The multimillion Naira Zungeru Hydro Electricity Dam in Niger state has been hit by an explosion.

The Dam which is yet to be officially commissioned by the Federal government is the fourth located in the state coming after Jebba, Kainji and Shiroro.

Our Correspondent reliably gathered that the explosion occurred early morning of today.
The real cause of the explosion is yet unknown.

A dependable source from the area who confirmed the incident to our Correspondent however said that several of the workers on duty sustained various degrees of injuries and are being attended to at different hospitals close by while those seriously affected are said to have been rushed to Minna, the state capital for more medical attention.

“We saw a foreigner,(Chinese) who is a worker who had severe injuries being ferried to Minna for further medical attention but we cannot say the exact number of staff injured but they are many,” the source added.

Besides the human injuries, the explosion was said to have affected some installations at the Dam.
The implication of the explosion on power supply generally across the country is not yet known.
Details later.

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, has announced that it has fixed the date to conduct local government elections in the state for October 5.

The Commission, on Monday, released its guidelines in view of the conduct of the council elections in the state.

This was coming as the police in the state have maintained the occupation of the local government area council secretariats following the leadership crisis rocking the councils.

Following the expiration of the tenure of the elected chairmen and councillors of the 23 LGAs, the governor of the state, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, inaugurated Caretaker Committees pending the conduct of council elections.

However, the development had sparked protests by the outgone chairmen loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike.

They are insisting that the Martins Amaewhule-led State Assembly had extended their tenure by six months in the repealed Local Government Administration law of the state.

However, RSIEC met with the leaders of political parties and major stakeholders in the state, over conducting the elections.

The Ogun So-Safe Corps has apprehended three suspects for buying stolen transformer armoured cables worth N9.8m in OPIC Estate, Agbara, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the state.

According to a statement issued by the State Commander, Soji Ganzallo, through the office of the Director of Information and Public Relations, Assistant Commander Moruf Yusuf, the suspects – Mansirina Usman (27), Janadu Ahyarn (20), and Husseni Abdullahi (20) – were arrested on Thursday, around 7pm.

Ganzallo said the arrest was made possible by the corps’ surveillance team, who acted on a tip-off that the stolen cables were being sold in the area.

“Before the arrest, information reached the corps that unknown thieves had vandalised and stolen transformer armoured cables worth N9.8m.

“The Area Commander, Assistant Commander Adeosun Adeniyi, and his team were tasked with bringing the perpetrators to justice within 48 hours,” the statement read.

Ganzallo explained that the suspects confessed to buying the stolen cables from Mustapha and one other person identified as Minister, who are currently at large.

“Usman bought 30kg of cable for N300,000, Ahyarn bought 25kg for N250,000, and Abdullahi bought 20kg for N200,000.

“The suspects had in their possession four off-cut armoured cables, N18,850 in cash, three Android phones, two wristwatches, and two unmarked TVS motorcycles,” it was added.

The three suspects and the items recovered have been transferred to the Nigeria Police Force, Agbara Divisional Headquarters for further investigation and likely prosecution.

Ganzallo commended the surveillance team for their swift action and reiterated the cops’ commitment to combating criminal activities in the state.

A 19-year-old lady has been arrested for conniving with her boyfriend to kidnap an elderly man in Edo state. 

Parading the suspect before newsmen, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Funsho Adegboye, said the lady who claims to be an undergraduate went with other members of the gang to the pastor's house and tricked him into opening his gate after feigning she was crying and is a wife to a member of his church.

‘’She was crying that she needed help from the pastor that they should please open the gate for her and that she is the wife of one of the church members. That is the lie she told the pastor. As soon as the pastor opened the door for her, other members of the kidnapping group hijacked the pastor at gunpoint and took the man away.''

The Commissioner cautioned parents to watch their children and wards and monitor what they do and the kind of friendships they keep.

‘’She saw one of the suspects giving the gun to her boyfriend. According to her, it was her boyfriend who lured her into this criminal activity. It is quite unfortunate that a 19-year-old girl! People should be careful''.

When interrogated, the suspect feigned ignorance of the crime and claimed she was forced to be part of the criminal activity.

No fewer than 20 travellers along the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Expressway were reportedly abducted by some gunmen at about 8 pm on Sunday while one of the victims was shot in the knee.

The gunmen were said to have ambushed the travellers between Sagamu Area Command of the Nigeria Police and Ilisan township.

The Chairman of Ilisan Development Council, Wemmy Osude, confirmed this to PUNCH Online.

Osude said one of the victims of the attack who is a resident of Ilisan Remo was already receiving medical attention at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital.

He said, “Information reaching me right now confirmed a kidnapping incident between the Area Command and Ilisan City Gate (formerly Delabo).

“A resident of Ilisan (name unconfirmed) was reportedly shot in the knee and is receiving medical attention at Babcock Teaching Hospital.

“Other victims were taken into the bush. While waiting for additional information, please contact your loved ones who may be plying that road at about this time to be cautious.”

