Allegations Of Mass Abortion In Northeast Is Fake News – Army Chief, Irabor

December 8, 2022

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Eluonye Irabor, has said that a foreign media report alleging 10,000 illegal abortions by the Nigerian Army in the Northeast is fake news.

Speaking today, December 8, at the 61st edition of the ministerial briefing, organized by the Presidential Communications Team at the Presidential Villa, General Irabor said that the Armed Forces can never be involved in such scandals.

According to him nothing of such occurred during his time as Theater Commander of Operation Lafia Dole, the anti-insurgency operation of the military in the Northeast.

“I was informed by my Director of Defence Information that he received a mail from Reuters requesting to have an interview with me, he gave me a letter written by one Alexandra Xavis , making all manner of spurious allegations many of which have now been published by the same Reuters.

“When I went through, I asked myself how could man be so laden with evil to contemplate the content to which he want me to respond, I said he should go back.

“You are saying the military since 2013 have been engaged in a planned abortion program, and it is the military that is running the program, and in the letter he also indicated that it is part of government design.

“In that letter, he indicated 12,000 abortions have been conducted but they have now published yesterday that it is 10,000 and he went on say their sources, I said which source?”

General Irabor said that he was not in charge of the Northeast operation until 2016 when he was appointed Theater Commander, adding that such allegations are untrue.

“In 2013 I was not in charge, I took over the leadership of the operation in the Northeast in 2016 and that I did till the later part of 2017, close to two years.

“The allusions they made is news to me, it never occurred, I never saw anything like that, both from the decision center project, down to Mai Malari cantonment where I lived.

“We have seven hospitals that were our major hospitals for the treatment of our personnel and their families especially the wounded.”

The Army Chief reiterated that his officers won’t be deterred by malicious allegations, adding that Nigeria can never be involved in such things.

”I am not going to be deterred, I don’t think any of my officers are deterred, we will work as part of the security architecture of our country, and I am glad my Commander-in-Chief has absolute confidence in what I do, what we do, I believe Nigerians are also giving us the support that is required.

“I think Nigerians are better informed as to the disposition of the Armed Forces or relative to allusions of Reuters for them to take a stand and to know the military. The Nigerian Armed Forces can never be involved in such things.”

Reuters news agency had published a report, claiming that Nigerian Army was running a “systematic secret illegal abortion program in the Northeast, among women and girls who were kidnapped and raped by Boko Haram militants.

Politicians Are Mounting Pressure On Army To Rig 2023 Elections – Defence Chief

Editorial staff

December 8, 2022

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor has said that politicians are already mounting pressure on the armed forces to rig the 2023 general elections.

General Irabor, who spoke to newsmen at the Presidential villa, Abuja today, December 8, said that soldiers and officers are often induced and pressured to influence elections.

He, however, said that the officers will remain committed to free and fair elections as efforts are being made to ensure that the personnel obey President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive on neutrality.

He said that the rules of engagement before, during and after the elections have been handed to the officers, even as he assured that the military will remain neutral and apolitical.

General Iranor called on members of the public to maintain confidence in the military.

Nigerians will head to the polls in February and March next year to elect new leaders at both state and federal levels. Eighteen candidates are jostling for the Presidency.

I Will Diminish Myself By Re-Contesting Presidency Again Ex-President Jonathan

Editorial staff

December 8, 2022

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has vowed never to contest for Nigeria’s Presidency again, saying that doing so will amount to diminishing himself.

In an interview published in a book: “My Time As Chaplain In Aso Rock,” which was presented to the public yesterday, December 7, the former President said: “If you wake up tomorrow and see that I am President again, that means there may have been circumstances beyond my control.

“But not to go and pick one form and go and start lobbying people and running for campaigns; I can’t do that again. If I do that, I will diminish myself.”

Jonathan said that he enjoyed the drama that characterized the rumour earlier in the year that he had purchased a nomination form of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to enable him to contest for the party’s presidential ticket.

Agroup, Nomadic Pastoralists and Almajirai Community, led by Ibrahim Abdullahi, had purchased the N100 million nomination and expression of interest forms in Jonathan’s name, ahead of the June 2022 APC presidential primary

Jonathan speaking on the controversy that trailed the group’s decision, said: “I was enjoying the drama. At least they are not insulting me. After all, I was pursued out of the office that I was not good enough. So, if now, Nigerians are saying, ‘Oh, this man should come,’ that means they are cleaning me up. So, let me enjoy the drama.

