Headlines

Unknown gunmen have ambushed and abducted a retired Major-General in Imo State.

The victim, identified simply as Maj Gen RC Duru (rtd), was abducted last weekend in Orji General area, Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State.

It was learnt that the Major-General was driving himself in a black Mercedes Benz ML jeep when the gunmen ambushed him.

“He was kidnapped by 4 persons in a Toyota Sienna,” a signal obtained by SaharaReporters read.

“The kidnappers went with his vehicle and checkpoints were informed. His phone 08033567459 was tracked to Mba Itoli in Imo State before it was switched off,” a source said.

“Efforts are ongoing to locate the kidnappers and rescue the rtd General. All are requested to make efforts using all contacts (though discretely) to hasten return of the kidnapped General.

“Maj Gen Duru is a member of 33rd Regular and NDC 18.”

Aside government officials and facilities, the military and officials of other security agencies have been targets of attacks by gunmen in the South-East.

The Nigerian government has accused pro-Biafra group, IPOB of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region.

But the group has repeatedly denied its involvement in the attacks.

The election petition tribunal sitting in Jos, Plateau State capital, on Friday, sacked the speaker of the state house of assembly, Hon Moses Sule.

The speaker, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was sacked alongside Danjuma Azi, member representing Jos North West constituency in the assembly.

The tribunal, however, declared the former majority leader of the house, Hon. Naanlong Daniel and Hon. Mark Na’ah, all of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as winners of March 18 election.

The petitioner had challenged the sponsorship of the Sule and Azi on the grounds that the PDP was not qualified to participate in the election for lack of party structure.

Delivering the judgment, the tribunal led by Muhammad Tukur said PDP was not qualified to sponsor the respondents for the election.

He held that as the party did not have structure, “nothing can stand on nothing”.

The tribunal further held that the PDP disobeyed the order of Justice S P Gang of Plateau State High Court delivered on November 26, 2020 which ordered the party to conduct ward congresses.

Justice Tukur said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to tendered any authentic document that showed there was repeated congress by the party in 2021, as claimed by the respondents.

Tukur-led panel had sacked two PDP lawmakers of the state assembly, on Thursday.

Nigerian Tourism Minister Lola Ade-John has reportedly been hospitalised in Abuja after suffering acute poisoning.

According to report Ade-John, 60, was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, shortly after she started manifesting symptoms of poisoning, according to the sources.

Peoples Gazette cited sources close to her family, stating that she had been at the facility for four days as of Friday morning.

The minister, a career banker and tech investor has been on a machine to aid her breathing, the sources said. The specifics as to what substance she ingested and how could not be immediately established, according to the publication.

The publication further reports that her worsening situation has further set the family against the government, with the permanent secretary of her ministry said to be in disagreement as to whether she should continue receiving treatment at a public hospital or be moved to a better-equipped private facility downtown.

The permanent secretary, Ngozi Onwudike, was said to have insisted that the minister should not be transferred because the FMC is a public hospital and its services wouldn’t attract substantial charges to the government, a position her family rebuffed. But they remained with her as they could not raise funds to move her to a private hospital, the sources said.

Ade-John assumed the role of minister in August, appointed by President Bola Tinubu. She stood out as one of the cabinet members selected outside the traditional political circles. Having resided in London for several years, she was called upon by the president to return to the country and serve.

The association of medical doctors in Kogi State have suspended the strike embarked upon two days ago to protest the kidnapping of their colleague, Dr Austin Uwumagbe following assurances by the state government on Wednesday to ensure the safe return of their colleague.

The Director of Victory Hospital-Annex at Ogaminana, Dr Austin Uwumagbe, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen earlier last week and has been in the kidnapper’s den since then.

The suspension of the 72-hour strike was contained in a communique issued jointly signed by Kogi State NMA Chairman Dr Olusola Baoku and Secretary Dr Emmanuel Kelvin on Thursday September 28.

According to the communique, the Emergency Congress Meeting was called to review the industrial action in protest to the relevant agencies and stakeholders on the kidnap of their colleague Umuragbe.

The Doctors observed that the strike had effectively conveyed the association’s displeasure to the society at large, stressing that, relevant security agencies and stakeholders notably have shown a remarkable commitment to ensuring the safe release of their colleague.

The communique reads in part “Following the intervention of the Medical Elders, the re-assurances from the Kogi State Government, the security agencies and most importantly the plight of our dear patients, the industrial action be suspended across the state at exactly 72hours from its commencement.

