Workers Welfare: TUC threatens strike in Oyo
Trade Union Congress in Oyo has decried the living condition of workers in the state, vowing to embark on mass action if the situation persisted. The TUC Chairman, Mr Emelieze Andrew, said in Ibadan on Tuesday that urgent steps must be taken by states and the Federal Government to tackle the development. He also said TUC would embark on a mass protest at the expiration of a 15-day ultimatum it issued on Monday.
Gunmen abduct Ambode’s account director, son
Some gunmen have abducted a director of account in the office of the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, Thomas Otuyemi, in the Epe area of the state.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Otuyemi, 60, was abducted by the gunmen alongside his son, whose name had yet to be known, on Saturday. It was gathered that the gunmen, who came from the creeks in the Epe area, took father and son away to an unknown location.
Man cuts off dead son’s head for ritual
The Bauchi State Police Command says it has arrested a 25-year-old man, Maikudi Mohammed, for being in possession of the head of his child. In a statement on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Police Command, Haruna Mohammed, said the suspect was arrested in Misau town in the Misau Local Government Area, following intelligence report that he was in possession of his son’s head. The statement said the suspect wrapped the son’s head in a cloth.
Vigilance group nabs, strips vandals
A local vigilance group in Abia on Sunday captured and stripped naked four suspected vandals of electrical installations in Umuahia the state capital. The suspects were handed over to the Abia State Police Command on Monday morning. A resident of the area, who did not want to be named, told our correspondent that the hoodlums were captured when they tried to rob one physically challenged operator identified only as Nwaba of his tricycle.
Teenagers invade Lagos streets, kill worshipper, loot shops
There was confusion on the Lagos Island on Friday when about 50 hoodlums, mostly teenagers, invaded five streets, where they killed a resident, Ade Busari, and looted several shops. Our correspondent gathered that the hoodlums were armed with daggers and machetes during the attack. It was learnt that Busari was killed around 2pm while going for an Islamic prayer.
Bullets can’t kill me, suspect tells police
A suspected cult leader, Andrew Awalebi, has told operatives of the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command that no amount of bullets can pierce through his body. Awalebi, a suspected member of the Eiye Confraternity, reportedly told the police that a charm he got from an herbalist made him to be invincible to bullets.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the 35-year-old suspect was arrested on Friday at a pub in Jakande Estate in the Ajah area of Lagos State.
Abia police arrest fake lawyer
The Abia State Police Command has arrested a suspected fake lawyer, Mba Akachukwu. The police allegedly recovered from Akachukwu’s apartment counterfeit N500 and N1,000 currency notes, deeds of agreements, letterheads of Aba-North Local Government Area, receipts/invoices, Aba-North Taskforce ID card and two identity cards showing him as a litigation officer. He was among 12 suspects paraded at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Aba.
TRADERS, RESIDENTS APPEAL TO NASARAWA GOVT OVER SALARY CUT
Some traders and residents of Keffi, in Nasarawa State, have appealed to the state government to reconsider its decision to cut salaries of workers in order to ensure industrial peace. They made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Keffi. NAN recalled that on July 4, 2016, the labour unions in the state went on indefinite strike to protest the downward review of workers’ salaries by 50 per cent.
SIX PERSONS KILLED IN RENEWED COMMUNAL CLASH IN YAKURR
Six persons were feared dead and houses burnt at the weekend in renewed hostilities between two neighbouring communities, Onyadama and Iyima in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State, over a piece of farmland. A resident, who did not want his name in print, told Community News that the clash, which started on Tuesday, raged on till Wednesday even as policemen were dispatched to the area by the state Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Ozi-Obeh, to quell hostilities.
AGAIN, LAGOS, OGUN COMMUNITIES ATTACKED •VICTIM KIDNAPPED AGAIN AFTER N1.2M RANSOM PAID
Suspected militants, again, attacked the Ojuoro and Phase 2, Yewa communities, Ikorodu area of Lagos, on Monday morning. They were said to have attacked the communities on Sunday evening and around 6.00a.m. on Monday. Lagos Metro gathered that the militants had reportedly harassed the residents, broke into people’s houses, beat them up and cart away their valuables, including huge amount of money, phones and other valuables.
11 dead as herdsmen go on rampage in Niger
NO fewer than 11 persons have been confirmed death following a violent clash between suspected Fulani Herdsmen and Gbagyi communities in Niger State.
The incident it was gathered happened during the Eid-El- Fitri celebration. It was gathered four persons were killed in Lamba, Paikoro local government, while another seven were hacked down during another fiasco between the same ethnic people in Barakuta in Boss local government area of the state.
