The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized illicit drugs worth over N600 million at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Rivers State.
Isaac Aloye, the commander of the agency at the airport disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the activities of the Command in the past four months in line with the International Day Against Drug Abuse which was marked on June 26.
According to him, 37.6 Kilogram of Cocaine worth about N680 million have been intercepted within the said period and five suspects were arrested.
Aloye said that some of the suspects were returnees from Brazil who concealed the drugs in lawn mowers, duvets, and cosmetics bottles.
“Substantial parts of these drugs are even meant for local consumption and circulation within Rivers State here. You know the kind of massive impact it will have in the minds of our citizens,” he said.
“From our own arrest here, we didn’t just pick these people. Immediately they arrive, we try to debrief them. We try to find out who and who are waiting for them to pick them up from the airport.
“What happened in the last couple of months is that they are looking at this airport as an easy way out.”
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has turned down a proposal to pick either Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello as his running mate, sources in the party informed Daily Independent on Wednesday.
Our correspondent gathered that both Lawan and Bello who contested the APC presidential primary with Tinubu earlier this month have been lobbying President Muhammadu Buhari and other stakeholders to prevail on the former Lagos state governor to choose them as his running mate.
While Tinubu won the primary with 1,271 votes, Lawan polled 152 votes while Yahaya Bello got 47 votes.
Our source, a former Minister in the South-Western part of the country said though Tinubu has no issues with picking a Muslim as his running mate, he flatly rejected both of them as they are direct contestants with him and they have their minds set on becoming president.
“Yes both men (Lawan and Bello) have been making moves to be nominated as vice-presidential candidates but I can assure you that Asiwaju is not considering them at all. He met with President Buhari shortly before his trip to France and I strongly believe that must have been part of their discussions as both men have been lobbying the president to prevail on Asiwaju to consider them”.
“ Even those of who are associates of Asiwaju Tinubu are against their choice as both of them are not strong personalities that can bring the needed votes in the North” he said. Tinubu who used Ibrahim Masari as a placeholder in his nomination form to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stated last weekend at the 60th birthday of the Speaker of the House of Reps, Femi Gbajabiamila that he is still in a search of a running mate.
Six Bride Escorts have died in a fatal accident that occurred at the Giddan Suger area of the State on Sunday, June 26.
Confirming the incident to newsmen, the spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Lawal Adam, said the six bride escorts and other persons had escorted a newly married woman to her husband’s house and were returning to their homes when the unfortunate incident occurred.
He said the driver of the vehicle which had eight persons inside, lost control of the wheel and the vehicle somersaulted several times, leading to the death of the six persons.
”The Accident involved a Lexus car, black in colour, with Reg. no. AAA 153 EA, driven by a 30-year-old man, Habib Habib of Yalleman Quarters Kaugama Kaugama local Government, while carrying eight (
passengers after they have conveyed a bride from Hadejia to Yalleman town.
On Reaching Gidan Sugar, on their way back to Hadejia, while on speed, both the rear and front tyres were removed; the driver lost control, the vehicle somersaulted and rammed into the bush.
On receipt of the report, a team of Policemen swung into action and visited the scene, victims were evacuated and rushed to General Hospital Hadejia for treatment.”he said.
Adam stated that six persons were confirmed dead by a medical doctor, while the other three passengers are receiving treatment. He added that the bodies of the deceased persons have been released to their relatives for burial arrangements.
Police in Kano State have arrested 45 suspected thugs carrying dangerous weapons at Kofar Na’isa and Kwanar Disu in Gwale Local Government Area of the State.
Spokesman of the command, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, stated this in a statement issued to DAILY POST.
According to him “On the 26/06/2022 at about 1300hrs, reports were received that groups of thugs (‘Yan Daba) in large number with dangerous weapons blocked Kofar Na’isa and Kwanar Disu, Gwale LGA Kano in an attempt to attack and rob members of the public especially passersby and road users”.
He said after receiving the report, police were mobilized to the area and immediately cordoned off and the thugs trapped at “Filin Mahaha” and were arrested.
He explained that 45 suspected thugs (‘Yan Daba) were arrested with dangerous weapons and large quantity of illicit drugs.
Kiyawa said all the suspects confessed that they were invited from different parts of Kano Metropolis in the name of attending a wedding ceremony, and converged at “Filin Mahaha” smoking and taking different types of illicit drugs.
He said the Commissioner of Police directed a discreet investigation, after which the suspects will be charged to court for prosecution.
He further reiterated that criminals will have no hiding place in Kano State.
A Lady, Miss Mmesoma Ekpe, has, in a Video Message, explained how her mother was murdered by their landlord’s son, last Saturday.
