COVER
Bandits Seize 150 in Sokoto as IGP Presents 20 Medical Students
By David Torough, Abuja
As the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun was set to present the 20 medical students rescued from abductors to the general public yesterday, bandits reportedly invaded Gobir community in Sokoto State and kidnapped over 150 people.The medical students arrived Force Headquarters alongside the IGP yesterday for a briefing at about 5:30 pm.
The medical students were kidnapped on August 15, and were released on Friday. Police said no ransom was paid for the release. They were kidnapped in Benue State while on a journey to Enugu.As the IGP was involved with the students, news filtered through that bandits invaded Gobir and took away 150 people.The people of Gobir were mourning their Emir, Alhaji Isa Muhammad Bawa murdered by bandits when the bandits struck again.A university teacher, Prof Bello Bada disclosed yesterday, ”This is not the first time a prominent monarch was attacked, but this is the first time a prominent monarch was murdered.”The professor said, “The bandits had made a similar attempt on the life of the Emir of Potiskum while he was on the way to Zaria but he narrowly escaped.“The Emir of Kauran Namoda escaped death by whiskers, but members of his entourage were killed by the bandits.”“In Zuru community, a monarch was slaughtered by these bandits, but after some few days, these heinous acts would be completely forgotten as if nothing ever happened, until the bandits strike again. “He said such acts should not be left unchecked and allowed to become a recurring decimal, adding that the bandits are coming from well-known places so appropriate action be taken against them.A security analyst, Dr Yahuza Getso said that the security operatives who were complacent and allowed the late Emir of Gobir to be murdered by bandits after spending over three weeks in captivity, should be punished.He warned that there was palpable tension in Gobir community after the gruesome murder of the Emir, as the activities of the bandits have caused deep division among the native Gobirawa, Hausa and the Fulani people in the area.“The leaders of these bandits terrorising the Northwest region are well known, their places of origin are known, their parents and these who supply them with means of logistic are all known.”Similarly, the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) yesterday described as “worrisome”, the state of the nation under the watch of President Bola Tinubu.The bishops warned that Nigeria is at the moment “sitting on a ticking time bomb”, and urged the president to address all the issues bedeviling the nation to avert the impending doom.the conference predicted that as long as poverty, hardship and corruption continue to be the lot of Nigerian youths, the nation should be ready to contend with more youths protests.The episcopal gathering expressed grave concern about the nation’s growing debt burden adding that “servicing huge debts to international monetary agencies and sourcing for funds internally to balance budget deficit led to the economic reforms by Tinubu consisting mainly in the withdrawal of fuel subsidies and the floating of naira.President of the Catholic Bishops Conference, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, the Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Diocese and the President Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, spoke at the opening Session of the 2024 Second Plenary Assembly of the (CBCN), taking place at Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.Declaring the Conference open, Ugorji said the future of the nation depends on how the challenges bedeviling the nation are tackled.He expressed optimism that absolute trust in God would transform Nigeria.On the state of nation he said, “On August 4th, 2024, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, enumerated the achievements of his administration.
“While we recognise that notable progress has been made in some sectors or our national life, we cannot fail to admit that the present state of the nation is worrisome. Even though insecurity remains one of our major challenges.
“As our national economy continues to decline and continue to reduce millions to a life of multidimensional poverty and untold hardship, the Nigerian youths embarked on a nation wide protest tagged #EndBadGovernance from 1 to 10th August 2024.
“The protest was aimed at publicly voicing out their disappointment and frustration on the ills bedeviling the nation. Although Nigeria have the constitutional right to express their grievances through peaceful protests, there was widespread concern could be hijacked by miscreants.
“Likewise we condemn in strong terms the killing of some protesting youths by security operatives . We pray for the happy repose of the dead, the speedy recovery of the injured and the consolation of the bereaved.
“We wish to stress that as long as the nation is afflicted with poverty, hardship and corruption, and as long as the future of youths in our nation remains bleak, we continue to reckon with youth protest. Rather than address the tide of ill trying to drown the nation, some government officials are busy passing the buck and looking for scapegoat.