“I was not disturbed. I know I cannot go and start struggling to be President again. It wasn’t only Nigerians who were asking me such questions, even most of the top ambassadors -the American ambassador, the UK High Commissioner, France, and all of them. They came to ask me whether I would contest. I don’t think I would contest any election.

“If you wake up tomorrow and see that I’m President again, that means there may have been circumstances beyond my control. But not to go and pick one form and go and start lobbying people and running for campaigns, be it PDP power or APC broom and moving across Nigeria. I can’t do that again; if I do that, I will diminish myself.”

He said that the only roles acceptable to him now involve stabilizing democracy in troubled African states.

“Assuming there’s some confusion, and sometimes things like that happen in countries. So, they tell me to come and play a role in stabilising things; a stable democracy where one leader hands over to another is what we all want.

“Let us go through that process and not interrupt the democratic processes. We pray such things should not happen. Otherwise, to go and say I’m contesting on the platform of any party at all. No!”

He argued that the APC’s same-faith ticket would eventually lead to a lapse in the representation of Nigeria’s religious diversity.

“When I took over as the vice president, the tradition then was that if the President were a Christian, the Vice would be a Muslim and vice versa. We have religious festivals in Nigeria and, of course, National Day, where there will be Jummah prayers and Christian prayers.

“Nigerians are religious people, this is why I get worried about the issues of Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christian ticket. Yes, Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christian can run the state. But I always ask, ‘who will represent this other bloc whenever we come to the national days that we celebrate?”

The book, written by Nathaniel Bivan, contains the accounts of the Chaplain of the Aso Rock Villa Chapel during the Jonathan administration, Obioma Onwuzurumba.

Nigeria Has 1.4 Million POS Agents To Drive Cashless Economy, CBN Gov Says In Daura

Greenbarge Reporters

December 8, 2022

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele has dispelled the wide spreading fears over the policy of cashless economy that has just begun with redesigning of the naira notes and placement of cash withdrawal limits.
According to the apex Bank boss, between 2012 and now, 2022, a lot of electronic channels have been put in place that will aid people in conducting banking and financial service transactions in Nigeria.
“We heard people talk about some of the people in the rural areas and the truth is that even online banking, as I was coming out to Daura, I saw a kiosk that has super agent today. It’s because of the way we felt that there was a need for us to deepen the payment system infrastructure.
“We have 1.4 million super agents that are all over different parts of the country, all local governments and all villages in this country.”
Emefiele, who spoke to newsmen today, December 8 in Daura, Katsina State shortly after visiting to, and briefing of, President Muhammadu Buhari, said that some of the names of the agents are already on the CBN website “and we will publish all the names of all the super agents.”
He said that having super agents is different from the banks, microfinance banks and other financial institutions.
“Having 1.4 million of them is as good as having 1.4 million banking points where people can conduct services. ”
Responding to the Senate whose members raised eyebrows yesterday, December 7 on the withdrawal limits, the CBN governor said that as the legislative arm of the government, the CBN would from time to time brief them about what is happening and about the policies.
“And I’m aware that they have asked for some briefings and we will brief them.
“But I think it’s important for me to say that the cashless policy started in 2012. But almost three to four occasions, we had to step down the policy because we felt that there is a need for us to prepare ourselves and deepen our payment system infrastructure in Nigeria.”
He said that Nigeria as a big country, the biggest economy in Africa, needs to leapfrog into the cashless economy.
“We cannot continue to allow a situation where over 85 per cent of the cash that is in circulation is outside the bank.
“More and more countries that are embracing digitization have gone into cashless. “And I said it at different fora, that this is not targeted at anybody; it’s just meant for the good and development of the Nigerian economy and we can only continue to appeal to Nigerians to please see this policy the way we have presented it.
“We will be reviewing from time to time how this is working because I cannot say that we are going to be rigid. But it is not to say that we will reverse, it is not to say that we will change the timing, but whether it is about tricking some amount to be a little bit higher or a little bit lower, and all the rest of them.
“We will do so because we are humans. We want to make sure that we make life good for our people. We do not want to make life difficult for them.
“So’ there is no need for anybody to worry. The central bank is monitoring what is happening and I can assure everyone that we are up and alive to our responsibilities and we will do what is right for Nigeria and Nigerians.”
Emefiele assured that the CBN is more than prepared to handle the situation “because, I said on December 15 when we announced it, that December 15 is when we will issue the cash but we have to move it forward because it leaped.
“The President launched it in November 26 instead of December 15 that the President unveiled it. And I just told you now that yesterday, the banks have received the new cash and they have started dispensing them.
“I can only just assured you that it will come round. Let us just be calm, luckily the old currency will continue to be legal tender till January 31, 2023. So, I want to crack a joke: both the painted (new notes) and unpainted (old notes) will operate concurrently as a legal tender. But by January 31, the unpainted one will not be useful to you again.
“So, please take it to your bank as quickly as possible.”
On how much of the old notes have been returned to the banking system, the CBN boss said: “we have taken more than have a trillion and in the bank, we also have close to have a trillion.
“But what we have done in the central bank is to move more people from different departments into currency processing so that they can process this cash as quickly as possible and from there, banks can now move what they have with them.”
Emefiele said that he was in Daura to see the President and used the visit as part of the normal briefing that he used carry out.
“The briefing has been overdue and I thought that he should be briefed about what is happening in central bank and what is happening in the economy, and generally, recent happenings in the central bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian economy.”
He said that there are so many things happening concerning issues bothering on the currency and the fact that only yesterday, the new currency has now reached the banks “and we believe that the banks will begin to distribute these currencies to the members of the public who are their customers; and to assure the president that things are going on well about the currency as well as issues bothering on the cashless policy that we recently introduced.”
He said that president Buhari was very happy with his briefings, adding that he asked CBN to “carry on with our work. No need to fear; no need to bother about anybody.”

