African News Today

<strong>Umahi Explains Why FG Deployed Surveillance Aircraft In Ebonyi</strong>

25Feb

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Elections, News, Nigeria, Security

Umahi Explains Why FG Deployed Surveillance Aircraft In Ebonyi

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State has said that the Federal Government deployed a helicopter to the state to provide aerial surveillance during Saturday’s elections. He disclosed this on Friday in Abakaliki, the state capital, noting that the deployment of the helicopter was intended to augment security measures already put in place in the state. According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the Umahi said the helicopter would be flying at low altitudes and asked residents to go about their activities without fear. The governor gave assurance that the exercise was intended to scare away insurgents or bandits from disrupting the election in any part of the state. See Also: Eight Students Travelling Home For Election Die in Auto Crash He said, “We got a surprise package from...

<strong>Court Orders Evans To Pay Kidnap Victim €233,000, N50m</strong>

17Feb

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Crime, Finance, News, Nigeria, Security

Court Orders Evans To Pay Kidnap Victim €233,000, N50m

Billionaire kidnap mastermind, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, was on Tuesday ordered by a Lagos State High Court at Tafawa Balewa Square to refund the sum of €233,000, he received as ransom from one of his kidnap victims, Chief Donatus Dunu. Justice Olukayode Ogunjobi, also mandated Evans to pay the sum of N50m as general damages in favour of the claimant. The victim, a pharmacist, was abducted on February 14, 2018, and held hostage with ransom collected from his family, he escaped from where he was held. Dunu, a Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceutical Company, later filed a civil suit, praying the court to order Evans to return to him the €233,000, paid in ransom. The claimant asked for an additional N50m in general damages. But Eva...

<strong>Court Declares Ebube Agu Operations Illegal In Ebonyi</strong>

15Feb

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Human Rights, Judiciary, Justice, Law Enforcement, News, Nigeria, Security

Court Declares Ebube Agu Operations Illegal In Ebonyi

An Ebonyi State federal high court in Abakaliki has declared the activities of the south-east security outfit, Ebube Agu, illegal in the state. Recall that the south-east states governors had in April 2021, announced the establishment of the security network as part of measures to curb insecurity in the region. The court while ruling on Tuesday, ordered the Department of State Services, DSS, and police to retrieve all the weapons in the possession of Ebube Agu operatives in the state. The presiding judge, Riman Fatun, said the grounds for disbandment were connected to human right abuses, extortion, and illegal arrests. The judge held, “I hereby declare the Ebube Agu outfit illegal and therefore, it ceases to exist as the Ebonyi state house of assembly has no powers to appr...

<strong>Police Free 15 Abducted Corpers In Anambra</strong>

15Feb

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security, Youths

Police Free 15 Abducted Corpers In Anambra

The Anambra State Police Command has freed 15 members of the National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, kidnapped along the Isseke, Ihiala road, in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State. This was contained in a statement issued by the state police spokesperson, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga on Tuesday. Ikenga said the abducted corps members were from the NYSC Orientation Camp in Eziama-Obaire, Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo State. The police spokesperson stated that the corps members were heading to Lagos after their orientation on Tuesday when gunmen yet-to-be-identified in an unmarked white Toyota Hilux, intercepted their vehicle in Ihiala, and diverted them to Isseke, Ihiala-Orlu expressway, where they were held hostage. He said, “The Anambra State Police operative...

AK-47 Wielding House On The Rock Pastor Arrested, Church Apologises

14Feb

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Religion, Security

AK-47 Wielding House On The Rock Pastor Arrested, Church Apologises

The Police in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has confirmed the arrest of Uche Aigbe, the presiding pastor of House on the Rock, Abuja Chapter, for bearing an AK47 rifle addressing the congregation. The command also confirmed that the church’s Chief Security Officer and Inspector Musa Audu have been arrested for releasing his gun to Pastor Aigbe. This was contained in a statement issued by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, on Monday. Adeh said, “The FCT Police Command on the heels of intelligence arrested one pastor, Uche Aigbe, of House on the Rock cathedral, Abuja, and two others. “The pastor, whose message and demonstrations were tagged inciting by various media and social media users, was arrested in the early hours of Monday, February 13, 20...

