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The Super Eagles will begin their quest for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in November.The three-time African champi...
14/07/2023

The Super Eagles will begin their quest for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in November.

The three-time African champions will battle South Africa, Benin Republic, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Lesotho for a place at the mundial.

The Super Eagles will play their first two games in the qualifiers between November 13-21.

The third and fourth matches in the qualifiers will be played between June 3-11, 2024.

The six other rounds of matches in the group will be played between March and October, 2025.

In all, the Super Eagles will play 10 matches in the group.

The first-place team in the group will earn automatic qualification to the quadrennial event which will be hosted by the United States of America, Canada and Mexico.

Nigeria failed to qualify for the last edition of the World Cup hosted by Qatar.

The three-time African champions lost to eternal rivals, Ghana in the playoffs.

FULL SCHEDULE

Matchday 1,2 – Nov 13-21 2023

Matchday 3, 4 – June 3-11 2024

Matchday 5,6 – March 17-25 2025

Matchday 7, 8 – September 1-9 2025

Matchday 9,10 – October 6-14 2025

November 10-18 2025 (Playoffs)

Shehu Sani, a former Kaduna Central Senator, has warned Nigerians over the N8,000 palliative from President Bola Tinubu’...
14/07/2023

Shehu Sani, a former Kaduna Central Senator, has warned Nigerians over the N8,000 palliative from President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Sani said Nigerians should pray before collecting the N8,000 from Tinubu’s administration.

He claimed that those who collected the “jazzed” N10,000 under former President Muhammadu Buhari ended up in poverty.

Tweeting, Sani wrote: “People who collected Buhari’s ‘jazzed’ 10k ended up in deeper poverty. Pray before you collect the next 8k.”

Tinubu had unveiled plans to transfer N8,000 to 12 million poor households in the country.

He said the money would be transferred to poor Nigerians within the next six months.

The president’s plan was contained in a letter to the House of Representatives over the $800 million loan request of Buhari’s administration for the social safety net programme.

He urged the House of Representatives to secure the loan.

The 2023 Lagos State Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, on Tuesday, closed his case agains...
05/07/2023

The 2023 Lagos State Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, on Tuesday, closed his case against the victory of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the March 18 election.

Rhodes-Vivour is also challenging the eligibility of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hazmat, to contest on the grounds that he allegedly renounced his Nigerian citizenship and swore allegiance to the United States of America.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday before the governorship election petition tribunal, Mr Idowu Benson, the petitioner’s counsel, told the three-justice tribunal headed by Arum Ashom that the petitioner was closing his case.

Ten witnesses had testified in the petition of the Labour Party candidate.

The counsel also tendered a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the INEC Form EC9 – an affidavit containing the particulars of a candidate – which was hand-filled by Hamzat and had been front-loaded by the counsel for the fourth respondent, All Progressives Congress (APC), before the tribunal.

All the counsel for the four respondents objected to the admissibility of the document tendered by the petitioner.

The tribunal, however, admitted the document into evidence and marked it as Exhibit PE713.

The APC counsel, Mr Noris Quakers (SAN), said the CTC tendered by the petitioner was warehoused by the first respondent and did not form a part of the court records.

“It’s not a document before this tribunal.

“It’s only a document signed by the Independent National Electoral Commission that can be tendered.

“We will further argue on why this document should not be admitted in the final written address,” he said.

The INEC counsel, Mr Eric Obigor, told the tribunal that he would pick a date to open their defence while commending the petitioner for closing his case.

The tribunal ordered that the first respondent should open his case on the next adjourned date, but he prayed to the court for more time to put his house in order.

On his part, Counsel to Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat, Mr Bode Olanipekun (SAN), also commended the petitioner for closing its case, while stating that they should have taken the wise retreat earlier.

NAN reports that the proceedings were stalled on Monday due to health reasons of the LP witness.

The tribunal, however, adjourned until July 5 for INEC to open its defence.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima have tendered 18 exhibits before the Presidential Electio...
05/07/2023

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima have tendered 18 exhibits before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) in a bid to escape the disqualification request of the Labour Party (LP) and Peter Obi, its candidate in the February election.

While Tinubu, for the second time in less than 24 hours, presented his records at the Chicago State University to the court, Shetima tendered his letter of withdrawal from the Borno South Senatorial race upon being picked to be Vice presidential candidate.