Nigeria Still The Largest Economy In Africa, Osinbajo Boasts

Greenbarge Reporters

December 8, 2022

Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has told the Vietnamese President, Nguyen Xuan Phuc that Nigeria remains the largest economy in the African continent, accounting for over 20 percent of the continental Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Osinbajo, who paid a courtesy visit on Nguyen Xuan Phuc to end his three-day official visit to Vienam today, December 7, stressed that Nigeria remains the most intuitive place to do business, saying that despite the economic slowdown in the aftermath of the pandemic, GDP growth has been positive for the last seven quarters.

He admitted that though the GDP slowed to 2.3 percent on a year-to-year basis in the third quarter of this year, but that it was a 9.7 percent increase over the second quarter.
“Apart from being the most populous country in Africa, Nigeria also has the continent’s largest economy, accounting for over 20% of continental GDP.

“The Nigerian private sector has undertaken large path-breaking investments in the country in agriculture, manufacturing, petrochemicals, finance, telecommunications and the digital economy.”
In terms of market viability, Prof. Osinbajo said that Nigeria continues to rank very high in terms of market stability, saying: “our people are renowned for being energetic and tech-savvy, with over 60% of the population below 25 years of age.”
In the tech space, The Vice President said that between 2015 and last year, six Nigerian tech-based companies have been certified as unicorns.

“These are companies valued at over a billion US dollars each.
“Nigeria is also now home to over 200 stand-alone FinTech companies, plus a number of FinTech solutions offered by banks and mobile network operators as part of their product portfolio. Between 2014 and 2019, Nigeria’s bustling FinTech segment raised over $600 million in funding and attracted a quarter of the almost $500 million raised by African tech startups in 2019 alone.”
“The creative sector which employs over 4 million people and has the potential to add 2.7 million by 2025, is ranked the second largest employer of labour after the agricultural sector.
“We are on course to become the 3rd largest national market, based on headcount by the year 2050. We are already the largest financial market in Africa with a market capitalization in excess of US$50 billion as of the end of last year.”
The Vice President told President Phuc about his engagements in Hanoi and restated that there is great potential for stronger and more fruitful collaborations between Vietnam and Nigeria.
“Building on our friendship, we are looking forward to a greater number of Vietnamese investments in Nigeria and Africa by extension.”
He re-emphasized the advantage of Nigeria’s membership of AfCFTA, saying: “Nigeria offers one of the best investment destinations in Africa, some of the best investment conditions in Africa because, among other things, Nigeria is the gateway to Africa.
“We believe that if Vietnam investments come into Nigeria, it will have the potential of penetrating the gates of West Africa and the entire continent.”
The Vice President identified areas of investments for the Vietnamese business community to include renewable energy, solar power plants (in furtherance of international agreements to reduce gas emission by 20%) and telecommunications, noting that “Nigeria is a fantastic opportunity for investment.”
This was even as President Phuc said: “we appreciate the gesture of you coming from Africa based on our cherished friendship and partnership.”
He assured Osinbajo that further discussions would be held on the aspirations of Vietnamese entrepreneurs investing in Nigeria, especially in the areas of agriculture, technology, telecommunications, oil and gas, among others.
President Phuc said that rice production is one of the strengths of the country, and that collaboration between both countries can enhance Nigeria’s rice production capacity.
The President said that the outcome of the interactions has been good, adding: “we have reached a consensus on many issues; we have a lot of potentials to explore.”