Osude said that he had spoken to the resident of the town who was being treated at Babcock University Teaching Hospital and he was said to be in stable condition.

He added, “I have spoken to the Sagamu Area Commander about this incident, and hopefully, we trust that all the security agents will go after these criminals and rescue these people.”

This incident was preceded by the recent abduction of two others and the murder of Prof Yinka Olomojobi of Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, at the Ajadeh Event Centre, along Iperu-Sagamu Road, Iperu Remo, in the Ikenne Local Government area.

Olomojobi was a professor of human rights and gender law.

Efforts to get the reaction of the spokesperson for Ogun State Police Command, SP Omolola Odutola, were unsuccessful as calls put across to her line did not connect.

No fewer than 20 travellers along the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Expressway were reportedly abducted by some gunmen at about 8 pm on Sunday while one of the victims was shot in the knee.

The gunmen were said to have ambushed the travellers between Sagamu Area Command of the Nigeria Police and Ilisan township. 

The Chairman of Ilisan Development Council, Wemmy Osude, confirmed this to PUNCH Online.

Osude said one of the victims of the attack who is a resident of Ilisan Remo was already receiving medical attention at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital.

He said, “Information reaching me right now confirmed a kidnapping incident between the Area Command and Ilisan City Gate (formerly Delabo).

“A resident of Ilisan (name unconfirmed) was reportedly shot in the knee and is receiving medical attention at Babcock Teaching Hospital.

“Other victims were taken into the bush. While waiting for additional information, please contact your loved ones who may be plying that road at about this time to be cautious.”

Osude said that he had spoken to the resident of the town who was being treated at Babcock University Teaching Hospital and he was said to be in stable condition.

He added, “I have spoken to the Sagamu Area Commander about this incident, and hopefully, we trust that all the security agents will go after these criminals and rescue these people.”

This incident was preceded by the recent abduction of two others and the murder of Prof Yinka Olomojobi of Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, at the Ajadeh Event Centre, along Iperu-Sagamu Road, Iperu Remo, in the Ikenne Local Government area.

Olomojobi was a professor of human rights and gender law.

Confirming the abduction in a statement on Monday, the state Police Command, SP Omolola Odutola, said the kidnappers trailed a man to a rough patch of the road and blocked the victim’s vehicle before forcing him into their van.

Odutola said, “A group of armed individuals, without definite number, in their unregistered Venza Toyota car, trailed a man in his Toyota RAV4 Jeep, grey colour with license plate number – Lagos – AGL-16-JE, to a rough patch of the road, and blocked the victim’s vehicle.

“The criminals fired four rounds of ammunition believed to be from an AK-47 into the driver’s back tyre and another shot into the front tyre. Immediately, the hoodlums alighted from their vehicle and forced the driver of the Toyota Rav 4 into their waiting Venza Jeep, and sped off towards Ijebu-Ode.

“During the incident, the hoodlums also shot at the driver of a Toyota Camry car, black colour, with license plate number – Lagos – AAA-04-JB, inflicting injury on his left leg as he attempted a U-turn. Additionally, a bus driver travelling from Abuja to Lagos in the Ilisan area was stopped by criminals who smashed his bus’s windshield and took his mobile phone after warning him to be cautious as he was not their target.”

The police boss stated that the “injured driver has been promptly taken to Babcock University Teaching Hospital in Ilisan for treatment and is currently responding to treatment.”

She added that there was no casualty during the incident, noting that two vehicles were damaged.

“No lives were lost but the two vehicles damaged by the fleeing suspects have been towed to the station.”

She said the Commissioner of Police has been briefed and has detailed the Anti Kidnapping unit to take up the investigation.

Rep James Faleke (Ikeja Federal Constituency) has called on Nigerians to treat the outbreak of cholera in some parts of the country with the same level of seriousness they applied to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Faleke made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) recently reported that 53 deaths due to cholera had been recorded in the country.

The Director-General of NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, stated that the Federal Government had activated the National Emergency Operation Centre for cholera.

Idris said, “As of June 24, 2024, 1,528 suspected cases and 53 deaths were recorded across 31 states and 107 LGAs with a case fatality rate of 3.5 percent since the beginning of the year.”

Reacting, Faleke said Nigerians should do more to curb the cholera outbreak.

“Every Nigerian needs to be careful; our attitude to cleanliness matters,” he said.

Faleke urged Nigerians to be more cautious about what they eat and drink.

“The way we took COVID-19 seriously is the way we should take this cholera outbreak.

“Cholera has killed many people. We expected that, in this modern age, we should not be experiencing an outbreak of cholera in Nigeria.

“However, it has come; so, we have to deal with it. People should be more careful with what they eat and drink.

“There are many fake products out there. Stop consuming fake products. You don’t have to drink just anything; take clean water,” he advised.

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has declared that he has no regret as governor because he surpassed all his election promises.

Obaseki said he has impacted all areas and sectors since assuming office as governor.

