Folarin Kehinde

Serious confusion erupted in Gusau, Zamfara State capital as personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC shot a woman to death while attempting to pursue some hoodlums.

Leading reporters reports that the terrible incident occurred while Muslim faithful gathered at the Eid praying ground observing prayers, saying that there was outrage and unrest among residents, which led to serious tensions in the area.

Eyewitness accounts said that operatives of the NSCDC were pursuing suspected hoodlums who were armed with dangerous weapons, pointing out that the NSCDC personnel opened fire indiscriminately, resulting in the tragic death of an innocent woman.

It was also gathered that an angry mob gathered and set the operational vehicle of the police ablaze for killing an innocent woman as they protested over the incident.

The State Police Command’s spokesman, ASP Yazid Abubakar confirmed the incident, saying that two personnel of the NSCDC associated with the incident have been arrested.

A commercial vehicle (Danfo) carrying several passengers crashed on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos on Wednesday.

Confirming the incident, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, Lagos Territorial Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, said the impact of the accident threw two passengers, both adults, off an 18-seater bus into the Lagos lagoon.

Farinloye disclosed that personnel of the Marine Police are conducting a search for the two passengers, a male and female, who fell off the bus.

He further disclosed that the crash, involving the bus with registration number FKJ 872 YA, occurred by Adeniyi Adele axis inward of Lagos Island.

The NEMA official explained that the driver of the vehicle, who was on speed, swerved off the road and hit the bridge rails.

The impact of the crash forcefully pushed the two passengers off the bus into the Lagos lagoon.

“The victims, an adult male and female, are being searched by the Marine Police.

“The injured have been evacuated to a nearby hospital,” Farinloye added.

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The Osolo of Isolo in Lagos State, Oba Kabiru Agbabiaka, is dead.

Leading reporters learnt that the monarch died shortly after observing the Eid prayers on Wednesday.

The Chairman of Isolo Local Council Development Area, Olasoju Adebayo, confirmed his death in a statement seen by our correspondent.

He stated that the deceased monarch would be buried by 4pm according to Islamic rites.

The statement read, “I have the instruction of the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to formally announce the passing of the paramount ruler of Isolo Kingdom, Oba Kabiru Agbabiaka, Adeola Olushi III, today April 10, 2024. He was aged 64.

“He will be buried today by 4pm at his palace, 3/5 Akinbaye Street, Isolo, according to Islamic rites. May his soul rest in peace.”

Olasoju, however, did not disclose the cause of his death.

The monarch spent 20 years on the throne.

Despite no sighting is the crescent moon, a Sokoto-based cleric, Sheikh Musa Lukwa, on Tuesday, led his followers to observe eid prayer.

Recall that the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) under the leadership of Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, had declared Wednesday, April 10 as the first of Shawwal and Eid day, commemorating the completion of this year’s Ramadan fast.

The council said the crescent moon was not sighted on Monday, the same view earlier held by Saudi Arabia authorities.

But Lukwa, who has over the years disobeyed the Sultan’s directive on moon sighting, led prayers at his Juma’at mosque around 8:30am on Tuesday, April 9.

Lukwa insisted that the moon of Shawwal was sighted in neighbouring Niger Republic on Monday, April 8.

“There were reports of sightings on the new crescent in many places, including here in Nigeria, but the one that we were sure of is that of Niger Republic,” he declared.

“We have a verified video clip of their council of Ulamah authenticating the report after which the country declared Tuesday as Sallah day. So it is now binding on us to observe Eid on Tuesday because this is what the teachings of the Holy Prophet says.

“If we can accept that of Saudi Arabia, why can’t we agree with that of Niger Republic which is nearer to us.

“I am not saying all Nigerian Muslims must observe their Eid prayer on Tuesday but we have no moral justification not to observe our prayer on Tuesday because the new moon was sighted by our neighbors. And remember there is no fasting on Sallah day, it is prohibited,” he said.

Hoodlums have reportedly set ablaze the residence of a former Governor of Benúe State, late Aper Aku, in the Gboko area of the state.

The incident was said to have happened on Monday after the occupants were safely evacuated from the building.

A daughter of the late governor, Deborah Aku, told journalists in Makurdi that the Police rescued six of them early enough before the hoodlums burnt the house.

