement these recommendations in the interest of transparency and accountability.”
“The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources has a legal obligation to conduct an effective investigation into any allegations of breach of anti-corruption legislation and international standards, including those relating to the spending by the Ministry on biros, letterhead and toners between 2015 and 2020.
December 13, 2020
Ex-CBN Bankers Accuse EFCC Of Collecting Bribe To Release Them From Custody
Former staffers of the Central Bank of Nigeria, who were allegedly involved in the N8 billion mutilated naira notes scam, have claimed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) took over their houses and rented them out after they initially paid bribes to secure their first release but failed to pay more bribes.
The ex-bankers, who spent over four years in prison, said their wives and children were sent out of their houses immediately they were sent to jail for crimes they did not commit.
They urged the EFCC and the federal government to investigate all allegations against Hamnadama Bello, an investigator in EFCC, who was assigned to investigate the case in 2014.
“We want the EFCC, police, the presidency and the national assembly and other relevant agencies to investigate activities of Hammadama Bello, an EFCC investigator. He is victimising us because he discovered that we have some property and he wanted to take over the property,” said Ayodele Festus Adeyemo, who is one of the alleged offenders and spoke on behalf of the other five at a press briefing this weekend in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The other accused persons who had been facing trials, include Isiaka Akano, Sunday Ajiwe, Oyebanji Akeem, Ayodeji Alese and Demola Oni.
They said that the EFCC investigator Bello had caused them so much hardship because they refused to give him further bribe, adding that they were innocent of the crime they were charged with.
“We don’t know anything about the money,” Adeyemi said. “The money was deposited four years before we were arrested. Bello arrested us and demanded money from us. About a week ago, we swore an affidavit at the court that the EFCC investigator is persecuting us for our failure to pay a bribe to him for the closing of the case.
“Bello had in December 2014 collected five hundred thousand naira each from six of us making N3 million. He collected the money through a lawyer, Nathaniel Oni. We gave him the money because he said that he could not release us for Christmas. And we paid the money because of the condition of the cell in Abuja. Bello also said we should pay N12 million each for him to close our case.”
Adeyemi urged relevant authorities to investigate wide-spread corruption in EFCC.
“I want the EFCC to investigate his activities. I was told that the EFCC investigators have been collecting money. I could not believe it until Bello asked us to pay money for our release and our case to be closed. I want the EFCC, NBA and other relevant agencies to investigate his activities.
“We are not mentioned in the CBN report. The people that were mentioned are not being prosecuted because they had paid money to him. The only problem he has is that he will victimise anyone he found to have property. Eighty-seven of us were taken to Abuja, and only 24 of us are being prosecuted because we did not pay money.”
Isiaka Akano, one of the persons being prosecuted by EFCC, said that EFCC officials took over his house.
“Bello used Oke to collect the money from us,” Akano said. “He invited him to Abuja and I am the one that gathered the money. I collected the money from the five of us and each paid N500,000. He collected the N3 million through Oke before we were released in December 2014.
“We were later re-arrested in 2015. We spent almost five years at Agodi prison before we were released in 2019. We are not fabricating the story,” Akano added.
December 13, 2020
Government must speak out’, ‘We want our children back’- Protest breaks out in Katsina
Protest broke out in Katsina State on Sunday over the abduction of students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Kankara Local Government Area of the state by gunmen suspected to be bandits.
Led by a woman who claimed to be one of the mothers of the abducted students, the protesters demanded the prompt rescue of the students whisked away by the bandits on Friday night.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions, which included ‘Government must speak out’, ‘We want our children back’ and ‘We want security in Kankara’, the protesters went around the school premises and some parts of Kankara town, chanting songs seeking the rescue of the abducted students.
In a similar development, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), on Sunday threatened to mobilise students and youths to go on protest in Katsina State if the abducted students were not rescued on time.
The chairman of the North-West zone of the group, Jamiu Aliyu made the threat at a press conference in Katsina on Sunday.
He said: “We condemn in totality this barbaric act and call for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the culprits, we equally stress the inability of the government to protect those young, innocent, vibrant students from this horrible attack as uncalled for.
“Failure of the government to rescue the missing students within the shortest period of time, CNG will not hesitate to mobilize hundreds of thousands on the streets of Katsina state for a continuous protest, until the students are fully rescued, even if it’s going to cost our lives.”
December 13, 2020