The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Sankara, the headquarters of Ukum Local Government Area in Benue State, was set ablaze by protesting youths on Wednesday.
The National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, confirmed the incident in a statement released late Wednesday.
According to the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state, Prof. Sam Egwu, the attack took place at 2 pm during a protest against the activities of bandits in the region.
The demonstration turned violent, resulting in the destruction of various government facilities, including the INEC office.
Although no casualties were reported, the damage to the building was extensive.
See photos from the scene below:
The statement mentioned that numerous items were destroyed, such as furniture, 10 electric generators, 300 ballot boxes, and 270 voting cubicles.
Olumekun stated that security agencies have been informed and have dispatched personnel to the area to restore order and investigate the incident.
The statement read, “The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Benue State, Professor Sam Egwu, has reported that our Local Government Area office in Sankara, headquarters of Ukum Local Government Area, has been attacked and burnt down.
“The incident occurred at 2 p.m. today, Wednesday, 3rd July 2024, when the youths in the area were said to be protesting against the activities of bandits who attacked facilities of government agencies, including INEC.
“Although no casualties were reported, the building has been extensively damaged. Office furniture and other movable and immovable materials, including 10 electric generators, 300 ballot boxes, and 270 voting cubicles, were destroyed in the attack.”
It could be recalled that the INEC released data on December 16, 2022, revealing that there were 50 attacks on its facilities in the past four years across 15 states.
Imo State had the highest number of incidents, with a total of 11 attacks.
Sheila Courage, the estranged wife of singer, Davido’s Logistics Manager, Israel Afeare, popularly known as Israel DMW, has said she has no regret ending her marriage.
Naija News recalls that Israel and Sheila tied the knot in a star-studded wedding ceremony that was held in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
However, the couple got separated barely eight months after their lavish wedding over allegations of domestic violence and infidelity from both parties.
In a recent podcast interview with her friend, Ginika, Shiela admitted that she was hurt after her ex-husband involved her friend and her mother in their divorce saga.
She said, “I did not regret any decision I have taken because it was all bound to happen. I believe strongly that God is in charge of all that happens in our lives, whether positive or negative, there’s a master planner behind everything.
“But I’ve had my moments of sadness. I feel so bad about the whole thing especially the way my friend and my mum were dragged into it [our divorce]. That has hurt me. But generally, I have zero regrets.”
Randy Waldrum, Super Falcons head coach, has unveiled 18 players for the women’s football event at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
According to the list released by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Wednesday, Asisat Oshoala, Chiamaka Nnadozie, and Rasheedat Ajibade are among the stars that will represent Nigeria at the competition billed for later this month.
Some other big names on the list include Michelle Alozie, Deborah Abiodun, Osinachi Ohale and Halimatu Ayinde.
Ifeoma Onumonu and Gift Monday are named on the alternative players list alongside two home-based players: Morufa Ademola of Rivers Angels and Nasarawa Amazon’s Jumoke Alani.
The team will depart Abuja for Sevilla, Spain, on Thursday for a two-week training camp. The players are scheduled to head to France on July 18.
Falcons will participate in the Olympics for the first time in 16 years.
The team is placed in Group C and will play Brazil on July 25 before facing Spain three days later and Japan in the final game in the group on July 31.
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SUPER FALCONS FOR PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS:
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia)
Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Nicole Payne (Portland Thorns FC, USA); Chidinma Okeke (Mynavi Sendai Ladies, Japan)
Midfielders: Deborah Abiodun (University of Pittsburgh, USA); Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosengard, Sweden); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Jennifer Echegini (Juventus Ladies, Italy); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain)
Finidi George, former Super Eagles head coach, has been unveiled as the new manager of Rivers United.
The club announced the arrival of the 52-year-old in a post on its X account on Wednesday.
Finidi accepted the new role a few weeks after resigning as head coach of the men’s national team.
The resignation came after managing only two competitive games as the Eagle coach following his appointment in April.
