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  • Gunmen kill 2 policemen, civilian in Imo 

    Attack

     

    By Peter Okolie

     

    Owerri, June 11, 2024 (NAN) Two policemen and a passer-by were shot dead early on Tuesday morning by some unidentified gunmen at a police checkpoint at Akabo, near Owerri, Imo.

     

    An eyewitness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the gunmen stormed the checkpoint, located along Okigwe Road in Ikeduru Local Government Area, in three vehicles at about 6.30 a.m.

     

    “They came in three vehicles to the checkpoint and suddenly opened fire, killing two policemen on the spot.

     

    “On hearing the sporadic gunshots, I quickly scampered for safety for my dear life,” said the source.

     

    The source, who had stepped out to buy bread for the children’s breakfast, further said a stray bullet from the sporadic shots fired by the hoodlums hit and killed a male passer-by.

     

    However, the source added that other police officers fired back, forcing the attackers to retreat.

     

    Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Imo Police Command, ASP Henry Okoye, said the state Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Aboki Danjuma, had ordered a manhunt for the gunmen.

     

    “The CP has deployed the command’s Special Tactical Squad and equipped them with available operational resources and intelligence to go all out in synergy with other security agencies and clamp down on the hoodlums responsible for the unprovoked and unwarranted attack and killings.

     

    “The operatives fought gallantly but unfortunately, two personnel and a civilian were fatally hit,” he said.

     

    Okoye said the CP and some operatives of the command later visited the crime scene for assessment.

     

    “As we speak, intense operation is ongoing in the area for possible apprehension and prosecution of the fleeing hoodlums responsible for the senseless act of violence.

     

    “More so, the CP has set up a high-powered investigation team and tasked them to carry out a comprehensive investigation to unravel perpetrators of the attack,” he added.

     

    He said the bodies of the affected officers and the civilian had been recovered and deposited in a mortuary for preservation.

     

    The command’s spokesman commiserated with families of the dead and assured that the command would leave no stone unturned to ensure the hoodlums were arrested and prosecuted. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

     

    OPC/CHOM/MAS

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    Edited by Chioma Ugboma and Moses Solanke

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Gaza: Guterres urges all parties on ceasefire agreement

    Gaza: Guterres urges all parties on ceasefire agreement
    Ceasefire
    Cairo, June 11, 2024 (dpa/NAN) UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has urged all parties involved in the war in Gaza to reach a ceasefire agreement.
    “The horror must stop, it’s high time for a ceasefire along with unconditional release of hostages,” he told a humanitarian aid conference for the Gaza Strip held by the Dead Sea in Jordan.
    “I urge all parties to seize this opportunity and come to an agreement,” Guterres added.
    “The speed and scale of carnage and killing in Gaza is beyond anything in my years as Secretary General,” he said.
    “Nowhere is safe, conditions are deplorable.”
    The conference is organised by Jordan, Egypt and the UN.
    It aims to find ways in which the international community can respond more effectively to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    UMD/EAL
    =======
    Edited by Ummul Idris/Ekemini Ladejobi

  • Surety turns into defendant after allegedly failing to produce accused

    Surety
    By Chinyere
    Lagos, June 11, 2024 (NAN) A  32-year-old man, Rufia Lateef, who allegedly stood as a surety for his friend charged with N10 million fraud and could not produce him for trial, was on Tuesday brought before an Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.
    Lateef, whose residential address was not provided, is standing trial on a two-count charge bordering on perverting the course of justice.
    The prosecutor, ASP Benedict Aigbokhan, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on June 23, 2023, at 2.00 p.m., at Ejigbo, Lagos.
    He said that the defendant stood as a surety for one Sanni Olalekan, who was charged with obtaining the sum of N10 million under false pretences.
    According to him, the defendant had promised to produce Olalekan to the court on July 6, 2023, and every other date his presence was needed, but failed to do so.
    Aigbokhan said that the defendant did not also produce Olalekan on March 14, when the case came up for trial.
    The prosecutor, therefore, requested that the defendant should show cause why the bail bond of N2 million he entered into, should not be forfeited to the Lagos State Government.
    He said that the offences contravened Section 97 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015 and Section 132 of the Administration of  Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), 2011.
    The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
    The Magistrate, Miss K. A. Ariyo, granted him bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.
    She ordered that the sureties should be gainfully employed and should show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
    Ariyo adjourned the case until July 12 for mention. (NAN)
    OCC/ETS
    ========

  • Tinubu condemns Katsina attacks, directs security agencies to go after assailants

    Tinubu condemns Katsina attacks, directs security agencies to go after assailants

    Attacks
    By Salif Atojoko
    Abuja, June 11, 2024 (NAN) President Bola Tinubu has strongly condemned the recent attacks against citizens in Dutsin-Ma and Kankara Local Government Areas of Katsina State.

    Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, said in a statement on Tuesday that the President described the latest attacks as grisly and sinister.

    He said the President emphasised that more would be done to secure citizens and completely degrade terrorists and other harbingers of death and sorrow in any part of the country.

    “President Tinubu directs security agencies to go after the assailants and ensure that they are brought to justice.

    “The President condoles with the families of the deceased, as well as the Government and people of Katsina State, and prays for the repose of the souls of the departed,” said the statement. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    SA/IKU

    Edited by Tayo Ikujuni

  • Man, 19, docked for alleged cell phone theft

    Man, 19, docked for alleged cell phone theft

    Stealing
    By Dorcas Elusogbon
    Ile-Ife (Osun), June 11, 2024(NAN) A 19-year-old man, Ajao Micheal, was on Tuesday docked at an Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing cell phone.

    Micheal of no fixed address, was charged with unlawful entering and stealing.

    The prosecutor, Insp Sunday Osanyintuyi, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on April 8, at about 11:00 a.m., at Obalufon Street, Ile-Ife, Osun.

    Osanyintuyi said that the defendant unlawfully entered a Bet Naija office and stole one Infinix S5 Lite phone valued at N80,000 belonging to the complainant, Hamzat Faruq.

    According to him, the offences contravene Sections 383 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Osun, 2002.

    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.

    The Magistrate, Abosede Sarumi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.

    Sarumi said that the surety must swear to affidavit of means, resides within the court jurisdiction and the address to be verified by the prosecutor.

    She said that the surety must be a landowner within the court jurisdiction as well as present three recent passport photographs.

    The case was adjourned until July 8, for hearing. (NAN) (www.nannnews.ng)
    EDA/DEB/IKU
    ==============

    Edited by Debo Oshundun/Tayo Ikujuni

  • NPFL fines Enyimba, Rangers, awards three points to Enugu team

    NPFL fines Enyimba, Rangers, awards three points to Enugu team

    Fine

    By Muhyideen Jimoh

    Abuja, June 11, 2024 (NAN) The Nigeria Premier Football League ((NPFL) has sanctioned Enyimba FC of Aba and Rangers International of Enugu for breaching its framework and rules in their Matchday 35 encounter.

    The League governing body awarded three points and three goals to Enugu Rangers and fined Enyimba FC the sum of N10 million for breaching the frameworks.

    In the same vein, the hosts, Enugu Rangers have been slammed with a fine of N5 million for various offences, including non-provision of adequate security and encroachment to the pitch by fans and other unauthorised persons.

    It also includes sales of tickets to spectators more than the stadium capacity leading to encroachment of the pitch.

    The Oriental derby played on Sunday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu, was abandoned by Enyimba after Rangers was awarded a penalty in the 107th minute of play.

    The NPFL however gave both teams 48 hours to appeal the decision which may go to NFF Organising and Disciplinary Committee and later Appeal Committee.

    With this decision, Rangers remain on top of the league table with 64 points from 35 matches while Enyimba FC and Remo Stars are in second and third positions with 59 points each. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    MUYI/JPE

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    Edited by Joseph Edeh

  • Eid-el-Kabir: TRACE advises motorists on safe driving

    Motorists

     

    By Ige Adekunle

     

    Sango-Ota (Ogun), June 11, 2024 (NAN) The Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) has advised motorists to desist from drunk-driving and driving against one-way to stem mishaps during the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

     

    Ijoko Unit Commander of TRACE, Mrs Temitope Oseni, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ota, Ogun.

     

    NAN reports that Muslims will celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir festival across the country on Sunday.