FG to demarcate Ebonyi/Benue boundary to avert further killings
THE Federal Government through the National Boundary Commission, NBC at weekend, said it was putting modalities in place to ensure proper and lasting demarcation of disputed lands affecting the boundary communities along Ebonyi and Benue states. It also expressed worries over the wanton destruction of lives and properties along the border communities since the outbreak of violence within the affected areas. The Director-General of the Commission, Dr. Mohammed Ahmed stated this during a Joint Enlightenment Campaign of communities along the Benue/Ebonyi interstate boundary in Ohaukwu and Ebonyi local government areas of the state.
Nasarawa’s N1.3bn loan, not for workers’ salaries – Accountant General
The Nasarawa State Government has said that the N1.3bn received from the Federal Government as a loan is meant for capital projects and not for the payment of workers’ salaries. It would be recalled that last week Friday, the Federal Government released the sum of N50bn to the 35 states of the federation, excluding the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, out of which each state got N1.3bn.
Seven feared dead as building collapses in Anambra
Seven persons were feared dead as a two- storey building collapsed at Ogidi, near Onitsha on Wednesday. A source said three persons died on the spot while four died on their way to the hospital. Many others sustained varying degree of injuries. The two-storey building was still under construction at Ikenga Ndiagu village, in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state and trapped the workers therein.
Fake Lt. Col. arrested while negotiating with policemen
The police in Lagos State have arrested a suspected fake Lieutenant Colonel, Adeboye Yelu, in the Ogba area of the state. PUNCH Metro learnt that 27-year-old Yelu was arrested on Tuesday by the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit. The fake military officer was said to have been arrested while negotiating with officers of the task force over a commercial bus belonging to one Muritala, which was impounded.
Army arrests fake officer in Ondo
Men of the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Akure, Ondo State, have arrested one Sunday Uwanle for allegedly parading himself as a military officer serving in the state. The 37-year-old indigene of Kogi State was reportedly arrested in an army uniform by men of the brigade who were on routine patrol on Tuesday at the Oluwatuyi area. He was said to be fighting some men in the area when he was apprehended.
Ogun sacks commissioner
The Ogun Government, on Wednesday announced the immediate removal of Mr Ebenezer Olubena, Commissioner IV in the State Civil Service Commission, for acts of misconduct. A statement issued by Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, the Secretary to the State Government, said Olubena’s removal was in accordance with extant laws. Olubena was directed to hand over all government property and documents in his possession to the Permanent Secretary at the Commission.
Fulani/Gbagyi clash displaces 250 in Niger
No fewer than 250 people have been displaced due to a clash between Fulani herdsmen and Gwagyi farmers in Niger state. The clash led to the death of four persons and destruction of property in Bara-kuta in Bosso Local Government Area on Friday. Malam Ahmed Inga, Director General, Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), said in Minna on Tuesday that the displaced people were being resettled in a school in Bosso.
FG stops remittance of workers’ pension deductions
The Federal Government has not been remitting the pension contributions of most of its workers into their Retirement Savings Accounts under the Contributory Pension Scheme since October last year. This revelation was contained in the 2016 annual report of the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria, which was obtained exclusively by our correspondent on Wednesday.
Four cops, two kidnappers die in Rivers’ gun duel
SIX persons, including four policemen and two kidnappers, were killed on Tuesday in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State in a gun duel between the two groups. Kidnappers and operatives of the Rives State Police Command had clashed at the Ubima-Omerelu link road following a distress call to rescue four kidnap victims.
Our correspondent gathered that following a tip off, the police stormed the area to rescue the hostages.
Kidnappers in Rivers lure victims with job interviews
KIDNAPPERS in Rivers State have devised a new means of getting at their victims and making their families part with huge sums of money as ransoms.
It was gathered that kidnappers had begun to send text messages, inviting their victims for job interviews but they hold them hostage as soon as they turn up at the addresses given to them by the abductors. A civil servant in the state, who simply identified himself as Joseph told Southern City News how a friend’s cousin was kidnapped after honouring an invitation for a job interview.
Niger workers disobey court order, begin strike
CIVIL servants in Niger State have ignored a court injunction and embarked on an indefinite strike following the expiration of a two-week ultimatum given to the state government to pay the full salaries to workers in the state. The court injunction, as presented, ruled that the strike planned by civil and public servants had become null and void and indeed of no effects
THOUSANDS FLEE AS GUNMEN KILL 4, SACK COMMUNITIES ,SCHOOLS SHUT
Four people were reportedly killed by cult members in an attack against Ifakale community area of Sagamu Local Government Area, Ogun Stat on Monday. Lagos Metro gathered that the whole community had been deserted as residents moved to other places for safety. Lagos Metro learnt that after their operation earlier this month, which claimed six lives, during the celebration of 7/7 festival, they made a promise to come back for another operation to mark 8/8 festival.
