FEATURES
The deaths of six police officers in Delta State has been confirmed by the Nigeria Police Force.
The Nigeria Police Force confirmed that the officers were killed while investigating the disappearance of three colleagues in Delta.
The Force’s Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
Adejobi added that six other officers are still missing and five suspects have been arrested in connection with the killings.
The statement partly read, “The Nigeria Police Force is profoundly saddened by the devastating loss of six courageous officers in Delta State who exhibited exceptional valour in the face of adversity.
“These brave officers tragically fell victim to a cowardly ambush by armed assailants while undertaking a mission to investigate the disappearance and rescue of three of their colleagues in the Ohoro Forest, Delta State, while six others are currently missing-in-action.
“Our hearts extend to the families, friends, and colleagues of the fallen officers during this period of profound sorrow. We stand in solidarity with them, offering our deepest condolences and earnestly praying for the peaceful repose of the departed souls.”
The FPRO identified the deceased officers as Inspector Abe Olubunmi, Inspector Friday Irorere, Sergeant Kuden Elisha, Sergeant Akpan Aniette, Sergeant Ayere Paul, and Sergeant Ejemito Friday.
He also identified the missing officers as Inspector Onoja Daniel, Inspector Onogho Felix, Inspector Emmanuel Okoroafor, Inspector Joel Hamidu, Sergeant Moses Eduvie, and Sergeant Cyril Okorie.
The statement further added that the NPF will posthumously recognise the officers for their service and sacrifice at an upcoming awards ceremony.
It also stated its commitment to supporting the families of the deceased officers.
The statement added, “Furthermore, the Nigeria Police Force is committed to honouring the memory of our fallen heroes by recognising their bravery, dedication, and sacrifice.
“In accordance with this commitment, the Force will posthumously honour the slain officers for their noble service and ultimate sacrifice at the Nigeria Police Awards and Commendations Ceremony scheduled for April 5th, 2024, in Abuja.
“In response to this grievous loss, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has taken decisive actions as expected.
“The bodies of six of the slain officers have been recovered after a fierce search conducted by a combined team of police officers and other security outfits.
“The Force is focused on the search for the other six officers, while all their families have been duly contacted.
“Additionally, the Inspector General of Police has mandated the expedited processing and payment of all entitlements due to the families of the fallen officers, aiming to alleviate any financial burdens they may encounter in this challenging time.
“Similarly, immediate measures have been initiated to ensure that justice is served swiftly and the perpetrators of this abhorrent crime are brought to justice.
“The Inspector General of Police has mandated the deployment of all necessary resources and personnel to apprehend those responsible for this senseless killing of our officers, and this has led to the arrest of five suspects in connection with the preceding incident and the killing, who are currently volunteering information necessary for the rounding up of all the perpetrators.”
In the statement, the NPF condemned attacks on law enforcement personnel and urged the public to come forward with any information that could aid in the apprehension of the remaining perpetrators.
On Saturday night, bandits attacked worshippers observing Ramadan prayers in Mairuwa village, situated in the Faskari local government area of Katsina State.
Some of the worshipers were killed in the attack.
At least two persons were shot dead while another sustained injury during the attack.
Daily Trust reports that one of the deceased persons was a prominent man simply identified as Alhaji Lado.
He was suspected to be the prime target of the assailants.
A source who described the deceased as a businessman, politician and large scale farmer, said the victim was killed when he refused to take orders from his murderers.
“They opened fire on him when they attempted to kidnap him but he refused to follow them,” the source said.
One of the survivors of the mosque attack told our reporter that the attackers kidnapped the wife and two daughters of Alhaji Lado.
An eye witness told our reporter that the other victim of the attack was a health worker he simply identified as Sani.
“He worked at the Mairuwa Health Facility,” the witness said.
Katsina is one of the worst-hit states of banditry. Many attempts to keep the criminals in check have not yielded desired result.
On Saturday, March 23, no less than two policemen attached to MOPOL 18, Owerri, Imo State, were killed by gunmen in the Okigwe area of the state.