She explained that trouble began in March after a man came to the house with a cutlass and threatened to deal with them if his goat died again, claiming that he was told that his goat died after drinking water from their house.

Aku said her mother reported the incident to the Police Division in Gboko and the matter was later charged to court.

She however added that the fresh attack took place between 7am and 8am on Monday when the hoodlums besieged the house and trapped all six occupants.

“The incident started between 7am and 8am on Monday. They came around and didn’t talk to anyone numbering over 30. When we noticed that their visit was not friendly we locked all the doors and called the Police.”

“Before the Police could arrive they started destroying the house, killed our dog, broke into the pig house and carted away with all the pigs. They also destroyed our mother’s car.

“The Police arrived and were able to rescued us out of the house. We left with the Police with only what we were putting on. While we were on our way with the Police the house was burnt with everything inside. The Police came in two trucks but the boys were many and even attacked them too.

“Yesterday (Monday) when the incident happened the Police were only able to rescue us out of the house before it was burnt down. If not for them we would have probably being burnt inside the house. We were six inside the house.

“We are waiting for the Police to carry out their investigations. We have also reported the matter to all the relevant authorities including the governor and Speaker because this is his constituency.” she narrated.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident to journalists on Tuesday in Makurdi.

Anene however, said she did not have further details as at the time of filing this report.

In a similar development, the Senior Special Assistant to Benue Governor on Youth Mobilization and Empowerment, Mkeenem Moses, has condemned the attack on the residence of Aku who is the first civilian Governor of the state.

He decried the destruction of numerous property worth millions of Naira, saying the situation was savage and unacceptable and tasked security agencies in Gboko to take urgent steps to stop further attacks within the environment.

Saudi Arabia has announced the crescent of Shawwal has not been spotted, meaning that fasting continues on Tuesday.
It stated that the celebration of Eid-El-Fitr, which ushers in a new Islamic month, will take place on Wednesday, April 10.

This was disclosed on an official platform for the Muslim community across the world.

They wrote: “The crescent moon was not sighted in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, Eid Al Fitr will be celebrated on Wednesday, 10th April 2024.

“May Allāh allow us to utilise the remaining moments of this blessed month to engage in that which pleases Him, may He accept our siyām, qiyām & a’māl & may He allow us to witness many more Ramadāns in good health. Āmīn.”

Nigerian Muslims, however, are expected to hold off until later in the day for the declaration made by Sa’ad Abubakar, the President General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and the Sultan of Sokoto.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike has shut down the Abuja International Conference Center for the period of seven months.

Wike who disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja on Monday during a tour to the center stated that the current state of the facility is an eyesore which does not befit the country as an international center.

He stated that the facility lack international standard and as such all bookings are cancelled for the next 7 months for proper rehabilitation to be completed.

His words:

“You can call it a conference center, but not international.
There’s no standard compared. So, we decided that we can’t continue to be embarrassed
in this way. So, we are sorry to announce this, every booking meant to be used here is
cancelled.

“We’re not going to allow anybody to use it again for seven, eight months until when the job is completed”.

Meanwhile Wike added that the rehabilitation of the center will be done to Julius Berger construction, in collaboration with the Federal Capital Development Authority and Abuja investment company.

Hours after the impeachment of Philip Shaibu, Governor Godwin Obaseki has appointed Omobayo Marvellous Godwins, a 38-year-old engineer, as his deputy.

Politics Nigeria earlier reported that the Edo State House of Assembly, on Monday, impeached Shaibu.

The impeachment followed the adoption of the report of the seven-man investigative panel set up by the Assembly to probe allegations of misconduct against Shaibu.

The Justice S.A. Omonua-led seven-man panel investigating the impeachment petition against Shaibu rounded off its sitting on Friday.

The panel was constituted by the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, on March 22, 2024, in line with the resolution of the State House of Assembly to investigate the impeachment petition against the deputy governor which bothered on allegations of gross misconduct and perjury.

Other members of the panel are Professor Theresa Akpoghome, Oghogho Ayodele Oviasu, Surveyor Andrew Oliha, Idris Abdulkareen, President Aigbokhian and Mariam Erakhoba Ilavbare.