Spokesman
One dead, others injured in Bayelsa cult clash
Tebogo Letsie/Associated Press The Bayelsa Police Command on Tuesday, confirmed the death of a suspected cultist during a clash by two rival cult groups in the state capital, Yenagoa. A spokesman for the Police in Bayelsa, Asinim Butswat, a Superintendent of Police, told newsmen that one person was killed during the clash which left many injured in the Obele area of the state capital. Narrating the incident, Butswat said, “The clash took place in Down Yenagoa. It was a rival cult clash that claimed the life of one person. “We cannot establish the cult groups that were involved until after arrests might have been made, as an investigation is ongoing,” he said. Butswat added that the corpse of the person had been recovered and deposited at a morgue. A resident of Obele, who preferred anonymi...
Ten killed in inter-communal violence amid protests in eastern Congo
Ten people have been killed and 34 injured in fighting between rival ethnic communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern city of Goma, a spokesman for the provincial government said on Tuesday. The clashes broke out when protests against the U.N.’s MONUSCO peacekeeping mission, which some blame for failing to end to worsening insecurity and militia attacks, descended into violence between the two communities. Attacks by armed militias and inter-communal violence in Congo’s restive eastern region have killed over 300 people since the start of the year as government troops and U.N. peacekeepers struggle to bring stability in the mineral-rich region. The governor of North Kivu province, Carly Nzanzu Kasivita, banned all public protests from Monday and called for calm. “From now o...
Soldiers destroy illegal refinery in Rivers
News Agency of Nigeria Soldiers of the 144 Battalion, Asa, Ukwa West council area of Abia State, have reportedly destroyed an illegal oil refinery located in Odogba community in Rivers State. Newsmen gathered that the operation was carried out in conjunction with the operatives of the Department of the State Services ,DSS, on joint patrol within Owaza area,a boundary community between the two States. Military sources stated that no arrest was made as the operators fled before the arrival of the security men. However, the security team recovered a commercial bus suspected to be used in ferrying stolen crude after the driver abandoned the car and ran into the bush. Newsmen further gathered that the driver of the bus locked the steering of the car which frustrated the attempt to take the car ...
Police nab ‘cultists’ in Anambra
The police in Anambra say it has arrested two suspects involved in a rival cult fight in which four people were killed in Awka on Wednesday. DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, the police spokesman in Anambra, disclosed this in a statement made available to reporters on Thursday in Awka. Ikenga gave the identity of the arrested suspects as Victor Ikechukwu, 30; and Ifeanyi Uyanne, 35. He said that a Toyota Corolla car and a military camouflage were recovered from the suspects. According to the spokesman, the suspects were arrested following Wednesday’s shoot-out at Tempsite, Okpuno, Awka. Mr Ikenga said the Commissioner of Police Monday Kuryas had advised parents/guardians to watch over their children/wards and prevent them from engaging in cultism and associated vices. Get more stories like this on Twi...
U.K. to open first LGBT+ retirement home as market grows
Britain’s first LGBT+ retirement home is set to open in mid-2021, the housing association behind the London riverside apartments said, highlighting a growing market of older people who do not want to be forced back in the closet. There is a critical need for housing for older LGBT+ people, said Anna Kear, Chief Executive of Tonic Housing, as many say it would be “terrifying” to live in a predominantly straight home where other residents did not accept them. “People say that if they get to that stage, they would rather (die by) suicide than go into a heterosexual care home or sheltered housing environment, which is just awful,” she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. With an ageing population, the demand for specialist housing for older people is growing, with private retirement units acco...
Gunmen abduct APC caretaker committee chairman in Rivers
The Rivers Chapter of the APC has announced the abduction of Hiasine Wiye, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of APC in Khana Local Government area of the State. He was kidnapped in his residence on on Sunday evening, according to the party in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by its Spokesman, Ogbonna Nwuke. He expressed dismay at the abduction of a grassroots member of the party. The party said the abduction of Wiye without any trace confirmed the claim that even ordinary citizens resident in Rivers State are not safe. “The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State was snatched on Sunday from his home by unknown persons. “We have been briefed that he was taken into captivity at a time when well meaning people were celebrating the resurrection ...