Tinubu and Shetima tendered the exhibits to the court to debunk allegations of non-qualification to stand for the 2023 presidential election.

Through their lead counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, Tinubu separately put at the disposal of the Court a letter of February 3, 2003, signed by a former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Tafa Balogun, requesting the criminal records of Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Embassy of the United States of America in Nigeria.

At Wednesday’s proceedings, where they opened their defence in a joint petition of the LP and Obi, Tinubu tendered another letter from the US Embassy which, in response to the Police letter, claimed not to have any criminal records of Tinubu.

While the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not object to tendering and admitting the documents as exhibits, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, vehemently kicked against the admission of the documents.

However, in spite of the vehement objection by PDP and Atiku, the court admitted the documents as exhibits to be used to determine whether the President attended the Chicago State University and to determine as whether he was convicted in the United States of any drug offences as alleged by Obi and his party.

Obi and LP had predicated their joint petition seeking nullification of Tinubu’s election on the ground of not having requisite educational qualification and conviction for drug-related offences by a US court, among others.

Similar exhibits had on Tuesday been admitted by the same court but in a different petition of Atiku and PDP, who are also asking the court to kick out Tinubu from the Presidency on the same grounds.

Besides the records on educational background and absence of criminal conviction, Tinubu tendered several US visas to establish his frequent visits to America and clearances obtained from the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

Meanwhile, the defence has been stepped down for calling witnesses.

The gubernatorial candidate of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the last general elections in Ogun State, Ambassador...
24/06/2023

The gubernatorial candidate of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the last general elections in Ogun State, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has appealed to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government to accede to the N200,000 minimum wage for workers across the country.

Oguntoyinbo noted that this is necessary in view of the present economic reality occasioned by the increment in the prices of goods and services across the country.

He made these disclosures via a statement made available to DAILY POST on Saturday.

Recalls that the labour unions had proposed N200,000 as the minimum wage before the President.

Oguntoyinbo, however, appealed to Tinubu to accede to the request.

The NNPP candidate in the statement lamented that it is worrisome that low-income earners are struggling with harsh economic realities, with about 120 million citizens living in poverty.

Peter Obi asking for non-existent documents against president – INECSome documents requested by the presidential candida...
21/06/2023

Peter Obi asking for non-existent documents against president – INEC

Some documents requested by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, at the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi to be presented as exhibits at the Presidential Election Tribunal are non-existent.

INEC made the declaration during the Tribunal’s sitting in Abuja on Tuesday.

Obi and the Labour Party (LP) are challenging the Feb. 25 election of President Bola Tinubu before the court in a petition marked CA/PEPC/03/2023.

Respondents in the petition are INEC, President Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima and their All Progressives Congress (APC).

Giving evidence before the court, Mr Lawrence Bayode, Deputy Director, ICT at INEC, told the court that out of the five documents Obi asked for; two were non-existent, while one was work in progress.

One of Obi’s witnesses, Ms Loretta Ogah, an ICT cloud engineer, said she contested the election into the House of Representatives on the platform of Labour Party in Cross River but lost the election.

Ogah was cross-examined by Mr Wole Olanipakun (SAN), counsel for Tinubu and Shettima.

She told the court that she sued INEC after her loss because the electoral umpire did not list her name on its portal as a result of network failure.

Also cross-examined by Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), counsel for APC, Ogah told the court that glitches did not occur on the INEC portal on Feb. 25.

She said she did not know INEC’s password protocol as she was not INEC’s employee.

The court presided over by Justice Haruna Tsammani, adjourned further hearing to Wednesday, NAN reports.

JUST-IN: EFCC Quizzes  Ex-Benue Gov OrtomThe Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited the immediate-p...
20/06/2023

JUST-IN: EFCC Quizzes Ex-Benue Gov Ortom

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited the immediate-past Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, for questioning.

Ortom, who visited the Makurdi office of the anti-graft agency on Tuesday morning to honour the invitation, has remained there for some hours now as at the time of filing this report.

The former governor is believed to be undergoing grilling by a team of the anti-graft agency's interrogators.

However, journalists were asked to leave the premises of the EFCC office.

PHOTOS: Baby Cow With Two Heads, Four Eyes Amazes Villagers  In IndiaVillagers in India have been left amazed after the ...
06/06/2023

PHOTOS: Baby Cow With Two Heads, Four Eyes Amazes Villagers In India

Villagers in India have been left amazed after the incredible birth of a baby cow with two faces.