Kuje Nurses Celebrate, Reward Retired Members

Greenbarge Reporters

December 7, 2022

Hajiya Zairnab receives gift from HoU, Deputy Director of Nursing, Olubunmi Fesobi (l)and Dr. Olude (r)

Nurses working in Kuje General Hospital, Kuje in the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT), today, December 7, celebrated the looming end of the 2022, during which time they rewarded some of them that retired during the year, one of who is Hajiya Zainab Jibril, a Chief Nursing Officer in charge of Neonatal unit; others are CNO Tolufashe in charge of Paediatric unit and CNO Ewanose.

Pix 2: a cross section of the celebrants – from left: CNO Rekiya Abdulrahim, CNO Hajiya Hajara Nene Shuaibu and CNO Maimunat Abdulaziz.

Pix 3: Retired CNO Tolufase (middle) recieving her gift

Senate Threatens To Cancel 2023 Budgets Of 100 MDAs If …

Editorial staff

December 7, 2022

Senate has threatened to cancel the 2023 budgetary allocations to 100 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at federal level if within one week from today, December 7, they fail to appear before it to explain how they spent the Service Wide Vote (SWA) allocations from 2017 to 2021.

Speaking in Abuja today, after raising a point of Order, by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, condemned the refusal of the MDAs to appear despite several correspondences to them.

The President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan invoked the powers of the Senate, threatening the 100 federal government owned agencies with zero budget allocation in 2023.

He expressed concern that the affected MDAs have consistently refuse to honour invitations of its committee for explanations on service wide vote expenditure from 2017 to 2021.

According to Lawan, the agencies must come and defend what they have spent against the backdrop that they appear before the Senate for budget defence.

He said that the National Assembly appropriated the money and therefore, they must honour invitations of the Senate when called for explanations.

He stressed that any public officer who accepted to serve and spend any public funds appropriated must be here (in the Senate), and that anyone who refuses to do that should quit.

He said that in the next one week, if the name of an agency is here, it should be invited and refusal to come, nothing should be given to the MDA in the 2023 budget.

The affected 100 agencies included

The State House, Presidential Fleet

Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning

Nigeria Army, Navy, Airforce, Police

The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC )

Office of the Accountant General of the Federation

Ministry of Interior

Budget Office of the Federation

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)

Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)

Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading PLC ( NBET)

Ministry of Defence

Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria

Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs.

Petroleum Resources

National Inland Water Ways (NIWA)

Federal Ministry of Health

Presidential Amnesty Programme

Ministry of Agriculture and Development

Federal Civil Service Commission

Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority

National Health Insurance Scheme

Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy

Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND

Ministry of Sports and Youth Development

Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Correctional Service Board

Border Communities Development Agency

Ministry of Environment

National Hajj Commission of Nigeria

Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission

Federal Ministry of Information and Culture

Nigeria Defence Academy

National Human Rights Commission

National Centre for Disease Control

National Security Adviser (NSA).

Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development

National Examination Coucil (NECO)

Nigeria Police Acadamy

Ministry of Special Duties

Presidential AIR Fleet

Ministry of Science and Technology

Ministry of Mine and Steel Development

National Environmental Standards Regulatory Agency (NESREA)

Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)

North East Development Commission.

And others.

Earlier, Urhoghide came through orders 42 on Personal Explanation and 95 ( 5) ( a) of the Senate Standing Rules, Sections 61 (1); 88 ( and (2b); 89 (1); 89 (1) (c); 89 (2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, to complain to his colleagues on alleged recalcitrance of heads of the affected agencies to honour invitations sent to them by his committee for required appearance before it for explanations on service wide vote given to them by the Presidency totalling N1.9trillion .

