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Top 11 stories of Monday, April 4, 2016

HERDSMEN ABDUCT CATHOLIC PRIEST IN ENUGU 

Tension is brewing in Owa community in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State where a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Aniako Celestine, in charge of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Ukana, Udi Local Government Area, was kidnapped by suspected Fulani herdsmen Saturday evening on his way from his home town, Ezeagu. The herdsmen demanded a ransom of N10 million through his mobile number.

This is even as activities of herdsmen in Ugwuleshi, Awgu Local Government Area of the state, last week, led to destruction of farmland and livestock worth millions of Naira and the detention of 76 members of the community, who were later granted bail by Umuahia Magistrate’s Court last Friday, following Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s intervention.

 

ABIA TO PROSECUTE PARENTS OVER CHILD HAWKING

Abia State Government has vowed to prosecute parents and guardians whose children are caught hawking on the streets of the state. The state’s Commissioner for Education, Professor Ikechi Mgbeoji, who made this known while presenting a paper entitled, The Nigerian Child on the Street: Its implication for the Future of the Country, at the launch of “Save the Street Child Aba Initiative” by the National Association of Seadogs Pirates Confraternity in Aba, added that a mobile education court, specially designed for education-related offences, would be set up.

 

IKPEAZU WANTS GOVERNMENT TO BAN FOOD IMPORTATION

Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has called on the Federal Government to formulate and adopt a policy, aimed at stopping the importation of foods, as a way of encouraging the cultivation and consumption of locally- produced foods. Ikpeazu, while making the proposal in a chat with newsmen in Umuahia, the state capital, said his government has plans to grow the state into becoming the poultry capital of the southeast geo-political zone. The governor had in October 2015, in Atlanta, USA, promised to replicate the agriculture/poultry status of the area in Abia State.

He explained that under this projection, the government would, in collaboration with the Obasanjo Farms Ltd, establish a poultry village in the state, where farmers will take day old-chicks to for breeding, while government provides the facilities required for poultry production in the village.

 

FAYOSE NOT BORROWING FOR CAPITAL PROJECT –  EKITI GOVERNMENT 

The Ekiti State Government has said that the State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, was not borrowing money to execute capital projects, adding that the governor will continue to be transparent in his handling of the state finances. The Special Assistant to the governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, who reacted to the All Progressives Congress, APC, claim that the governor borrowed N10 billion to construct a flyover bridge in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital, said, “Governor Fayose’s government is not profligate like APC government of Fayemi that took loans to plant flowers that were not seen, construct uncompleted state pavilion and civic centre and build governor’s lodge for the benefit of Fayemi and his wife.”

He said the Governor will continue to hold the welfare of workers sacrosanct by taking payment of salaries as his priority, adding that: “The challenges being faced by the government in paying workers salary was as a result of the way and manners the APC government of Fayemi mortgaged the State to irrelevant loans.

 

SHETTIMA, APC GOVERNORS SOLICIT SUPPORT FOR BUHARI

Governor Shettima made the appeal on Sunday in Owerri, when he led some other governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on an unofficial visit to the Imo State Government House in southeast Nigeria.
He spoke about the Issues facing the nation – the current fuel situation and economic challenges – and commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for stabilising and maintaining peace in the northeast by winning the battle against the Boko Haram insurgents.

The Governor also solicited support for the Federal Government to sustain the feats made so far in the northeast and giving confidence to the Nigerian Army to fight the insurgents.

He added that if the Peoples Democratic Party had been in power, the situation in the country would have been worse. Corroborating the Governor Shettima’s declarations, the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, and his Jigawa and Niger counterparts urged Nigerians to be patient with the APC’s administration.

 

NIGERIAN MILITARY ANNOUNCES SURRENDER OF MORE BOKO HARAM TERRORIST

Apart from the recent arrest of Khalid al-Barnawi, the leader of Ansaru terrorist group in Lokoja, Kogi State, the Nigerian military has confirmed that more terrorists have been arrested while other Boko Haram members have also surrendered to the security agencies. The Director Defence information, Brigadier Rabe Abubakar who confirmed this development to PRNigeria, disclosed that:

“With ongoing aggressive military operations in the North-East, some Boko Haram terrorists have surrendered to the Nigerian troops just as some top commanders were arrested while fleeing from the theatre of war.The improved synergy and inter-agency collaborations have enhanced the various operations towards the massive arrest of members of the terrorists’ groups.”