Ukraine denies killing of child in attack on separatists
Ukraine on Monday denied reports that its forces had killed a five-year-old child in an attack on pro-Moscow eastern separatists, after Russia said it would launch an investigation. “This is a gross, cynical, nasty and godless manipulation,” Ukraine’s defence ministry told AFP in a written comment on the claim, denouncing it as “fake news”. Separatist authorities had at the weekend accused Ukrainian forces of killing the child and injuring a woman in a drone attack. On Monday, the Russian Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said the Ukrainian army had attacked civilian infrastructure on Friday in the separatist-held Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) using heavy armament and drones. As a result of an explosion, a five-year-old child was killed while his 66-year-old grandmother...
NSCDC warns applicants over fake recruitment message
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has warned applicants over fake recruitment examination messages on social media scheduled to take place at undisclosed venues. In a statement by its spokesman, DCC Olusola Odumosu, the Corps said the information is untrue, misleading and fraudulent by scammers in their quest to swindle innocent job seekers. “The Corps wishes to distant itself from this fraudulent and malicious act of some unscrupulous elements in their attempt to hoodwink unsuspecting Nigerians especially the youths into thinking that NSCDC has commenced it’s recruitment process thereby demanding for unsolicited assistance and kickbacks to influence the selection process. “It is instructive to state unequivocally that the maliciously circulated information about NSCDC Recru...
Lagos PDP: Yinka Odumakin lived fulfilled life, fought for downtrodden
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State has mourned the death of the Spokesman of a pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin. The PDP Publicity Secretary in the state, Taofik Gani, told newsmen on Saturday in Lagos that Odumakin spoke and fought for the masses. “Yinka Odumakin lived a fulfilled life, fighting and speaking for the downtrodden, devalued ethnic groups and the nation at large. “We cannot forget his outspokenness on national issues and fight for equal rights amongst ethnic nationalities. He spoke truth to power,” he said. The PDP spokesman added that Odumakin surprised the party when he was invited as a speaker at a Democracy Day symposium. He honoured the invitation and spoke the truth to the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and PDP. “A rar...
Yinka Odumakin: Premature departure of a bright star – Senator Tinubu
Like millions of Nigerians, I received with profound shock the news of the death early this morning of Mr. Yinka Odumakin, spokesman of Afenifere, committed fighter for democracy, dedicated civil society activist, courageous and outspoken defender of whatever ideals and principles he believed in and a patriotic citizen in every sense of the word. Ever since his student days, Odumakin had been fearless and unrelenting in speaking up in promoting the cause of justice and what he perceived as the best interest of the citizens of Nigeria. He participated actively at the forefront in the various students and youth struggles against successive military dictatorships in the 1980s and 1990s. In the process, he was arrested, harassed and even detained several times. Yet, he never allowed himself to...
Senator Saraki: Yinka Odumakin will be remembered for his consistency
Former President of the Senate and Chairman of the PDP National Reconciliation & Strategy Committee, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has mourned the passing of the spokesman of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin. Saraki in a series of tweets on Saturday, said Odumakin demonstrated consistency in his beliefs. His words, “My family and I are deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Mr. Yinka Odumakin, the erstwhile spokesperson of Afenifere. “Over the years, Odumakin demonstrated consistency in his beliefs; an eloquence and clarity of thought that helped him to easily draw many to his cause; and the courage to always stand up for the underdogs and less privileged. “As we all mourn the passing of this extraordinary gentleman and exemplary leader, we also celebrate his life — and pray that Almighty...
Gunmen attack home of ex-sport minister
Plateau state police command has confirmed the attack on the Riyom residence of former Minister of Sport, Chief Damishi Sango where three persons, including security men were allegedly shot. Spokesman of the command, Mr. Gabriel Ubah Ogaba said, “The Command is aware of the incident at Riyom and the victims have been rushed to the hospital where they are receiving treatment.” He however said he was not aware yet whether the security personnel were dispossessed of their rifles. Ogaba said, “A team of detectives and intelligence officers have already commenced investigation and manhunt for the criminals.” He assured that the former Minister and his family were safe and unhurt. The gunmen, newsmen gathered, carried out the attack on Wednesday night at about 9pm, when two security personnel an...
