We won’t stop the fight for Biafra — Nnamdi Kanu’s family vows, says family not divided

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February 24, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday declared that his government has weakened Boko Haram.

He said this in reaction to the attack on Garkida in Adamawa State.

Buhari, in a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, condemned the attack and assured that no part of Nigeria would be abandoned.

He said: “These attacks on soft targets by the terrorists are obvious signs of frustration because my administration has significantly weakened Boko Haram’s military capability to invade and hold Nigerian territory unchallenged.

Photos of Attack in Adamawa: https://abntv.com.ng/2020/02/boko-haram-attack-adamawa-community-burnt-houses-churches-health-centre-killed-soldiers-photos/

“Our gallant forces deserve our appreciation for repelling the attackers but they must go beyond this point. They have our full support to go after the terrorists and have them pay a huge price.

”I want to assure the country that terrorists will continue to face the combined power of our military until they give up their mistaken ways.

“These occasional and episodic attacks on poor civilians by the terrorists are mere propaganda efforts to portray them as strong in order to fool the public into believing that they haven’t been militarily weekend by our gallant troops.”

Buhari assured that in the coming weeks, Nigerians would witness an aggressive campaign to rout Boko Haram once and for all.

“Security will continue to be well funded despite the competing needs of social services.

”I appeal to Nigerians to continue to support our troops in their gallant efforts to protect the citizens and secure the country,” he added.

Remo Stars defender, Kazeem Tiyamiyu ‘Kaka’ killed by hit-and-run driver, not SARS – Police

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February 24, 2020

The Ogun State Police Command says the footballer that was killed on Saturday was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver and not by a policeman as widely reported.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, made this known in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abeokuta.

Reports on Saturday alleged that an operative of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad had killed the Assistant Captain of Remo Stars, Kazeem Tiyamiyu after he was arrested.

But Oyeyemi said the late footballer, who was popularly known as Kaka, died while trying to escape after his arrest.

He claimed that the footballer was hit by a vehicle when he attempted to cross the highway.

According to him, the footballer was also arrested for wearing a military cap and not on suspicion of internet fraud.

He further pointed out that the operative, who arrested the deceased, was an inspector attached to the Zonal Intervention Squad, Obada, and not a SARS operative.

“A police inspector attached to Zonal Intervention Squad, Obada-Oko, in Abeokuta, was said to have received information about the deceased that he was always putting on military apparels knowing fully well that he was not military personnel.

“Based on the information, the inspector went to Sagamu and saw the deceased putting on a military cap, consequent upon which he got him arrested.

“On the way to Abeokuta, the vehicle they were travelling in developed a mechanical fault and while the officer was trying to rectify the fault, the arrested person jumped down from the vehicle to escape.

“In his bid to run across the road, a vehicle which was speeding knocked him down and he died on the spot,” he said.

Oyeyemi disclosed that the Commissioner of Police had ordered the immediate arrest of the officer for his unprofessional act of leaving an arrested person alone in the vehicle.

“A full-scale investigation into the case by the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department has commenced,” he said.

Abia Speaker, Orji blessing to 7th Assembly – Deputy Speaker

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February 24, 2020

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The Deputy Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu has described the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Engr. Chinedum Orji as a blessing to the 7th Assembly and Abia State at large.

Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu made his feelings known in a release he signed recently and made available to ABN TV. He said Right from his time as the Majority Leader of the 6th Abia State House of Assembly till now Rt. Hon. Orji’s leadership acumen has catapulted him to the enviable position of the Speaker and has seized every opportunity he had to leave a footprint.

According to the Deputy Speaker, “Immediately after he was sworn in as the Speaker, he swung into action to reveal how prepared he was to shoulder the responsibility of leading other members of the house. He first started with proving to all of us what it means to be a standard engineer when he masterfully reconstructed our assembly complex to the admiration of all and sundry.”

Rt. Hon. Uchendu stated that “they say in life, you do not judge a book by its cover until you read or go through the contents. I wouldn’t have talked about Mr. Speaker if I had not had close encounter with him.” He explained that in the Speaker he has noticed that Mr. Speaker belong to the class of people who are naturally designed and prepared as leaders. Rt. Hon. Uchendu noted that “hardly will anyone who visits the assembly during plenary sessions know who belongs to which party. The Speaker has carried each and every member of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly along irrespective of party affiliation.”

He said that Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji’s diligence and dedication to work is second to none as the Speaker is always the first to come to work and the last to leave the assembly complex. He further stated that “the Speaker I know is naturally endowed with so much wisdom. His knowledge about life is unbelievable. He understands people and their conditions more than they even do.” He equally added that “He is very sympathetic, empathetic and unapologetically a born philanthropist. He has given many a reason to live again through his benevolence.”

Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu revealed that the 7th Abia State House of Assembly has passed several developmental, economic driven and life changing bills with many motions to go with it under the dogged leadership of Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji. He described the Speaker as just humane and regretted that “In this world we find ourselves, where those who do good are left unrecognized and maligned, I want to take a stance to tell the whole world that the Speaker of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Engr. Chinedum Orji is a blessing to the 7th Assembly.”

Italy suspends Serie A football games over coronavirus fears

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February 24, 2020

Italy’s top football league has postponed three matches scheduled for Sunday in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto after the deaths of two people infected with the coronavirus.

On orders from the Italian government, the Serie A games between Inter Milan and Sampdoria, Atalanta and Sassuolo as well as Hellas Verona and Cagliari were called off.

Three other matches in Genoa, Turin and Rome on Sunday were due to go ahead as scheduled.

A dozen towns in northern Italy effectively went into lockdown on Saturday after the deaths of two people infected with the coronavirus and a growing cluster of cases with no direct links to the origin of the outbreak abroad.