Addressing journalists in Benin City, the Edo State capital, the governor said his government has laid a solid foundation for the state’s progress and development.

According to Obaseki: “As Edo State Governor in these last few years, I don’t have any regrets. In fact, when I look at my manifesto, what I said I was going to do; I’ve surpassed everything I said I will do.

“I have exceeded everything I said I will do and there was not one area I mentioned, that I talked about that I didn’t have a kind of impact on.

“I’m a realistic person. One administration or one governor cannot do it all. What I have done is to lay a foundation and by the grace of God, we have a successor who will continue to build on that, in the direction that I started with and someone who shares the same values of service to the people.

“Democracy is not a destination in itself; it is a process. It will always be better; things will always be better than when you met them.”

Justice James Omotoso of a Federal High Court, Abuja has just dismissed a N1 billion suit filed by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu against the Federal Government and the Department of State Services (DSS).

The Judge held in his judgment that the IPOB leader failed to show evidence that his conversation with his lawyers was bugged by the DSS or that his lawyers were stopped from taking notes from him during the conversation.

Justice Omotoso therefore held that there was no evidence before him to show that he was denied a fair hearing as claimed in his suit.

Consequently, the court dismissed the suit for lacking in merit.

Kanu had, through his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, filed the N1billion suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1633/2023 for the enforcement of his fundamental rights while in detention.

In the originating motion dated and filed December 4, 2023, the applicant sued the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN), Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), DSS and its DG as 1st to 4th respondents respectively.

The suit was filed pursuant to Order II, Rules 1 & 2 of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules 2009, among others.

In the motion, the detained IPOB leader prayed for, “a declaration that the respondents’ act of forcible seizure and photocopying of confidential legal documents pertaining to facilitating the preparation of his defence which were brought to him at the respondents’ detention facility by his lawyers, amounted to denial of his rights to be defended by legal practitioners of his own choice”.

He also sought a declaration that the respondents’ act of refusing or preventing his counsel from taking notes of details of the counsel’s professional discussions/consultations with him at DSS detention.

This, he said, amounted to denial of his right to be given adequate facilities for the preparation of his defence by legal practitioners of his own choice.

Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has set up a disciplinary team to probe two officers of the agency.

The officers were seen in a viral video “manhandling a female worker” at the Regional Hotel in Ojo, Lagos.

The operatives reportedly invaded the hotel in the early hours of June 27.

Olukoyede had ordered the arrest of the officers on Thursday, while promising a detailed investigation of the incident.

In a statement on Sunday, Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, said the operatives will appear before the panel on Monday.

He said members of the investigative team are drawn from the promotion and disciplinary committee and the department of ethics and integrity.

“Mr Ola Olukoyede has raised a Disciplinary Team to look into the case of two errant officers of the Commission who allegedly assaulted a female staff of Regional Hotel, Ojo, Lagos,” the statement reads.

Oyewale said the team will recommend appropriate measures.

The statement added that “no stone will be left unturned in getting the officers to account for their unprofessional conduct”.

Ecuador ground out a nerve-jangling 0-0 draw with Mexico to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Copa America on Sunday as Venezuela sealed top spot in Group B with a 3-0 win over Jamaica.

Ecuador, needing only a point against Mexico in Glendale, Arizona to advance on goal difference, withstood a furious late onslaught from ‘El Tri’ to reach the last eight.

Mexico launched wave after wave of attacks in the final quarter, with Johan Vasquez forcing a save from Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez in the 71st minute, six minutes after Santiago Gimenez struck the post with a shot from close range.

There was almost a dramatic twist deep into eight minutes of time added on, when Guatemalan referee Mario Escobar awarded what would have been a winning penalty to Mexico after Ecuador’s Felix Torres appeared to foul Guillermo Martinez in the area.

The Mexican-dominated crowd erupted in delight only for the celebrations to be cut short when VAR instructed Escobar to review the decision.

Replays showed Torres clearly got a touch on the ball in his challenge on Martinez and the penalty was overturned.

Ecuador will now face Group A winners Argentina in the quarter-finals in Houston on Thursday.

Venezuela, meanwhile, will take on Group A runners-up Canada in Arlington on Friday as they chase a place in the semi-finals.

The Venezuelans, who were already assured of a quarter-final place after wins over Ecuador and Mexico, preserved their 100% record against winless Jamaica.

Eduard Bello headed Venezuela into the lead after 49 minutes, nodding home at the far post after a perfectly weighted cross from Jon Aramburu.

Veteran striker Salomon Rondon then doubled the Venezuela lead on 56 minutes, latching on to a through ball from Yangel Herrera and then smuggling a low finish into the net past advancing Jamaica goalkeeper Jahmali Waite.

Copa America: 'I won't watch any game or celebrate', Ronaldinho blasts Brazil's squad
A decisive victory was sealed in the 85th minute when Eric Ramirez was sent through on goal by Kervin Andrade before coolly finishing past Waite.