Nelson Ugwuagbo

The national chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr Major Agbo, loyal to the founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, has escaped an assassination attempt in his office in Abuja.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, Agbo said that he escaped the assassination attempt in the NNPP’s newly opened office, adding that the attempt was made on his life while he was in the office on Monday, 16th August 2023.

“I walked in here at about 2.45 pm, and shortly after that, two men walked in, ignoring the protocol advice from the desk boys in the front office.

“They walked in with weapons demanding to meet me; unknown to them, they were talking to me. It was evident that they never knew me physically, infact my saving grace was that I was not sitting on my chair.

“Pointing a short gun at me, they demanded that I produce ‘Major Agbo,’ who one of them claimed was his coursemate at Command and Staff College, Jaji.

“I asked him if he would identify his coursemate he was talking about if seen, and he replied ‘yes.’ I then told them Major Agbo was not around. They speedily withdrew, ran into their ash-coloured Toyota Corolla car parked by the express roadside (to aid escape) and sped away.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are all aware of the recent developments in the party as a result of attempts to hijack it by some ill-advised elements and political opportunists.

“Let me also confirm to you that I have received several threats through WhatsApp voice calls telling me I would pay with my life for standing in the way in their quest to take the party from its founder and its mother organisation – NAGAFF.

“They made real their threat on Monday but failed woefully as they could not identify me. The matter has been reported to the appropriate quarters for action.

“It is my sincere hope that you would lend your voices to this brazen attempt to take my life over what does not belong to them.

“It is my hope that you would let the whole world know that my life is presently in danger by usurpers who were not part of our party in its twenty-two years of existence but only joined us last year.”

The Kaduna State Police Command, on Thursday, confirmed the brutal murder of a member of the National Youth Service Corps member, Grace Chalya Silas, by yet-to-be-identified assailants in the state.

Leading Reporters learnt that the state Police Commissioner, CP Musa Yusuf Garba, has directed a manhunt for the killers of the Corps member.

Chalya Silas, who’s doing her one-year mandatory national service in the state, was reported to have been stabbed to death during her morning jogging at the Barnawa, in Kaduna South Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday.

The deceased’s friends and coursemates at the University of Jos took to Facebook to m

One of them, Comfort Elisha, wrote on her Facebook handle, “No na. What is really happening to Jossite and the Special Education department? We haven’t finished mourning Kekefas Emmanuel, and now it’s Chalya, brutally killed in Kaduna during her morning jogging while serving her fatherland. May your killers know no peace Chalya. This is too much to bear.”

However,  the Kaduna Command’s Public Relations Officer,  ASP Mansir Hassan, while confirming the incident described the death of the Corps member as “tragic”.

Hassan said the Commissioner of Police, CP Musa Yusuf Garba, after an emergency meeting of the top hierarchy of the command, had ordered the Barnawa Divisional Police Officer and operatives to hunt for the killers of the Corps member.

The police spokesman said, “It’s a very tragic incident. She was performing her early morning jogging(exercise) when some miscreants(phone snatchers) on motorcycles pounced on her.

“The victim’s name is Grace Chalya Silas. She was a Corps member serving in Kaduna South.

“When the case was reported to the police, operatives responded swiftly and moved to the scene of the crime where they saw the victim in the pool of her own blood. She was rushed to the clinic, where she was later confirmed dead.

“Since the incident was reported to the police, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, CP Musa Yusuf Garba, held an emergency meeting with the top hierarchy of command over the matter. We are already in touch with NYSC in the state.

“The CP has directed the Barnawa DPO  and Area Commander, to immediately hunt for killers of the Corps member and fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act.”

Kaduna – Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has approved the release of N3.1 Billion for the payment of gratuity for retirees and death benefits for families of the deceased under the Defined Benefit Scheme and the Contributory Pension Scheme.

The State government stated that the development was in tandem with Governor Sani’s commitment in easing the hardship faced by the elderly, who are among the state’s most vulnerable.

Muhammad Lawal Shehu, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor in a statement, explained that the Governor Sani remained committed in ensuring that upon retirement,workers who have served Kaduna State diligently, have full access to what is rightfully theirs.

“The Kaduna State Government through the State Pension Bureau is resolute in ensuring the continuity of the release of these payments for gratuity and death benefits to beneficiaries in the state.”

“The release of these funds will aid in ameliorating the ripple effects of current economic realities,especially for the elderly who have retired from active service.The full list and details of beneficiaries will be released by the State Pension Bureau in the coming days,” the statement added.

No fewer than 12 persons have died due to a cholera outbreak in Ogun State within one month, the state government has said.

On September 17, the Ogun State Ministry of Health alerted of the outbreak of cholera in Ijebu North Local Government Area of the State.

