Police Quell Okada Riders Uprising In Abuja

August 8, 2022

Police moved quickly to douse the flame of anger and uprising of commercial motorcycle riders, known as okada riders today, August 8 on the Airport road in Abuja.
A statement by the spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, DSP Josephine Adeh, narrated that today, 8th August 2022 at about 11:30 am, reports of civil unrest broke out around the Airport express road near Gosa market in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT).
The statement said that the incident which soon attracted many false narratives was merely an uncultured display of dissatisfaction by commercial Motorcycle riders, popularly called Okada who took to the streets burning tyres and other substances,
following the activities of the Task Force who had earlier confiscated some motorcycles for certain violations.
It said that upon the receipt of the information, Police Operatives from Iddo Divisional Police Headquarters were swiftly drafted to the scene where necessary measures were taken to restore peace and normalcy to the situation.
“Consequent upon the above, Members of the public are urged to eschew the generation and promulgation of fake news or contrary narratives and to go about the discharge of their lawful businesses without the fear of harassment or molestation of any kind or from any quarters.”
The statement said that the monitoring and surveillance have commenced on the scene even as effort is ongoing to arrest miscreants responsible for the disturbance of public peace.
It said that the Commissioner of Police, CP Babaji Sunday has reassured the residents of the command’s unflinching commitment to bringing crime and criminality to the barest minimum.
It warned that the burning of combustible material on Tarred road would be treated as vandalization of Government properties and the full wrath of the law will be meted out on erring person(s).
It advised the residents to continue to partner with the police as touching the prompt, concise and accurate rendition of information through the following emergency lines: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883. It added that the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) desk can also be reached on 0902 222 2352.

Army Deals With Terrorists, Strikes Hideouts In And Around Abuja, Scores Killed

Greenbarge Reporters

August 7, 2022

Combined military forces, especially the Air Force and ground fighters, have launched multiple attacks on terrorist hideouts in and around the nation’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

According to credible intelligence, threats within Abuja are being orchestrated by terrorists from their hideouts within Kaduna, Niger and Zamfara States.

“In view of this, NAF aircraft under Operation Whirl Punch were dispatched to undertake intensive air interdiction operation to degrade/neutralize the terrorists within their identified hideouts in Giwa, Birnin Gwari, Kajuru and Chikun LGA in Kaduna State and Kusasu, Kwaki and Kukere LGA in Niger State.

“So far, the identified locations hit by NAF aircraft include Jan Birni, Kusasu, Kauwuri, Kwaki, Ukambo Hill within the Kwiambana Forest as well as Alhaji Chorki Location.

“These locations have been attacked decisively and were struck in successive passes until they went into flames, some casualties who were spotted to be struggling to scamper for safety were effectively mopped up,” a military air commander added.

The operations were aimed at stopping them from further planning to cause mayhem within Kaduna and Niger States as well as surroundings around the Federal Capital Territory.

When contacted on the latest developments, the Spokesperson of the Nigerian Airforce, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet said that the successes of the air strikes underscored the indefectible commitment of the military to rid the entire Northern region as well as the FCT of terrorism in collaboration with other security agencies and restoring peace and sanity.

“Operational commanders have also been told to sustain the momentum and ensure they minimize, to the barest minimum, the freedom of movement of terrorists and insurgents.”

Source: PRnews.

Bandits’ Warlord, ‘Abdulkareem Boss’ Meets Waterloo In Army Airstrikes In Katsina

Greenbarge Reporters

August 7, 2022

After months of evading security forces, a notorious armed bandit warlord, Abdulkareem Lawal, and 27 others have been eliminated by aggressive bombardments of the Nigerian military airstrikes in Katsina State.

Abdulkareem Lawal, who is popularly called Abdulkareem Boss, by his criminal colleagues, was a high-valued target on the radar of the Nigerian Military and other security agencies for a while.

The precision airstrikes came barely a week after the Service Chiefs, at the last National Security Council meeting, reassured President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians that there would be a change in strategy and momentum in the fight against insurgency and terrorism. The Chief of the Air Staff directed Nigerian Air Force (NAF) operational and air component commanders to ‘show no mercy’ in decimating terrorists and insurgents in the country.

The wanted criminal was based in the Marina area of Safana Local Government Area, and was responsible for several terrorist attacks, animal rustling and kidnappings.

Boss was known to regularly invite terrorist groups from other areas and regions to join him in attacks on targets.

Specifically, he was part of the terrorist group that carried out attacks that eventually led to the death of the Nigerian Police Area Commander of Dutsin Ma on 5 July, 2022.

Confirming the killing of Abdulkareem Boss, an intelligence military officer, said that the terror kingpin was neutralized in a precision strike alongside 27 of his foot soldiers, at Rugu Forest.

Source: PRnews.