It was learnt that the gunmen, suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and its affiliate, Eastern Security Network, threw dynamite at the police patrol vehicle and engaged the policemen in a gunfight along old Gariki Road.
Four other policemen were said to have sustained multiple injuries during the incident.
The police spokesman, Henry Okoye, who confirmed the incident, said, “The officers were ambushed in the early hours of today, March 23, 2024, while on patrol duties along old Gariki Road, Okigwe, by the disgruntled elements who threw dynamite on the officer’s patrol vehicle and engaged them in a protracted gunfight.
“In the process, two officers paid the ultimate price while four others survived the attack.”
Okoye said the Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, condemned the attack, adding that the commissioner and the Commander, MOPOL 18 and 64, immediately led men of the command’s Special Tactical Unit to the crime scene for an on-the-spot assessment.
Some unknown gunmen have abducted at least 10 passengers traveling in a commercial bus from Wukari, Taraba State, to Gboko, Benue State, in Jootar, Ukum Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue.
The passengers, said to be artisans, were heading to Akure in a Sharon bus when their abductors stopped their vehicle, forced the driver out of the bus before driving into one of the forests in Jootar.
According to a source, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard in confidence, he received a call from the driver, who informed him of the development shortly after the incident occurred on Friday afternoon.
He said: “The driver called me that his vehicle, a Sharon bus, was stopped by heavily armed gunmen. He said they took his bus, abandoned him and drove the vehicle into the bush with 10 persons who looked like artisans who were supposed to alight in Gbok
“He said his phone was collected and he had to use somebody’s phone to call me just as the incident happened. The driver, who is somebody I know very well, said the incident happened around 12pm on Friday.
“The driver said he picked the passengers from Takum Junction, Wukari in Taraba State, and that the incident happened just two kilometres from there in Jootar, Ukum LGA. According to the driver, they were supposed to drop in Gboko as they were en route to Akure in Ondo State.”
Speaking on the incident, the lawmaker representing Ukum Constituency, Mr Ezra Nyiyongo, said: “I was told that a vehicle was intercepted. According to what I heard, he said he picked those people from Wukari, Taraba State, to convey them to Gboko. According to the driver, the victims were intercepted in Jootar, while they were going to Akure for menial jobs.”
Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent, SP, Catherine Anene, said she had yet to receive any report on the incident.
Lai Mohammed: "I spent hours or so, sweating to convince my wife" - How fake news threatened my 40-year-old marriage
AFOLABIThe former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Lai Mohammed, has disclosed how fake news on social media almost destroyed his 40-year-old marriage.
Mohammed lamented that one of the most challenging issues he faced while he was a minister was the spate of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation.
He stated this at an event to commemorate the 90th birthday anniversary of Prof. Wole Soyinka, Africa’s first Nobel laureate for literature.
He claimed that his wife woke him up in the middle of the night and begged to be a signatory to an overseas account in Ali Financial which allegedly contained $1.3 billion.
Mohammed stated that he was shocked at his wife’s request and had to convince her that no such account existed.
The former minister said he could not believe that his wife could take, hook, line, and sinker the fake story in circulation crediting humongous sums of money in overseas accounts to government functionaries/ministers under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
According to him, “Permit me to share publicly with you today, for the first time, how social media threatened the foundation of my forty-year-old marriage.
“It was sometimes in 2018 when I came to Lagos from Abuja for an official assignment.
“As usual, I retire to bed about midnight, but about 3 a.m., my wife gently roused me from my slumber.
“At first, I panicked, fearing that there had been a security breach, but my wife’s mind belied that possibility, for she was calm and composed.
“Solemnly, my wife asked me if I was fully awake as there were some serious issues to discuss.
“I could not fathom what was that urgent or serious to warrant being woken up at this time of the night.
My mind immediately did a kaleidoscope of my rascalities and escapades in the last few months.”
Mohammed said the accusation from his wife which according to him, was ‘a bombshell’ narrated to him in Yoruba language, but roughly translated thus:
“Daddy, death can come knocking at any moment, please let me also, as your wife, be a signatory to your oversea account in Ali Financial which contains 1.3 billion dollars.