     

    Oseni said the advice was necessary for motorists to awaken their consciousness that only the living celebrate.

     

    “We are appealing to them to refrain from indiscriminate parking on the road to prevent incoming vehicles ramming into them.

     

    “In addition, they should obey traffic rules and regulations and drive with caution to arrive at their various destinations,” she said.

     

    Oseni also cautioned traders against displaying goods on the highway to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.

     

    She said that the Corps Commander of TRACE, Mr Seni Ogunyemi, had directed all unit commanders and zonal commanders to deploy personnel to accident-prone areas to ensure a hitch-free festival.

     

    Oseni appealed to motorists to cooperate with TRACE personnel and other sister agencies to ensure sanity on the road during the Eid-el-Kabir festival and at all times. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

     

    IGE/OJI/MAS

     

    Edited by Maureen Ojinaka and Moses Solanke

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Plateau Govt. cultivates 6,000 hectares of land for displaced communities

    Plateau Govt. cultivates 6,000 hectares of land for displaced communities

    Farming
    By Polycarp Auta
    Mangu (Plateau), June 11, 2024 (NAN) The Plateau Government says it has commenced the cultivation of 6,000 hectares of land ahead of the upcoming farming season to help in resettling communities displaced by crisis.

    The Commissioner for Agriculture,
    Mr Samson Bugama, said this on Tuesday in Mangu during the official launch of cultivation for the year.

    According to him, the ”Mechanisation Service Provision Intervention” is targeted at communities affected by series of unrest.

    He further said that the move also aimed to provide seeds and similar services to cluster of farmers across the state.

    Bugama said that the effort would help to improve the state’s agricultural yield and reduce hunger to the barest minimum.

    “Today we will be engaging the field, you can see the tractors are ready and so also all the staff of the Agricultural Training Service Centre (ATSC) and Marketing Ltd are equally ready.

    “The strategy is to see how we can provide mechanisation services to communities that have been displaced in our quest to return people to their livelihoods that insecurity has denied them.

    “Gov. Caleb Mutfwang in his magnanimity has decided that we cultivate 6,000 hectares of land and we will see how we exceed this in the nearest future.

    “And we will be providing seeds for those places that have been cultivated so as to bring bumper harvest as we return people to their livelihoods,” he said.

    The commissioner also spoke about government’s measures to enaure the safety of the farmers and their crops.

    He said that the Angro Rangers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps would be deployed to provide security for the farmers and their farms.

    “As you can see, we have the Agro-Rangers with us, and in those communities they have self-help groups that they setup, which have been providing early warning signals and we are going to utilise them.

    “This time around, we are going to ensure that government’s intervention is not wasted, we are setting up a monitoring system.

    ”We will use modern technology to check incursions into such communities and we will see how we improve the system, moving forward.

    “But I must tell you that the governor is bent on ensuring that our people return to their livelihoods.

    Government is providing all these services and even the seeds for free,” Bugama said.

    Also speaking, the Managing Director of ATSC, Dr Susan Bentu, said that cluster groups, consisting women and youths, would be given top priority.

    “This intervention is also for farmers in clusters, like women groups, youth and religious bodies, among others, in the three Senatorial Districts of the state.

    “We are set to change the narrative where agriculture is concerned in the state.

    “For the senatorial zones, they have their areas of strength, we are going to be cultivating maize and potatoes in Central and Northern zones, rice and yam for the Southern zone.

    “ASTC is a company principally owned by the Plateau Government and we are here for the people of the state,” Bentu said.

    She further said that ATSC had been rendering services to the citizenry, not just in the area of mechanised farming during the rainy and dry seasons but other services attached to farmers.

    “The green houses we see at the backyards of many homes today are a fallout of ATSC, established over 13 years ago,” she said.

    She said that 300 tractors were available for cultivation of land in three centres, situated in each of the senatorial zones of the state. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    AZA/USO
    Edited by Sam Oditah

     

  • Welfare: CAS rewards 9 AWOs with Hilux vehicles

    Welfare: CAS rewards 9 AWOs with Hilux vehicles

    Welfare

    By Sumaila Ogbaje

    Abuja, June 11, 2024 (NAN) The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, on Tuesday rewarded nine Air Warrant Officers (AWOs) for their hard work and dedication to the service of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the officers were presented with JMC pickup Vehicles by the Air Staff Boss.