Environmental Expert Warns: 53 Million Nigerians Face Severe Flooding

Editorial staff

August 7, 2022

Director of the Centre for Climate Change and Development at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ebonyi State, Professor Chuwumerije Okereke, has warned that with the rise in sea level, an estimated 53 million people in the country are currently facing severe flooding and need to be relocated. He said flooding is already affecting 25 million people now.

According to him, Coastal settlements like Bonny, Forcados, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Warri and Calabar are at risk with vast amounts of oil infrastructure.

“In Yenagoa, there are 302,782 people estimated to be exposed to high flood risk along the Niger-Benue basin in the Niger Delta area with 630km of land susceptible to flooding.

“In Lagos, 375,000 people are exposed to flooding; the number will increase to about 3.2 million people by 2050.

“The direct estimate of damage and loss is N1.48 trillion. The total damage and loss, including indirect ones due to flooding is about N2.6 trillion,” Mr Okereke said.

The environmental expert says climate change will cost Nigeria $460 billion by 2050, if action is not taken to mitigate its effects.

”Climate change is costing Nigeria already $100 billion per annum. And that this amount will rise to about $460 billion per annum by 2050.

“And this represents a huge amount of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“From 2020 till now, climate change is already costing N15 trillion, representing two to 11 per cent of the GDP, by 2050 climate change will be costing N69 trillion, representing six to 30 per cent of the GDP,” he said.

The expert, who is also a visiting professor at Oxford University, urged the government to action many of its ‘fascinating’ climate policies.

“So, we have a situation where we have a lot of various policies, documents, but very limited action on the ground and this worries me because I have been shouting that climate change poses an existential threat to Nigeria,” Mr Okereke said.

“We need to inject a lot of finance and a lot of action to stem the problem of climate change.”

Source: NAN.

While Nigeria’s Govt Releases 30 Terrorists, They Refuse To Release Train Captives, As Agreed

Editorial staff

August 7, 2022

Nigeria’s Federal Government is worried that after releasing 30 detained terrorists in compliance with an agreement with the gang leaders, they have refused to honour their side of the agreement by releasing all the kidnapped passengers in an Abuja-Kaduna train attack on March 28, this year.

Information reaching us at Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper said that there was an agreement between the government and the leadership of the terror group behind the attack to swap the abducted train passengers with some arrested terrorists held in detention by Nigerian security agencies.

A highly-placed source in one of the intelligence agencies in Abuja said that the government took every possible step, but not including ransom payment to secure the release of the train hostages.

The source, who declined to give his name explained that the government adopted a swapping deal for the rescue of the train victims to avoid likely collateral damages from military operations.

According to him, the security service in an exchange programme released at least 30 detained family members of terrorists, mostly women and children.

“In fact, a spouse who delivered twins in custody safely was handed over to her parents.”

But rather than abiding by the swapping deal, the terrorists, the source said, reneged and only released eleven passengers instead of all the 63 kidnapped victims

“Apart from reneging on the agreement, they were releasing victims in batches in the most dubious and compromising manner.

“They are now exploiting the situations to extort victims’ families for ransom payments, while other elements are exploiting the same for political gains.

“They are aware that we have the exact coordinates of their locations but we are not authorised to strike because of the fear of collateral damages that could trigger massive outcry by human rights activists and even the media if we succeed in doing so,” the source concluded.

Source: PRNigeria.

Peter Obi Meets Ekiti Maverick PDP Strongman, Fayose, In Close Door

Greenbarge Reporters

August 7, 2022

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi held a close-door with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) strongman and former governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose in a closed-door in Lagos today, August 7.

Although it’s currently not clear the reason for the meeting, but it might be unconnected with Obi’s ambition to be President.

Details later.

Minister Plans Improvement On Emergency Response, Disaster Management In Abuja

Editorial staff

August 7, 2022

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Musa Bello has announced plans to improve emergency response and disaster management in Abuja, in partnership with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The minister, today, August 7, at a meeting with NEMA Director-General, Mustapha Habib Ahmed said that the administration has been making efforts to enforce planning regulations in flood-prone areas and that a partnership with the agency would be more effective.

Muhammad Musa Bello underscored the importance of an effective collaboration between the two agencies of government, even as he appreciated the support of NEMA in flooding incidents and occasional disasters, including its capacity building and palliative support which he said have been very helpful.

He assured that the Administration will work to ensure the successful hosting of the Agency’s forthcoming National Conference on Disaster Management, scheduled to take place in the capital city.

This was even as the NEMA boss said that the agency will continue to build the capacity of personnel and stakeholders within the FCT, both on tactical and operational levels.

I Have Every Cause To Be Grateful To Allah, No Cause To Regret My Life – Sanusi

Editorial staff

August 7, 2022

Dethroned Emir of Kano and former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Muhammadu Sanusi has said that he has every cause to be grateful to Allah and no regret for his life.

Sanusi, who currently serves as Khalifah Tijaniyat Movement of Nigeria, was dethroned by the government of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje a couple of years ago. He spoke yesterday, August 6, in Abuja, at the premiere of a stage play, titled: “Emir Sanusi: Truth in Time.”