“I spent the next two hours or so, sweating to convince my wife that there is no iota of truth in the allegation.
“I had to fetch a calculator and reproduce the Federal Appropriation Act for 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 in the middle of the night and explain to her why it is simply preposterous for me to have 1.3 billion dollars in a foreign account.
“I explained to her that there is no year my capital budget exceeded N5 billion, which, at about N400 to a dollar, was just 12.5 million dollars.
“I explained that, even if I managed to divert every kobo of it to my personal account, it would take at least 104 years to save the sum of 1.3 billion dollars being peddled that I stole,” he said.
Mohammed added: “My wife insisted that the whole world believed the story and that her friends had as a result, besieged her with all kinds of requests.
“She said every effort on her part to deny the existence of this foreign account only succeeded in depicting her in the minds of her friends as a selfish, greedy, and uncaring friend.
“Is my wife truly convinced of my innocence? The answer is in the wind.”
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on Saturday alerted members of the public, especially those who have loved ones abroad, of a new scheme by scammers who impersonate its officers.
The agency said the new scheme involves the scammers calling unsuspecting citizens to inform them of the arrest of their relatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos or any other international airport in Nigeria with illicit drugs upon arrival in the country.
This was made known in a statement by Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy.
He disclosed that after throwing the family members into panic, they then demand millions of naira to facilitate the release of such persons from custody.
Babafemi said: “We have thwarted a number of such bids in the past when the family members called the Agency’s official contacts for help or clarification.
“At the moment, there is one of such scenarios the Agency has just investigated. In this case, the picture of a Nigerian man based in the US is being circulated with an audio of a purported NDLEA officer negotiating the payment of N5 million with a female relative for the release of the US-based Nigerian man purportedly arrested at the Lagos airport on Friday 22nd March upon his arrival with a ‘contraband’
“Just like in previous instances, our investigation has also shown that the current incident is the work of scammers. No NDLEA officer is involved in the audio conversation and the person whose photo is attached to the audio recording being circulated is not in our custody at MMIA or any of our Commands either as at yesterday or any other day.”
The NDLEA’s spokesman said the family members involved in this case are advised not to part with their hard-earned money to scammers.
He further urged Nigerians with loved ones abroad to keep discussions on travel plans of their relatives to themselves to avoid the hijacking of such by criminal elements for devious schemes.
NDLEA said those who may have a similar challenge, should feel free to seek help or clarification through any of these contact lines: +2347064670026 and +2348033326327.
Colombian pop star Shakira has expressed doubts over finding love again after her split from former Barcelona defender, Gerard Pique.
The couple, who had been together for 11 years, announced their separation in June 2022.
This came amid allegations of infidelity on Pique’s part.
Shakira, who is now 47, said on Zane Lowe’s Apple Music 1 show: “I thought love would be there forever for me, and that’s one of my broken dreams.
“I don’t know if I’d like to find that again. Probably not.”
Despite the heartbreak, Shakira has focused on her music career.
Her long-awaited 12th album, “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran,” was released recently, marking her return to the music scene.
A review of foreign exchange trading in the past four weeks shows that Naira gained N234.01 and N340 against the US Dollar at the official and parallel foreign exchange market.
FMDQ data indicated that Naira traded for 1,431.49 per USD on Friday, March 22, compared to N1,665.50 on February 23, 2024.
This represents a N234.01 gain in the past four weeks.
Similarly, the Naira gained N340 against the USD in the parallel market. This is as Naira exchanged at N1,460 per USD on Friday, March 22, compared to N1,800 a month ago.
DAILY POST recalls that in the period under review, the Central Bank of Nigeria had introduced several sweeping policies to rescue the Naira, including halting cash payment of Personal Travel Allowance, PTA, and Business Travel Allowance, BTA, ‘Financial Markets Price Transparency and Market Notice of a Revision to the FMDQ FX Market Rate Pricing Methodology’ and drafted guidelines for Bureau De Change operators.
On Friday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu begged Nigerians to patronise Made-in-Nigeria goods to grow the Naira against USD.