    Abubakar, while presenting the vehicles said that he believed that human resources were the most vital inputs in any organisation.

    He said this was necessary because they direct the use of available resources in pursuit of set organisational goals.

    He said it was in recognition of that fact that one of the key enabler to his Command Philosophy was ”Maintaining a Highly Motivated Force by Enhancing Welfare and Infrastructural Renewal”.

    ”It is in fulfilling this key enabler that we are gathered here today on the auspicious occasion of the presentation of vehicles to our deserving AWOs, who remain huge assets to the NAF.

    ”Our AWOs are a selected breed of distinguished SNCOs on whom the service places the onerous task of maintaining regimentation and discipline as well as upholding military ethics and traditions among airmen/airwomen across the NAF.

    ”The selfless service and exemplary lifestyle of these distinguished gentlemen who also serve as mentors to their subordinates remain quintessential to the efficiency and effectiveness of the NAF.

    ”It is in recognition of this gallant service that we are gathered here today to honour these deserving gentlemen who have been very instrumental to our successes as a service,” he said.

    The CAS commended the AWOs for their untiring efforts towards ensuring that the NAF got the desired support from their subordinates, which, according to him, had really enhanced the capacity of NAF to meet its constitutional mandate.

    He said the presentation of the vehicles was a testament to the commitment of the NAF to motivate its personnel.

    He implored the AWOs not to rest on their oars in rendering any support required of them by the NAF, assuring them that his leadership would continue to prioritise their welfare and that of their subjects.

    ”I firmly believe that the effectiveness of a fighting force is determined by the morale of its troops.

    ”To this end, I will request the AWOs to always communicate the yearnings of their subordinates to appropriate superior authority for use by HQ NAF in crafting impactful policies,” he added.

    NAN also reports that the CAS inaugurated a recreational garden and park as well as six state-of-art sewage treatment plants, lift stations and sewer infrastructure at the NAF base and valley estate, Asokoro.

    He said the projects were executed with sole motive of enhancing the welfare of personnel and their families in line with his desire to maintain a highly motivated force.

    He added that it was in a bid to provide personnel with standard infrastructural facilities that the NAF valley estate was conceived from inception to have central sewage systems.

    This, according to him, is with the aim of providing residents with clean and healthy living conditions devoid of the health hazards posed by poorly handled sewage products.

    ”To this end, the NAF invested heavily in the central sewage project in this estate which has today become a model facility,” he said.

    Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries of the vehicle, AWO Pere Menone, said the presentation of the vehicles marked a historic moment for them in their career as military men.

    Menone appreciated the CAS for the recognition and the motivation, adding that the event had given them hope that there was reward for diligence and hard work.

    He urged the younger personnel to imbibe the spirit of hard work, dedication, diligence and loyalty to be able to reach the peak of their career. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    OYS/DCO/AMM

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    Edited by Deborah Coker and Abiemwense Moru

     

  • Sales rep docked for allegedly stealing cartons of milk

    Sales rep docked for allegedly stealing cartons of milk

    Stealing
    By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
    Ibadan, June 11, 2024(NAN) A 39-year-old sales representative, Oluwaseun Akinnniyi, was on Tuesday brought before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, for allegedly stealing cartons of milk.

    Akinnniyi, of no fixed address, was charged with obtaining money under false pretences and stealing.

    He however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The prosecutor, Insp Iyabo Oladoyin told the court that the defendant, a sales representative of Olafik Global Interleaks, Ibadan, committed the offences sometime in May, at Alesinloye market, Ibadan.

    Oladoyin alleged that the defendant collected cartons of milk worth N2, 635, 210. 00 from Olafik Global Interleaks, on the pretext of supplying the goods to customers but failed to do so.

    She said that the defendant rather sold the goods and converted the proceeds to his personal use.

    The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 419 and 390(9) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo, 2000.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Adebola Adeola granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million and two sureties in like sum.

    She adjourned the case until July 11 for hearing. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    CC/DCO/IKU
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    Edited by Deborah Coker/Tayo Ikujuni