Bandits have abducted over 150 individuals and rustled more than 1,000 cattle from several villages in the Gobir Emirate of Sokoto State. This incident comes just days after the death of the Emir of Gobir, Alhaji Isa Muhammad Bawa, who was kidnapped alongside his son and six others on July 29 while travelling on the Sokoto-Sabon Birni Road. The late Emir, who also served as the District Head of Gatawa, appeared in a viral video with his hands and legs tied, pleading with the Sokoto State government, the Sultanate Council, and his relatives to help pay the ransom demanded by…
Author: Editor Francis
Malawi has begun screening for mpox at all ports of entry in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus. The move comes just days after the first two suspected cases were registered in the country and are currently awaiting laboratory test results. This includes a 31-year-old male who is being treated in the hospital and a 17-year-old boy who is receiving care at home. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the epicentre of a more deadly strain of the virus that emerged last year and has subsequently spread to more than 10 other African states. Just over…
Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to explain how Oando Plc, a company owned by President Bola Tinubu’s nephew, received swift approval to acquire the onshore assets of AGIP and ENI. Oando Plc recently announced the completion of its acquisition of 100% of the shares of Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC). In a statement released on Thursday, the company said, “Today marks a significant milestone for Oando PLC as we proudly announce the finalisation of our agreement with Eni to acquire the entire…
Adejuwon Soyinka, the Regional Editor of The Conversation Africa and an investigative journalist, has been released following his arrest by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Soyinka was detained on Sunday, shortly after arriving in Nigeria from the United Kingdom on a Virgin Atlantic flight. According to a distress message sent to The PUNCH by a friend of Soyinka, he was arrested at approximately 5:40 am, and no reason was given for his detention. The message also stated that Soyinka had been held incommunicado since his arrest, with all attempts to…
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the arrest of Ibeanusi Solomon Nosike, a businessman based in Onitsha, Anambra State, who excreted 68 wraps of cocaine over a period of 12 days following his arrest at the local wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos. According to a statement from Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters, the 36-year-old suspect was apprehended on Thursday, August 8, 2024, at the old domestic terminal of Lagos airport while attempting to board a flight to Abuja. Ibeanusi was scheduled to connect to a Qatar…
Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), has resigned from his position. He submitted his resignation to President Bola Tinubu, as disclosed to State House reporters on Saturday, following a meeting with the president. Abubakar stated that he had come to the Presidential Villa to brief President Tinubu on various matters, as he regularly did. However, during this visit, he also tendered his resignation, which the president accepted. “I came to brief Mr. President on issues, as is customary, and today was no exception,” Abubakar said. “After the briefing, I tendered my resignation, and Mr.…
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has strongly denied rumors suggesting he is considering leaving the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for another political party. In a statement released on Saturday by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, Governor Ododo dismissed claims of his alleged defection plans as unfounded and urged the public to disregard such falsehoods. The governor’s statement comes after the Supreme Court recently affirmed him as the duly elected winner of the November 11th, 2023, Governorship election in Kogi State. He emphasised that the rumours of his defection are baseless, stating that they…
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has approved the appointment of new members to the key management team. This decision follows the recent retirement of several senior officials within the Customs Service. Abdullahi Maiwada, the NCS spokesperson, made the announcement in a statement released on Friday. The new appointments include BM Jibo as the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Finance, Administration, and Technical Services. Additionally, OA Alajogun has been appointed as the acting Deputy Comptroller-General of Enforcement, Inspection, and Investigation. IG Umar has been named the acting Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) of Headquarters, while OA Salefu…
The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the release of 20 medical students who were abducted along the Otukpo/Otukpa/Enugu Road. The students, who attend the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos, were travelling to Enugu for the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students’ annual convention when they were kidnapped by bandits. The abduction sparked widespread outrage, prompting the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to deploy tactical operatives and assets, including helicopters, drones, and tactical vehicles, to facilitate a swift rescue operation. Additional detectives were also dispatched to Benue State to assist in the rescue efforts. In a statement…
The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal filed by Muritala Ajaka, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate in the Kogi State governorship election. Ajaka had contested the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the November 11, 2023, election, which declared Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner. After his initial petition was dismissed by the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal, Ajaka took his case to the Court of Appeal in Abuja, where his appeal was again dismissed. The five-member panel of the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, upheld Ododo’s victory, rejecting Ajaka’s request…
President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) in an acting capacity, making her the second female to hold the position. Her appointment is pending confirmation by the Senate. Justice Kekere-Ekun succeeds Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who retired on August 22 at the age of 70.
Nigerians borrowed approximately N4.82 trillion from banks between January and March 2024 due to the escalating cost of living, according to the First Quarter 2024 Economic Report by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This borrowing surge has pushed consumer credit outstanding in Nigeria to N8.24 trillion by the end of March 2024, up from N3.42 trillion in December 2023, marking a significant 268.9% increase. The data reflects the severe financial strain on Nigerians amidst rising inflation. The report highlights that the surge in consumer credit was mainly driven by a sharp rise in both personal and retail loans. Personal…