He led the team to a 1-1 home draw against South Africa in his first game and a 2-1 loss to the Benin Republic in the second game. Both matches were 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The latest string of performances condemned Nigeria to fifth in the qualification group, having previously drawn against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
The uninspiring results stirred adverse reactions from Nigerians, particularly on social media.
John Enoh, minister of sports development, then summoned the NFF bosses over the losses to “give cause why there mustn’t be consequences for the disappointment caused both government and the generality of Nigerians”.
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Following the backlash, NFF announced it would appoint a foreign technical adviser for the team.
Rivers United is the second Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) that Finidi will be managing. He led Enyimba to 2022/23 NPFL title.
A Ghanaian chef, Ebenezer Smith, popularly known as Chef Smith, has been arrested and detained for fabricating a Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.
Smith, at a press conference on Tuesday, announced himself on social media as the new world record holder for a purported 820-hour 25-minute cook-a-thon, from February 1, 2024 to March 6, 2024.
The Public Relations Executive for Guinness World Record, Alina Polianskaya, refuted the claims made by Smith in an interview with the BBC, saying, “No, this is not true at all. He does not hold the GWR title, and that is not our certificate.
“The current and true record for the longest cooking marathon (individual) is 119hr 57 min 16 sec and was achieved by Alan Fisher (Ireland) in Matsue, Shimane, Japan, from 28 September to 3 October 2023,” he added.
DAILY POST recalls that Irish chef Alan Fisher is the current record holder for the longest cooking hours, having clocked in 119 hours and 57 minutes, surpassing Nigerian chef, Hilda Baci.
A newly constructed two-storey building has collapsed at No 12 Cameroun Street off Ewenla in the Mushin area of Lagos State.
DAILY POST gathered that the incident occurred on Wednesday following the torrential rain which has triggered floods in many parts of the state.
The state emergency management agency, LASEMA confirmed the ugly development, saying at least seven persons were rescued and rushed to hospital.
The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, told journalists that three females and four males were rescued.
According to the Agency, the rescue team “have searched the rubble and can confirm that there is no victim underneath the collapsed building. The area had been cordoned off”.
Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Ethics and privileges has announced the appointment of 500 aides.
She said the aides will help her monitor her constituency projects.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, lawmaker, who represents Oluyole federal constituency in Oyo State made this declaration via a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday.
She maintained that the primary responsibility of the aides is to ensure timely reporting of project requirements relating to health, school infrastructure, education, roads, electricity and empowerment initiatives.
She further stated that the new aides would collaborate with grassroots community leaders to ensure equitable distribution of democratic dividends throughout the constituency.
Akande-Sadipe noted that the appointments was aimed at ensuring effective service delivery in her constituency.
“Their primary responsibility is to ensure timely reporting of project requirements, health, school infrastructure, education, roads, electricity, empowerment initiatives, and more to Hon. Tolu and the constituency office administration team.
“Additionally, they will oversee project supervision, leveraging their residency within the communities across the Local Government Area.
“They will collaborate closely with grassroots community leaders to ensure equitable distribution of democratic dividends throughout the LG,” she said.
Yuki Gambaryan, wife of Tigran, the detained Binance executive in Nigeria, has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) to drop the charges against her husband.
On June 14, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) dropped its tax charges against the Binance’s head of financial crime compliance.
In April, the anti-graft body had arraigned Binance Holdings Limited, a cryptocurrency firm, and Gambaryan, over allegations bordering on money laundering.
The company and its executive were arraigned on a five-count charge before Emeka Nwite, a judge at the federal high court in Abuja, on April 8.
In a statement on Tuesday, Yuki asked the EFCC to follow the steps of FIRS.
She said her husband and his family are finding it more difficult to deal with his continued detention.
“He is suffering immensely under the strain of this injustice. I respectfully urge the EFCC to follow the example set by their colleagues at the FIRS (tax authority) and drop the charges against Tigran,” she said.
“As I have stated many times before and as the evidence in court is showing, Tigran has never been a decision-maker at Binance, and there is no justification for his continued detention.
