State
Rivers court sentences two to death for ritual murder of 8-year old
A High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Wednesday sentenced Ifeanyichukwu Maxwell Dike and Ugochukwu Nwamiro to death for the ritual murder of eight-year-old Victory Chikamso. Justice Adolphus Enebeli in his judgement ruled that Dike, 200-Level Student of Physics at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) be hung on his neck till death while Ugochukwu Nwamiro should be hung on his leg until dead with no option of fine for both convicts. Police Sergeant Johnbosco Okoronze, who was found guilty of aiding and assisting the escape of Dike from police custody before being rearrested in course of his trial, was sentenced to one-year imprisonment. Justice Enebeli said he so sentenced Johnbosco Okoronze because he has served two years in prison already and has been dismissed from the poli...
68 travellers hidden in trucks arrested in Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Ministerial Task-team on the enforcement of COVID-19 Restrictions, on Wednesday, arrested about 68 persons travelling through the territory from various parts of Nigeria. Confirming the incident in Abuja, the Chairman of the task force, Ikharo Attah, lamented the increasing rate in which people violate the ban on interstate travel as announced by President Muhammadu Buhari. According to him: “Drivers of the two Dangote trucks who were coming from Kano and Zaria after delivering goods, they now took passengers who were charged N1,500 each. “Owners of the trucks must do all to ensure their trucks which are meant for haulage of goods are not converted to be illegally transporting persons from one state to another, thus violating the lockdown directives of t...
Governor Wike extends relaxation of Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor lockdown till Sunday
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has extended relaxation of the Covid-19 lockdown he imposed on Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas till Sunday. Wike in a Wednesday evening broadcast said, the total lockdown on the Port Harcourt metropolis, expected to take effect again from Thursday following two days. (Tuesday and Wednesday) breather for residents to restock for food and medicals will now resume 17 May. He said, “In consideration of concerns of our people, and need for residents to replenish their supplies especially, the State Security Council decided to impose night-time curfew and review the effective date of the complete lockdown on Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City LGAs from the Thursday 14 May to Sunday 17 May 2020 by 8.00 p.m.” “Consequently, there will be nigh...
Kebbi discharges four coronavirus patients, total recoveries now five
Kebbi State has discharged four COVID-19 patients from its isolation centre in Kebbi Medical Centre, Kalgo, after they have recovered fully from the virus. The Special Adviser on Media to the State Governor, Yahaya Sarki, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday. The development brought the number of patients that have fully recovered in the state to five. Sarki quoted the chairman of the state task force on COVID-19, Alhaji Jafar Muhammed, as having confirmed the development on Tuesday. He quoted Muhammed as saying that the patients were discharged after they have fully recovered from the virus and had tested negative twice. He explained that their recovery came after they were isolated and treated for two weeks. The statement read, “Muhammed commended all ...
NSCDC intercepts 70 travel ban violators in Oyo
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oyo State Command, on Wednesday, intercepted 70 travellers for allegedly violating the ban on interstate traveling. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the travellers, who occupied three trucks, were intercrpted at 12:52 a.m. at Ogbomoso High School in Ogbomoso South Local Government Area of the state. The state NSCDC Commandant, Iskilu Akinsanya, said that the affected travellers comprised of 69 males and one female. Akinsanya said the trucks with registration numbers, KBK 826 Kano, KTG 137 ZZ and AE61KKR were coming from Bauchi and Kastina States. The commandant said the trucks were heading to Bodija in Oyo State and Alaba in Lagos State and were also carrying 10 motorcycles altogether.He said that men and officers of the co...
Plateau promises to commence palliative measures soon
The Plateau State Government has appealed to its citizens to be patient as it is doing more to commence palliative measures in earnest to alleviate their suffering, adding that it is aware of the people’s anxiety over lack of palliatives to them. The state Deputy Governor and Chairman, State Palliative committee on COVID-19, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, disclosed this Wednesday when it received some palliative items donated to the state by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Idris Maje. Tyoden said: “We are aware of your anxiety over lack of palliatives. In a few days, the exercise will begin in earnest. “Government is aware that you have been on lockdown for over three weeks. We thank you for your compliance. No government is happy to see its citizens suffer, but the times have...