This strange happening in Jalalpur village, Uttar Pradesh, towards the end of last month, has been described as a divine miracle, Daily Mail reported on Tuesday.

The two-faced calf which has four eyes, two noses, one tongue and one body, but has a joined mouth and two ears has been considered a 'divine miracle' by its owner and families.

Hindu and Jain religions consider castles sacred in the nation and slaughtering of cows is highly prohibited which gives the animal freedom to roam the streets.

The two-face or polycephaly animal is reportedly living healthy and enjoying life despite its deformity which was expected to have died within a couple of days or few months like other animals with such condition.

According to vets, this type of case can occur due to the abnormal development of cells during the development of the embryo which has a different brain and share control of the organs and limbs.

Tribunal Adjourns Peter Obi’s Petition Against Tinubu’s Victory Due to Illness of Key StaffThe Presidential Election Pet...
31/05/2023

Tribunal Adjourns Peter Obi’s Petition Against Tinubu’s Victory Due to Illness of Key Staff

The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) in Abuja has announced a further adjournment of proceedings in the case brought by Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate.

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Obi seeks to challenge the outcome of the presidential election held on February 25.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Obi’s legal team, led by Prof. Awa Kalu, SAN, informed the court that two essential staff members had suddenly fallen ill.

The two staff members in question were described as integral to Obi’s legal secretariat, and their indisposition affected his plan to submit crucial documents before the court. These documents aimed to substantiate Obi’s claim that the presidential election was rigged in favour of President Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

Prof. Kalu, SAN, humbly and apologetically pleaded before the five-member panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, stating, “My lords, our plan for today’s proceedings was to start with the presentation of our documents, but unfortunately, we had some unexpected development. The unexpected development concerns the sudden illness of two of our key staff, for which reason I am constrained to ask for an adjournment till tomorrow. It is with the greatest humility and apology that we make this application. I assure my lords that we will be here tomorrow morning, and we will proceed with vigour.”

Obi’s lawyer had previously informed Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, the lead counsel for President Tinubu, about the situation before the hearing began.

Chief Olanipekun, SAN, representing President Tinubu, expressed no opposition to the request for an adjournment.

Similarly, Mr. Abubakar Mahmood, SAN, representing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, counsel for the APC, also voiced no objections.

However, the respondents requested that a day be deducted from the originally allocated three weeks for Obi to present his case.

Justice Tsammani accepted the application and adjourned the petition until Thursday.

The joint petition filed by Obi and the Labour Party argues that Tinubu was not the legitimate winner of the presidential election. The petitioners also contend that President Tinubu was not eligible to participate in the contest.

One of their key arguments is that when Tinubu’s running mate, Kashim Shettima, became the Vice Presidential candidate, he was still the nominated candidate of the APC for the Borno Central Senatorial election.

Additionally, the petitioners challenge Tinubu’s eligibility based on a previous indictment and fine of $460,000.00 by the United States District Court for involvement in dishonesty and drug trafficking (Case No: 93C 4483).

The petitioners assert that the election was invalid due to corrupt practices and non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022. They argue that INEC failed to follow its own Regulations and Guidelines during the conduct of the presidential poll, particularly regarding the use of technological devices for voter accreditation, verification, and authentication.

Among their requests, the petitioners are urging the court to declare all votes cast for Tinubu and the APC as wasted votes due to his non-qualification/disqualification.

Meanwhile, at 2 pm, the court will continue further hearings on the petition filed by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who secured the second position in the presidential election.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday in Abuja informed the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) that the petiti...
31/05/2023

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday in Abuja informed the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) that the petition instituted against him and his Vice, Kashim Shetima by the Allied People's Movement (APM) died at the Supreme Court on May 26, 2023.
Tinubu said that the main issues raised by the petitioner had queried 'place holder' by Kabir Masari and Vice President Kashim Shettima's alleged double nomination and that the issues was resolved by the Supreme Court last Friday in a judgment in the suit marked SC/CV/501/23 between the People's Democratic Party PDP Vs INEC and 3 others.

NBA: election okayed by 92% of NigeriansNinety-two per cent of voters across the country are ”impressed” or “satisfied” ...
14/03/2023

NBA: election okayed by 92% of Nigerians

Ninety-two per cent of voters across the country are ”impressed” or “satisfied” with the conduct of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has said.

