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US threatens to deny visa to promoters of election violence in Nigeria

Vincent Ufuoma
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US threatens to deny visa to promoters of election violence in Nigeria

AHEAD of next month’s general elections in Nigeria, the United States (US) has vowed to deny visa to anyone found fanning the embers of electoral violence in any part of the country.

The US Consul-General, Will Stevens, made the vow on Saturday January 21 while addressing participants at a town hall meeting organised by the Niger-Delta Open Observatory (NOGO), in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

Stating that the US did not have any preferred candidate in the Nigerian presidential election holding next month, Stevens said his country was only concerned about fair, free and credible polls.

He noted that voting by Nigerians shows the strength of democracy to the rest of the world.

“These elections are important. Nigeria is the fifth largest democracy in the world.

“We in the United States will discourage any politicians, citizens, or other parties who are encouraging electoral violence or seeking to undermine the electoral process,” he said.

Last year, the United Kingdom had also vowed to sanction Nigerians seeking to undermine the 2023 general elections.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, said some of the sanctions, which included visa ban, had worked in the past and deterred election offenders in the country.

300-level student commits suicide in Akure

Vincent Ufuoma
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300-level student commits suicide in Akure

A STUDENT of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), identified as Olona Oluwapelumi, has committed suicide in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Oluwapelumi was a 300-level student in the Department of Industrial Design at the institution.

Although details of his death were still sketchy, an eye-witness said his body was found hanging in his room located in the Aule area of the city on Sunday morning.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the death of the deceased, said the incident had been reported to the police.

Odunlami said said the corpse has been deposited in the mortuary pending the conclusion of investigation.

“His body had been taken to the morgue and investigation has started to unravel the reasons behind his action, but it was a case of suicide,” the PPRO said.

Oluwapelumi’s death was also confirmed by the university’s Students Union Government (SUG)

In a statement signed by its president, Jesunifemi Asoore, the SUG sympathized with the entire students of the institution over the tragedy.

“I know we are all saddened by his death and we’re sending our condolences to his family and friends. Death can be difficult for us to understand, especially when it is sudden. Many of us may be confronted with a variety of emotions, which might include shock, sadness and confusion.

“We want to assure you that we, the Students Union, care about you and understand the feelings you may be experiencing,” he said.

Ansaru, not ISWAP, responsible for Abuja-Kaduna train attack – Gumi

Ijeoma OPARA
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Ansaru, not ISWAP, responsible for Abuja-Kaduna train attack – Gumi

ISLAMIC cleric Ahmad Gumi has said the Ansaru terrorist group, not the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), was responsible for an attack on a train headed to Kaduna from Abuja in March 2022.

According to a report, Gumi said the abductees kidnapped their victims in reaction to certain wrongdoings by the state.

“We have a sense that they are the Ansaru faction; meaning they are more civilised than Boko Haram. It’s not an offshoot of ISWAP. They call it ISWAP here. I don’t think it is ISWAP or Boko Haram. It is Ansaru. The Ansaru are a little bit different,” Gumi said.

The cleric, known for interfacing with terror groups, also said the Ansaru became violent after being disbanded by the Nigerian authorities.

“They are not Boko Haram. To them, Boko is not a problem. Their problem is that they want to seclude themselves in the forest so that they live their pristine life the way they envisaged it. But because of the fear of Boko Haram, the authorities disbanded them.

“When their camp was disbanded, they became armed. They’re not challenging the state. They were challenging wrongdoing by the state. That was why when they took the victims, they wanted their prisoners to be released. You’ve seen the difference now,” he said.

He added that the Nigerian security system had been compromised and should be restructured to resolve the security challenges plaguing the country.

“In the ranks of the army and police, we have criminals. How do they get into the army? It is because now you cannot get into the security agencies unless you have money. We have criminals in the armed forces,” Gumi said.

In October 2021, members of the ISWAP and Ansaru terrorist organisations had attacked the Abuja-Kaduna railway lines, bringing train services to a temporary halt.

In March 2022, another train en route Kaduna from Abuja was attacked by terrorists and scores of travellers were abducted.

Gumi had played a role in negotiating with the abductors, which resulted in the release of some abductees in October 2022.

IGP officially meets police nominees for Jerusalem pilgrimage

Harrison EDEH
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IGP officially meets police nominees for Jerusalem pilgrimage

THE Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, on Friday January 20, met with the 10 Christian police officers who have been nominated for the 2023 pilgrimage in Jerusalem, Israel.