“It is time for the Nigerian authorities to do the right thing and release my innocent husband. This situation has gone too far.”
According to the statement, Gambaryan’s health continues to “deteriorate in detention and he complained of numbness in his foot as well as back pain”.
“He has had double pneumonia and malaria whilst in prison,” Yuki said.
In the statement, Yuki said the federal high court in Abuja ordered Kuje correctional facility to release the medical records of Gambaryan — covering his visit to the hospital on June 3 — to his lawyers.
On Tuesday, the cross-examination of a witness from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) — the first witness presented by the EFCC in the ongoing trial of Binance and Gambaryan — was completed.
The trial has been adjourned to July 5.
Former Super Eagles midfielder, Sunday Oliseh has revealed why he resigned as coach of the national team in 2016.
Oliseh made the revelation in an interview on Elegbete TV on YouTube, where he narrated the difficulties he faced during his tenure as the Super Eagles head coach
Sunday Oliseh was given the job to manage the Super Eagles in July 2015 and he left the position in February 2016.
The former Juventus midfielder said he resigned due to lack of support from his employers, the players and even the media.
“I coached the Super Eagles for fourteen games, won four, we lost only two games. One was a friendly against Congo in Belgium.
“After being unpaid for four months, and my assistants being unpaid for six months, and after me falling sick and not getting any support spending thousands of dollars to cure myself, and still being laughed at by some of your media friends for falling sick. I resigned because I didn’t get support.
“I left the job and Nigeria was still on track to qualify for the 2017 Nations Cup. Nigeria needed to beat Egypt and qualify,” Oliseh stated.
Police have exhumed the corpse of a 72-year-old female trader, identified as Mrs Vero Akazuma, who was killed and buried in a shallow grave on a farm at Afuze, in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State.
Yhe corpse of the deceased was exhumed from the grave by a combined team of police, vigilantes and mortuary attendants. She was reportedly killed on June 17, 2024, when her regular customer called her from Auchi to come and purchase corn on his farm.
The deceased and the farmer, according to eyewitnesses, boarded a motorcycle to the farm.
That the farmer, instead of selling corn to the woman, killed her, took her money, buried her remains in a shallow grave and escaped.
It was further gathered that the children who were worried when their mother did not return home reported the incident to police stations in Auchi and Afuze, respectively, where she was subsequently declared missing.
The case was transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime Unit of the Edo State Police Command, which went into extensive investigation.
During the investigations, the deceased’s mobile phone was traced to the commercial motorcyclist who conveyed them to the farm, and he was arrested. The motorcyclist, during interrogation, admitted to taking the duo to the farm but added that he only dropped them on the farm and left her with one Michael, the farmer.
As part of the ongoing investigations, policemen from the Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime Unit embarked on bush combing operations. The efforts paid off on June 26, 2024, when they discovered a grave in the bush where she was buried. They exhumed the decomposing body of the woman from the grave and deposited it in the mortuary for an autopsy and further investigation.
The farmer, whom the locals identified as Michael, is currently at large, as police assured that he would be fished out of his hideout.
In a video that has gone viral at the scene of the exhumation of the corpse, the son of the deceased is heard describing the incident as fortunate.
The son, identified as Mr Okonofua, said his mother hailed from Esan West Local Government Area but married in Esan Central Local Government Area.
While lamenting the killing of his mother, he stated that instead of only collecting her money, they also took her life.
Okonofua, who was heard speaking in the background of the video, wept profusely, stating that his mother travelled from Auchi, where she lived, to Afuze to purchase the corn, but she never returned home.
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Popular Nigerian rapper Ice Prince, has stated that he is not ready for a committed relationship, contrary to Moet Abebe’s assertion that they have been dating for 12 years.
Recalls that on-air personality Moet Abebe had claimed during an interview that she and Ice Prince have been in a relationship for 12 years.
This statement came amid dating rumors after they both stepped out in matching outfits.
