Nelson Ugwuagbo

The Federal Government, on Monday, said no ransom was paid for the release of 137 pupils kidnapped from Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State.

“In keeping with the commitment of Mr President, no ransom was paid,” the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, told journalists after the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to Idris, the president appreciated the role of the security services in the safe return of the abductees, vowing that all those involved in the abduction would be fished out and punished.

On March 6, at the pupils were kidnapped when terrorists on motorcycles stormed their school, whisking them away in an operation that drew condemnation and outrage from the Presidency and the global community, including the UN children’s welfare agency UNICEF.

However, a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, said 137 pupils were rescued, contrary to reports of 287.

According to Buba, the pupils were rescued through a joint effort of the military and local authorities in Zamfara State in the early hours of Sunday.

At the time, the Kaduna-based Muslim cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, had offered to dialogue with terrorists who abducted the school children from Kuriga.

Addressing questions raised about the FG engaging cleric, the minister said, “What I can tell you is that the government will stop at nothing to get any kind of information that is required to solve our problems.

“Sheikh Gumi or any other individual for that matter is not above the law. If you have suggestions that are constructive enough for security agencies to take, they will take it.

“But if they think that he is also making some statements that appear to be reckless, he will also be reprimanded.”

Details shortly…

Two students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) have lost their lives while scrambling to collect food items given to them by the state government as palliatives to cushion the current economic situation in the country.

The students whose identity cannot be immediately ascertained were stampeded to death Friday morning.

A source in the institution confirmed that the affected students were female, even as he said several others sustained various degrees of injuries during the incident which took place at the Convention Square within the institution.

The National President of the Nasarawa State Students Association, Yunusa Yusuf Baduku also confirmed the incident, stating that those who were injured have been rushed to hospitals in the area for medical attention.

Baduku, however, could not immediately confirm the number of casualties.

“Seriously, what happened this morning at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, is uncalled for, and very pathetic.

“After our arrangement for the distribution of palliatives to the students which was to hold at the University’s Convocation Square, they (students) suddenly arrived at the venue in their numbers and overpowered the security.

“They broke through the gate into the Convocation Square where the bags of rice was to be shared. Unfortunately, most of our female students sustained several degrees of injuries, while others got suffocated because of the population at the venue for the distribution of the palliatives.

“Right now, I am at the Federal Medical Center, Keffi, where we brought some of our students for emergency treatment. For the numbers of those injured, I cannot confirm that at the moment because some of them are at the school’s clinic while others are here at the FMC, Keffi receiving treatment,” he explained.

LeadingReporters gathered that Governor Abdullahi Sule had extended the distribution of palliatives to students of high institutions in the state.

The state government commenced the distribution of 7:5 kilograms of rice to students across institutions located in Lafia, the state capital on Tuesday.

It was gathered that the sum of N5, 000 each amounting to N35 million were also handed along with the items.

The benefiting students were drawn from the Federal University of Lafia, Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic Lafia, College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia, as well as the School of Nursing and Midwifery Lafia.

Governor Sule promised that gesture will be extended to institutions outside the state capital.

However, the NSUK exercise turned chaotic as students broke into the venue resulting in a Stamped.

watch video below;

President Bola Tinubu has said that those alleging embellishments in the 2024 budget did not understand arithmetic.

LeadingReporters recalls that the 2024 budget was shrouded in controversy following allegations by Senator Abdul Ningi representing Bauchi Central, saying over N3.7 trillion in the budget could not be traced to any project.

The allegations, which landed him three-month suspension, stimulated reactions from concerned Nigerians across the country.

Speaking on the matter, Tinubu while hosting the leadership of the Senate to a dinner to break the Ramadan fast at the State House on Thursday in Abuja, assured the lawmakers that their integrity was still intact.

“I know the arithmetic of the budget and the numbers that I brought to the National Assembly, and I know what numbers came back. I appreciate all of you for the expeditious handling of the budget. Thank you very much.

“Those who are talking about malicious embellishment in the budget, they did not understand the arithmetic and did not refer to the baseline of what I brought. But your integrity is intact.

“I am grateful for what you have been doing. The natural challenge we are facing will be over.

“On the current economic difficulty, we are about turning the corner. Our revenue has improved. All we have to do is to control expenditure and manage ourselves better,” the President said.

Tinubu thanked members of the National Assembly for the speedy attention given to the Students Loan Amendment Bill, urging more tolerance, forgiveness, and charity during Ramadan.

Policemen attached to the Isokoko Division of the Lagos State Police Command have raided a house in Agege where fake drinks are being produced.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this in a video shared on his X handle on Thursday.