“We are indeed sitting on a ticking time-bomb as security operatives try to crack down on some of those involved and their sponsors on perceived trumped up charges, raising concern whether they are trying to strip citizens of their democratic rights and freedoms to protests or give the impression that everything in the country was fine and there was really no need for the protest. This is delusional and condemnable.”
By Tony Obiechina Abuja
African Export-Import Bank has signed a $1.35bn financing facility in favour of Dangote Industries Limited.A statement from Afreximbank disclosed that the facility is part of a larger $4bn syndicated financing arrangement for Dangote Industries Limited in which Afreximbank acted as the Mandated Lead Arranger for the syndication.
This financing, one of the largest syndicated loans in recent African financial markets, will refinance capital expended on constructing the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Complex, the biggest single-train refinery in the world with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day. The financing alleviates initial operational expenditures and enhances DIL’s balance sheet, supporting its continued growth trajectory.Afreximbank contributed $1.35bn, the largest share among participating banks, underscoring its commitment to large-scale infrastructure that advances Africa’s industrialisation, energy security, and intra-African trade.Commenting on the development, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Afreximbank, Professor Benedict Oramah, said “with this landmark deal, we once again demonstrate that Africa’s development can only be meaningfully financed from within. It is only when African institutions lead the way that others can follow. The journey to utilise African resources for its own economic transformation is well underway.“Through the bank’s funding support, we are enhancing the capacity of the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Industries Ltd to produce and supply high-quality refined petroleum products to the Nigerian market, as well as for export to the entire continent and the world. Our energy security is in sight.”President/Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, added, “Afreximbank’s contribution to this milestone financing underscores our shared vision to industrialise Africa from within. This refinancing strengthens our balance sheet and accelerates with ease the refinery’s supply of high-quality refined petroleum products across Africa.”Afreximbank said that since operations at the refinery complex began in February 2024, it has continued to support the Dangote Refinery by providing key financing solutions for crude supply and product offtake, ensuring uninterrupted operations and reinforcing its role in Africa’s most significant refining intervention.The syndicated facility attracted strong participation from leading African and international financial institutions, reflecting enduring confidence in Africa’s industrial potential and Dangote’s vision in transforming Africa.
By James Samuel, Abuja
Ghana’s Ministers of Defense and Environment died after a military helicopter crashed, killing all eight people on board, a government spokesman and the armed forces said on Wednesday.Among the dead were Edward Omane Boamah, the Minister of Defense and Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Chief of Staff to the President of Ghana, Julius Debrah, said in a televised news conference on Wednesday.
“I have the unpleasant duty, suddenly, to announce a national tragedy involving the crash of a military helicopter this morning,” Mr. Debrah said. It was not immediately clear why the helicopter crashed.The deaths were announced hours after Ghana’s armed forces said in a post on social media that a helicopter traveling from Accra, the capital, to a mining community in the Ashanti region had gone “off the radar.” The post said efforts were being made to re-establish contact.The armed forces subsequently confirmed the deaths of all on-board the helicopter in a statement on social media. It extended condolences to the families and said investigations were underway to determine the cause of the crash.Also killed were the acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Muniru Mohammed; the Vice Chair of the National Democratic Congress political party, Samuel Sarpong; the Deputy Director General of Ghana’s Disaster Relief Agency, Samuel Aboagye; and three members of the military, including the pilot, according to Debrah.The officials were headed to a gathering on illegal mining at the Obuasi Black Park in the Ashanti region as part of a broader government effort to encourage responsible practices, according to local news reports.The gathering was meant to bring together Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, along with other government and local leaders, mining association members and development partners, according to a program line-up posted online by officials ahead of the event. Obuasi is about 170 miles northwest of the capital.As a result of the national tragedy, the Chief of Staff said all flags would immediately be flown at half-staff until further notice. Tinubu Condoles with Ghanaian President President Bola Tinubu has sent his “deepest condolences” to President John Mahama, the government and people of Ghana following the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, and six others. Tinubu assured his Ghanaian counterpart and indeed all Ghanaians that the thoughts and prayers of the government and people of Nigeria were with them during this time of “profound national loss”. In a statement in Abuja last night, Special Adviser to the President(Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga said the President urged the Ghanaian nation and the bereaved families and friends to find comfort in the knowledge that their loved ones died in the line of patriotic service to the country.