The Khalifah said: “I don’t think that God has taken anything away from me. So, I have no regret. I turned 61 years last year and in those years, I had the honour of having been the Chief Risk Officer at United Bank for Africa and the Chief Risk Officer at First Bank.

“I was Governor of Central Bank, Emir of Kano and now Khalifah, Tijaniyat Movement of Nigeria. If I have sadness, then I’m ungrateful. How many people have had the opportunity to be just one of those things?

“We have a long history of service to this country. My father, as the first Director-General of the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, set up the agency in 1960, the record is there to see. My parents, grandparents and great grandparents gave their lives to build this country,” he said.

Sanusi said that he will continue to speak and air his views to defend and rebuild Nigeria.

Many Students Who Sit For JAMB Are Not Qualified For Admission – Registrar

Editorial staff

August 7, 2022

Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede has announced that many of the candidates who sit for the yearly Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) are not qualified for admission in any higher institution.

Professor Oloyede, who fielded questions from news men shortly after monitoring the mop-up exam, specially arranged for candidates whose centres were allegedly involved in malpractice and candidates with biometric issues during the general examination for this year in May, said that JAMB cannot be held responsible for such unqualified students.

He insisted that parents should be blamed for pushing their children who are still in either SS1 or SS2 forward to sit for the exam to test their ability.

According to the Registrar, only the SSCE “O/L” result is the major and permanent requirement for every admission seeker at whatever level in the country while UTME is just to rank them for admission.

Speaking on JAMB exam now that members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the country are still on strike, Professor Oloyede said that the strike would not affect the conduct of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) when it is due.

According to him, aside from the fact that more than half of all private universities are in session, some public Universities, particularly most state universities are not on strike.

“I can mention some of them. I know of Osun State University, Lagos State University, Kwara State University, and several others. And the reason for that is simple. Many of them are not on state’s government subvention and so their lecturers’ salaries are paid from the school fees.

“So they know that if they should go on strike, their salaries will not be paid.

“And besides those institutions, some other public universities such as Defence Academy, Army University, Police University and the likes are also not on strike.

“So, can’t we then now say because lecturers in the federal universities and few others are on strike, we should stop conducting our exam? What about those who are not on strike?

“So, to do that will be an unfair thing in my thinking to those schools, students and even to the society at large. We can’t hold the entire system down because a part of it is having issue.”

Professor Oloyede however, expressed over the prolonged ASUU strike, which he said, has forced students to remain idle for many months and would want the crisis resolved without further delay, for normalcy to return to those schools.

Bode George Joins Southwest PDP To Ask Prof Iyorcha Ayu To Resign As Chairman

Greenbarge Reporters

August 7, 2022

Former Deputy National Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has joined the leadership of the party in the Southwest to ask the national chairman, Professor Iyorcha Ayu to resign immediately “in the spirit of fairness.”
Bode George, who said he was speaking as a national leader and not on behalf of the Southwest, stressed the need for the Southwest region to be given a sense of belonging as all the key positions in the party are being occupied by northerners.
“Ayu needs to resign as chairman immediately while the Southwest gets the position in the spirit of fairness. I cannot campaign for the party in the Southwest in an atmosphere where there is no fairness. What will I tell our people?”
Bode George, who was the Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign in 2007, said that the PDP could pick an interim chairman from the Southwest just for the purpose of fairness.
He said that refusing to take Nigeria’s diversity into consideration would make the PDP no better than the APC, which he said is pushing a Muslim/Muslim ticket.
“NEC can appoint an acting chairman from the Southwest in order to give the region a sense of belonging. Ayu promised to leave office once the PDP produces a northern Presidential candidate. For the sake of fairness, he needs to step down immediately.
“The PDP as presently constituted does not reflect Nigeria’s diversity. The North produced the Presidential candidate, the national chairman and the BoT chairman and they want the South to accept this. Would the North have accepted this if it was the other way around?”
The Southwest arm of the PDP has recently joined the push for the resignation of the Iyorchia Ayu, arguing that with the All Progressives Congress (APC) picking its Presidential candidate from the region, in the person of Bola Tinubu, the PDP would also need an influential politician from the region to be the party’s chairman.
There are demands from the camp of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State for Ayu to resign as the party’s chairman.
The demand was among the conditions given by Wike who is still said to be aggrieved over Atiku’s refusal to pick him as a running mate. Already, Wike and Atiku have begun meeting with a view to ensuring that a compromise is reached before the commencement of campaigns next month.
A member of the State Working Committee in Ekiti State was reported to have said recently: “Tinubu is campaigning as the candidate of the Yoruba people. Even Sanwo-Olu said recently that all Yoruba people must see Tinubu as their personal project. The PDP needs to make a huge concession for the Southwest which has the second largest voting population after the North-West,”

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