According to Hundeyin, during the raid, four persons believed to be the masterminds behind the illegal distillery were arrested, and fake drinks were recovered among others.

His caption read, “Officers of Isokoko Division, acting on credible information, raided a house in Agege where fake alcoholic drinks were being produced.

“The police arrested four people behind the illegal distillery and recovered fake drinks, empty bottles, and labels of different brands. Investigation is ongoing.”

LeadingReporters had reported in December 2023, that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control intercepted counterfeiters involved in the production of a variety of fake beverages including wine, soft drinks, and other products estimated at over N750,000,000 in the Eziukwu market in Aba, Abia state.

Same month, officers attached to the Ojo Division of the Lagos State Police Command arrested two suspects, Magnus Nwonka, 42, and Imo Lawrence, 35, for being in possession of fake drinks.

The suspects were reported to have led the detectives to a multi-room factory in a filthy environment where the fake drinks were produced.

watch video below ;

Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Olukayode Ariwoola, will now earn N1.1 million monthly basic salary and N4.3 million regular allowances as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu increased the remuneration of Judiciary officials.

The development came after President Tinubu sent an executive bill to the National Assembly on Tuesday seeking an upward review of the salaries of judicial officers.

The House of Representatives approved Tinubu’s request to increase the salaries and allowances of judicial officers.

According to the bill, the CJN will earn N13.5 million in annual basic salary and N51.2 million in regular allowances, making it a total of N64.7 million.

Further analysis of the new salary structure showed that the President of the Court of Appeal will earn N62.4 million annually.

In contrast, the justices of the Supreme Court will earn N61.4 million annually.

LeadingReporters gathered that in October last year, retired Supreme Court Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad said the CJN N400,000 monthly salary is lower than the N1.2 million earned by the Supreme Court Registrar.

The Senate has passed the Student Loan, Access to Higher Education, Act 2024.

The senate’s resolution followed its consideration of the report of the senate committee on tertiary institutions and TETFUND.

The chairman of the committee, Senator Muntari Dandutse presented the report during plenary.

Last week, President Bola Tinubu transmitted the Bill to the National Assembly for its consideration and passage.

The Upper Legislative chamber had given the Bill an accelerated hearing by suspending relevant sections of its standing rules and referred the Bill to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.

After debate on the Bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the Bill to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further legislative work and to report back in one week.

The Bill seeks to provide easy access to higher education for indigent Nigerians through interest-free loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund established in the Act to provide education for all Nigerians.

The senate’s resolution followed its consideration of the report of the senate committee on tertiary institutions and TETFUND.

The chairman of the committee, Senator Muntari Dandutse presented the report during plenary.

Last week, President Bola Tinubu had transmitted the Bill to the National Assembly for its consideration and passage.

The Upper Legislative chamber had given the Bill an accelerated hearing by suspending relevant sections of its standing rules and referred the Bill to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.

After debate on the Bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the Bill to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further legislative work and to report back in one week.

The Bill seeks to provide easy access to higher education for indigent Nigerians through interest-free loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund established in the Act to provide education for all Nigerians.

The Nigeria Air Force, NAF, has announced the successful destruction of an arms storage facility belonging to one of the most wanted terrorists operating in Niger State.

The operation was carried out by military operatives as part of Operation WHIRL PUNCH, aimed at rooting out terrorists in the Northwest and North Central regions of Nigeria.

Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, spokesperson for the Airforce, disclosed in a statement, informing that credible intelligence led to the discovery of the terrorists’ storage facility.

He stated, “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft under Operation WHIRL PUNCH (OPWP) has continued to decimate terrorists and their logistics, especially in the Northwest and North Central regions of Nigeria.

“One such success was recorded on March 15, 2024, when strikes by NAF aircraft successfully targeted and destroyed terrorists’ logistics storage situated in Palele near Shiroro in Niger State,” Gabkwet stated.

According to Gabkwet, authorisation was obtained before the operatives struck at the target, and a secondary explosion confirmed the destruction of the arms and ammunition.

“The operation, which was executed with speed and precision, resulted in significant damage to the target area, including a secondary explosion confirming the destruction of arms and ammunition.

“The weapons are believed to be affiliated to a particular terrorist’s kingpin who is on the most wanted list of terrorists,” he stated.

A devastating fire has swept through a major section of Idumota Market in Lagos, causing extensive damage to shops and stalls. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Local authorities and emergency services are on the scene, providing assistance to affected individuals. Updates to follow.

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