According to Urhoghide, Service Wide Vote is extra budgetary spending made to fill shortfalls in capital and recurrent expenditures, which are not audited by the Auditor General of the Federation and not known to various standing committees of the National Assembly.

The Chairman of Public Accounts Committee, who hinged his complaints on provisions of the 1999 Constitution ( as amended), said that heads of the affected agencies failed to honour several invitations sent to them to make required explanations on service wide vote spendings from 2017 to 2021.

Urhoghide who said that the affected agencies are also those who refused to appear before the committee to answer queries slammed on them by the Auditor General of the Federation on alleged financial infractions, added thst heads of agencies totalling about 100, indicted in various reports forwarded to the Public Account Committee by Office of Accountant General of the Federation on disbursements and spending of Service Wide Vote from 2017 to 2021, in line with provisions of sections 62, 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, have repeatedly failed to appear before the committee.

“This, to us , is against the Constitution and policy of accountability and transparency of the federal government.

“I crave your indulgence that we invite through your order either by way of warrant of arrest or anything so that these agencies can comes that we can complete our report and submit to this Senate.“

Senator Lawan requested for the list of the affected agencies, read them out to all the Senators and ordered that they should appear before the Committee within one week or risk zero budget allocation in 2023 as far as capital expenditure component is concerned. Lawan said,

“Your point of order are sustained fully and completely, totally sustained. You are right on the need to bring to the plenary your grievances. Reading this list at plenary gives the agencies opportunity to now know if they were not aware before for those that may claim ignorance and I am taking the opportunity here to advise that in the next one week, if the name of any agency is here, that agency should reach the committee on public account of the Senate to sort out when the agency would appear before the committee.

“If there is no communication whatsoever and no cogent and verifiable reasons are given, we will slash the budget of the agencies as far as capital component is concerned.

Heads of the affected agencies must take this very seriously because any serving public officer must be ready to render accounts on public funds and if not ready to do so, should quit , since nobody should be above the law.“

Our Economy Can’t Take The Shock Of CBN’s Cash Withdrawal Limits – Senate Minority Leader

Editorial staff

December 7, 2022

The Senate Minority Leader, Phillip Aduda (PDP, FCT) has raised an eyebrow over the cash withdrawal limits set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Senator Aduda said: “our commerce, I think, is not ready for this, and our economy cannot take this shock. There is a need for us to speak about it because people are suffering and it is a very serious issue.”

The Senate minority leader spoke today, December 7, during the plenary as he was seconding a motion that the nominations of Mrs. Aishah Ahmad and Edward Lametek Adamu as deputy governors of CBN be referred to the committee for screening.

Aduda insisted that the cash withdrawal limits will affect the country’s economy even as Senator Gabriel Suswam (PDP, Benue) advised the Senate to debate the policy immediately for the sake of Nigerians, whom, he said, were extremely worried.

“My phone was inundated by calls from constituents, who are outside the former sector. People are extremely worried. You should have allowed us to discuss this issue for the sake of Nigerians.”

Responding, Senate President Ahmad Lawan cautioned the CBN not to approach the policy by jumping into it at once, saying that many Nigerians would be affected.

He said that there is the need to engage the CBN to get more details on the policy.

He directed the Senate committee on banking, insurance and other financial institutions to discuss the matter during the screening of the CBN deputy governors.

Lawan said that the new CBN policy would be thoroughly debated next week Tuesday.

“At the moment, I will advise that these two deputy governors had been in the CBN for the past four years. So they are part of this system. They are not new people.

“This should be part of the major issues to be raised when they appear for screening.

“I want us to be properly informed and guided. Most of us, if not all of us, have not had an engagement with that institution.

“My personal opinion is, if we want to be a cashless society, we should take time to be cashless society and not to jump on it at once. Most Nigerians will be out of business.

“But we need to take the opportunity of the screening to be better informed on the policy.”

Nigeria Has Always Stood By Us, President Of Guinea Bissau Acknowledges

Editorial staff

December 7, 2022

President of Guinea Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo has acknowledged the fact that Nigeria has always stood by his country in its 20 years of instability.

“You have assisted us with our elections. You have assisted in stabilizing Guinea Bissau. I assure that your support for democracy in this country and the entire sub-region is much appreciated by the people, who as you have seen trooped to greet you.”

