The Police Command in Akwa Ibom says it has rescued five children who were allegedly abducted by unknown person from their parents in Mbiakpan Ikot Idim village, Obio Ibiono area of the state.The Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, disclosed this at news conference in Uyo on Monday, adding that the suspect had been apprehended.

He said the command on Nov. 14 received a call from a woman that five of her children had been taken away by an unknown man on a motorcycle. The Command’s operatives immediately swung into action in the company of villagers from Mbiakpan Ikot Idim and Obio Ibiono.“The suspect was given a hot chase and arrested at Obio Ibiono. The five children were rescued unhurt and reunited with their parents.“The motorcycle used by the suspect in committing the crime was also recovered,” Eribo said.In another incident, The CP said that operatives of the command, while on patrol along Ikot Ekpene/Uyo Highway, on Nov. 27,;received a distress call from a woman that some armed men attempted to kidnap her husband.He said that the operatives on patrol swung into action, on getting to the scene, the armed assailants opened fire in a bid to escape, leading to exchange of gunfire between the police and the assailants.He added that during the gun duel, one suspect was neutralised and others escaped the scene on a motorcycle.“The following items were recovered from the scene; one cut-to-size AK-47 rifle, four rounds of ammunition and one empty shell.“Others are one bag containing substances suspected to be charms and one business card bearing the name of a certain individual,” he said.Eribo added that the command, based on intelligence report, stormed a gun factory and arrested a notorious gun runner and recovered arms and equipment used in manufacturers guns.“Based on credible information at the Command’s disposal, operatives stormed a gun-making factory where firearms of various makes were fabricated and sold to criminals.“During the operation, one male suspect was arrested, while his father and his brothers, who jointly run the business, fled.“The following items were recovered; seven newly made single-barrel guns, five newly made double-barrel guns, one special steel double-trigger pistol and one broken single-barrel gun,” he said.The commissioner of police said that all the suspects would be charged to Court as soon as investigations were concluded.He assured Akwa Ibom residents that the command would continue to intensify its efforts against crime and stand firm in its duty to protect lives and property. (NAN)

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has described 2024 as the most challenging for workers in the country.Mr Joe Ajaero, the NLC President, said this at the 2024 “Harmattan School” on Monday in Abuja, with theme “Trade unions and the Quest for a New Social Contract”.The Harmattan School, an annual event organised by the NLC, serves as a platform for capacity-building, knowledge sharing, and strategic planning.

He said that 2024 for workers in the country was filled with harrowing hardship. “I welcome you a year that we have witnessed one of the greatest turbulence in our history as a movement.“It was a period where we were invaded, ransacked, and subjected to the highest level of threats, intimidation,” he said.Ajaero charged workers participating in the harmattan school to actively engage in the training which according to him, was aimed at preparing workers for the engagement and negotiation for the new social contract.According to him, this year’s harmattan school affords the opportunity to dissect all that has happened to the NLC during the year, assess their dynamics, and initiate actionable steps to make ourselves stronger and better.“We believe that in those events, we have emerged stronger, more resilient and better position to deliver on the expectations of Nigerian workers and people,” he said.He said that those events were attempts to weaken and undermine the capacity of theNLC as a movement to deliver on the job to its primary and secondary constituencies.“The articulation and protection of workers rights is our primary responsibility, and anything we do that does not approximate to that amounts to failure.“We are, therefore, left with no other choice than to focus with greater determination and zeal on this mission of making our working places and our nation, to yield better results,,’”he said.Dr Vanessa Phala, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Country Director to Nigeria, charged trade unions to unite and engage governments to find solutions to some of the harrowing challenges workers were grappling with.She said that the ILO expected a new social contract based on rebuilding trust in institutions.“It must be inclusive, and it must protect and ensure participation of all those that are involved.“We know that inspite of the newly negotiated minimum wage that was approved, the rising cost of goods and services is really not making it to have the impact that we want to see.“I charge the conversation in the harmattan school to focus on identifying the kind of social contract that will take Nigeria forward,” she said.She said that the concept of social contract was important, adding that it gives opportunity to take stock.“I expect that the conclusion of this school will identify the priorities of the NLC and how it will engage on policy discussions with the leadership of the country,”she said.(NAN)

The Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board has urged intending pilgrims from the state to pay their Hajj fare on or before Jan. 1, 2025.This is contained in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the board, Sulaiman Dederi, issued to newsmen on Monday in Kano.Dederi quoted the Board’s Director-General, Alhaji Lamin Danbappa, as saying this during a joint meeting with board’s staff and Local Government Hajj Center Officers in his office in Kano.

According to this statement, “the deadline aligns with 2025 Hajj Calendar issued by National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), which mandates all states to remit their intending pilgrims’ details to the commission on or before Jan. 7, 2025.“Intending pilgrims are encouraged to complete their deposit as late payment may result in exclusion from the 2025 Hajj exercise.”The statement urged local government Hajj center officers to intensify efforts to meet their seat allocation targets.It also called for innovative strategies to boost seat sales to fulfill the state’s obligation within the stipulated timeframe.(NAN)