From Al-amin Tubo, Maiduguri and Attah Ede, Makurdi
No fewer than 24,000 Nigerians were declared missing by their families since 2015, as a result of insecurity that has affected most parts of the country, the International Committee of the Red Cross ( ICRC ) data has revealed.In Benue however, the state Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 176 suspects for allegedly committing various crimes in the Month of July.
Team Leader for Protection of Family Links of ICRC, María Toscano, who released data about the missing persons at a media workshop in Maiduguri said the international body was still on the trace of the missing persons. Referencing the data, the diplomat said Borno had the highest number of the missing persons with about 9,000 out of the 16,000 registered by ICRC in the North-East region.According to her, 11 persons have so far been reunited with their families this year, in addition to the 13 persons that were reintegrated with their families in 2024.Toscano said of the 24,000 registered missing persons, 71 per cent of the incidents occurred from 2014 – 2015, adding that Bama Local Government Area of Borno had the highest caseload of about 5,000 missing persons.The diplomat also said 65 per cent of those missing in the North-East were children at the time they were missing.Toscano, however, identified lack of access to conflict-affected areas and difficulties in contacting families, among the challenges faced by ICRC in the course of its assignment. Head of ICRC sub-delegation in Maiduguri, Diana Japaridze, in her speech, expressed concern over the increasing rate of missing persons and families, who were yet to be reunited after suffering displacement due to armed conflict for over a decade.“Some people spend years searching for loved ones, often with no result. Families have a right to know their fate.“In the chaos of armed conflict, situations of violence and disasters, families can become separated in a matter of minutes, creating anguish and vulnerability and sometimes leading to long years of uncertainty about the fate of children, spouses or parents,” she said.Japaridze urged media practitioners to contribute to awareness creation and draw the public’s attention to the needs of missing persons“While States should raise public awareness of the problem of missing persons as a fundamental concern of international humanitarian law and human rights law, the mass media must draw the public attention to this problem and the needs of families of missing persons.“We hope the knowledge and discussions we are going to share and have during the training will help you, the media professionals, research on the topic more deeply, ask better questions, write quality content, and thus report it in a more professional, unbiased, and empathetic manner,” she said.Police Arrest 176 Suspects for Various Crimes in Benue The Police Command in Benue has confirmed the arrest of 176 suspects for allegedly committing various crimes in July.Mr Ifeanyi Emenari, Commissioner of Police (CP), Benue Command, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press conference in Makurdi.Emenari said that the suspects were arrested for cult activities, armed robbery, banditry, theft and culpable homicide, among others.The CP said that out of the 176,arrested persons, 22 were held for alleged cultism, 26 for alleged armed robbery, while others were for other various offences.He also stated that the command within the said period recovered 30 different types of arms, 4,000 different types of ammunition, 8 motorcycles, one tricycle and two vehicles from the criminals.Emenari explained further that some of the arms recovered included four rocket launchers, 12 AK-47s, 11 locally made pistols and four locally fabricated rifles, among others.The CP added that the command, in collaboration with other security agencies, has successfully destroyed all the bandits’ camps in Benue.He pointed out that with the destruction of the bandits camps, many locals have returned to their ancestral homes and farms in most parts of the state.Emenari said that criminals committing all kinds of atrocities and hiding under cover of bandits would be arrested and prosecuted.The CP announced that he has relocated the area commander overseeing Otukpo axis to Agatu with strict orders to apprehend all criminals terrorising the area.According to him, the command was conducting series of operations and raids in Sankara axis to ensure that all the bandits and other criminal elements terrorising the area were apprehended.“A large number of bandits have been repelled from these areas, while some were neutralised in the course of these operations.“It is important at this point to mention that some police officers lost their lives during these operations.“While we commiserate with their friends and families, we remain committed to this course, as our dear state cannot be left in the hands of criminals.“Our desire is to provide security to all Benue residents, and the command under my watch in the month of July has been able to reduce crime to the barest minimum and will continue to ensure that the state is crime-free.“Measures put in place during the period under review include planned operations in the hinterlands to raid communities of bandits, patrols within the metropolis, intelligence gathering for proactive policing, raids of black spots and stop and search operations,” he said.
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