“The government is working on urgent measures to decisively confront and contain the cases of coronavirus contagion,” read a letter from Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora to Italian Olympic Committee President Giovanni Malago shortly before midnight local time on Saturday.

“Following measures taken by the cabinet for protective reasons and maximum precaution, on orders of the government, I am asking you to suspend all sports events of every level and discipline planned for the Lombardy and Veneto regions on Sunday,” the letter said.

Already on Saturday, the Ascoli-Cremonese game in Serie B was postponed, as well as Piacenza-Sambenedettese in Serie C. Four Serie C games scheduled for Sunday has also been postponed.

On Thursday, Inter is also slated to host Ludogrets in the second leg of the Europa League Round of 32.

“It’s obvious that gatherings at sports events are among the events where the most difficulties could occur,” Spadafora said earlier Saturday in Rome at the Six Nations rugby game between Italy and Scotland, which was attended by 55,000 fans.

Sports events across China and Asia have also been suspended amid fears that the Tokyo Olympics, due to open in five months, could also be affected.

Woman arrested over kidnap of friend’s mother

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February 24, 2020

The police in Nasarawa State have arrested a 29-year-old woman, Mrs Paulina Santos, who allegedly planned to kidnap the mother of her friend.

The friend’s husband was said to have been working with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

Parading the suspect in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Bola Longe, stated that the suspect was arrested on February 11, 2020, by the personnel of the command attached to the command’s anti-kidnapping unit.

The police boss added that the suspect, who hails from Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue State, was a resident of Azuba Bashayi in the Lafia North Development Area of the state.

Findings by Northern City News revealed that the suspect was a casual worker in a primary healthcare facility.

“The suspect was said to have contacted someone to help her organise a criminal gang that would execute the kidnapping.

The suspect has confessed to the crime and that she would be charged to court as soon as the command completes its investigation to serve as a deterrent to others,” the CP said.

In an interview with our correspondent, shortly after she was paraded, the suspect confessed to the crime, pleading forgiveness and would not indulge in such act again.

We won’t stop the fight for Biafra — Nnamdi Kanu’s family vows, says family not divided

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February 24, 2020

The family of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has said that the death of their parents has even united them the more, contrary to expectations of many that the family will be divided.

Though their elder brother, Nnamdi who is the first son of the family was absent at their parents’ burial ceremony, the family of late Israel and Ugoeze Sally Kanu said that they were grateful that the burial of their parents was a huge success.

Addressing journalists at their Isiama Afaraukwu country home, the spokesman of the family, Kanunta Kingsley Kanu said, “I want to tell you journalists that our family members are happy with you, with what you did during the burial and we say a big thank you”.

Mr. Kanu emphasized that the family is also grateful to the Abia state police command for the manner they conducted themselves which contributed to the peace that reigned during the burial.

The family said it was happy that despite the altercations between the police and IPOB before the burial, the commissioner of police, Ene Okon exhibited true sense of professionalism in the way he maintained security in the state on the day of the burial.

He said now their parents were no more, the family would strive to remain united and resolute in the fight for the actualization of Biafra, a movement which they said that their parents believed in.

Woman, 3 others jailed 160 years over fake naira notes

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February 24, 2020

A woman, Hadiza Bello, and three other accomplices have been sentenced to 160 years in prison by a Federal High Court, sitting in Yola, Adamawa State, for dealing in fake naira notes.

The convicts were dragged before the court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission after they were caught at a checkpoint along Girei-Yola Road.

A statement from the ICPC spokesperson, Rasheedat Okoduwa, said five suspects — Hadiza, Mohammed Dauda, Bello Salisu, Ali Adamu and Hassan Bello, were involved in a deal to exchange the sum of N5m counterfeit notes for N1m real notes, adding that Hassan, a native doctor, could not be sentenced because of his death before conviction.

The statement said, “A Federal High Court sitting in Yola, Adamawa State, has sentenced four persons, including a woman, to 160 years’ imprisonment on a multiple-count charge of conspiracy and possession of counterfeit banknotes.

“Justice Abdulazeez Anka, who handed down the sentences to the convicts in the case brought by the ICPC, ruled that they would spend 10 years in prison on each of the four counts preferred against them.

“Three of the convicts, Hadiza Bello, Mohammed Dauda and Bello Salisu, had in March 2017, left Kaduna and were joined by the fourth convict, Ali Adamu, from Kano, to meet a native doctor, Hassan Bello, who was a counterfeiter at Wamdeo Uba, Borno State, with the intention to procure about N5m counterfeit banknotes to exchange for about N1m genuine banknotes from a customs officer.

“The deal with the customs officer did not go through for undisclosed reasons. However, as they made their way back, they were caught at a checkpoint on Girei-Yola Road, with counterfeit N1000 banknotes to the value of N5, 504,000 by soldiers on duty and subsequently handed over to the ICPC.”

The anti-graft body said an investigation launched by its officers led to the residence of the native doctor at Wamdeo Uba, where he was arrested.

“A search conducted on the premises revealed more counterfeit N1000 bank notes reading the same serial number to the value of N26,000.

“At the conclusion of investigations, except for Bello Salisu, who was charged with abetment to commit an offence of possession of counterfeit banknotes, the other four suspects, including the native doctor counterfeiter, were arraigned on four counts of being in possession of counterfeit banknotes, which is an offence contrary to sections 5(1) (b) and 6(2) (b), and punishable under Section 5(1) (c) of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act, cap. C35, LFN 2004,” the statement added.

In his ruling, Justice Anka found the accused persons guilty on each of the four counts and sentenced them to cumulative 40 years’ imprisonment each, although the sentences would run concurrently.

BREAKING: Man Dies On Top Of Woman In Anambra Hotel (Photos)

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February 24, 2020