Four dead as kidnappers hijack Benin-Abuja road
Four persons have reportedly died after kidnappers let loose on the Benin-Abuja Road. The driver of an articulated vehicle, in his attempt to escape, rammed into a commercial bus that was used to barricade the busy road. Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, and Auchi Polytechnic are in the axis. Sources said the hoodlums first attacked a commercial bus around Urhokosa and Obagie, abducting some passengers who were hurriedly moved into the kidnappers’ den in the forest.
The driver was forced to barricade the road with his bus while the driver of an approaching trailer did not to stop. He killed the two passengers immediately. The situation caused a gridlock and the kidnappers operated without hindrance. They selected passengers to abduct moved them into the forest.
Vigilance group members in the area displayed bravery by confronting the kidnappers and engaging them in a gun duel. One of them died. Motorists and passengers abandoned their vehicles and ran into another direction of the forest. Police spokesman Chidi Nwabuzor said efforts were on to rescue the victims.
He said: “The police is aware of the situation but we are yet to ascertain the number of victims. Unfortunately, a vigilance group member and one of the hoodlums was killed during a gun duel with the kidnappers.
Source: The Nation
BREAKING: Presidency reacts to alleged N12.5 million sent to Buhari by Ex-Gov. Amosun
The Nigerian presidency has reacted to a report that N12.5 million was sent to the personal account of President Muhammadu Buhari by Ex-Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun as ‘support’. Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu denied the report adding that no such transaction happened.
”Fake news industry at work. A certain document showing the transfer of N12,500,000 from the Coffers of the Ogun State to a “PMB Estate” is being circulated to tarnish the image of President Muhammadu Buhari.”
“The President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) Estate is a large housing scheme in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. It was commissioned by President Buhari in the course of a State visit.”
“PMB Estate is owned by the Ogun State government, which honoured the President by naming it after him of cause that does not confer the ownership of the Estate to President Buhari.”
The statement further read; “Before his election as civilian President, Muhammadu Buhari was a military pensioner and had never registered a company in his name or that of a proxy.”
“To set the record straight, we spoke with the official who posted the clarification of the payment voucher on Twitter. He worked with the Governor Amosun administration. He confirmed that the payment was made from the Ogun State Revenue Account to The PMB Estate Account for some work done on the Estate. Absolutely nothing to do with President Muhammadu Buhari.’”
Source: Politics Nigeria
General Domkat Bali is dead, Buhari mourns
Retired four-star General of the Nigerian Army, Domkat Yah Bali, is dead.
Bali, who was until his death the Ponzhi Tarok, served as the Minister of Defence and member of the Supreme Military Council of 1984–1985. He was also a member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council of 1985–1990. Bali joined the Nigerian Army in 1961 and is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurs.
Reacting to his passing, President Muhammadu Buhari, in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, condoled with the people and government of Plateau State. The statement made available to DAILY POST on Friday, said Buhari had also spoken with the wife of the deceased, Esther. He said Bali had a distinguished military career having risen through the ranks and reaching the peak as Chief of Defence Staff.
Source: Daily Post
Sanwo-Olu gives N60m to families of slain policemen
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has pledged to protect the lives and property of Lagosians.
Speaking before eminent traditional leaders and captains of banks and industries, the governor said his administration will flush out criminals whose aim is to foment chaos and perpetrate crime.
He spoke at the 14th annual town hall meeting on security, organised by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF). Sanwo-Olu told members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) that the Fund to which they had contributed since its formation in 2007 had rejigged security and year after year, ensured the safety of lives.
He said the government was on the verge of introducing a broad security reform before the EndSARS protests occurred. He said despite the drawback, the government is determined to ensure robust security architecture. The governor disclosed an imminent take-off of community policing.
Source: The Nation
Bringing private issues to social media to address is foolishness – Actress, Monalisa Chinda
Monalisa Chinda is wondering why people bring their private issues to social media to address.
The Nollywood actress described the move as ‘foolishness’ and made an appeal to her followers not to ‘like, forward or send mean and wicked messages’ they see online.
Taking to her Instagram story, she wrote:
“Why on earth do people address private issues (be it business, relationships etc) on Social???.”
“What sort of foolishness is this? Please do not like forward or send mean and wicked messages you see online.”
Source: Lindaikeji
Napoli rename home ground ‘Diego Armando Maradona stadium’ after late football legend
The Naples city council on Friday, December 4, 2020, unanimously approved a resolution to change the name of Napoli’s home stadium from Stadio San Paolo to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, just a week after the football legend passed away in his native Argentina aged 60.
The resolution was proposed by Naples mayor Luigi De Magistris a day after Maradona had passed away but the city council has now approved the renaming process.
Maradonal led Napoli to two Serie A titles during his seven-year run with Napoli from 1984 to 1991 and is seen by football fans and locals in Naples as a revered figure.
Source: Football Italia
Death Sentence: Maryam Sanda Heads To Supreme Court
Maryam Sanda, the woman sentenced to death for killing her husband, has decided to approach the Supreme Court, in a bid to overturn the judgements of the lower courts. The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday, upheld the death sentence passed on her by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for murdering her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
The appellate court, in a unanimous judgement by a three-man panel of Justices led by Justice Stephen Adah, said it found no reason to set aside the verdict of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, which okayed Maryam to die by hanging. It held that the 20 grounds of appeal Maryam filed to challenge her conviction and sentence lacked merit and deserved to be dismissed.
Joe Gadzama, SAN, her lawyer, however said they will approach the Supreme Court. Gadzama, who was displeased with the judgment of the Appeal court, said they would “approach the Supreme Court to overturn the verdict.”
Source; Within Nigeria
50 persons killed in fire outbreaks in Katsina State
Alhaji AbdulKarim Sirika the Katsina State Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Home Affairs, said on Friday that about 50 persons had lost their lives in various fire outbreaks in Katsina State in 2020.
Sirika made the disclosure at a media briefing in Katsina and added that the review of the fire incidents was from January to date. He said that the firefighters rescued 95 persons and saved property estimated at millions of Naira during the period under review.
According to Sirika, the fire service department received over 906 fire calls during the period.
The commissioner said the government had spent N10.7 million on the purchase of fire fighting equipment, chemicals, and uniforms for fire officers.
“N15.6 million was also expended on the repairs and servicing of 11 Fire Engines to enhance operations of firefighters in the state, “the commissioner said.
Source: Guardian
795 houses to go for Lagos Fourth Mainland Bridge
The Federal and Lagos State governments have said 795 houses might be demolished to pave the way for the construction of the proposed 37-kilometre Fourth Mainland Bridge.
The two authorities said a lot of efforts had been made to reduce the number of affected structures from about 9,000 to less than 800.
This was even as the state government assured that owners of the affected property would be adequately compensated, despite the prevailing economy circumstances.
It said all stakeholders would be satisfactorily considered in the execution of the project.
Speaking at the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Stakeholders’ scoping workshop with the Federal Ministry of Environment in Lagos, Environment Minister Mamoud Abubakar said there should be sincere commitment on the part of Lagos State government on the compensation for owners of affected properties.
Source: The Nation