NEWS : Security operatives rescue 80 abducted Islamiyya students in Katsina

 

The Katsina State Police Command says it has rescued 80 abducted pupils of Hizburrahim Islamiyya, an Islamic school in Mahuta, Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Katsina State, Gambo Isah revealed that a team of combined security operatives carried out the rescue mission on Saturday.

A statement issued on Sunday by Gambo Isah said the Islamiyya students were on their way back from a Maulud occasion at Unguwan-Alkasim, Dandume to Mahuta, when they were ambushed by bandits.

He said, “On 19/12/2020 about 2200hrs, a distress call was received by DPO Dandume that some Islamiyya students of Hizburrahim Islamiyya, Mahuta village, Dandume, Katsina state, numbering about 80, while on their way back from Maulud occasion celebrated at Unguwan-Alkasim, Dandume to Mahuta, were accosted by bandits.

”The bandits had already kidnapped four persons and rustled 12 cows from Danbaure village, Funtua, and were trying to escape with them into the forest.

“On receipt of the report, the DPO led Operations Puff Adder, Sharan Daji and Vigilante group to the area and engaged the bandits in a fierce gun duel.”

The statement added that the team succeeded in dislodging the bandits and rescued all the kidnapped victims as well as recovered all the 12 rustled cows.

Isah explained that search parties are still combing the area to arrest the injured bandits or recover dead bodies while investigations are ongoing.

Recall that bandits had about a week ago abducted students of GSS school in the Kankara area of the state.

The students were released on Thursday night, following the intervention of security agents and a social-cultural organisation.

NEWS : Do not write stories in favour of politicians because of money – Aare Musulumi warns journalists

 

The Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo, Kogi, Kwara, and Delta States, Alhaji Daud Makanjuola Akinola has warned journalists across the country not to write their stories in favour of politicians because of money.

Akinola gave the warning at the weekend while hosting members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Oyo State council led by its Chairman, Alhaji Ismail Ademola Babalola.

The visit of the NUJ members to the Aare Musulumi was part of activities marking the 2020 Press Week of the NUJ, Oyo State Council, 

Akinola, who said that journalists can mar or make issues based on their thoughts and beliefs, warned against writing stories and reports in favour of some set of people because of money.

He advised journalists to tell the stories as they are, in line with the ethics of their profession, instead of writing against perceived enemies or friends because of pecuniary gains.

Akinola said, “Try to leave behind a good legacy. No one can make you rich. It is God that makes you rich.

“Do not write in favour of politicians. Do not write in favour of anyone because of money. If you write in favour of someone, you write against someone and the person you write against is sent to prison. Whatever happens to the person in prison is caused by you because you have written against him or her.

“Do not depend on anyone. God is the one that can do what you want and not a human being.

“If the town is good, it is you and if the town is bad, it is in your hand. So, make use of what you are doing, based on your professional calling to make things work and not to mar things.

“Do not do journalism of the highest bidder. As journalists, do not judge, because God is the ultimate judge.

“You journalists should always say the truth and do not favour anyone because of worldly things. If you do not have money today, you will have tomorrow, because you are saying the truth.”

NEWS : I didn’t know my brother will die when I threw him into a well – 10-year-old girl

 

Tragedy struck during the week in Owode community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State following the killing of a 20-month-old boy by his 10-year-old stepsister.

On December 15, the suspect, Suliya Abubakar, who hails from Sokoto State allegedly threw her stepbrother, Usman Abubakar, into a well in their residence.

The late Usman was earlier feared to had been kidnapped after he could not be found within the premises by his parents.

Narrating how the incident happened, the primary 3 pupil, who was weeping uncontrollably, said that she never knew her action will result in the death of her brother.

However, the little girl said since her mother separated from her father, Usman’s mother had been maltreating her, with her father also showing much affection for her late stepbrother.

According to her, the action towards the late Usman was due to the hatred she had for her stepmother.

Suliya also disclosed that before it was discovered that she was behind the death of her stepbrother, her father had told her to lie that her mother kidnapped Usman.

She said, “My step mum was maltreating me. At times, Usman will pass excreta in the plate we use to eat, but his mother will use the same plate to give me food.

“When I insist that I will not eat the food, she starts beating me until I finish the food. Immediately after eating the food, I’ll start vomiting.

“On the day of the incident, the same thing had happened. Later in the evening, I went to fetch water from the well and Usman followed me. A voice whispered to me that I should push him into the well and I did it. But I never knew that he will die.

“When they started looking for him and they couldn’t find him, my dad told me to lie that it’s my mother who sneaked into our home to kidnap Usman.

“When I was told that everyone in the house will be taken to the palace of the monarch to swear through traditional means, it’s then that I confessed.”

Confirming the incident, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Bolaji Salami said, “15th December 2020, at about 0600hrs, at Owode, behind Central Mosque, Akure, one Suliya Abubakar aged 10, threw his stepbrother aged one year eight months into the well. She initially told their father that someone had kidnapped her brother one Usman Abubakar.

“She later informed her parent that the boy was inside the well, the deceased’s corpse was later recovered from the well. On receipt of the information, Detectives swung into action and arrested the suspect.

“On interrogation, she confessed to the crime. The suspect will soon be arraigned in court.”