Miss Ekpe, an indigene of Enugwu-Ukwu community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, said her mother, Mrs Uzoamaka Ekpe was beaten to death by the second son of their landlord in their residence at 5A Ugochukwu lane, Nkpor, near Onitsha.
According to her, the incident happened last Saturday, when the landlord’s son suddenly declared a sanitation exercise for all tenants living in the compound.
Ekpe said she wondered why sanitation will be declared, when all the tenants pay monthly for the cleaning of the compound.
“It was around 9am that my younger sister went downstairs to go to her work place, but she was stopped by the landlord’s second son, who asked her to go and clean the staircase.
“It was a surprise to us that the boy stopped my sister from leaving the compound, when he was opening the gate for other people to go out to their businesses.
“My mother decided we should all stay at home until 10a.m when the sanitation exercise will end. But after the exercise, I made to go to the market, but the boy stopped me. He shut the gate against me, but when other people living in the compound want to leave, he will open for them.
“My mother decided to intervene, insisting that he must open the gate as she does not know why all her children were being stopped from going out. It was then that the boy started beating my mother, and even kicked her on the chest and she fell.
“We rushed her to hospital, but they said the case was beyond them and refered us to Borommeo Hospital. It was there at Borommeo that my mother was declared dead,” she said.
Miss Ekpe called for justice for her mother, while also asking concerned individuals to help her and her siblings to relocate to another residence, as the family does not feel safe any longer living in the house of the man whose son killed their mother.
“My Mother, Mrs Uzoamaka Ekpe is from Ngodo Isuochi, Abia State, and married in Enugwu-Ukwu. She was a good woman, I don’t know why anyone would kill her. We want justice for my mother, she is the breadwinner of our family,” the lady lamented.
DAILY POST had last Sunday reported that police in Anambra had arrested the suspect, 30-year-old Ebube Oba.
Spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga told journalists that investigation had commenced, and that the culprit would be charged to court afterwards.
A Malawi court has sentenced a Catholic priest to 30 years in prison over the gruesome 2018 murder of a man with albinism, whose body parts he had planned to sell.
Judge Dorothy NyaKaunda Kamanga who gave the verdict on Monday, June 27, sentenced Catholic priest Thomas Muhosha, along with police officer Chikondi Chileka and three others to 30 years imprisonment with hard labor on charges of transacting in human tissue.
The Judge said Fr. Thomas Muhosha had planned to traffic 22-year-old MacDonald Masambuka’s tissue.
Mr. Masambuka was reported missing in February 2018 and his body was discovered a month later, with the legs and arms had been removed. He was violently killed in a graveyard after his brother deceived him that they had found him a potential wife and he should come and meet her.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, dismissed a fresh application the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, filed to be released on bail, pending the determination of the treasonable felony charge the Federal Government preferred against him.
Kanu, who is currently facing a seven-count charge, had in the application he filed through his team of lawyers led by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, equally challenge the revocation of the bail the court earlier granted to him.
He specifically urged the court to set aside the order it made on March 28, 2019, which not only issued a bench warrant for his arrest, but also gave FG the nod to try him in absentia.
The IPOB leader told the court that contrary to FG’s allegation that he jumped bail, he said that he fled for his life after his home town at Afaraukwu Ibeku in Umuahia, Abia State, was invaded by soldiers, which he said led to the death of 28 persons.
Contending that he was denied fair hearing before his bail was revoked, Kanu, attached eight exhibits that included photographs, as well as an affidavit he deposed to from Isreal after he fled from the country.
Meanwhile, dismissing the bail request on Tuesday, trial Justice Binta Nyako, said she was not satisfied with the reason the IPOB leader gave for his failure to appear in court for continuation of his trial.
The trial judge noted that frok records of the court, Kanu, was represented by his lawyer on the day his bail was revoked, likewise his sureties.
“In fact, he sureties told the court that they did not know the whereabout of the Defendant and even applied to be discharged from the matter.
A Nigerian national has been arrested in Johannesburg, South Africa for alleged possession of drugs.
Jo’burg Metro Police Department in a statement on Monday, June 27, said the suspect was arrested with crystal meth and dagga (cannabis)
“Whilst conducting patrols in Florida, #JMPD K9 Unit noticed suspicious activity outside a house on 6 Ave, Florida. Entry was gained into the premises & a Nigerian national was arrested for possession of drugs (crystal meth & dagga). Suspect detained at Florida SAPS” the statement read.