House of Reps order release of Benue coronavirus index case
The House of Representatives has resolved to come to the rescue of Benue State’s coronavirus index case, Susan Idoko, who has accused the government of refusing to release her from isolation despite “not” being infected with the disease. The action of the House followed the unanimous adoption of a motion moved by a member, Blessing Onuh, at plenary on Tuesday. It was entitled, ‘Urgent Need to Look into the Release of Mrs Susan Idoko Okpe, Nee Lawani, Who was Quarantined by the Government Following Misinformation and Diagnosis.’ Adopting the motion, the House resolved to “mandate the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, through the Federal Ministry of Health, to critically evaluate her as a matter of urgency and if proved otherwise, should be allowed to go home.” The parliament also tasked t...
Scores flee as bandits sack Niger communities
File Photo Bandits on Tuesday sacked three communities in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. It was learnt that Galkogo, Farindoki and Rafin seyin communities, made up of about 1,500 people, were forced to abandon their homes as a result of the attack. A source close to one of the affected communities said it began about 12 noon. It was gathered the bandits, numbering about 60, blocked all the entry routes into the communities to prevent the people from escaping. “It is possible the bandits just wanted to show force and at the same time disrupt movement today, being our major market day in Zumba town. “Nobody could go to market today from these three communities because they blocked every road in and out as people scampered to safety, all the vehicles that were heading to Zu...
Rivers PDP expels wanted youth leader
File Photo Ahead of Tuesday’s inauguration of new Rivers State Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party has expelled its Eleme Local Government Area (LGA) Youth Leader, Princewill Osaroejiji, who is wanted for alleged role in demolished Prodest Hotel’s saga. The development comes as elder statesman and PDP stalwart, Prince Emma Anyanwu chided leader of the Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Ralph Uwazuruike, over “hate” comments against Governor Nyesom Wike. A statement by Felix Obuah, outgoing Chairman of Rivers PDP, noted that Osaroejiji of Eleme Alode Ward 2 of the party was being expelled for “insubordination, flagrant rascality, disobedience to directives of the State Government on COVID-19 and acts of criminality.” Obuah furt...
Four herdsmen killed in fresh crisis with Tiv farmers in Nasarawa
A fresh clash between Tiv farmers and Fulani herdsmen has led to the death of four the latter in Kadarko community, Keana Local government area of Nasarawa state during the weekend. The clash occurred as a result of a fight that broke out between a Tiv farmer and a Fulani herdsman who encroached into his land, leading a herd of cows to graze on the farm land. The farmer who could not bear the sight of his crops munched by the herd of cows confronted the Fulani herdsman who in turn, brought out a machete and charged towards the Tiv farmer. The police command in Nasarawa state, through the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ramham Nansel confirmed the incident and assured that investigation is being carried out on the killing of four Fulani herdsmen. The police spokesman said that the D...
Borno to fix state hotels, four industries to boost revenue
Borno Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Tuesday began measures towards the resuscitation of the Maiduguri International hotel, the state hotel, and four industries that will enhance the state’s internally generated revenue. Zulum started by assessing the two hotels, Borno Fertilizer Company Ltd, NIETAL Shoes and Ternary Factory, Borno Steel and Wire Industry and Borno Supply Company, all in the state capital. At the state hotel, Zulum directed the complete rehabilitation and face lift of the hotel, while repairs for others are to also begin after technical evaluation. At Maiduguri International Hotels, which currently houses the headquarters of super camp one, operation lafiya dole, Governor Zulum assessed the section of the hotel burnt by a fire outbreak in 2011. The Governor, at the stat...
Group task Anambra to provide for, protect orphaned children in care homes
A non-governmental organization, Greater Awka Allies International, GAAI has urged Anambra State government to ensure the protection of children in orphanages as the COVID-19 outbreak persists. The group said children and the elderly are the most vulnerable to the novel Coronavirus, and that children living in orphanages are more vulnerable because they live in a place where they lack parental care. Leader of the group, Hon Chinemerem Oguegbe who stated this during a visit of his group to Model Community Children Orphanage Home charged the government to provide exceptional care for them. Oguegbe said the visit of his group to the orphanage was inspired by the need to show love to the children at a time when other children are kept out of school and securely at home with their parents becau...
