President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday approved new security measures for the Southeast and South-South regions of the country.
This was one of the outcomes of the series of security meetings held in the last eleven days and concluded on Tuesday in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, made this discloser to State House Correspondents after the meeting.
He, however, declined to give details.
The president also approved a memo presented by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd), on the control of drugs, which he said are enablers of Insecurity, but did not also elaborate.
The NSA said the meeting stressed the need to address the security challenges in the country particularly those that have arisen in the last few months.
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury‘s epic all-British undisputed fight has finally been confirmed by promoter Eddie Hearn who says it will take place in Saudi Arabia on either August 7 or 14.
Boxing fans have been early awaiting news over the highly-anticipated showdown between the pair, which will determine the best fighter on the planet, but talks have dragged on for months – with both teams growing frustrated over the slow nature of negotiations.
But Hearn, who has been leading the discussions for some time and has assured that the fight will go ahead for many weeks, has revealed a date for the clash and said it would be held in Saudi Arabia – where Joshua beat Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019.
‘August 7/August 14,’ Hearn told Sky Sports News when asked about a date for the fight. ‘I think it’s a very bad secret that the fight’s happening in Saudi Arabia.
‘I don’t mind giving you that information, Bob Arum’s already done it.’
Hearn hailed the ‘fantastic’ organisers in the Middle East and backed them to put on a top event after the successful bout between Joshua and Ruiz Jr nearly two years ago, and insists both sides are ‘ready to go’.
‘It’s the same people we did the deal with for Andy Ruiz – that event was spectacular.
‘As partners they were fantastic as well, so we’re very comfortable.
‘Anthony is comfortable, he knows those people, they delivered on every one of their promises last time. We’re ready to go.’
It won’t be the first time Fury has fought in Saudi Arabia – having made a surprise appearance in the WWE – beating Braun Strowman in the country in October 2019.
There had been huge question marks over the fight as the weeks dragged on without any official announcement – with Fury and his promoters Arum and Frank Warren all pouring doubt over whether it would take place.
This week Warren said Fury was unhappy with his contract and would not be signing it in its current state, while Arum last month declared the bout ‘dead in the water’ while Hearn frantically attempted to sign off a site deal.
And Joshua himself waded into the back-and-forth words as he said he wanted ‘less talk, more action from Fury’, after the Gypsy King’s tirade about the Watford-born fighter on social media – describing himself as a ‘ ‘spartan’, while calling Joshua a ‘big bum dosser’.
Fury claimed he would quit on his stool if Joshua made it past three rounds with him in their fight, prompting stern words from the four-belt world champion.
‘Spartan,’ he wrote on Twitter as he addressed Fury. ‘I’m tired. My fans are tired. Your fans are tired. We’re all tired of the talk. Less talk. More action!’
Previously Warren had admitted there were a few ‘humps’ to sort out before the deal could be properly thrashed out, telling SecondsOut: ‘You can only sign a contract when all the parties agree on it,’ the promoter said.
‘And we’ve got a contract at the moment that all the parties don’t agree on. We’ve got a contract at the moment that Tyson Fury will not sign.
‘One of the things in that contract that will enable us to get over the hump is the guarantees. If the guarantees are there, then it’s not a problem.
‘That’s where it is. I’m not going down the road of where the fight’s going to take place, who those negotiations are with because it’s all moot at the moment.
‘Until we agree the terms, until Tyson Fury – which is who we’re with – until he’s happy with the terms it won’t get signed. And he’s not happy at the moment.’
But through all the uncertainty, Hearn has always been adamant that the fight would go head this summer and that it had been agreed by both parties.
Earlier this month he hit back at Arum’s ‘dead in the water’ jibe and insisted the bout was ‘on’ and ‘happening’.
‘This fight is on, this fight is happening. As I told everyone last week, back and forwards with the drafts.
‘I saw Bob Arum’s comments, “The fight is dead”. I don’t know where that came from.
‘We know what we’re doing and that’s now been acknowledged by the other side, which is nice.’
It was rumoured that there would be an official announcement after Canelo Alvarez’ win over Billy Joe Saunders in Dallas on Saturday night, but Hearn said they weren’t quite in the right position – admitting lawyers were still thrashing out the terms.