Kafayat Shafau, the famous Nigerian dancer and choreographer, who is also known as Kaffy, has said that she lost friends by virtue of being a dancer.
Speaking in an interview with Saturday Beats, she said, “Taking on a career without any gender focus is already tough. As a dancer, the only place we were appreciated was when we were displaying for the National Troupe, or when were called by a governor for a national assignment.
"Dancing was not a mainstream career, neither was it commercially viable. Breaking into that door that did not exist was the main sacrifice for me, as well as the pain of losing family friends and people around me. I was practically isolated.
"There even some people who initially supported me, but withdraw their support because they did not see what I was seeing.”
She also stated that women in the entertainment were often viewed as sexual objects.
She said, “As a woman, one is often asked what value one brings to the table to be considered with one’s male peers. I struggled a lot with that, because while expressing myself, I had to deal with music directors, editors and different stakeholders who felt one’s opinion was not necessary.
"But, one of the things that helped me was the fact that I am highly educated and intellectual enough to express my ideas and implement them in ways that earned me respect. I was also hands on with whatever I said.”
The award-wining dancer also noted that in the course of her career, she got more support from men than women.
She said, “I have got more admiration and support from men, than women. It came after a bit of resistance, which is normal, because there will always be some of resistance when one newly gets into a field.”
Toke Makinwa, the Nigerian media personality, has disclosed that she underwent surgery to remove 13 fibroids from her body.
Toke Makinwa made this known following the release of Stephanie Coker’s documentary titled “Where the Heck is My Period.”
She narrated that fibroids affected the majority of women in her family and some had to remove their wombs.
According to her, growing up she knew something was wrong because she had a very big tummy, irregular periods, and a bulge when she lay down.
“PCOS I haven’t had but I’ve had fibroids. Just watching the documentary, there are a lot of similarities between symptoms and the bloating. I remember when I started off in this industry and you had to host shows. I remember I had to wear like two waist cinchers or three waist cinchers because I was so tiny but I had a belly and people would always ask if you’re pregnant. I was tired of people asking “are you pregnant?” and you know how there would be photos on red carpets and it’ll be everywhere and everyone would be talking about the fact that “oh my god, is she pregnant, or what has she eaten?”
“I’ve had cousins who’ve had to take out their wombs. It’s very daunting. It’s one of the most stressful things. I think one of the worst parts of it is bleeding excessively. I mean, I didn’t bleed for a hundred and something days, but I know about you just seeing your period when you’re not expecting it. I know about you sitting somewhere and you get up and someone has to move close to you and say “oh your period”.
“I’m happy Stephanie Coker did this documentary because women can come together and talk about it. It does a lot to your self-esteem. You’re just nervous all the time. The anxiety levels are high. Eventually, when I got surgery, I had 13 fibroids taken out of me. Tiny me, thirteen.”
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A video showing passengers seated on top of a moving bus in Lagos has sparked mixed reactions from the public.
Two passengers were spotted at an unknown location in the metropolitan city of Lagos.
Apparently, chairs had been arranged on the bus to accommodate extra passengers on the bus.
Two sat and held steady to avoid falling off the bus which was moving with speed.
Below are some reactions that followed …
rosythrone said: “As a Nigerian I can assure you there’s nothing in this life dat we’ve not seen, nothing remain!”
ms_naomii commented: “Based on experience, Lagos is traumatizing????♀️”
generallado remarked: “If someone explains Lagos to you and you understand, they did not explain well”
veradollar1 stated: “This is how much I want to Trust in God.”
queenari_ella said: “The view must be beautiful though”
@afrisagacity wrote: “That’s the thing with poverty – it makes you value your life far less than it’s worth. You take blind risks not minding the fact that it may just end your life.
But when you’re rich, you find yourself placing more premium to your life. Life becomes far attractive to live. Your risks are calculated and value-driven.
Those men took such risks because they’re poverty-stricken. Same life with those people who perch on top moving trains.
Hope this helps”
Media
Abosede, the bereaved mother of the late Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, better known as Mohbad, has claimed that Joseph, the father, buried the late singer even before he died.