The percentage comprises 27.1 per cent of voters that were “excellently impressed” and the majority 64.6 per cent s that were “somewhat satisfied.”

NBA, in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Lawal, said the score was a part of the findings contained in the interim report of the association’s Election Working Group.

The interim report was based on the feedback sent to the NBA 2023 Elections Situation Room by the NBA Election Observers from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Over 1000 INEC-accredited observers drawn from the 128 branches of the Bar were deployed by the NBA to monitor the polls.

PHOTOS: Election Security Committee Meets In Abuja Ahead Gov PollsThe Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on election se...
14/03/2023

PHOTOS: Election Security Committee Meets In Abuja Ahead Gov Polls

The Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on election security met at the Independent National Electoral Commission headquarters in Abuja in preparation for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

Photos from the meeting, as well as a statement, were shared via INEC’s Twitter handle on Tuesday.

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, in a statement, urged political parties to persuade their supporters not to engage in violence during the governorship and state assembly elections.

The statement reads, “The Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security meeting gets underway at the INEC HQ, Abuja. The Governorship/State Houses of Assembly elections, scheduled for 18th March, is on the agenda.

“INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu implores political parties, candidates and their supporters to see election as a contest, not war and ‘refrain from acts of violence that may mar the elections or compromise the security of our personnel, observers , the media and service providers’.”

Credit: Twitter | inecnigeria

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PHOTOS: Police Foil Attack On Lagos BankA combined team of policemen attached to the Gowon Estate and Shasha Police Divi...
17/02/2023

PHOTOS: Police Foil Attack On Lagos Bank

A combined team of policemen attached to the Gowon Estate and Shasha Police Divisions foiled an attempt to attack a branch of Access Bank in Akowonjo, Lagos State on Friday.

Some aggrieved customers stormed the premises of the bank to protest over their inability to withdraw money which degenerated when one of the customers started to hurl stones at the building.

The tension was doused following the intervention of the policemen who arrived the scene to restore order.

Credit: Dayo Oyewo
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PHOTOS:  Commuters Stranded As Protesters Set Bonfire In LagosThere was tension along the Isheri-Igando area of Lagos St...
17/02/2023

PHOTOS: Commuters Stranded As Protesters Set Bonfire In Lagos

There was tension along the Isheri-Igando area of Lagos Stare on Friday as protesters barricaded the road over the rejection of old naira notes by commercial transport workers.

The protest, which started in Igando in the early hours of Friday and was later put to an end by policemen from Igando Division.

Another protest however erupted at the Oko Filling end of the road, as the protesters set bonfire on the road, preventing commercial bus drivers from working.

Credit | Dayo Oyewo
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JUST IN: $1b looted funds recovered since 2015 - MalamiAttorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has rev...
23/11/2022

JUST IN: $1b looted funds recovered since 2015 - Malami

Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has revealed the current administration has so far recovered about $1 billion looted funds till date.

Malami disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents after the week’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Attorney-General also disclosed that Council has approved a new Anti-corruption Strategy Document to strengthen anti-graft campaigns in the country.

He said the recovered assets had been deployed to various sectors of the economy including poverty alleviation.

Malami also expressed government's concern over cases of budget padding, which he described as worrisome, noting that every necessary measure would be explored to address it.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, had blamed the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, for adding N206bn to the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry’s budget.

While appearing before the Senate Committee on Special Duties on Monday, to defend the 2023 Budget, Farouq had claimed that the Ministry requested some projects for the North East Development Commission and the National Social Safety Net Project in the 2022 budget, which were not released but was surprised to see an inflated amount in the 2023 budget of the ministry.

The Minister of Defense, Maj. Gen Bashir Magashi (rted), had also told the Senate that Ahmed inserted a total of N11 billion into his Ministry’s 2023 budget.

We have confirmed the situation of this lady, and she really need your help with little you have. For those that need di...
18/10/2022

We have confirmed the situation of this lady, and she really need your help with little you have. For those that need direct contact, can contact us at comment section

PDP must apologise over Atiku's remark - WikeRivers Governor Nyesom Wike has called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP...
17/10/2022

PDP must apologise over Atiku's remark - Wike

Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to apologise to Nigerians following a divisive and controversial remarks of its presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.

Atiku had said: “I know the whole of this country. I have built bridges across this country. I think what the average northerner needs is somebody who is from the north, who also understands the other parts of Nigeria, and who has been able to build bridges across the rest of the country.

