Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Bandits kill 21 vigilantes, village head in Sokoto

Armed bandits killed 22 people including a village head in separate attacks on Sunday and Tuesday in Rabah and Sabon Birni local government areas of Sokoto State.

The victims include 21 members of a vigilante group who were killed in Yartsakuwa village of Rabah local council during a shootout with the bandits on Sunday. The village head of Sabon Birni, identified as Umar Sanda, was killed in the Tuesday attack.

The bandits, on Tuesday, reportedly blocked the SabonBirni-Shinkafi highway, robbed local merchants of millions of naira and rustled many cows.

The governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, who visited one of the attacked communities, on Monday, confirmed that 21 persons were killed in Rabah council.

He sympathised with the residents and families of the deceased vigilantes and pledged to restructure vigilante groups in the state.

In a statement, by his media aide, Muhammad Bello, the governor said: “We are going to restructure and reposition the vigilante groups in Sokoto State. We are going to make sure that we provide them with motorcycles and communications gadgets.”

The governor said this would enable the vigilante members to communicate with security agencies effectively and to provide basic information and guidance to the security agencies.

Also, the governor said his administration will also provide allowances to the vigilante members “for the sacrifices they are making towards providing security to their localities, the state and the country.

“The 21 victims of the recent onslaught were among the vigilantes recognised by the security agencies in the state, Governor Tambuwal pledged that the state government will advance a token of gifts and cash assistance to the families of the victims to ameliorate their sufferings,” he said.

Attacks by armed bandits have become rampant in many states in North-west and North-central Nigeria, including Kaduna, Katsina, Niger and Zamfara. Fewer attacks have occurred in Sokoto compared to those other states.

The attacks, involving killings and kidnappings, have continued despite the increased deployment of security officials to the affected states.

Friday, May 21, 2021

Chief of Army Staff Ibrahim Attahiru, Seven others die in Kaduna Plane Crash.

A military Beachcraft 350 aircraft has crashed at the Kaduna International Airport on Friday, claiming all eight souls onboard including the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru.

The ill-fated aircraft crashed at the airport’s runway about 6 pm.

Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria, Akin Olateru, confirmed that the eight souls died onboard.

Monday, May 10, 2021

FG declares Wednesday, 12th and Thursday 13th Public Holidays

The Federal Government has declared Wednesday and Thursday as public holidays to mark the 2021 Eid-ul-Fitr celebration.

This was disclosed by Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Monday afternoon.

Aregbesola called on all Nigerians, at home and abroad to use the period of this year’s Eidul-Fitr celebration to pray for peace, stability and economic transformation in the land.

The minister also called on all security agencies in the country to “be more courageous and patriotic to surmount the ongoing battle against resurging insecurity and activities of criminal elements in Nigeria”.

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Baba Ijesa risks life imprisonment as Lagos moves to file charges

Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James aka (Baba Ijesha) could be sentenced to life imprisonment as the Lagos government moves to charge him for sexual assault by penetration, among other crimes.

In a statement on Tuesday, Moyosore Onigbanjo, the state commissioner for justice, said the state’s directorate of public prosecutions has recommended five charges “after due consideration of the facts in the case file.”

According to the statement, “ Olanrewaju James also known as Baba Ijesha to be charged under

section 135

– indecent treatment of a child- punishable by seven years imprisonment;

section 137

– defilement of a child – punishable by life imprisonment;

section 261- sexual assault by penetration – punishable by life imprisonment; section 262- attempted sexual assault by penetration – punishable by 14 years imprisonment and

section 263 – sexual assault- punishable by three years imprisonment.

“While the state would ensure ‘James’ rights as enshrined in the constitution are upheld, the Ministry of Justice would not relent in its efforts at ensuring that whoever sexually abuses any resident of Lagos is speedily brought to book.”

Saturday, May 1, 2021

Why TAMPPAN cannot ban Baba Ijesha - Mr Latin

Veteran Nollywood actor, Bolaji Amusan aka as Mr. Latin has stated why one of his colleagues, Olanrewaju James alias Baba Ijesha cannot be banned from Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPPAN).

Amusan, who is chairman of TAMPPAN, was reacting to the ongoing alleged child molestation case against Baba Ijesha

TAMPAN had in a statement, earlier condemned the defilement allegations levelled against Baba Ijesha, vowing to support the government to ensure that ignoble acts are checked within the society.

In a recent three-minute video shared on Amusan’s Instagram page obtained by The Nation, the veteran Yoruba actor condemned the alleged actions of Baba Ijesha.

Amusan stated he has been inundated with calls from different persons to ban Baba Ijesha from TAMPPAN.

He however stated categorically that Baba Ijesha was never a member of the association and so cannot be banned.

He stressed as a colleague in the industry, the best he could do is to condemn the act labelled against Baba Ijesha, adding no right thinking human will do such a thing Baba Ijesha was alleged to have done.