The pilgrimage, which is the first of its kind, was initiated and is being financed by the IGP in collaboration with some well-meaning Nigerians to encourage police officers to be steadfast and uphold the tenets of their faith.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement he issued and signed on Saturday, January 21.

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“The IGP has also sought and gotten the approval of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) to ensure that this becomes a routine activity. He has equally institutionalized the system to ensure that subsequent administrations toe the same path.

“The Inspector-General of Police urged the officers to be good ambassadors of the Nigeria Police Force and the country during the period of the pilgrimage.”

The IGP also tasked them to spend the period in sober reflection which would ultimately impact on their policing duty.

 

Bayelsa Governor challenges youths on violence-free polls

Harrison EDEH
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Bayelsa Governor challenges youths on violence-free polls

THE Governor of Bayelsa State, Duoye Diri, has called on youths to shun electoral violence and use their permanent voter cards (PVCs) to elect credible leaders with the capacity to deliver on sustainable development, peace and economic prosperity.

Diri made the call on Saturday January 21 while addressing youths during a programme tagged, ‘Prosperity Youths Day 2023’, at the Ecumenical Centre in Igbogene.

The governor told the youths that the PVC, which he described as more powerful than an AK47 rifle, was vital to them as it is a tool that confers political power on the electorate.

He said, “The PVC is your AK-47. You do not need any gun or machete to intimidate anyone. Bayelsa youths are not violent but intelligent and productive.

“Elections are a very serious business of choosing leaders that will lead them towards prosperity, development and growth.”

He also urged the youths to shun drug abuse and all acts of violence before, during and after the elections and stressed the need for them to key into the government’s various policies and programmes targeted at building their capacity.

“Do not allow politicians to use you as canon fodder to advance their selfish political interest. They tell you lies and give you peanuts to harass and intimidate other politicians contesting with them.

“Always believe in God and yourselves. Shun drug abuse and cultism. What God has for you, nobody can take it away,” he said.

He also appealed to anyone involved in kidnapping and other criminal activities to have a change of heart as the government would not condone any breach of the peace and acts that threaten the stability of the state.

Insurance Scheme: IGP commences disbursement of N13bn to disabled officers, families of deceased

Tayo ODUNLAMI
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Insurance Scheme: IGP commences disbursement of N13bn to disabled officers, families of deceased

THE Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has commenced the distribution of cheques to cover the insurance benefits of officers who lost their lives while in service, as well as those who suffered various forms of life-threatening injuries while on active duty.

The total sum of cheques presented to about 7,000 families of deceased officers and those injured or rendered disabled in the line of duty between 2012 and 2020 amounted to over N13 billion.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Chief Superintendent Olumuyiwa Adejobi,  disclosed this in a statement he issued on Saturday, January 21, 2022.

The statement informed that the backlog payments were made possible through the IGP’s drive to ensure that police officers are adequately catered for in the event of injury or permanent disability due to the risks associated with policing, and that families of deceased police officers are adequately catered for in the absence of their breadwinners.

Baba, while reiterating the value of human life, emphasized that prompt payment of insurance and other benefits due to officers who had met with some misfortunes due to the risky nature of policing in our contemporary environment and unforeseen hazards of policing, would greatly boost their morale and ensure they put in their best in their service to the nation.

He also promised better welfare packages for members of the police family either serving, retired, or slain in the line of duty, so as to cement the already existing esprit de corps among the components of the police family.

Cholera outbreak leaves 60 dead in Cross River community 

Harrison EDEH
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Cholera outbreak leaves 60 dead in Cross River community 

RESIDENTS of Obubura community in Cross River State are calling on the state government to come to their aid urgently following a cholera outbreak that is said to have claimed over 60 lives.

The outbreak was reported to have affected more than 200 persons.

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Reports monitored on Friday January 20 on Channels Television narrated that the Obubura community depends on a river as the only source of water for cooking, bathing, washing, drinking and defecation.

The community’s traditional ruler, Ohorodo I of Okum Kingdom, Ovan Robert, lamenting the epidemic, called on the government to intercede by providing them with potable drinking water to avoid another outbreak.

The Commissioner for Health, Janet Ekpenyong, has promised that the state government would provide the community with adequate potable water to replace the river source.

The government also said health personnel would also be sensitising residents of the community on health issues.

