News

Buhari condemns killing of travelers in Plateau, orders arrest of perpetrators

Published

3 years ago

August 15, 2021

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President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned Saturday’s killing of travelers by armed men in Plateau State, describing it as unacceptable.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, Buhari also sent his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the attack.

The police confirmed that 22 people were killed and 14 injured during an attack on travellers in Gada-biyu, in the northern part of Plateau State.

The attack occurred on Saturday before midday and was carried out by a group of youth along Rukuba road in Jos North Local Government Area, the Plateau State police spokesperson, Ugah Garba, said.

The victims were in a convoy of five buses and were travelling from Bauchi State to Ikare in Ondo State when they were attacked in Plateau, the police said.

According to reports, the travellers, believed to be Islamic worshippers who are followers of a popular Islamic cleric, Dahiru Bauchi, were travelling in large groups from the Annual Islamic Zikr prayer in Bauchi State.

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The statement reads: “The Presidency condemns the attack earlier Saturday on travellers from a religious event in Bauchi, passing through Jos, the Plateau State Capital and regrets the reported deaths of at least twenty-two persons with several others injured in that ambush on their travelling party.

“It is widely known that Plateau State has been one of the states affected by herder-farmer clashes, which have, in a significant way, been curtailed following the intense peace-building efforts of the administration of Governor Simon Lalong.

“However, to be clear, this is not an agriculturalist-on-pastoralist confrontation – but rather a direct, brazen and wickedly motivated attack on members of a community exercising their rights to travel freely and to follow the faith of their choosing.

“With the evident preparedness of their attackers, it is clear this was a well-conceived and prearranged assault on a known target, location and religious persuasion of the travellers not an opportunist ambush.

“The Presidency offers condolences to the families of the victims and continues to liaise closely with the local authorities – including security, the police, and governmental agencies.

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“These kinds of attacks on our country’s citizens are unacceptable, heinous, and stand in complete contradiction to the teachings of the great religions of our nation.

“The Presidency stands steadfast with both Christians and Muslims at this time in condemnation of this latest attack and expects and insists that justice is swiftly – but fairly – delivered to the perpetrators.

“Make no mistake about it: in line with my commitment to protect all Nigerians, I have ordered our security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of this gruesome massacre of innocent travellers and bring them to justice,” President Buhari said.

“As the facts of the sad incident continue to unfold, the Presidency commends the ongoing efforts by the Governors of Plateau, Bauchi, and Ondo; the Sultan of Sokoto His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar III and Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi as well as a number of notable Christian and Muslim leaders as they intensify efforts to calm down the situation.”

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News

Fubara reshuffles cabinet, redeploys Wike’s loyalists from finance, justice ministries

Published

2 hours ago

April 24, 2024

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Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, has redeployed two commissioners in his cabinet in a major shake-up since he took the mantle of leadership of the state.

Tammy Danagogo, secretary to the state government (SSG), announced the development in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Fubara redeployed Zacchaeus Adangor, attorney-general and commissioner for justice, to the ministry of special duties.

The governor also deployed Isaac Kamalu, commissioner for finance, to the ministry of employment generation and economic empowerment.

Danagogo said the commissioners are to hand over to the permanent secretaries in their outgoing ministries, adding that deployment is with immediate effect.

Both commissioners are loyalists of Nyesom Wike, the immediate former governor of Rivers and incumbent minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

Last year, the commissioners resigned from their positions following the political feud between Wike and Fubara.

They were later reinstated after Wike and Fubara signed a peace accord facilitated by President Bola Tinubu.

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Wike and Fubara are locked in a struggle for control of Rivers’ political structure.

The political crisis led to the defection of 27 state house of assembly members, who are loyal to Wike, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmakers have been threatening the governor with impeachment.

The lawmakers have vetoed the governor in at least three bills after he refused his assent.

News

Wike orders suspension of rehabilitation of International Conference Centre

Published

7 hours ago

April 23, 2024

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Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has ordered the suspension of the ongoing rehabilitation work on the Abuja International Conference Centre.