<strong>Retired Police Officer Shouldn’t Be Appointed As PSC Chair – Obasanjo</strong>

10Feb

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security

Retired Police Officer Shouldn’t Be Appointed As PSC Chair – Obasanjo

Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo has said that individuals that retired as police officers should not be considered for appointment as chair of the Police Service Commission, PSC. Recall that the senate had in January 2023 confirmed retired inspector-general of the police, IGP, Solomon Arase, as substantive chair of the PSC after President Muhammadu Buhari asked the red chamber to confirm him in line with provisions of section 153 (1) and 154 (1) of the constitution as amended. Before Arase was appointed, Musiliu Smith, a former IG, served as chair of the PSC. Obasanjo while speaking on Wednesday at the public presentation of a book titled ‘Policing the Nigeria Police’, written by Simon Okeke, a former chairperson of PSC, said retired police officers shou...

<strong>Pope Francis in Congo: Africa is the World’s Smile, Stop Choking Africa</strong>

1Feb

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Religion, Security

Pope Francis in Congo: Africa is the World’s Smile, Stop Choking Africa

Pope Francis has asked more advanced countries to see Africa beyond an opportunity to plunder the continent’s natural resources. He said this during a visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, on Tuesday. Pope Francis holds his pastoral staff as he celebrates Mass marking Sunday of the Word of God in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Jan. 22, 2023. The pope at the Mass formally installed lectors and catechists. (CNS photo/Vatican Media) The Pope spoke against the “terrible forms of exploitation, unworthy of humanity” in the country. He urged the more advanced countries to acknowledge the “catastrophic” injustices done in times past, and put an end to the ongoing plundering of the continent’s rich resources. The Pope said, “Hands off the Democratic Republic of the ...

<strong>Herders Demand Unreserved Apology From Military Over Nasarawa Accidental Bombing</strong>

1Feb

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Aviation, News, Nigeria, Security

Herders Demand Unreserved Apology From Military Over Nasarawa Accidental Bombing

The Coalition of Pastoralists Association has stated that 47 of its members were killed, and not less than 62 members sustained various degrees of injuries during the accidental airstrikes carried out by the Nigerian Air Force in Nasarawa. The umbrella body of pastoralists’ groups in Nigeria also indicted the military for carrying out similar airstrikes on harmless herders in Keana and Awe in Doma local government area of Nasarawa State, noting that last year, their members were killed by soldiers in Kaduna. Baba Ngelzarma, the National President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, while addressing members of the press in Abuja on Tuesday on behalf of the Coalition, alongside the Vice President, Tabbital Pulaaku International Nigeria Chapter, Auwal Googa...

<strong>How Obi Was attacked After Katsina Rally – Campaign Team</strong>

25Jan

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security

How Obi Was attacked After Katsina Rally – Campaign Team

The Labour Party, LP, presidential campaign council has said that Peter Obi was attacked in Katsina. This was contained in a statement issued by its head of media, Diran Onifade, saying that Obi’s car was attacked by hoodlums when he was on his way to the airport after a rally in the state. The statement reads, “Our candidate had met with women in a townhall and then held a hugely successful rally at the Muhammad Dikko Stadium. “However, on his way to the airport, hoodlums attacked the car our candidate was riding in with heavy stones from his driver’s side, causing substantial damage to the vehicle. “To the glory of God, Mr Obi and other occupants of the car were unhurt. “Subsequently, another set of thugs also threw stones outside the stadium which damaged several veh...

<strong>Breaking: Gunmen Behead Imo LG Boss Despite Collecting N6m Ransom</strong>

23Jan

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security

Breaking: Gunmen Behead Imo LG Boss Despite Collecting N6m Ransom

Gunmen have beheaded the sole Administrator of Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State, Chris Ohizu, who was abducted. The LG boss was murdered on Sunday after his captives were allegedly paid N6 million as ransom. Video of his beheading trended on social media on Sunday, where his abductors insisted that there won’t be election in the country. According to a source who chose to remain anonymous, the killers of the council boss posted videos of the incident with the phone of their victim on his WhatsApp status. The source said, “The sole administrator has been beheaded. We saw videos of how he was being beheaded on Sunday. His killers posted it with his phone on his own WhatsApp status. That was how people got to know that he was beheaded. Se...