Three suspected members of the Black AXE confraternity, Nnamdi Mbanusi 43yrs, Ehis Albert 38yrs and Obazee Ogbe 39yrs, have been arrested by the Edo State Police Command during a cult-related meeting at an uncompleted building in Benin City.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Umoru Ozigi, disclosed this while parading 23 suspects arrested for kidnapping and cultism across the state.

According to the CP, other members of the cult group escaped while six live cartridges were recovered from the arrested suspects.

“On 10/11/2024 at about 1120hrs, based on credible intelligence, Operatives of Anti-Cultism Unit arrested the trio of Nnamdi Mbanusi 43yrs, Ehis Albert 38yrs and Obazee Ogbe 39yrs, who were holding cult related meeting at an uncompleted building in Ogbe quarters, Benin City,” the CP stated.

“On the spot search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of six (6) live cartridges while other members of the deadly cult group escaped. The suspects confessed to be members of the proscribed Aye confraternity, also known as BLACK AXE. Investigation is ongoing.”

Similarly, on Friday, November 15, 2024, about 0100hrs, based on information reaching the command that a group of cultists were holding meeting along Upper Sakponba Area in Benin-City, operatives of the Command Intelligence and Rapid Response Squad swiftly moved to the area, barricaded the road and began intensive stop and search where an unregistered blue colour Toyota Sienna Space Bus driven by one Dauda Asia was intercepted.

“Upon intensive search, two (2) Pump Action Guns, forty-three (43) Live Cartridges, two (2) expended cartridges, three (3) wraps of substance suspected to be Indian Hemp and some alcoholic drinks were recovered. Investigation is ongoing.”

Nigerian content creator and activist, Debo Adedayo, popularly known as Mr Macaroni, has stated that no spokesperson of the Tinubu-led administration has the right to criticize past administrations.

Mr. Macaroni condemned the insensitivity of President Tinubu’s administration. He accused the government of living large at the expense of the citizens who continue to face hardship occasioned by the government’s policies.

Macaroni stated this on his X handle, on Tuesday, while reacting to an attack on former President Olusegun Obasanjo by Tinubu’s aides.

Debo emphasized that only Nigerians who have been victims of past governments’ bad governance have the right to criticize former leaders.

“I no send any Nigerian politician but only the people have the right to call out or criticize any politician or government past or present! Not Spokespersons of the current Government who continue to use billions to buy cars and jets while Nigerians are languishing in poverty.

“I personally believe all Nigerian politicians past or present have contributed largely to the rot in our country today and as such Nigerians must continue to hold past and present leaders accountable.

But members of this current administration have no such right!!! As a matter of fact, they are even more insensitive and tone deaf to the hardship in the country.

“The current government is flogging the people mercilessly but they still want to dictate when and how the people should cry. They hold the whip, but want to divert the attention of the people to those that have held the whip before them.

“Again, only the people have such rights to blame all those that have once held the whip.

Those that hold the whip now cannot criticize others that once held the whip because the crime of flogging Nigerians is one and the same,” Macaroni wrote on his X handle.

The human rights activist also condemned citizens who defend the bad policies of politicians for selfish interests.

“The sad reality in all this is that some Nigerians continue to defend their oppressors. How can you continue to defend those that make decisions that favor them but put you in unbearable hardship?

No matter the pain and suffering the people go through, these so-called leaders are immune to them!

“They drive the best cars, so they are immune to potholes on the roads. They fly the best private jets so who cares about increase in flight prices? They are heavily protected with the DSS, military and Police so why should they care about you whose phone was just stolen last night on the street because there was no officer on patrol, no street light or security camera?

“The people pay for their feeding and transport allowance so why should they care about the hike in food or fuel prices? They even have perfume allowance,” Macaroni added.

He called on Nigerians to unite against politicians who are responsible for the hardship and poor governance affecting the country.

A former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha has appealed to the Federal Government to release the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to honour the late Senator Ifeanyi Uba.

Okorocha made the plea on the night of the tribute held in honour of Ubah on Monday night, November 18.

Okorocha urged the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to convey the message to the FG.

Recall that Ubah died in London on July 27 and will be laid to rest on November 22.

The ex-governor said, “I want to say to you, brother in whom I am well pleased Senator Akpabio, convey this message to FG on behalf of the Igbos seated here that the best to honour Ifeanyi Ubah is to release Nnamdi Kanu so that the Igbos can go home and re-organise their place and I know you Senator Akpabio that even if you don’t want to do it, send this message for the sake of your wife who is our daughter.  Send this message and get us a result, or else your wife is not too far from taking back home.”

Twenty-five persons have been reported dead as a result of a Gastroenteritis outbreak, otherwise known as Cholera, in three Local Government Areas of Sokoto state

The state recorded a total of 1,160 cases.

The state Commissioner of Health, Asabe Balarabe, disclosed this on Monday while speaking to newsmen.

The commissioner further explained that the state is treating 15 other victims of the outbreak on active cases from Sokoto North, Silame and Kware local government areas.

The 15 active cases, according to the commissioner, were diagnosed through laboratory tests based on culture and sensitivity and confirmed to be active cases of the cholera outbreak.

The commissioner further said, ” Out of 1,160 people that have been affected by the outbreak, 25 of the victims have already succumbed to the disease.

“The stated rescue teams are collaborating with the state government to manage and forestall further spread of the dreaded disease.”

“The state government, in its response to the outbreak, directed the immediate purchase and distribution of drugs free of charge to 18 local government areas to curtail the disease’s continued spread''.

The commissioner appreciated the turnout of women, especially pregnant women, seeking medical consultations and pregnancy tests at various health institutions in the state.

She highlighted challenges facing the health sector, including dilapidated infrastructure and inadequate resources, which have plagued the sector backwards for the past eight years.

She expressed hope that Governor Ahmad Aliyu, in his magnanimity, see to the revitalization of the health sector in the state.

“Patients often face numerous problems in public health institutions, such as atrocities, loud disturbances, lack of water, and power outages.”

She commended the governor for recruiting 864 nurses and midwives to address the issue of a shortage of manpower in state public health facilities.

Balarabe, however, stated that plans are in the pipeline to recruit more supporting staff to replace the dead and those who retired without replacement.

Hon. Dr. Eric Ogbonna Odo, the Executive Chairman of Igbo Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, has announced the appointment of  two Senior Special Assistants on garden egg, pepper and yam.

According to the appointment letters making the rounds on social media, Odo appointed Ezeugwu Frederick Ogbonna, as an SSA on Yam and Pepper.

He also appointed Nwodo Everestus Ugonna as SSA on Garden Egg and Pepper.

“I am pleased to inform you that the executive chairman Igbo Etiti LGA has approved your appointment as SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT to the Local Government chairman on AGRICULTURE (GARDEN EGG & PEPPER),” Nwodo’s appointment letter partly read.

“I am pleased to inform you that the executive chairman Igbo Etiti LGA has approved your appointment as SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT to the Local Government chairman on AGRICULTURE (YAM & PEPPER),” Ezeugwu's letter reads.

Meanwhile, in Odo's mission statement, he pledged to administer the "most progressive local government area in sub Saharan Africa."
 
“My vision : To administer the most progressive local government area in sub Saharan Africa. My mission : To create an efficient local government system that respects, honour and develop the various communities in all ramifications according to the limit of resources available if elected,” the statement read.
 
“I hope to take difficult and courageous decisions so as to unlock the huge human capital and natural resource potentials in the Local Government Area.”