‘Fury is on board, AJ is on board, they’ve all signed the site agreement, but it’s a lot of money,’ he said. ‘Unfortunately I can’t just tell the lawyers to hurry up.
‘But that fight is done, and you’ll get an announcement very soon.’
A Pastor with the Deeper Life Bible Church at Irese town, Akure South local government simply identified as Ogedengbe has been abducted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.
The incident happened on Monday evening at the church premises.
A member of the church who confirmed his abduction to Newsfocusng said the abductors came in a black Corolla car.“He was kidnapped inside the church. They came with a black Corolla sport car. They took only him away,”
However, Ondo Police spokesman, ASP Tee-Leo Ikoro, confirmed the abduction and said investigation has commenced.
Pastor Ogedengbe is a retired director in the state Ministry of Education.
Troops of 8 Division, Nigerian Army operating in Zamfara and adjoining states revealed that they made tremendous progress in the ongoing fight against banditry and other violent crimes in the North-west.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, said they successfully cleared many bandits’ camps in Jaya, Kadaya, and Bayan Ruwa amongst several others and successfully neutralised 48 bandits.
They added that the bandits’ leader in the area Jummo sustained a gunshot wound on his leg while the troops rescued 18 kidnap victims from the bandits’ enclave.
However, eight AK-47 rifles and one G3 rifle, as well as one PKT and a machine gun were recovered from the bandits.
The division had earlier launched Operation Tsare Mutane following the directives of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru for the division to stabilise the area in order to facilitate the return of socio-economic activities.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Division, Maj. Gen. Usman Yusuf launched the first phase of Operation Tsare Mutane which lasted from March 23 to April 2, 2021 in Maradun LGA of Zamfara State.
In continuation with the second phase of Operation Tsare Mutane, troops sacked several other bandits’ camps around Gabiya, Bozaya, and Mereri and the adjoining forests in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State from 19 April to 3 May 2021.
The statement further stated that; “The areas which were heavily infested by bandits were successfully cleared by the highly spirited troops.
“Key bandits’ leaders including Yellow Mai-Bille, Sani Meli, Dan-Katsina, and Sama’ila Bakajin Bari were neutralised in the process while the main leader Nasanda narrowly escaped with fatal injuries.
“Equally neutralised in the operation was one Isan Heshi who is a close ally of a notorious bandit called Nagala. Isan Heshi was the second in command to Heshi before he joined Nagala following Heshi’s death in an earlier operation,” the statement read in part.
Items recovered in the second phase of Operation Tsare Mutane include 4,600 rounds of ammunition, two AK-103 rifles, eight AK-47 magazines, 1,628 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, fifty-four rounds of PKM as well as one motorcycle and five Techno mobile phones.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met with Nigeria’s Security Chiefs at the State House in Abuja.
The meeting came 24 hours after armed robbers attempted to attack the residence of the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari, on Monday night.
The Presidency announced the meeting via its Twitter handle but did not give details of its agenda.
However, the meeting is expected to review the current security situation in the country.
Before the meeting, there had been previous security meetings on Friday, April 30, and Monday, May 4 respectively.
The meeting, which started at about 10 am, held at the Conference Hall of the Office of the First Lady.
“Security Meeting ongoing, at the State House. President @MBuhari presiding, Vice President, SGF, NSA, Ministers, Service Chiefs, IGP, Intelligence Chiefs in attendance. #AsoVillaToday #SecuringNigeria,” the presidency tweeted.
Among others at the meeting are the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha; the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari; and the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno.
Also in attendance is the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema; Minister of Defense, Major-General Bashir Salihi Magashi (Retd.) and Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
The Outspoken Enugu Catholic Priest, Fr. Ejike Mbaka has announced a one-month shutdown of the Adoration Ministry as he proceed on a one -month retreat.
He made the announcement in a notice on Tuesday morning.
This decision, it was gathered, followed the order to him by the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Bishop Calistus Onaga to embark on a one -month retreat.
The ministry sent out an alert on Tuesday morning to members that Fr. Mbaka was proceeding on the one-month private prayer retreat.