“This is what the northerner needs. He (the northerner) doesn’t need a Yoruba candidate or an Igbo candidate. This is what the northerner needs. I stand before you as a pan-Nigerian of northern origin".

Speaking in Port Harcourt on Monday shortly after arriving from Spain, Wike said while he doubted the possibility of Atiku making such a statement at a critical time of the nation’s history, such disposition of the presidential candidate would justify his fight for equity, justice and fairness in the PDP.

He insisted that the party must urgently address the issue and appeal to Nigerians otherwise people would begin to see the party as one that lacked justice and equity.

2023: Atiku's speech on Northern presidency disappointing — Kingsley MoghaluA former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank...
16/10/2022

2023: Atiku's speech on Northern presidency disappointing — Kingsley Moghalu

A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Prof. Kingsley Moghalu has said he is disappointed by the remarks of presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar that northerners need a President who hails from the region.

Moghalu, who faulted Atiku's speech, urged candidates for the 2023 presidential election to avoid ethnic or other divisive sentimental appeals.

In the now-viral video seen by The Nation, Atiku, who hails from Adamawa in the north-east, told his audience which included a significant percentage of persons of Hausa and Fulani extraction, that they don’t need an Igbo or Yoruba as president but “someone from the north”.

Reacting on his verified Twitter page, he said: "I was very disappointed to view the video clip of H.E. Atiku Abubakar , a former Vice-President of Nigeria, telling an audience in Kaduna that what the North needs is a northerner to be President, and not a Yoruba or Igbo candidate.

"I have a lot of respect for Atiku who, despite his flaws (which all the other leading contenders also have) ,I have always regarded as a truly cosmopolitan politician in our country. His reference to his “building bridges” across the country does not negate his clear message

"That message was a direct appeal to divisive ethnic sentiment and a denigration of the largest ethnic groups in Southern Nigeria. I think he should withdraw the statement and apologize to Nigerians for it.

"All candidates in the 2023 presidential election must avoid ethnic or other divisive sentimental appeals."

If we release all Ayu's sins, his children will disown him - WikeRivers Governor Nyesom Wike has said the sins of the Na...
14/10/2022

If we release all Ayu's sins, his children will disown him - Wike

Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has said the sins of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Iyorchia Ayu are so grievous that if they are disclosed his children will disown him.

“If people know what we know, if we release what we have, Ayu’s children will go to him and say we are no longer your children,” Wike said.

Speaking during a live media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Friday, the Governor said Ayu had no locus to stand before Nigerians and campaign for PDP ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The Governor maintained the PDP boss has no integrity and alleged that the chairman also received double pay for a single project.

On the N1billion he accused Ayu of collecting, Wike said: “There cannot be any comment. He (Ayu) cannot say anything. Look, I am the governor of Rivers state and I don’t just come out to speak.

"Let Ayu say he did not collect N1 billion. In fact, let me also tell you, Ayu collected N100 million naira from a Governor that he was going to renovate our democratic institution and then he (Ayu) went back to the PDP NWC and took the same N100 million naira for doing the same work.

“What kind of system is that? I am telling you all these are facts. Let him (Ayu) say no first and I will tell you (those he collected money from).

“A leader must be a man of integrity. And I have realised that people find it hard to have that (integrity) lately. You are presenting a man (Ayu) who lacked integrity as chairman of the party. Somebody that wants to lead a campaign to take the reigns of government?

"What is the problem with what we are asking of Ayu? We are saying let there be equity, let there be fairness and justice. But if you don’t want it that way then you are the one causing the crisis (in the party) and that shows you (Ayu) don’t have leadership skills because this is the time to show it. This is the time to show leadership skills on the part of those who are leaders of the party.”

17 outgoing Govs battle to install successorsThe outgoing governors include: Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); Nyesom Wike (Rivers)...
06/10/2022

17 outgoing Govs battle to install successors

The outgoing governors include: Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Ben Ayade (Cross River); Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom); Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta); Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu); Dave Umahi (Ebonyi); Aminu Masari (Katsina); Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna).

Others are: Umar Ganduje (Kano); Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger); Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa); Dairus Ishaku (Taraba); Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) Simon Lalong (Plateau).

Military rescues remaining 23 kidnapped train passengersThe seven-man Presidential Committee set up by the Chief of Defe...
05/10/2022

Military rescues remaining 23 kidnapped train passengers

The seven-man Presidential Committee set up by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, has announced the rescue of the 23 remaining passengers of the Abuja-Kaduna train kidnapped during an attack on the train on March 28.

