NIGERIAN NOTCH

Amnesty International, a global non-governmental organisation focusing on human rights, has called on President Bola Tinubu to treat the recent surge in unchecked kidnapping incidents across Nigeria as an emergency. In recent weeks, there has been a notable increase in kidnapping cases. On January 5, six sisters were kidnapped along with their father from their residence in Zuma 1, Bwari area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Although the father was released, the girls remained in captivity. On Sunday, it was reported that Nabeeha, one of the kidnapped girls, had died in captivity. The Cable also reported the deaths of three others, including 13-year-old secondary school student Folorunsho Ariyo, who were kidnapped in other parts of the community. “Last week over 45 people travelling between Otukpo in Benue state and Enugu were kidnapped, and nothing has been heard about them yet,” the statement reads.   “Also, one of the 10 people kidnapped at an estate i...

National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has expressed satisfaction with the work going on at the Warri refinery, Delta state. Zonal Chairman of NUPENG Warri, Comrade Chief Innocent Iyere in a chat with this news medium in Warri, enjoined the federal government to sustain the pace of work going on at the refinery. He said he was hopeful that if the government continue with the way it was going the refinery may resume production this year. ” The last time I was at the Warri refinery they were working. Production may resume there if they continue at the pace they are working. It is the government refinery that will help the citizens more.” Iyere further enjoined President Bola Tinubu to ensure the three refineries come on stream as projected, stressing that it would help reduce the cost of petroleum product across the country. On the Dangote refinery projected to commence production by the end of the month Comrade Iyere said it was commendable but he quick...

Reads riot act to council chairmen  The Federal Capital Territory FCT Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has summoned an emergency security meeting in the wake of the increasing wave of kidnapping by bandits in Bwari Area Council and some other parts of the territory. At the opening session, Wike assured residents that his administration and security agencies were not sleeping, urging them not to panic. He said, “We are all aware of the security situation in the Federal Capital Territory, particularly Bwari and some other areas where we have witnessed security challenges. I am also aware that sometimes too, the press overblows what is happening, but indeed, we owe a duty to make sure that FCT is safe. “We will do all we can, and we assure Nigerians who reside here that there is no need for panic. We are taking every step to make sure that those challenges are things that we must resolve. “So, this meeting is practically to look into such challenges and see how we will be abl...

President Bola Tinubu yesterday led the leadership of the National Assembly, the armed forces and other critical stakeholders to honour the county’s living and fallen heroes at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, situated at the National Arcade, Abuja. The ceremony was the climax of the activities which began with the launch of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem last October. On hand to witness the ceremony were the Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, and the Chief Justice of the Federation, Olukayode Ariwoola. Others at the wreath-laying ceremony were the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa who led all the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, among others, to grace the occasion organised to honour the country’s departed heroes. Christian and Muslim prayers were offered by the Services’ clergymen for the living and for peaceful repose of the souls of the departe...

The United Kingdom government has released a list of licensed companies and organisations that are approved to sponsor the relocation of skilled workers. According to the updated information on its website, the UK listed the licensed companies to sponsor skilled immigrants through the temporary worker immigration route.  The latest list, updated on January 12, 2024, now includes 99,856 approved companies.  It marked an increase of 31,226 companies compared to the 68,630 approved as of January 2023.  The companies in the list cut across technology, commerce, education, media and advertisement, and engineering sectors, among several others.  The skilled worker route includes charity workers, skilled workers, creative workers, global business mobility, senior or specialist workers, and international sportspersons.  UK government, in a note on its website, said, “This document lists worker and temporary worker sponsors. It includes information about the ...

Similarly, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, lamented that the increasing spate of hunger and poverty was fueling insecurity in Nigeria. Reacting to the recent increase in insecurity across the country, the former vice president in a tweet via his official X account (formerlly Tweeter), said he was distressed by the escalating violence and lawlessness in the nation. Recall that Atiku had urged the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to urgently address the dire security situation to regain the trust of Nigerians. The former VP wrote: “The escalating violence and lawlessness in our nation deeply distresses me as bandits and kidnappers continue their reign of terror unchecked. Our youths and innocent citizens are being murdered daily. Just last Saturday, we lost Nabeeha to her captors. ‘’ Yesterday, the tragedy deepened with the murder of more victims, including Folorunsho Ariyo, a 13-year-old student. Folorunsho was one of ten people kidnapped from Sagwar...

In Ekiti State, suspected hoodlums in the early hours of yesterday, invaded the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, EKSUTH, attacked doctors on duty and made away with a corpse. Sources in the hospital revealed that the hoodlums attacked doctors and other health officers on duty at the accident and emergency ward, destroyed facilities and made away with a corpse suspected to be the father of one of the hoodlums. In a swift reaction to the matter, the Association of Resident Doctors in the Hospital held an emergency meeting and directed its members to embark on an indefinite strike with immediate effect. This was contained in a letter addressed to the Chief Medical Director, Professor Kayode Olabanji and signed by the President of the Association, Dr. Famous Adeyemi. The letter read: “The above-named association writes to notify you of the decision of the Emergency Congress held today to embark on an indefinite strike with immediate effect. “This is followin...

Mourning Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, a 400-level Biological Science student at Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in a post via her official X handle on Monday, described her demise as a “devastating loss” and extended heartfelt condolences to the grieving family. Senator Tinubu implored the nation to unite in fervent prayers for the safe return of other girls currently held captive by kidnappers. Addressing the escalating issue of kidnappings and insecurity, she called on security agencies to intensify their efforts to curb abductions and free the remaining sisters of Nabeeha. She wrote: “It is with a heavy heart that I acknowledge the devastating loss of Nabeeha and extend my deepest condolences to her grieving family. “In difficult moments like this, I urge the nation to join in fervent prayers for the safe return of these girls. Let us hold the families close to our hearts in prayers. “I implore our security agencies to intensify their...

There was palpable fear at Adani, Uzo-Uwani LGA of Enugu State following reported abduction of a former councillor of Ojor, Mr. Romanus Chikwelu, on Saturday. Three others abducted with Chikwelu were the former transition committee vice- chairman of the LGA, Vitalis Okonkwo, his son, and a man, Nnalue Igwebuike. It was gathered that the incident happened before the Community Secondary School in Adani. Community sources disclosed that officers of the Nigerian Army engaged the suspected kidnappers in a gun battle but succumbed to their superior firepower. It was equally learned that a stray bullet hit a road user in the shoulder during the cross-fire between the soldiers and kidnappers. A community stakeholder in Adani, who confirmed this incident to Vanguard, said that the suspects are demanding a ransom of N25 million for their captives. He further said that the traditional ruler of Adani Community, HRH, Igwe Patrick Okafor, was allegedly murdered in cold blood on the eve o...

Terrorists, bandits, and criminals elements have taken to the be streets to perform their inglorious activities in the country, to a new dimension in the last 48 hours, wreaking mayhem in six states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja. Their deadly operations across five of the six geo-political zones of the country left no fewer than six persons dead; 60 persons kidnapped, a corpse stolen and goods worth millions of naira also stolen. The only zone not affected by the attacks was the South-South. However, neither Force Headquarters nor Defence Headquarters, DHQ, responded to calls on an inquiry about what they were doing to stem the tide of insecurity in the country at press time yesterday. However in Abuja, kidnappers, who abducted 10 persons from an estate, Sagwari Layout, Dutse, on January 7, yesterday, reportedly killed three of their victims to send a strong warning to their relatives negotiating ransom payment. It was also gathered that the bandits had incr...