Police Arrest Suspected Killer Of APC Chieftain Gulak, Others In Imo Eyitope Kuteyi Updated June 27, 2022
These suspects were paraded at the Police Command headquarters in Owerri, Imo State on June 27, 2022.
Police authorities in Imo State say they have arrested one of the suspected killers of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ahmed Gulak.
Mr Mike Abattam, the Public Relations Officer of the Imo State Police Command, disclosed this while briefing reporters on Monday in Owerri, the state capital.
The suspect identified as Anosike Chimobi from Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area (LGA) of the state was apprehended one year after Gulak’s death.
Gulak, a former aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, was murdered by a group of armed men on May 30, 2021, during a visit to Imo State.
He was reportedly trailed from his hotel room to the spot where he was killed around Umueze Obiangwu in Ngor-Okpala LGA, close to the Sam Mbakwe Airport Road in Owerri.
Parading the suspects alongside others, Abattam said Chimobi had been on the trail of the command since the killing of Gulak last year.
He stated that the suspect escaped during a gun battle between police personnel and his gang members at Aboh Mbaise shortly after the murder of the APC chieftain where five of the suspects were killed.
Chimobi, who also spoke with reporters, claimed to be a commercial bus driver and not a member of the criminal gang.
He said Gulak’s killers approached him to convey them in his vehicle and he attempted to resist, but later gave in after they threatened to kill him]/b].
[b]The suspect admitted that he drove the criminals to the spot and blocked Gulak’s vehicle which was on its way to the airport.
According to him, they shot the APC chieftain after he resisted the demand by the gunmen that he should come down from the vehicle.
Chimobi explained that the assailants later ran into a team of security operatives who shot repeatedly at the other vehicle conveying them until it somersaulted and caught fire.
The command’s spokesman said that the police have also arrested other suspected criminals who have been terrorising communities in Imo.
He explained that among those paraded were members of the gang who burnt the home of the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Professor George Obiozor.
Some of the items recovered from the suspects paraded by the police include guns of different calibre, assorted charms, and a live snake, among others.
North Korea has accused the United States of setting up a military alliance like NATO in Asia..
According to North Korea’s government, it has been forced to develop stronger defences because of the U.S’ aim to oust Kim Jong Un from power.
The North Korean criticism comes amid concern it could be preparing its first nuclear test in five years and after a recent agreement between South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden to deploy more U.S. weapons if deemed necessary to deter the North.
“While blatantly holding joint military exercises with Japan and South Korea, the United States is making a full-fledged move to establish an Asia-style NATO,” North Korea’s foreign ministry said in a statement on its website on Sunday, June 26.
North Korea was referring to recent military exercises conducted by U.S., South Korean and Japanese forces in Asian.
The exercises also involved a U.S. aircraft carrier, the first time one was used in more than four years.
North Korea, which has been conducting regular missile tests this year, repeated its assertion that such drills were preparation for war aimed at overthrowing it.
The United States is insisting that North Korea give up its nuclear weapons and has repeatedly offered to meet North Korean officials “at any time without preconditions” to discuss the issue. North Korea has rebuffed the offers.
The North Korean criticism came a day before South Korea’s president left to attend a NATO summit in Spain, the first South Korean leader to do so.
“This proves the hypocrisy of the U.S. rhetoric of ‘diplomatic engagement’ and ‘dialogue without preconditions’, while at the same time revealing again that there is no change in the U.S. ambition to overthrow our system by force,” the North Korean ministry said.
“The reality … makes us feel the need to make all-out efforts to develop even stronger power to be able to subdue all kinds of hostile acts by the United States,” it said.
Operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command have killed one bandit during a gun duel and recovered one AK49 assault rifle, a locally fabricated long-range revolver with its twelve polymer cased cartridges, and one operational motorcycle.
Spokesperson of the command, DSP Mohammed Jalige, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, June 23, said security operatives received a distress call that some bandits were sighted along Galadimawa Kidandan road in Giwa LGA of Kaduna State.
“The tactical operation came via a distress call received in the early hours of 23rd June, 2022 at about 0730hrs that some armed bandits were sighted along Galadimawa Kidandan road in Giwa LGA of Kaduna State,” the statement read.
“Their movement was strongly suspected to be for their usual heinous mission. In a bid to truncate such a mission, the CP immediately ordered for deployment of strong nearby force to the location for a possible engagement and restoration of safety.
“The Operatives engaged the hoodlums with clinical precision and succeeded in countering the bandits’ mission as they were compelled to retreat into the forest with some sustaining bullet injuries while one other was gunned down, his AK49 assault rifle and operational motorcycle recovered. Equally, a locally fabricated long range revolver with its 12 polymer cased cartridges was recovered when search of the area was conducted.”