However, in a viral interview with The DateBizz, the rapper contradicted her claims, stating that finding love has been challenging for him.
He said, “Recently, it’s been hard for me to get love. Not because I don’t want to, but my mind has not been in the right place for a relationship. And I don’t want to have a girl suffering with me. I needed time to put certain things together, especially my music and finances.
“I don’t go around with holes. If you see me with a woman, she’s probably someone that I so much respect, somebody that we have mutual understanding. Any woman that you see me with or having sex with is someone I respect.
“As to a committed relationship, I wouldn’t say that I’m in one right now. I should get married soon, hopefully. I don’t want to go past 40 years before getting married. So I’m searching.”
Video:
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"I wouldn't say I am in a committed relationship right now...I don't want to go past 40 without getting married"
— @????????????? (@OneJoblessBoy) June 28, 2024
- Ice Prince Zamani pic.twitter.com/PzgEDB6tw2
Popular Nigerian filmmaker, Patrick Doyle has claimed that the entertainment industry is being controlled by satan.
The actor stated this while reacting to singer Tems’ recent BET award.
Recall that Tems, a secular musician won the best gospel award at the 2024 BET Awards held on Monday, at the Peacock Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, United States.
Tems win left the mainstream gospel musicians who felt betrayed in shock.
Reacting to the controversies in a Facebook post, Doyle cautioned gospel singers to stop seeking validation from the entertainment industry mafia
He wrote, “I feel the pain of mainstream gospel artists who feel slighted that an evidently secular musician, Tems was awarded for best gospel song.
“That said, I believe it is about time that committed Christians should stop seeking validation from fickle institutions like the entertainment industry mafia which by the way is in the grip of Satan.”
Ex-BBNaija star Kiddwaya on Tuesday opened up about an incident of robbery that occurred in his villa in ‘Ibiza’, Spain, where he claimed he was robbed of 70,000 euros and a Birkin bag.
Kiddwaya, in a video post on Instagram, said, “What’s up, guys? So something crazy happened last night. For the second time, I was robbed in Ibiza at the villa I was staying in.”
The reality TV star further revealed that the robbery occurred around 3:00 am local time, with the perpetrators reportedly gaining access to his room and conducting the theft.
Kiddwaya advised fellow Nigerians travelling to Europe, especially those staying in villas, to exercise caution.
He said, “All my rich Nigerians, when you travel to these places, be careful with all these villas.”
He suggested having additional security personnel and private drivers to avoid potential risks associated with local services.
“Make sure you have bouncers and people walking on the property day and night. Don’t get a regular taxi; always have a private driver,” he cautioned.
Kiddwaya also highlighted concerns about internal threats and called for vigilance.
“Be careful with your maid; she is the one who goes into the room and knows where the money is and where everything is kept.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has hailed President Bola Tinubu for appointing Nyesom Wike as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
Akpabio spoke during the flag-off of the construction of the Kugbo Bus and Taxi Terminal in the Karu District of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
He said the decision to construct bus terminals has also shown the minister’s desire to not only construct roads but also provide services that will make life more comfortable for FCT residents.
He said the terminal will serve as a hub that will facilitate the efficient movement of people, ensure traffic decongestion and improve the overall quality of life for FCT residents.
“The development of this bus terminal is more than just a construction project. It is a testament to the good works and commitment of you (FCT Minister) and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Akpabio said.
The Senate President said Tinubu’s picking of Wike as the FCT Minister was the right choice.
He said: “This bus terminal you are talking about, I looked at the picture, and I saw where they are going to be seated, waiting for their bus to come and it is almost as if they are inside a major terminal at the airport.
“This is for me, another major wonder of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. This is the way to cater for a city of this nature. This is a way to take care of the people of the Area Councils and also the FCT residents and visitors alike.
“So, I believe that your appointment is a square peg in a square hole and I must thank the President for having the eyes to pinpoint those who can perform and bring them in. He did this in Lagos and today Lagos is one of the best, one of the largest economies in the whole of Africa, when we are talking about cities.”