BATTERY CHARGER MURDERED FOR CHOOSING IGBO FRIEND OVER YORUBA
A 35-year-old battery charger, Mutiu, has been killed in Isheri, area of Lagos State on Sunday evening. The deceased was married with two kids, Rokibat, six years and Rodiyat, who is just 45 days old. Late Mutiu, was said to have been invited to an Ogun festival organised by an Igbo friend of his, popularly called Ipodo.
It was learnt that the deceased was there to witness the festival when one Kehinde stabbed him on the neck.
ROBBERY: SOKO ESTATE RESIDENTS CRY FOR HELP
Residents of Soko Estate in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, have cried out to security agencies to deliver them from incessant robbery attacks
They said they now live in fear of armed gangs who attack and rob them with impunity at several bad spots on the road linking Jakpa and Airport Road in Effurun.
They had, therefore, implored the Delta State government, the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to intensify security measures in the area.
Economic depression: FG cautioned over 10% tax increment
A FORMER president of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, CITN, and Managing Partner, Saffron Professional Services, Mrs Adebimpe Balogun, yesterday, faulted the move by the Federal Government to increase Value Added Tax, VAT, to more than five per cent, saying the present economic situation in the country does not support such irrational development.
Pregnant woman killed over debt in Oyo
A textile trader in Gbagi Market, Ibadan, Oyo State, Kudirat Oduola, has been beaten to death by thugs allegedly sent by a co-trader who lent her N2m. Our correspondent learnt that the deceased, who was three months pregnant, had approached one Oriekun to assist her with the money to buy textile materials.
The deceased’s brother, Abdulahi Asimolowo, said Oduola paid the N2m debt five months after it was borrowed, adding that Oriekun, however, insisted that she would collect N400,000 as interest for five months.
Woman uses schoolgirls as sex slaves – Police
The police in Lagos State have arrested a 32-year-old woman, Chinoso Okonkwo, for allegedly using pupils of some secondary schools in the Ikate, Surulere area, as commercial sex workers. PUNCH Metro learnt that Okonkwo was arrested on Wednesday after residents gave the police a tip-off that some teenage schoolgirls were being taken to a hotel in the area – Sunderland Hotel – for sex during school hours.
C’River police arrest 14 suspects for car theft
The Cross River State Police Command on Thursday said it had arrested no fewer than 14 suspected car snatchers in different parts of the state between June and July 2016. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Jimoh Ozi-Obeh, added that the arrests were made possible through information from members of the public and some of the victims.
Unpaid Salaries: NLC to declare “state of emergency”
The Nigeria Labour Congress says it will tackle state governors over non-payment and cuts in the salaries of workers in some states. The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, said on Thursday that the congress would meet with all its state councils to encourage them to respond effectively to some of the challenges in the states.
“We may declare a state of emergency in the area of non-payment of salaries and we are going to have a meeting with all our state councils to respond effectively to some of these challenges.
Tension in Adamawa as herdsmen attack claims six lives
FOLLOWING reported attack by Fulani herdsmen resulting in the death of six persons in Tambor Jumor community of Girei Local Government Area, penultimate Wednesday, palpable fear of further attacks by herdsmen now pervades Adamawa State. According to report, the suspected herdsmen invaded the villages in the wee hours of Wednesday killing six persons, while many others were injured.
INTERNATIONAL
Sierra Leone News: Sierra Leone, Nigeria will strengthen bilateral relations – Info Minister
Just after the kidnapping of Sierra Leone’s deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria Rtd. Maj. Gen.Alfred Nelson-Williams in Kaduna, the Minister of Information and Communications Mohamed Bangura said that despite bilateral relations, this incident will make the two countries even stronger. Mr Bangura said both countries have expressed their commitments to revive the Joint Commission between them with a view to strengthening their bilateral relations. He said that the decision was reached in a meeting between Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, and Dr Samura Kamara, on Friday when both of them met to discuss the way forward between the two countries.
Gov’t committed to lower electricity rates – Energy Minister
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr Andrew Wheatley, says the Government is committed to lower electricity rates, notwithstanding the increase given to the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), recently. In an interview on the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) television programme, ‘Issues and Answers Programme’, he said the JPS was granted an average 2.6 per cent rate increase by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), after a tariff review.
Forex: J$126.36 to one US dollar
KINGSTON, Jamaica – The US dollar on Thursday, July 14, ended trading at J$126.36, up by two cents, according to the Bank of Jamaica’s daily foreign exchange trading summary. Meanwhile, the Canadian dollar ended trading at J$96.23, down from J$98.70, while the British pound sterling ended trading at J$167.76 up from J$166.36.
JBA funds J$15m to cyber security campaign
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – The Government’s national cyber security public education and awareness campaign is being funded at a cost of over $15 million by the Jamaica Bankers Association (JBA). Several member institutions, including the National Commercial Bank (NCB), Scotiabank, CIBC/First Caribbean Bank, First Global Bank and Sagicor Bank, are providing the money. The campaign is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology, with additional support from the Universal Service Fund (USF).
