Spokesperson
Policeman arrested for stealing AK-47 rifles in Abịa
A police man, Shedrack Aleke Igwe, working in armoury section of MOPOL base 28, Umuahia, Abia state has been arrested with 5 AK-47 rifles he stole from the armoury. Igwe, a constable, was reported to have carted away rifles in the armoury section with the help of others unnoticed. He was arrested in Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi state where he hails from He committed the act on 2nd of March after which he fled to Ebonyi state. But two days later, a combined team of policemen from Abia and Ebonyi states arrested and moved him to Abia Police Command for investigation. The combined team from the two states had trailed him to his Ikwo community by where he was hiding. He was immediately arrested with the help of Divisional Police Officer, Ikwo and investigation commenced. Five of the mi...
Nigerian Army dismisses report of desertion by troops
The Nigerian Army on Thursday dismissed reports that over 100 officers and soldiers had deserted the army during encounters with insurgents in parts of Borno recently. The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, said this in a statement in Abuja. Yerima said that a section of the media had reported that over a hundred troops absconded after Boko Haram attacks on Marte and Dikwa. According to him, this publication is false, unfounded and an attempt to malign the image and character of the Nigerian Army. “For the records, in the fog of war, it is a routine that head count is conducted to determine the number of men and equipment holding aftermath of military offensive. “Unfortunately, an internal correspondence that was originated by the formation was not properly done. ...
PDP accuses APC of plot to take over Zamfara
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting a forceful take over of Zamfara State because of the security challenges confronting the state. The party levelled the accusation in a statement on Wednesday by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan. The North-west state is governed by a PDP governor, Bello Matawalle. Hundreds of students were abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, Zamfara State by some bandits on Friday last week. They were, however, released in the early hours of Tuesday. On the same day, the APC-led the federal government declared the state a ‘no-fly-zone’ just as it again banned mining activities in the state to curb the rising insecurity. Before the Zamfara incident, at least 27 male students were abduct...
Air Peace resumes Accra flights March 15, set for Ilorin services
Air Peace has said it would resume daily flight operations into Accra from its Lagos hub on March 15, 2021. In the same vein, the airline said it was ready to kick off scheduled flights into Ilorin from Abuja and Lagos. Newsmen report that the airline had suspended the Accra flights early last year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The spokesperson of the airline, Stanley Olisa, who disclosed this, stated that the Lagos-Accra flight will depart daily at 07:00hrs while the Accra-Lagos flight will depart at 07:40hrs. Olisa stressed that the resumption of Accra flights was a response to popular demand from members of the flying public. He said: “You would recall that we suspended our Accra flights consequent upon the pandemic lockdown last year. “But we have some exciting news for our est...
Twitter opens its audio chat room Spaces to Android users
Twitter has opened its audio chat room, Spaces, to Android users, the company tweeted Tuesday. Twitter introduced a limited version of the Clubhouse competitor on iOS in January. While any users of Twitter’s iOS app can join and listen to Spaces, only a few can host them at the moment. Twitter said it was giving Spaces to “a very small feedback group” to start, with women and people from other marginalized groups given priority. Now, users of Twitter’s Android app can join and listen to Spaces as well. Android folks, our beta is growing! starting today you will be able to join and talk in any Space. SOON you’ll be able to create your own but we’re still working out some things. keep your 👀 out for live Spaces above your home tl — Spaces (@TwitterSpaces) March 2, 2021 The announceme...
Police arrest protesters for allegedly violating coronavirus regulations
The police, on Wednesday, arrested six protesters for allegedly violating COVID-19 protocols in Ilorin, Kwara State. The protesters are teachers sacked by the Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq government and were protesting the ongoing exercise for recruitment of new teachers. This newspaper, last week, reported how the protesters blocked the gate to the governor’s office, demanding their reabsorption. The protesters had resumed their demonstration on Wednesday. However, the spokesperson of the police in the state, Ajayi Okasanmi, said a woman and five men were arrested for inciting disturbance and violating COVID-19 protocols. Those arrested are Aransiola Olubukun, Salaudeen Abubakar, Mohammed Soliu, Ibahim Alabi, Isiaka Toyin and Adewale Abdulazeez. “This offence was committed in the proce...