Abosede disclosed this in an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH titled, “Uncensored: Mohbad’s mother opens up on late son, ex-husband, Naira Marley.”
She said she was not aware of the day Mohbad died despite being in his (Joseph) house for 10 days shortly before the late singer’s demise.
“I actually did not know when my child (Mohbad) died. His father did not tell me. I was in his house for 10 days, shortly before he died. I ran back there when I heard that he had died. I was the one who called his father and siblings to inform them. I brought them all together.
“I called their father to come and see me with all the children despite all he had done to me. I did not have the strength to fight with him because I found happiness in my children, and because they are grown-up, I brought them all together. But, their father separated us.
“I believe that my son was not dead as of the time he was buried. I actually told them not to bury him, but they refused. If they had not buried him at the time he did, I believe he would have lived. Joseph is actually my problem. I believe that he buried my son before he died,” she added.
Although, Aloba gave Yoruba culture as the reason for the quick burial, explaining that it is customary not to delay the burial of a deceased person when both parents are still alive.
He mentioned that if Mohbad had passed away at an older age, the option of keeping his body in a mortuary for a later date might have been considered.
The late singer’s father further revealed that the land where his son was laid to rest belonged to Mohbad and that he had given it to him to build a church.
He clarified that the decision to bury him swiftly was in accordance with Yoruba customs.
“In Yoruba land, his corpse is not the kind to be kept when both of his parents are still alive,” he said.
“That land where Mohbad was buried is his only land, that is the only land I know him to have owned.
“Truly he gave me the land to build my church because we had both agreed to build the church there and since that’s the only land I knew him to have,” he added.
Mohbad died on September 12, 2023, at the age of 27 in Lagos State.
Following an investigation by the Lagos State Police Command to unravel the cause of his death, Mohbad’s remains were exhumed for an autopsy.
Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has expressed displeasure over quality of food at one of the State’s Ramadan Feeding Centres in Gidan Maza, Kano Municipal local government area.
Governor Yusuf, who paid an unscheduled visit to the centre on Friday evening, described what he saw as “nonsense” despite allocation enough foodstuffs by the State government. He, therefore, ordered a review of the feeding programme and demanded an investigation into the Gidan Maza incident.
Taking to his verified X handle (formerly Twitter), Governor Yusuf wrote: “This evening, I visited Gidan Maza, one of the Ramadan feeding centers in Kano Municipal Local Government.
“The result I met during the impromptu visit was disappointing and disheartening, despite allocating ample foodstuff and resources for each center.
“I’ve already directed a comprehensive probe, and I demand an immediate change in the conduct of the program. – AKY.”
Media
VIDEO: Kano Gov Angered Over Quality Of Food At Ramadan Feeding Centre, Orders Probehttps://t.co/wKb4Lc8rE0
— LEADERSHIP NEWS (@LeadershipNGA) March 23, 2024
Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has expressed displeasure over quality of food at one of the State’s Ramadan Feeding Centres in Gidan Maza, Kano Municipal local… pic.twitter.com/JjOy6mRsFl
Godwin ‘Kabaka’ Opara, a pioneering figure in Igbo highlife music renowned for his songwriting and guitar skills, has died at the age of 77, his record label announced Thursday.
Opara rose to fame in the 1970s as the co-founder of The Oriental Brothers International Band, whose politically conscious lyrics made them popular across Africa. After going solo in 1976 and forming The Kabaka International Guitar Band, he released 14 albums over his prolific career.
“Derda Promotions is deeply saddened to announce the passing of our esteemed artist, Godwin Kabaka Opara, an icon who pioneered and revolutionized highlife music, on March 21st,” the label said in a statement.
Born in Owerri in 1947, Opara picked up the guitar at a young age and quickly became a talented multi-instrumentalist. He first made his mark with the Oriental Brothers, fusing highlife with Afrobeat, juju and other regional styles.
Songs like “Another Brickhouse” became anthems calling for social change in Nigeria during the military dictatorships of the 1970s and 80s. Opara continued performing and recording as a solo act until recent years.