“The State Officers Council (SOC) of NMA Kogi should sustain engagement with all the relevant Stakeholders to ensure the release of Dr. Austin Umuragbe. Also, periodic updates should be given to the congress to review the process and chart the way forward”.

While appreciating the commitment of Kogi governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello towards the rescue of their colleague, the association also salutes the doggedness of security agencies in their efforts to rescue the kidnapped victim.

NMA, however, expressed optimism that, Bello who has recorded success and received several awards in protecting Kogi indigenes, will use his good office to quickly bring Umuragbe safe to his family.

“The Governor should again prove himself as he has done repeatedly in the success he has achieved in protecting lives and properties in Kogi State. We want the public to know that we love and care about them as it is important to create an enabling environment for effective health-care delivery.

“We also sympathise with the family of our kidnapped colleague hoping that he will return safely without being hurt,” the communique added.

A total of 3,785 convictions was secured by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2022.

In a disclosure made by a member it the Legal and Prosecution department of the agency, Ramiah Ikhanaede at during a workshop on the Effective Reporting of Economic and Financial Crimes in Makurdi Zonal Command, said the number was the highest in the history of the commission.

He said, “In 2022, the EFCC hit 3,785 convictions, the highest so far since the formation of the organisation.”

Ikhanaede further stressed that the Makurdi zone of EFCC had already secured 43 convictions plus this year (2023) alone while it also made appreciable outing of 39 convictions in 2022, a total of 16 convictions in 2019 when the zone was established in Makurdi and only nine in 2020 following the COVID-19 disruption.

The enforcement and enlightenment efforts of the Commission is worrisome.
“I therefore appeal to the media to lend a hand in helping to sensitize the youth against internet-related fraud activities. The youth must be reminded that they can productively use the resources available in cyberspace for legitimate pursuits without embracing criminality.”

Two people traveling in a bus conveying some final year students of Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso, returning from a picnic, along Osogbo/Ifon/Oyo Boundary road, have been burnt to death in an accident late Wednesday evening.

Five other occupants were rescued by the operatives of Osun Ambulance Scheme that responded to the distress call from the scene of the accident which happened near Ojutu Bridge, Ilobu.

A resident of Okinni, identified as Adeyanju, who spoke to The Punch on Thursday, September 28 that the driver of the bus conveying the victims, had hit a commercial motorcyclist in the town, and was trying to escape the rage of some angry residents chasing after him.

“Few meters from Ojutu Bridge, the driver lost control of the vehicle and the bus somersaulted and caught fire. Some people were rescued before the fire could spread, but three people were burnt to death. Operatives of O’Ambulance Scheme came around to rescue some of the victims,” Adeyanju said.

Meanwhile the Head of Operations, Elizabeth Arowosafe, said the organisation got a distress call around 9:50pm on Wednesday that a bus conveying some final year students of LAUTECH, returning from a picnic was involved in the accident.

She disclosed that they responded around 9:53pm. “I was told the driver had hit someone in Okinni and was speeding to avoid some people around the area chasing after him, when the incident happened.

“The driver alongside a lady and a male student were burnt to death. We were able to rescue 5 people. We rushed them to UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital in Osogbo. The hospital did well. In fact, there was no enough space to accommodate the injured people and we had to leave one of our stretchers for them to use.

“We could not recognise the dead victims. They were travelling inside a bus. I learnt that the occupants of the bus are final year students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, who went to Erin-Ijesa waterfall for an excursion.

“One of the injured students confirmed to us that they were coming from an excursion. She gave us names of victims, but she didn’t have the strength to name the others.”

Also commenting on the crash, the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Agnes Ogungbemi, said the accident was caused by violation of speed limit which led which led to loss of control.

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Dino Melaye has promised to retire All Progressives Congress to political obituary.

He stated this in Lokoja during the inauguration of the PDP Local Government election campaign committee of the 21 local government councils held at the party Secretariat on Thursday.

The former Kogi West Senator who berated the ruling party over alleged maladministration, non-payment of salaries, and insecurity, admonished electorates not to be intimidated, before, during and after the November Governorship election.

He said Kogi State has become a laughing stock among the comity of States, stressing that, the present administration has succeeded in dividing the people along ethnic and religious lines.

Melaye, while appreciating the Local Government Chairmen for their steadfastness towards securing victory for the party, posited that, when elected, Kogi State will be wearing a new look.

The PDP candidate said ” This election is a walkover for PDP because of maladministration, poverty, non-payment of salaries, gratuity, promotion are not being cash backed and many more. The people of Kogi State are not happy as they are looking for a messiah that will save them from captivity.