COVID-19: FG announces another phase of COVID-19 curfew, closure of clubs, gyms

The Federal Government has announced another phase of nationwide COVID-19 curfew to curtail further spread of the disease.

The National Incident Manager, Mukhtar Mohammed, made this known during the Presidential briefing in Abuja on Monday.

Mohammed said the curfew would take effect from midnight on Monday, 12am to 4am.

He also said with effect from Tuesday, night clubs, gyms and others would remain closed till further notice.

Mohammed further noted that gatherings of religious groups and weddings have been reduced to 50 percent attendance.

“While official engagements, meetings and conferences should continue to hold virtually, ” he said.

Journalists demand release of arrested newspapers vendors

 

Journalists in Imo State have demanded for the immediate release of five newspaper vendors arrested by the police on Monday morning.

The vendors whose names are yet to be disclosed were taken away by the state police for allegedly selling newspapers with IPOB stories.

Reactions, however, have trailed the said arrest as men of the media had appealed to the state police and Imo government to release them because, according to them, it is a direct way of gagging the press.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Prints, Modestus Nwamkpa, in his reaction, said that those arrested were brandishing IPOB and inciting the public.

According to him, “the news which they sold was Nnamdi Kalu’s alleged letter to the US President where he pleaded that he should not sell arms and weapons to Nigerian government.”

Further reports had it that the arrested vendors were severely manhandled at a police checkpoint around government house roundabout.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Orlando Ikeokwu said that the command was yet to be briefed on the issue, describing it as mere allegation.

He, however, promised to ascertain the veracity of the news.

NEWS: Gov. Wike approves N220 million for families of slain police officers in Rivers

 

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has promised to give the sum N20 million each to the families of police officers killed during the recent attacks on police formations in the state on behalf of the state government.

The governor made the announcement when he visited the state Commissioner of Police, Friday Eboka in Port Harcourt on Monday, to commiserate with him over the death of his officers.

 recalls that gunmen in the last three weeks attacked several police stations and checkpoints in the state leading to the death of eleven police officers.

The latest attack took place on Friday night with seven police officers losing their lives.

The governor, while commiserating with the state police command charged men of the command to henceforth be on the offensive against those perpetrating the attacks.

He acknowledged that though no amount of money can equate to human life, the State’s gesture is aimed at assuaging the bereaved families that their loved ones never died in vain.

In his words, “In the past two three weeks we have lost eleven officers, this is a bad period for us”.

“For the morning families, each of them the Rivers state government will give them 20 million naira”.

The Governor further declared that “no intimidation will make Rivers state to be part of any movement. We are talking about the unity of the country , we must be united as a country. We must be united to fight for this country to be one”.

“We cannot allow anybody to talk of secession. If you want to break away, Rivers state is not part of it and nobody can cow Rivers state to be part of it, not under my watch”.

On his part, the Commissioner of Police, Friday Eboka on behalf of the Acting Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman, thanked the governor for assuaging the pain of the bereaved families.

 

BIAFRA NEWS: Biafra, Oduduwa: Hypocrite, Nigeria must break up – Pastor Giwa replies T.B Joshua

 

The Senior Pastor of the Awaiting the Second Coming of Christ Ministry, Adewale Giwa, has responded to T.B Joshua’s declaration that Nigeria will not disintegrate.

Giwa said that the country must break up, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari has divided Nigeria into different parts with his poor leadership styles, adding that the citizens are now waiting for an official announcement towards the disintegration of Nigeria.

Prophet TB Joshua of Synagogue Church of All Nation, SCOAN, had recently declared that Nigeria will not disintegrate.

Joshua said though Nigeria would be covered by a cloud of “crisis, murder, killings, destruction” but would not disintegrate.

Addressing members of his church, the prophet said: “I want to assure you, nothing will happen to Nigeria. Nigeria will remain one.

But in a statement to  on Monday, Pastor Giwa said that whoever says Nigeria won’t disintegrate after a failed leadership over the years should go back to sleep.

According to him, “They are a bunch of hypocrites who have refused to speak the truth to power in the last five years, but now coming up with defensive tactics that can stop the disintegration of Nigeria.