 

APC CHIEFTAIN LAUDS APPOINTMENT OF NDOMA –  EGBA, EBRI INTO PARTY’S BOT

A chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Cross River State, Mr Godie Akpama, has said that the appointment of former Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, and a former governor of Cross River State, Mr Clement Ebri, into the APC Board of Trustees has significantly strengthened the party to get its rightful position in the state.

Mr Akpama told newsmen, in Calabar that the two political icons have the capacity to change the fortunes of APC in the state as they have large followership.

 

POLITICAL STABILITY IN WEST AFRICA WILL HELP END INSURGENCY 

Speaking over the weekend in Niamey, Niger, at the inauguration of President Issoufou Mahamadou for a second term in office, the Vice President said the re-election of the Nigerien leader was significant for the sub-regional coalition against insurgents and terrorists.

“As you know, Niger is an important partner, and also an important ally in the war against terrorism and we are good neighbours,” Professor Osinbajo stressed.

He further pointed out that Mahamadou’s investiture had great significance because first Nigeria understands President Issoufou well. “He is an old hand and Nigeria has worked well with him as a partner. So, his re-election brings continuity and is good for the fight against Boko Haram and the insurgency in general,” the Vice President who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the impressive ceremony in Niger Republic remarked.

 

ALLEGATION AGAINST LOKPOBIRI BASELESS –  RENAN

The Rescue Nigeria Anti-corruption Network (ReNAN) has described as untrue the recent allegation levelled against the Minister of State, Agriculture and Rural Development, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, by the Chairman, All Progressives Congress, APC, Bayelsa State Chapter, Chief Timipa Oruminighe. The national coordinator, ReNAN, Hon. Engema Jumbo, made the statement while he briefed journalists in Abuja, and said Oruminighe and his group should provide substantive evidence to prove their bribe allegation, which they claimed the Minister paid money to former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, to get his ministerial slot and appointment.

Engema, who was former Chairman, Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, and also Ekeremor LGA coordinator of Sylva Campaign Organisation of the Governorship Election in Bayelsa State, debunked the claim as he explained and disclosed salient issues that he described as uncalled for by the State APC chairman to spread false allegation against the minister.

He said: “We in Rescue Nigeria Anti-corruption Network, ReNAN, is non- partisan and unbiased civil society organisation, and from our findings and investigation the allegation of bribery levelled against the Minister of State, Agriculture and Rural Development, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, by the Bayelsa State Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Timipa Oruminighe is baseless and misleading.”

 

FOUR DIE IN AUTO CRASH

Four persons lost their lives in a car crash in Enugu on Saturday. It was gathered that the accident, which occurred in the early hours of the morning, took place along the 9th Mile/Udi/Oji River road, in the Udi area of Enugu. Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Police Command, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the development, said the crash involved a water tanker, with registration number ENU211XY, and a Galaxy Sharon mini-bus with registration number LFA375XA.

The two vehicles had a head-on collision, which left four people dead on the spot. A little girl was among the four persons that died, according to Amaraizu. Several others sustained injuries, and were
rushed to Our Saviour Hospital, Ngwo, and Victoria Hospital, Udi, for urgent medical attention.

Amaraizu further disclosed that the remains of the deceased have been deposited in a mortuary. The police spokesman said the incident is being investigated.

 

HAUSA MUSICIAN, SANI DANDAWO, DIES AT 72

A Taushe Hausa musician, Sani Aliyu Dandawo, has died at the age of 72. “Dandawo died at his home in Yauri, Yauri Local Government of Kebbi State on Sunday evening after a protracted illness,” a family source confirmed that. He is survived by his aged mother, two wives, 22 children and 25 grand children.

He has since been buried according to Islamic rites. The Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, who represents his area, described Dandawo as a musical legend who contributed to promoting peace and development through music.

He prayed to Allah to grant him eternal rest, and grant the family and the entire people of the state the fortitude to bear the loss.

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Monday, April 4, 2016, Major Headlines

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