The development led to the suspension of train operations in the Abuja-Kaduna route since the attack.

The Minister of Transportation, Muazu Sambo, had said in different fora that the train service would remain shut until the hostages are reunited with their loved ones.

The Presidential Committee announced the rescue of the remaining passengers in a statement by the Secretary to the Chief of Defence Staff Action Committee, Prof. Usman Yusuf on Wednesday.

Yusuf stated that the Committee secured the release of the victims on Wednesday at exactly 4:00 pm.

According to the statement, all sister security agencies and the Federal Ministry of Transportation contributed immensely to the success of the operation.

"The statement reads: "I am pleased to announce to the nation and the world that at 1600Hrs. (4:00pm) today, Wednesday 5-10-2022, a seven-man Presidential Committee assembled by the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General L E O Irabor, secured the release and took custody of all the 23 remaining passengers held hostage by Boko Haram Terrorists following the attack on the Abuja to Kaduna train on 28-3-2022.

"The nation owes a debt of gratitude to the Nigerian Military under the leadership of the CDS who conceived and guided the operation from start to finish.

"All sister Security Agencies and the Federal Ministry of Transportation contributed immensely to this Operation.

"The unwavering support of the President and Commander in Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari GCEFR is what made it all possible.

"Members of this Committee are grateful for the rare honour and privilege to be part of this Humanitarian Operation. May God Almighty Heal Our Wounds and Bring Peace to Our Land."

The Ministry of Transportation posted the Presidential Committee’s statement on its official WhatsApp group platform

The media aide to the Minister of State for Transportation, Ebenezer Adeniyan stated: "it is authentic and the information is directly from the Minister.

"That's the news as received from the defence headquarters by the Minister. There is no press statement needed on it from the ministry at this time please."

Also confirming it, Mrs Evelyn Asiribo, whose husband was amongst those kidnapped said: "We got a notification that they have been rescued and that they out of the forest but we are yet to see them. We are hopeful the news is true."

One of the leaders of the victims’ families forum in Kaduna, Malam Sani Lawal, said they have been informed of the rescue.

He however said they were yet to see the rescued hostages

PHOTO STORY: Police Patrol Lagos Ahead Of Planned October 1 Rallies Men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and the Lagos ...
30/09/2022

PHOTO STORY: Police Patrol Lagos Ahead Of Planned October 1 Rallies

Men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and the Lagos Task Force have embarked on a patrol of the Lagos metropolis ahead of Saturday’s Independence Day and planned political rallies in the state.

Some of the policemen were seen at the Lekki Tollgate, a venue which the Federal High Court in Lagos had directed the supporters of the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, not to gather at.

In a tweet, the RRS said, “In continuation of its routine convoy patrol of the metropolis as directed by the Lagos Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alabi, Commander RRS, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi is presently leading RRS team and Lagos Taskforce on convoy patrol of the city.”


Credit: Twitter | rrslagos767

Russian recruits say goodbye to loved ones prior to taking a train at a railway station in Prudboi, Volgograd region of ...
30/09/2022

Russian recruits say goodbye to loved ones prior to taking a train at a railway station in Prudboi, Volgograd region of Russia, Sept. 29, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a partial mobilization of reservists to beef up his forces in Ukraine.

By VOA September 30, 2022

About 98,000 Russians have crossed into Kazakhstan in the week since President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of reservists to fight in Ukraine, Kazakh officials said Tuesday, as men seeking to avoid the call-up continued to flee by land and air into neighboring countries.

Kazakhstan and Georgia, both part of the former Soviet Union, appeared to be the most popular destinations for those crossing by car, bicycle or on foot.

Those with visas for Finland or Norway also have been coming in by land. Plane tickets abroad had sold out quickly despite steep prices.

Russia's Defense Ministry has said that only about 300,000 people with prior combat or other military service would be called up, but reports have emerged from various Russian regions that recruiters were rounding up men outside that description. That fueled fears of a much broader call-up, sending droves of men of all ages and backgrounds to airports and border crossings.

In announcing the number of Russians crossing the border, Kazakhstan Interior Minister Marat Akhmetzhanov said authorities will not send those who are avoiding the call-up back home, unless they are on an international wanted list for criminal charges.

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