Meanwhile, efforts are geared towards restoring public confidence with rigorous patrol and surveillance of the area in order to prevent any further attack on communities or commuters.
APC Presidential flagbearer in the 2023 general election, Bola Tinubu, has said he is still in search of a running mate.
Tinubu said this while speaking at a book launch to celebrate the 60th birthday party of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, that held on Sunday, June 26
Showering encomiums on Gbajabiamila, Tinubu said;
“As a Minority Leader, he consulted wide and he’s always there to see the thinking of opposition that we must bring a revolution to the House to be able to beat the PDP. And then, he will brainstorm for any length of time about political strategy.
When he was challenged for the position of the speaker, I think after our merger he worked with me tirelessly. Femi is a workaholic. The problem of failure stared him at the face. He lost the election to become the Speaker.
I was close to tears. Stamping my foot to the ground I said ‘we will win again. Femi keep up. Pick yourself up.’ I am very proud of you that you did, you didn’t give up. You did the opposition and the support job. You demonstrated what we learnt from textbooks and other authors.
That life is not about education of one section of the society. Remember what we discussed about paying the WAEC fee of omo iya oniboli (the Son of the Woman who roasts plantain), and my Mum was alive then, asking me to see to it each time I gave her money, it doesn’t last.
And I said whatever you do with the money I don’t know. Mama will say no, those women there they are Mothers, they want to pay WAEC fees. And Femi was one of the first set of people I consulted. Are we going to say that the children of the poor are not deserving becoming Governors, Doctors and Engineers? I said I was afraid. He said do it. So that is how a junior brother can inspire a senior leader.
Femi with your determination, grit, you are a contributor to our democratic growth, thank you. You have character. You are a great mentor and you are doing a good job charting a path to success. You’ve done a good job and I say thank you, thank you.
What you did during my primary is a story for another day. I’ve spent more time, too many times and people might be bored, they might be envious too, they might be jealous. I won landslide, I thank you.
I could see his deputy (Wase) sitting down there too, you are a very good symbols of unity, dependability, and honesty, thank you. Thank you for both of you. You’ve not rocked the boat. I will need to learn from both of you, how you made the pair work because I’m still searching for my running mate,” Tinubu said
Former member of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has ruled out speculations that the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria’s Peoples Party, NNPP, Rabiu Kwankwaso will be a running mate to his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi.
Jibrin stated this on Sunday during an interview on Channels Television amid reports that the Kwankwaso is in talks with Obi over a planned merger.
He explained that Kwankwaso, who according to him is one of the most popular politicians in the northern part of the country, would garner at least 70% of total votes, stressing that Obi can only poll 30%.
According to him, Kwankwaso is more experienced than Obi and cannot deputize the Labour Party candidate.
He said, “Very clearly, Kwankwaso will not be a running mate to Peter Obi. By every standard, Kwankwaso should be the presidential candidate due to his numerous experiences”.
“At the end of the day , when you look at contribution in terms of votes, it will be a ratio of about 70 to 30%. We are looking at bringing 70% of votes from the North”
Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo has said those dreaming to win the 2023 general elections under new parties are jokers.
He specifically said those who joined the Labour Party (LP) like its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will just labour in vain in 2023.
The Governor said a party without a councillor has nothing to offer.
He spoke at the weekend with APGA members at the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area.
He made reference to the recent defections from APGA to the Labour Party(LP) , adding, APGA remained the most formidable party in the State.
Some notable politicians in the State, including the former National chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, left the party to LP to realize his senatorial ambition, after alleging that leaders of the party ganged up against him to make sure he did not pick the
Soludo said: “It is sad that the people that left had to leave, why would one leave a party he had laboured to build? It is not good to labour in vain.
“However, they are not contesting elections. The election in Anambra is between APGA and other political parties. APGA remains the third in Nigeria as the country inches closer to the 2023 general elections.
“Elections are not done on WhatsApp or the Internet. You have to be on ground. APGA is on ground here and everywhere. How can a party that does not have a councillor want to compete with us?
“We are strong and we are growing stronger, stand a real chance in Abia, we will compete in all places vigorously.
“We shall campaign when it starts, and by the time we enter January next year, we will know those that are still contesting.
“Our victory will be resounding this time, but we will not take anything for granted, Anambra people will see.”
Three suspected armed robbers were killed during fierce gun battle with operatives of the Delta State Police Command and local vigilantes.
Spokesperson of the command, DSP Bright Edafe, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, June 26, said operatives also arrested seven suspected robbers and recovered seven locally made guns and cartridges