The disease, according to the Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, has since spread to Abeokuta North and Abeokuta South Local Governments, with 217 cases recorded in Ijebu North only.

She has now confirmed that 12 fatalities have been recorded out of the 246 cases recorded so far

Coker gave an update on the disease after an engagement with stakeholders at the ministry in Abeokuta.

“Unfortunately, we have a report of 246 cases, and there has been at least about 12 deaths, which brings us to a fatality rate of 44.6 per cent.

“This is slightly high for a state like ours because we are educated. And from what we found out that’s actually promoting the cholera outbreak is the fact that there’s high level of open defecation in Ogun State,” she said.

Coker warned residents to abstain from open defecation and ensure proper hygiene to eliminate the disease.

She said water sources had been contaminated by faecal materials due to open defecation.

She said the government had begun chlorinating wells in Ijebu North to restore normalcy.

A yet-to-be-identified man had reportedly slumped and died in the late hours of Tuesday in the Oke-Abetu area of Abeokuta South Local government in Ogun State.

Leading Reporters gathered on Wednesday, that the man, in his late fifties, was walking along the roadside before slumping and immediately gave up the ghost.

A member of the community, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity for fear of being quizzed by the police noted that the man who appeared healthy just slumped without collision with anything and died immediately.

“The man was walking along the roadside when we noticed that he just slumped and died. He does not look like someone who is sick and he did not collide with anything that we may say is the cause of his death.”

Another source within the school located at the spot where the man died, who only identified as Vice-Principal Academics, noted that the school management in conjunction with the community leaders had made efforts to get government authorities to pick the remains of the man but it did not yielded any result.

He said, “We discovered the corpse yesterday when we saw people gathered around him. We learnt that the man was walking by the roadside before he slumped and died immediately. The school management reached out to the community CDA and the police in Adatan.

“The Principal of our school in the company of the police took the corpse to Sacred Heart Hospital in Lantoro and State Hospital, Ijaiye to deposit the corpse at their morgue but they rejected it saying there was no space to accommodate it. As we speak the corpse has been returned back to the spot that he died.”

Contacted, state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident and noted that the man’s identity remains unknown, as no family members have been identified. She said that health officials had been notified to bury him.

“The Police don’t have information about him because he has no known family members. Health officials have been notified and they will bury him,” Odutola disclosed.

In a determined attempt to resolve the 60-year-old land tussle between Ado and Ilawe Ekiti, the Ekiti State government has summoned the lawyers and surveyors of the two feuding towns.

The government said the action became imperative following unraveling of documents that needed to be viewed with intellectual and mental expertise of these professionals representing the two disputing communities and their counterparts in the public service.

The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye gave the directive in Ado Ekiti, on Tuesday, while mediating in a 60- year old land dispute between Ilawe-Ekiti and Ado.

The Deputy Governor, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, frowned at the reported cases of assaults being experienced on the land, despite the stringent warning that nobody should trespass on the land until the matter is finally resolved.

“Available records show that this land dispute began in 1963, but we have to try and lay it to rest. Ado and Ilawe Ekiti are one and it is the love and unity that has existed between you that must be the guiding principle in this matter.

“We won’t wait until you start killing yourself before taking action. Governor Biodun Oyebanji is a promoter of peace and unity and nobody will be allowed to jeopardise his efforts in this regard.

“We are giving you an ultimatum of two weeks to bring your surveyors and lawyers to work with experts from the Ministry of Justice and our Land dispute Resolution Technical Committee to look at all the available documents.

“These experts will also guide us on all former documented agreements you had entered into since 1971 on that land to know the direction we are going to toe for speedy resolution of this crisis,” he said.

The Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Ajibade Alabi, appreciated the government for being zealous in resolving the crisis, claiming that his town, through the Ekiti South Local Government, had paid for a portion of the contentious area of the land going by available documentation.

The monarch, represented by Elemo of Oke -Emo, Chief Gbenga Agbona, promised to abide by the verdict passed by the government so that the matter can be resolved expeditiously.

The Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, represented by Akitipa of Odo Community, Chief Ademola Adepoju, applauded the government for being impartial in the resolution of the crisis.

Oba Adejugbe pledged that his people will abide by the government’s instruction and comply with all directives that would avert bloodshed or violence over the land tussle.

Senator Smart Adeyemi, has said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will throw out Ministers who fail to perform in six months.

According to him, the President has no time to waste and is desperate to reposition the country.

He said for this reason, those appointees who are not ready to work in that line will be shown the exit door within six months of their appointment.

The President has already handed portfolios to his 48-person cabinet, with the Renew Hope Agenda of the President is expected to be the focal point.

Appearing on Channels Television on Wednesday, Adeyemi warned that any appointee who decides to reĺax at this point will have themselves to blame.