The statement reads in parts : “Our Spiritual Director, Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka wishes to inform his beloved adorers that he has embarked on a private prayer retreat that will end on 10th June 2021.
“Consequently, no ministry activities shall be held in the ministry ground pending his return.
“He directs that members of the ministry are to observe this period of his retreat as they used to do during the usual January breaks of the ministry, by praying at their homes, being charitable and fasting according to their ability. Adoration! Holy Spirit is our Power.”
Recall that, following the media spat between Mbaka and the Presidency last week, the priest was summoned last Tuesday by the Bishop of the Diocese.
On Wednesday, information on social media went viral that the priest was missing.
His parishioners thereafter embarked on a protest to the Bishop’s Court where they allegedly destroyed properties within the premises.
They were also said to have destroyed properties at the Holy Ghost Cathedral before he later appeared and took them away to New Haven where he addressed them.
But on Sunday, the priest apologised to the Bishop and other catholic faithfuls of the Diocese for the destruction of parts of the Bishop’s court and the Holy Ghost Cathedral by suspected members of his Ministry and Parish.
He also said he was not kidnapped by the Diocese or anybody.
Kidnappers of the 23 students and a member of staff of Greenfield University, Kaduna have raised ransom for the remaining 16 students in their den to N160 million, Newsfocusng gathered.
Recall that they had earlier reduced the N500 million they sought as ransom when the students were 17 to N100 million. The kidnappers also asked that 10 brand-new Honda motorcycles be delivered to them as part of the conditions for the freedom of the abductees..
But we gathered yesterday that the bandits jettisoned the idea of collective payment of the N100 million for individual payments by the parents of the students.
One of the parents who confirmed the development said: “They (bandits) called today(yesterday) and asked me to bring N10 million to get my child out.
According to her; “We don’t even know what to do now. They initially asked for N100 million for all the children, after we had paid them more than N55 million. With this now, it means they are asking for N160 million because there are 16 of our children with them presently.
“We are helpless. When we told them we could not raise N100 million collectively; where do they want us to get N160 million?”
It would be recalled that 23 students and the matron of female student hostel were abducted from the university were abducted on April 20, 2021.
Five of the students were killed few days after the abduction following what the kidnappers called the failure of the parents and the school management to pay N800 hitherto demanded by them.
The bandits last week issued a threat to kill the remaining captives if the ransom which they later reduced to N100 million was not by last Tuesday.
The Operatives of the Ondo State Security Network (Amotekun Corps) have arrested four suspected kidnappers and rescued their victims.
Newsfocusng gathered that the kidnappers abducted three persons who were taking shelter from the rain at a bus stop in the area.
While two of the victims were rescued, they held on to the remaining victim demanding for payment of ransom.
In the course of collecting ransom, one Usman Garuba was arrested by the operatives.
He took security operatives to their hideouts where others were arrested and the remaining female victim was rescued.
Ondo State Amotekun Commander, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, said other security agencies joined in the rescue operation.
According to him; “We were able to rescue two victims that same day but the kidnappers held onto to one. We sold a decoy to them of ransom payment and in the course of that we were able to nab one of them who led us to their hideouts and we arrested others.
“This Umar Garuba has confessed to carrying out other kidnapping activities.
Speaking to journalists, Usman said he was introduced by a man he called his master who promised to give him a job.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has said that Eld-prayers should hold only in Juma’at Mosques premises.
This, according to him is to contain the further spread of the dreaded COVID-19 and stem the third waves.
Bello hinted that having gone through a first wave of COVID-19 pandemic and a second wave that caused more fatalities and had increased number of positives cases, it becomes imperative to prevent a possible third wave as is being witnessed in some countries across the world.
The Minister gave this hint on Monday at a meeting he chaired consisting of the FCTA and a delegation from the FCT League of Imams Initiative led by its Chairman, Imam (Dr) Tajudeen M.B Adigun to discuss the modalities of holding Eid prayers for the upcoming Eid el-Fitr celebrations.