“A great leader understands empathy and knows how to approach his people in a courteous manner, but the reverse is the case in Nigeria. Even the blind can see the handwriting on the wall. It is not a prophetic or perceptual matter, but a reality that cannot be manipulated.

“It is not an understatement to say that the current president is not considerate and compassionate. He doesn’t care about the feelings and emotions of Nigerians.

“They should not waste their time, because the more they come up with flimsy excuses why the country should not divide the more Nigerians are happy to go their separate ways.

“Anyone who opposes disintegration of Nigeria doesn’t love the country. It’s now glaring that God never wanted president Buhari to become a president after three failed attempts.

“However, with the support of selfish politicians and religious leaders, president Buhari manipulated Nigerians through persuasion, brainwashing and deception.

“He finds his way back to power in 2015 and 2019 respectively. I think, if he has a guilty conscience, he can now see how he has failed those who thought he was the messiah in 2015.”

NEWS: Rivers State Government reviews curfew from 7pm to 6am

 

The Rivers State Government has reviewed the existing night curfew imposed on the state.

The State Governor, Nyesom Wike said the curfew will now begin from 7pm to 6am daily with effect from tomorrow and until further notice.

The curfew was initially from 10pm to 6am daily.

The Governor in a state-wide broadcast said the review of the curfew is a further step towards enhancing the collective safety of the state.

Governor Wike said the decision followed last Friday’s attack on security formations across the state which led to the death of seven police officers.

The Governor said, “as a further step towards enhancing our collective safety, we have reviewed the existing night curfew across the twenty-three local government areas which will now start from 7pm and end at 6am until further notice from tomorrow 11th of May 2021”.

“Security agencies are hereby directed to note the new curfew time, ensure strict compliance and effectively deal with any person or group that violates or attempt to violate this order”.

The Governor also said his government has “reviewed and for the moment declined the pressure on the state government to activate youths to defend the state from the terrorists because we don’t want to complicate our very delicate security situation by creating opportunities for some other monster to emerge”.

“However, we are determined to deploy everything with our disposal to advance the security of lives and property in our state and nothing will stop us from defeating the evil forces presently threatening our individual and collective security.”

Governor Wike further appealed for the understanding of members of the public over the recent review of the curfew.

BIAFRA NEWS: INEC office set ablaze in Abia

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says its office in Ohafia LGA in Abia State has been set ablaze

Festus Okoye, the INEC spokesman, who made this known in a statement said the incident occurred on Sunday night.

He, however, said there is no known cause of the fire incident yet adding that investigation into the incident is ongoing.

This is coming a week after one of the commission’s offices in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state was razed

DAILY Post reported that the commission in a statement confirmed that the office was set ablaze by unidentified persons in the early hours of Sunday, May 2nd, 2021.

Details later…

BIAFRA NEWS: Buhari told to hoist Biafran flag in Aso Rock

 

Biafra Nations League, BNL, has told President Mohammadu Buhari to hoist Biafra flag in Aso Rock come May 30 Biafra memorial day.

The group wants Buhari to recognize Biafra as a separate Republic and by so doing hoist the flag at the Presidential Villa.

National Leader of BNL, Princewill Chimezie Richard gave the advice in a statement he made available to DAILY POST on Monday.

The group said that “Biafra would be a great ally of Nigeria economically as a former member of Nigerian State,” adding that the “crisis going on in the country and Bakassi Peninsula could worsen if President Buhari ignores advice.”

BNL warned Buhari against acting like the Biblical Egyptian King Pharaoh.

Princewill further confirmed the gun battle between some Militant loyalists of BNL and Cameroon BIR in Isangele area of Bakassi Peninsula.

He explained that the members of the group from the region were attacked by BIR at their meeting point which resulted in self defense.

He commended the Bakassi people for rising up for the emancipation of Biafra, adding that Bakassi exerted more influence in the Bight of Biafra before Bonny people.

“I commend them for their steadfastness in the struggle for Biafra Republic, all our members interest especially the interest of the people of the Peninsula are well stated in the BNL’s Ekukunela Declarations made in Ekukunela, Ikom LGA Cross River State in 2016.”