The minister said the rehabilitation work should be suspended from now till July 5, 2024.

According to a statement by the Head of Communication Unit of Abuja Investments Company Limited, Fatima Nadada, the suspension of work is to accommodate the holdings of two major events at the centre.

The two events slated for the centre are the Nigeria Air Force Anniversary, tagged The NAF @ 60 Anniversary, themed ‘Nigerian Air Force at 60: Leveraging Strategic Partnerships in Aerospace Innovations for Regional Security,’ which will feature series of activities.

Also, the Nigeria Oil and Gas energy week which is scheduled to take place in June 2024.

The 23rd NOG Energy Week Conference & Exhibition is a cornerstone event for the international energy sector.

The AICL regrets any inconvenience this might have caused, saying it remains committed to providing a world-class venue for conferences, conventions, and cultural events in Abuja.

READ Rivers made right choice by voting Tinubu - El-Rufai

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Wike’s wife among 22 judges recommended for elevation to appeal court

Published

15 hours ago

April 23, 2024

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The chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, has recommended the elevation of 22 judges to the court of appeal.

Eberechi Wike, wife of Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), made the priority list.

In a memorandum signed on April 2, the CJN said 92 names were forwarded by Monica Dongban-Mensem, president of the court of appeal, to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).

Of this number, 22 were approved for onward transmission to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for further consideration and appointment as justices of the court of appeal.

The nominees from the north-central include Polycarp Tema Kwahar (Benue), Ruqayat Ayoola (Kogi), Eneche Eleojo (Kogi), Asmara Akanbi Yusuf (Kwara), Abdullahi Muhammad Liman (Nasarawa), and Abdu Dogo (FCT).

Justice Fadahu Umaru, a Borno state indigene, was the sole nominee from the north-east.

Nominees from the north-west region include Ishaq Mohammed Sani (Kaduna), Zainab Bage Abubakar (Kebbi), and Abdulaziz M. Ankara (Zamfara).

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Nnamdi Okwy Dimga Victoria (Abia), Toochukwu Nwoye (Anambra), Henry Aja-Onu Njoku (Ebonyi), Donatus Uwaezuoke Okorowo (Enugu), and Ngozika N Okaisabor (Imo) are the nominees from the south-east.

In the south-south region, Ntong Festus Ntong (Akwa-Ibom), Nehizena Idemudia Afolabi (Edo), and Eberechi Suzette Wike (Rivers) made the list.

Those from the south-west region are Lateef Babajide Lawal-Akapo (Lagos), Abiodun Azeem Akinyemi (Ogun), Oyewumi Oyejoju Oyebiola (Oyo), and Bayo Ademola Taiwo (Oyo).

RESERVE LIST

The FJSC also placed some judges on a reserve list for possible elevation.

Those from the north-central include Dorcas Venenge Agishi (Benue), Folajobi Ajayi (Kogi), Adamu Yahaya (Kogi), Toyin Bolaji Adegoke (Kwara), Rose Godwin Soji (Nasarawa) and Jacob Azi Atsem (Plateau).

Abdulhameed Mohammed Yakubu is the only one from the north-east.

Those on reserve from the north-west are Isa Aliyu (Kaduna), Bello Ladan Raha (Kebi), and Bello Mohammed Shinkati (Zamfara).

South-east includes Ory Zik-Ikeorha (Abia), Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu (Anambra), Uwabunkeonye Onwosi (Ebonyi), Chulkwujekwu Joseph Aneke (Enugu) and Chikere Annie Ononeje-Madu (Imo).

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South-south nominees on the reserve list are Augustine Dominic Odokwo (Akwa Ibom), Abua Elias Ojie (Cross River) and Victor Oziegbe Aghabue Oviawe (Edo).

Those from south-west are Ogunjobi O. Olukayode (Lagos), James Kolawole Omotosho (Ogun), Mojeed Oladimeji Ishola (Oyo) and Olukayode Adegbola Adeniyi (Oyo).

The NJC is expected to recommend those on the priority list to the president for appointment.