Police rescue two kidnapped pupils in Nasarawa

Ijeoma OPARA
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Police rescue two kidnapped pupils in Nasarawa

THE Nasarawa State police command has rescued two pupils abducted from the Local Education Authority (LEA) primary school, Alwaza, in Doma Local Government Area (LGA).

The pupils were abducted along with four others on Friday by gunmen riding on motorcycles.

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Police arrest suspected kidnapper, rescue victims in Nasarawa

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Command, Rahman Nansel, confirmed this in a statement he issued on Saturday.

“The Command, in collaboration with sister security agencies, has rescued two females among the six pupils that were abducted yesterday (Friday) at LEA Primary School, Alwaza Village, Doma LGA. Their names are Vision Umbugadu Judge and Peace Amos.

“The pupils were rescued at Sabon Kwara village, Jenkwe Development Area of Obi LGA, Nasarawa State, due to sustained pressure mounted on the abductors by the combined search and rescue team,” the statement read.

The rescued pupils have been taken to an undisclosed hospital for medical check-up before they would be handed over to their families.

Nansel noted that efforts were still ongoing by the police and other security agencies to secure the release of other abductees and apprehend the kidnappers.

He added that the cooperation of residents helped in the operation, and urged members of the public to provide useful information where available to hasten the release of the other four pupils.

Gunmen had abducted, at least, six school children early on Friday morning.

According to a report, the children were abducted during an attack on the LEA primary school.

Obi meets with southern Kaduna traditional rulers, pledges to stamp out corruption

Harrison EDEH
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Obi meets with southern Kaduna traditional rulers, pledges to stamp out corruption

PRESIDENTIAL candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, on Saturday, 21 January in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, promised to stamp out corruption if elected as president.

Obi made the pledge at a meeting with traditional rulers in Kagoro, Kaura local government area in the south of Kaduna State.

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He said corruption had been preventing Nigeria from realising its full potential, hence the need to stamp it out.

He said, “With your support, I will fight corruption and block all areas of revenue leakages.”

Obi also promised to stop the wastages in government and start saving to rebuild the country.

“Opposition says I am stingy, but nobody has accused me or my running mate of corruption,’’ he said.

He restated his resolve to fight poverty as a way of reducing crimes, positing that the more people that were pulled out of poverty, the more crime would be reduced.

The presidential candidate also told the traditional rulers that if successful, he would be working with them to address security challenges facing Nigeria.

In his remarks, the Chief of Kagoro, Ufuwai Bonet, appreciated Obi for identifying with the people of Southern Kaduna.

Bonet prayed God for leaders that would address the numerous challenges confronting Nigeria.

Basic education not entirely free – FCT-UBEB

Ijeoma OPARA
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Basic education not entirely free – FCT-UBEB

THE Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has said basic education is not entirely free.

The Director at the FCT-UBEB, Bashir Abubakar, who represented the Chairman of the Board, Hassan Sule, made this known in a radio interview on Wednesday January 18 while reacting to a report by The ICIR.

“Universal Basic Education is free and compulsory. That is number one. The issue of charges, maybe they are talking about PTA charges. We have a slogan in UBEC: Education for all is a responsibility of all. Sometimes we say it is free, but not free 100 per cent. Why? Because a parent is expected to provide the uniform for the child,” he said.

Abubakar pointed out, however, that students were not mandated to purchase uniforms from the school as they could be sourced in the open market.

“The government employs teachers; we provide books, we provide so many other materials for the school. It is part of collaboration. There is no way you will say government should take care of 100 per cent of everything,” he said.

He added that students in the FCT schools also pay levies agreed upon by the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) and approved by the board, although he described this as a form of support and not mandatory fees.

Abubakar urged parents to be in touch with the school authorities by attending PTA meetings to know what fees are being agreed upon, and report cases where extra fees were being demanded.

“When there is an allegation, if the report comes to us, we set up a committee, we go round the schools you are accusing of doing something wrong. If we verify, we sanction them,” he said.

Basic education in Nigeria covers primary school and three years of secondary school.

It is governed by the Universal Basic Education Act of 2004, which provides that education is free and compulsory for children in Nigeria.

However, The ICIR reported that some fees were demanded by government-owned schools in the FCT, contributing to the increasing number of out-of-school children.

Government-owned primary and junior secondary schools in the FCT charge between N10,000 and N35,000 for enrolment of new students, which is unaffordable for many Nigerians dealing with severe economic challenges.

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