President Embalo, who received in audience, President Muhammadu Buhari during his one-day State Visit to the embattled West African country today, December 7, said that he will follow in the footsteps of Buhari to ensure free and fair elections in his country and leave on time when his tenure ends.

He thanked President Buhari for assisting the country with 70 doctors who perform the dual duties of training the Guineans and performing surgeries in the country without their citizens having to travel to Portugal.

President Embalo spoke on the “Amilcar Cabral Award” which was conferred on Buhari with a major street named as “Muhammadu Buhari Boulevard” the Guinean leader said that the two events reflected the most solemn moment of the country and a recognition of the stabilizing role President Buhari is playing in the life of his country.

He said that one of such roles also including the defence of democracy and its values throughout the sub-region.

President Embalo promised to re-invite President Buhari to commission the new Presidential Villa, now under construction even after leaving office, and the edifice is to be named Muhammadu Buhari Villa.

President vowed that Nigeria is committed to work with Guinea Bissau and other countries towards sustaining and strengthening democracy and good governance in the sub-region and the entire African continent.

Buhari, who appreciated the conferment of the country’s highest national honour, the “Amilcar Cabral Award” on him and the naming of a major street in Bissau, the capital city, after him, said: “in the course of this one-day official visit to Bissau today, we had an opportunity to review the state of our bilateral relations, and to share concerns on the challenges facing us in the region.

“I very much appreciate the naming of two roads in my honour, as well as being conferred with the highest honour of Guinea Bissau.

“I am personally grateful to you, your government and the people of this fine country. I believe all of these were possible because of the persevering stand of Nigeria in ensuring that Guinea Bissau remains on the side of Democratic Governance.

“Nigeria’s strong stand through the ECOWAS, in insisting and pushing for the full implementation of the Conakry Peace Agreement by imposing sanctions on nineteen (19) individuals who impeded the implementation of the Conakry Agreement helped to restore peace that now prevails in Guinea Bissau.

“Guinea Bissau and Nigeria have come a long way. Our cordial relations date back to Guinea Bissau’s liberation struggle from Portugal when Nigeria supported the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde.

“Nigeria has on its own, as well as through ECOWAS, intervened at critical periods in the life of this country, making immense direct contributions as well as, by supporting international efforts on the peace process in Guinea Bissau. This fact has further reinforced our relations, enhanced understanding and trust between our two countries.”

The President congratulated the people of Guinea Bissau for rallying around Abhay , a name he fondly calls “the energetic and visionary President Embalo.’’

He encouraged the people of Bissau-Guineans to support the entrenchment of democratic values in their country, saying:

‘‘You should always ensure that the electoral process is conducted in free and fair conditions.”

Nigerian officials that received the country’s merit award are: Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno, the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Staff to the President, Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari and Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency.

The others are Sarki Abba, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Matters and the State Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Lawal Kazaure.

President Buhari returned to Nigeria today and immdeiatley flew to Daura, his hometown for rest.

Kidnappers Strike In Kubwa, Abuja: Kill One, Kidnap Many

Greenbarge Reporters

December 7, 2022

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers, yesterday, December 6, struck in Kubwa, a suburb of Abuja metropolis, killing a man and abducting unspecified number of residents, including a serving female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member.

The kidnappers were said to have stormed Extension 2 Relocation, along Arab Road, Kubwa and shooting sporadically.

The corps member, who was identified as Adenike, was reportedly abducted in her father’s house in the community.

One of the residents said that the corps member and several others whose number could not be ascertained now were now missing after the attack.

“We also learnt that two others escaped while they were being whisked away through the hills by the kidnappers.”

“The gunmen shot two men, one of them later died of gunshot wounds while others have been rushed to the hospital.”

It was learnt that the gunmen had shot into the air at Amilomania Street and later moved to Toyin Street.

Another resident said: “we heard gunshots twice when they first hit a house at Amilonania Street and later went to Toyin Street and attacked the last house near the hill.

“They shot a tailor, Abel, popularly known as Oshodi, and he is lying down dead. They also shot another man but we have taken him to the Kubwa General Hospital at Phase 4, but still unconscious. The gunmen escaped through the hill.”

The spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, ASP Josephine Adeh, has yet to speak on the incident.

Source: Persecondnews.

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