NEWS
Community Raises Alarm over Herdsmen Activities in Kogi

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
President of Igala Cultural and Development Association (ICDA), Alhaji Abubakar Amodu, has raised the alarm over negative activities of herdsmen in the Eastern Senatorial District of Kogi state.
He listed destruction of farm crops, rapping, kidnapping and robbery of innocent citizens as parts of the negative activities of the herdsmen in the area.
The ICDA president, who cried out during the inauguration of the over N100million Ultra Modern Igala Unity House at Anyigba, by the State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, appealed to the state government for urgent intervention to curb the development.
He said the building of the Unity House was aimed at fostering the needed peace and unity for the overall development of Igala land.
“The House will serve as an interaction venue on issues affecting the entire zone as well as hosting festivities and other cultural activities”, he said.
Amodu disclosed that the successful completion of the project was made possible through donations from well meaning illustrious sons and daughters of the Igala Kingdom with a whopping support of N50million from the state governor.
The governor, while performing the inauguration ceremony appealed that the House should serve as a rallying point for all the Igala people stressing that the effort in constructing the new edifice is a begging of more goodies to come to the zone under his administration.
Bello who described the Unity House as a symbol of peace and love in Igala land commended all those that contributed to the completion of the project.
The governor said that he will ever remain proud of the Igala Nation and thanked the people for their steadfast support to the success of his administration considering their strength as the largest and more populated section of the state.
He promised to complete all the ongoing projects in the zone, namely construction of Idah-Ajaka-Umomi-Ugwalawo-Anyigba-Road, Okpo-Ibana-Ogugu-Road as well as rural electrification, drilling of boreholes for supply of potable water and control of erosion across communities in the district.
Also speaking at the event, the Chief of Staff to the governor, Edward Onoja appreciated the financial support of the entire Bello’s cabinet as well as the State Assembly Members towards the completion of the project describing the gesture as a demonstration of love for the Igala People.
The Attah Igala, Dr. Michael Idakwo Ameh Oboni (11), in his speech, stressed the need for all his subjects both at home and in the diaspora to join hands in the preservation of the Igala rich cultural heritage.
His Royal Majesty also called for the prevailing peace in the land by all and sundry affirming that no development can take place in any given society worldwide under the atmosphere of rancour and acrimony among citizens.
CRIME
Troops arrest 10 Robbers, rescue 3 Victims in Kaduna

By Gom Mirian, Abuja
The military high command, yesterday said its troops deployed on internal operations in Kaduna state has arrested ten armed robbery suspects at Kafanchan town in Jema’a local government area of the state.
A statement issued by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Bernard Onyeuko stated the names of the arrested suspects as: Messrs Manga Ismail, a 22 – year-old, Idris Haruna (Ban Sambo), 20- year-old, Sani Bali, 19- year-old.
Others are Shamsudeen Ladan, 25 – year-old, Abdulmajid Yau (Sele), 22 – year – old , Abubakar Hassan, 23 – year-old, Abbas Aliyu, 15 – year-old, Mohammed Umar (Jazuli), 17 – year – old, Jonathan Vincent (Bamai), 19 – year-old and Stephen Joseph, 25 – year-old.
According to him, items recovered from the criminals include: TV, DVD, gas cookers, Mattresses, woofer, phones, scissors, among others.
Gen. Onyeuko also said on the same day, troops acting on intelligence reports, conducted a cordon search operation at Fanock Village, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State and found a Toyota Corolla car with registration number ABUJA KUJ 452 AZ with no occupant.
Onyeuko explained that Troops conducted search operations in the surrounding bush and rescued 3 kidnaped civilians comprising two females and a male.
Speaking further, he said :”Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN in a sustained effort to eliminate criminals elements in their Area of operation on 28 June 2022 based credible intelligence conducted clearance operation in conjunction with vigilantes at Kan Duniya Village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Plateau State, neutralized notorious bandit and kidnapper.
“Similarly, on the same day, troops on fighting patrol sighted 2 x suspected kidnappers around Sara High Ground Mangu Local Government Area Plateau State on a motor cycle, suspects abandoned their motor cycle on sighting troops and fled.
” Troop exploited area and recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 101 rounds of 7.62mm special, 5 magazines, 1 motor cycle, 1 iron digger and 2 black jackets amongst others”, he said.
Foreign News
Husband of Slain Kenyan Runner Tirop Seeks Plea Bargain

The husband of slain Kenyan distance runner Agnes Tirop is seeking a plea bargain after initially denying a charge of murder, his lawyer said yesterday.
Tirop, a rising star in the world of athletics, was killed last October in her home in Iten, a high-altitude training hub in western Kenya for top runners.
Emmanuel Ibrahim Rotich was arrested after a dramatic late-night chase the day after Tirop’s body was found with stab wounds, and has been in custody ever since.
The 41-year-old denied a charge of murder at a November court appearance.
But in the latest twist in the legal saga, his lawyer Ngigi Mbugua told the Eldoret High Court that Rotich was willing to plead guilty to a lesser charge in the hope of attracting a more lenient sentence.
The prosecution said it was not against the idea of a plea bargain but wanted Tirop’s family to be involved in the process.
A hearing on Rotich’s request will take place on 22 September.
NEWS
HEDA Petitions ICPC over Allegations against Ex-CJN

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the allegations against the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Chairman, HEDA, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, yesterday in Lagos.
Suraju, in a letter to the Chairman of ICPC, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, urged the commission to stand tall over the allegations of corruption, maladministration and incompetence leveled against Muhammad.
“As a leading anti-corruption organisation in Nigeria and non-partisan human rights and development league, we call on the ICPC to commence investigation into the budgetary allocation, utilisation and development process of the judiciary with a view to sanitisation of that critical arm of government,” he said.
Suraju said it was widely reported that the immediate past CJN responded to the allegations brought against him by 14 Justices on the aforementioned allegations.
“It is unarguable that the judiciary is the last hope of the helpless and its judges are only meant to be heard and not seen.
“However, these allegations made by fellow Justices of the apex court against the CJN cannot be overlooked as it is weighty and must be diligently investigated by the commission in order to protect that vital institution.
“If the Supreme Court of Nigeria is infested with corrupt persons, then our democracy is doomed, ICPC and others relevant bodies should rise and act fast to redeem the temple of justice from possible collapse,” HEDA said. (NAN)