POLITICS : PDP wins 17 LGAs in election in Abia

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won the 17 local government areas of Abia State in the Local government chairmanship election conducted on Friday, December 18, in the state

Announcing the results on Friday at the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission headquarters Umuahia, the ABSIEC chairman, Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa, said in Umunneochi, Ifeanyi Madu of the PDP polled 6,971 votes to beat the APC candidate who garnered 188 votes

Umuahia South, Benson Humphrey of the PDP polled 11,480 votes to defeat the APC candidate who garnered 58 votes only. In Umuahia North Ugochukwu Njikonye of PDP polled 29,931 votes to beat the APC candidate who garnered 25 votes.

In Ukwa West, Kanu Okechukwu of PDP, polled 9,630 votes to beat his APC opponent who had 804 votes.

For Ukwa East, Nwagbara Chuks of PDP polled 6,235 votes to defeat the APC candidate who garnered 136 votes.

In Ugwunagbo, Nnata Chinasaokwu of the PDP had 28,800 votes to beat the APC candidate who garnered 120 votes.

Osisioma, Kamalu Christian of the PDP polled 26,820 votes to beat the APC candidate who had 10 votes.

In Ohafia, Ukiwe Okorafor of PDP polled 28,671 to defeat his APC opponent who had 3,520. For Obingwa, Nwoke Ibe of the PDP polled 79,640 votes to beat the APC candidate who had just 5 votes.

Isuikwuato, Agbaeze Chimaobi of PDP polled 15,630 votes to beat the APC candidate who had 1200 votes.

Isiala Ngwa North, Ochulor Chinwendu of PDP polled 18,323 votes to beat the APC candidate who had 210 votes while in Isiala Ngwa South Anyatuonwu Ikechi came unopposed with a total vote of 17,465

Aba North, Prince Ikonne of the PDP polled 29,851 votes to beat the APC candidate who had 3,492 votes while in Aba South Clinton Ebere of PDP came unopposed with a total vote of 26,321 votes. In Ikwuano, Mpamugo Steven of PDP polled 8,720 to defeat the APC candidate who had 110 votes

Prof Mkpa said in Bende, Onwuchekwa Emmanuel polled 33,561 votes to defeat the APC candidate who had 2,320 while in Arochukwu, Prince Dan Kalu came unopposed with a total vote of 15,620

Meanwhile for the councilorship positions, the Labour Party won six seats out of ten wards in Ikwuano Local Government Area, while the PDP cleared all council seats in other local government areas of the state.

NEWS : Kankara school boys, Nnamdi Kanu reveals alleged kidnappers of 344 students

 

Nnamdi Kanu has accused the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, of having carried out the kidnap of the 344 students of Government Science Secondary School, in Kankara, Katsina State.

The self-acclaimed IPOB leader believes the call by the US for further investigation to uncover who carried out the abduction was not necessary, alleging that the government is being run by Miyetti Allah.

Recall that after the release of the schoolboys, the Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, had revealed that the Fulani apex socio-cultural organisation negotiated the release of the schoolboys.

“Firstly, I thank Almighty God Chukwu Okike Abiama that the boys have been released unharmed,” Kanu wrote on Facebook.

“I equally understand the US Government has demanded that the Federal Government of Nigeria investigate those behind the Katsina kidnapping of school children.

“What other investigation is needed when the Governor of Katsina State and his aides have made it clear on several occasions that Miyetti Allah is the group responsible.

Kanu said that Miyetti Allah is not only running the Federal Government but also has strongholds in some state governments such as Anambra, Abia, and Ebonyi.

“They are also part of Willie Obiano’s cabinet in Anambra State, Okezie Ikpeazu is working with the same terrorists in Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu gave them land for free at Lopka and Dave Umahi will proudly tell you that he is happy working with Miyetti Allah in Ebonyi State,” he said.

The IPOB lambasted the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami for rushing to declare IPOB a terrorist group while Fulani herdsmen are walking freely.

He said Malami has “failed to do the same against a murderous Miyetti Allah because they know the game they are playing.”

SPORT : EPL, Arteta facing Arsenal sack after 2-1 defeat at Everton

 

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, is in danger of being sacked following a 2-1 defeat to Everton on Saturday, Goal reports.

Their latest defeat is the seventh in 10 matches.

It means the Gunners have now taken just two points from a possible 21 since beating Manchester United on November 1.

Arsenal sit 15th in the table and could end in 16th and just two points above the relegation zone.

It represents the club’s worst start to a season since 1974/1975.

If something does not change quickly, then the Gunners are going to spend the first half of 2021 in a relegation battle.

Arteta has said he needs time, but he is not going to get it if he cannot find a way of turning things around quickly.

This is now a run of results that few coaches would be able to survive, and there is little sign on the pitch right now that the players are doing all they can to take the heat off their manager.

SPORT : Everton vs Arsenal, Arteta’s real problem with Ozil revealed

 

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta’s problem with Mesut Ozil, is his inability to play on the flanks, according to Goal.

Arteta decided at the start of this season to leave Ozil out of his Premier League and Europa League squads.

The Gunners have been struggling without the German, who is their best-paid player, earning a mouthwatering £350,000-a-week.

Arsenal are crying out for a creative outlet, and it seems absurd that Arteta would leave Ozil out of his plans without a back-up.

The club was linked with Philippe Coutinho in the summer transfer window, and Arteta was keen to bring the Brazilian to London.

But Coutinho had just won the Champions League on loan at Bayern Munich, and Barcelona decided early on in the summer they wanted to give the midfielder a second chance.

Arteta’s inability to get Coutinho meant Arsenal were always going to be without a creative player, if the Spaniard decided to freeze out Ozil.

He however stuck with his decision, as he wanted a midfielder with the ability to play in a number of roles.