Abducted NTA reporter regains freedom
Chidiebere Onyia, a reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), who was abducted on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by gunmen, has regained her freedom. The nursing mother was said to have been released by her abductors in the early hours of Sunday. Newsmen reports that Mrs Onyia was abducted on Tuesday evening at Woji while driving home after work. The police spokesperson in the state, Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed Mrs Onyia’s release in a statement on Sunday, described her release as a “Valentine gift to her family.” “The Rivers Police Command is pleased to announce the unconditional release of Chidiebere Onyia, a reporter with NTA Port Harcourt, who was kidnapped last week. “Her release was made possible due to the intense pressure mounted by the command as directed by ...
Security forces burst arms stockpile in Ebonyi
Nigerian security forces have burst arms stockpiles at Effium in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State after a joint security operation. An intelligence source told PRNigeria that a combined team of security forces recorded the huge success in a major sting operation carried out by the Department of State Services (DSS) in collaboration with the Nigerian Army in the early hours of 12th February, 2021 at Effium. Items recovered during the operation included: an AK-47 rifle; One (1) G3 rifle; a pump action rifle; double barreled Dane gun; five single barreled Dane guns; two locally made pistols; locally made revolver pistol and 592 different calibers of ammunition including those for General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) and AK-47 rifles. Though the DSS Spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, whe...
Police warn against unlawful gathering in Osun
The Police in Osun has warned against unlawful gathering or blocking of free-flow of traffic in the state. In a statement by the police spokesperson in the state, Yemisi Opalola, the police said it had information that some unscrupulous elements were planning to start an #EndSARS solidarity protest in the state. “The intelligence availed the command revealed that some unscrupulous elements are planning to embark on unlawful gathering, in solidarity with #EndSARS protesters elsewhere. “The commissioner of police has advised that this unlawful plan should be jettisoned. “He has warned that the command will not condone any act that will jeopardise the peace and tranquillity presently enjoyed in the state. “Note also that gathering of any sort now is unlawful and a violation of COVID-19 laws. ...
Police: Wole Soyinka’s house not attacked
The Police in Ogun State on Wednesday refuted social media reports that the home of Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, located in the Kemta area of Abeokuta, the state capital, was attacked by suspected herdsmen The police spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a statement said contrary to the reports, the incident was triggered by a stray cow sighted on Tuesday “within the vicinity of Soyinka’s home”. “The attention of Ogun State Police Command has been drawn to a video circulating on social media about a purported attack of Nobel Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka’s house by Fulani herdsmen and the command wishes to set the record straight,” Oyeyemi said. The police spokesperson said “one Kazeem, an indigene of Ijeun, who is into the cattle business, was informed by his cattle herder, Awalu Muhammed, tha...
Nigerian legislature poorest in the world – Reps spokesperson
The Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, on Tuesday said the National Assembly is the poorest parliament in the world. Kalu stated this while responding to a question on the status of investigative reports and alleged compromise of the lawmakers on some of the reports. He refuted the claims of compromise and blamed COVID-19 for the delays on consideration of the reports. Kalu added that the lawmakers are falling sick due to pressure from constituents making financial demands. “As per being compromised, you would have seen it on the lawmakers. This is the poorest parliament. You don’t see the lawmakers living in luxury. Compromised with what? With position or money? These guys are suffering,” Kalu said. “That is why most of the sickness they are passing through are h...
U.S. threatens to take action against detainers of Myanmar’s president, others
The U.S. has threatened to take action against those responsible for the detention of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as President Win Myint in Myanmar. “The United States is alarmed by reports that the Burmese military has taken steps to undermine the country’s democratic transition, including the arrest of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and other civilian officials in Burma (Myanmar). “President (Joe) Biden has been briefed by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan,” White House Spokesperson Jen Psaki said in a statement. Earlier, Western media reported that Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint were detained along with other members of Myanmar’s ruling party in an early morning military raid on Monday. “We continue to affirm our strong support for Burma’s democratic ins...