The Minister, however, thanked the religious leaders for their cooperation in the course of the battle against COVID-19 in the FCT, saying, having gone through a first wave of the pandemic and a second wave that caused more fatalities and had increased number of positives, it was imperative to prevent a possible third wave as is being witnessed in some countries across the world.
Consequently, based on presentations made by officials of the Health and Human Services Secretariat of the FCTA and the Implementation Guidelines for Phased Restriction of Movement issued by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 on Monday. 10th May 2021, the following guidelines are hereby issued:
“There will be no Eid prayers at the National Eid prayer ground along the Umaru Musa Yar’adua Expressway (Airport Road); All worshippers are enjoined to hold Eid prayers outdoors within the premises of their neighborhood Juma’at mosques; Indoor worship are to be limited to less than 50% of installed capacity.
“More so, Religious authorities are advised to regulate the flow of people entering and exiting places of worship; All non-pharmaceutical intervention protocols of facial coverings, physical distancing and hand washing are to be observed; and All other Eid celebrations and activities should be confined to homes as all public parks, recreation and entertainment centers are to be closed.”
The League, while speaking during the Chairman of the FCT League of Imams Initiative, Dr Tajudeen Mohammed Bello Adigun said “In Islam, you listen to experts, those who are specialists and those who have actually discussed with us are experts in the field of medical sciences. In Islam, you also abide with the commands of leadership”.
He added “Based on this and what we are convinced of, we urge Muslim Ummah to also respect this stand of the Administration of the FCT by observing our Eid prayers within our localities”.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha on Monday hinted that the surge and violence of infections of the new variant resulting in mass deaths in India, among others, are the reasons the Federal Government re-introduced COVID-19 restrictions.
He explained that the government was being pro-active to prevent a third wave of the virus in the country.
Mustapha stated that; “This step has become compelling in view of the fragile state of our health systems, the disruption to the vaccines delivery and the lack of compliance with the extant public health measures and social measures contained in the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Health Protection Regulations 2021.
“In taking this step, the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) requests the state governments to please step up to play lead roles in the area of enforcement and sanctions.”
He, however, appealed to traditional, religious and community leaders to take up more ownership and responsibility for risk communication and community engagement on the virulent nature of the pandemic, concerns over the variants of concern and the need for compliance.
The new restriction measures announced by PSC incident manager Dr. Mukhtar Mohammed that took immediate effect including:
Nationwide curfew from 12:00am to 4am Restrictions on mass gathering to a maximum of 50 people in an enclosed place Restriction on resumption of workers from GL 12 and below Closure of event centres, bars and night clubs Restaurants to provide eat-ins at 50% capacity People 60 years and above or with ailment advised to stay at home or avoid crowds Dr. Mohammed said military personnel are to monitor and enforce adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions on public transport, that is wearing face masks and maintaining social distance.
He expressed concerns over the shortage of vaccines for the larger population of Nigerians and the delay it would impose on the national rollout programme.
He said the situation was caused by the escalation of the dangerous strain of the virus in India, one of the largest producers of COVID-19 vaccine.
“While our vaccine rollout has begun, there is a shortage in global supplies, affected by the current situation in India. This translates to a delay in vaccinating a large proportion of the population and therefore a risk of a large outbreak, especially in the context of poor adherence to the recommended public health and social measures.
The SGF recalled that the PSC had issued a Travel Advisory which, he said, took into consideration, the utility of travel restrictions, outcomes of epidemiological risk assessment, factors that aid transmission as well as control measures that could be deployed.
He noted that in the Advisory, additional requirements were placed on passengers from India, Turkey and Brazil.
Mustapha regretted that there have been reports of some returning foreign passengers who violated the mandatory quarantine requirement under the advisory by escaping from the facilities.
“We deprecate such violation of the laws of our land and our hospitality. The PSC is awaiting the report of on-going investigations and we wish to assure Nigerians that appropriate sanctions would be imposed on the violators,” he assured.
He remarked that given the challenge of vaccine nationalism compounded by the production situation in India, the PSC is exploring other options to get Nigerians vaccinated.
The SGF reaffirmed that 1,690,719 persons had received their first dose of the vaccine, representing 84% of the targeted persons for this phase.