“What Nigerians, including ministers should know about Tinubu is that once you don’t perform within six months he throws you out…that’s what he’s going to do,” he said.

“The man is in a hurry to make a difference. Asiwaju wants to make a name. He wants to reposition Nigeria and recover lost ground for the nation.

“Those who are being nominated, given appointment I celebrate you but if you don’t perform, he will show you the way out,” he said.

Wife of Zamfara State Governor, Hajiya Huriyya Dauda Lawal has revealed her intention to marry out fifty female orphans under the State’s ministry of Women, Children and Social Development Affairs.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant, SSA Media and Communication, office of the Governor’s wife, Zara’u Musau.

She said that the First Lady made the declaration when she visited the orphanage home in Gusau, promising to cater for the upbringing and well-being of the orphans in the State.

The statement further stated that the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal will do everything humanly possible to shoulder all the responsibilities of the wedding.

“Complete sets of beds, cushion chairs, utensils and foodstuffs for the marriage couples have been prepared”, the statement said.

The wife of the Governor further advised those orphans to be disciplined, obedient and steadfast in their matrimonial homes.

Speaking earlier, the State commissioner for women, Children and Social Development affairs, Dr. Nafisa Muhammad Maradun assured the State government’s readiness to conduct a seamless mass wedding for the orphans in Gusau.

NAFDAC and security officials during the destructions

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control on Wednesday destroyed fake and expired goods worth over N500 million in Abuja.

Speaking during the exercise, the Director-General of the agency, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, stated that some of the goods were also voluntarily submitted to the agency.

Represented by Mr Francis Ononiwu, NAFDAC Director of Investigation and Enforcement, the D-G stated that the exercise is carried out routinely all over the country.

NAFDAC destruction exercise of fake, seized and expired goods in Abuja on Wednesday

Speaking on why the goods were destroyed, the NAFDAC boss said that the destruction of the products was done to prevent their re-introduction to the supply chain.

Adeyeye listed some of the products destroyed as drugs made up of psychoactive and controlled substances like antibiotics, antihypertensive, antimalarials, herbal snuff and herbal remedies, and drugs confiscated from drug hawkers.

She also listed the food products such as Spaghetti, vegetable oil, and non-alcoholic beverages, including a 1 by 40ft container of unregistered Faurecia instant-powered milk that was handed over to the agency by the Nigeria Customs Services.

Others were cosmetics such as creams, lotion, and pomade, including skin-lightening creams seized from SPAS and beauty centres, chemicals such as fake insecticides and medical devices.

Also destroyed were expired and unwholesome products voluntarily handed over for destruction by complaint companies, Non-Governmental Organisations and the Association of Community Pharmacy of Nigeria.

According to the NAFDAC boss, the estimated street value of the products being destroyed is N535,000,657.00.

“I have said on several platforms that drug counterfeiting is an act of economic sabotage, and it also represents a serious threat to public health, and NAFDAC under my watch has been repositioned to fight this menace.

“The agency has adopted a proactive approach by engaging political, traditional, faith leaders, journalists and other Nigerians to sensitise their wards on the dangers of dealing with substandard and falsified medicine.

“I wish to use this medium to urge all and sundry to be on the lookout for spurious and counterfeit medicines, unwholesome foods and other regulated products and report same to NAFDAC,” she said.

Mr Isiaku Gamajira, FCT Coordinator, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, stated that NAFDAC is a sister agency when it comes to the regulation of products, hence the reason why SON was at the event.

He noted that many people lack education on how to get certification for their products, stressing that it is the reason why most goods from Nigeria are rejected abroad.

“We are aware of government policy on zero rejection of Nigeria products, we have a policy called product certification in which a certificate is issued on products made in Nigeria that are to be exported.

“In doing all these, we ensure that we key into the principle set up in line with the government of the exporting country, and issue a certificate of performance to avoid Nigeria’s product rejection when they get to the point of entry.

“We have offices all over the country where information about product certification can be gotten, our addresses are also available online for you to reach out to us.

“We provide people with proper guidance when they approach us, SON has been carrying out its compliance activities among which is the seizure of substandard products. We have just destroyed the tyres

“Tyre is a product which lives depend on and SON has a serious interest when it comes to compliance action, seizure in that regard, on Sep. 29,  SON destroyed a lot of tyres and these are some of the things we do.

“Most of these tyres are imported, it is our commonwealth, If you see the quantum of what we have destroyed in the last few months, you will be surprised,” Gamajira said.

Mr Enejoh Amade, Chairman of, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, FCT Chapter, said his association would continue to support  NAFDAC to rid the country of substandard drugs.

He said that his association had partnered with NAFDAC on the exercise by bringing some expired drugs collected from members of ACPN.