The Age Newspaper Online

Aftermath of bandits intrusion into the Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA) on the 24 of August 2021 where two officers where killed and one kidnapped. On Friday night, the deputy director Army public relations officer, Colonel Ezindo Idinmah confirmed that Maj.CL Datong was rescued by troops. He also added that operations leading to his rescue lead to destruction of several bandits camps in Afaka Birnin Gwari area of the state. He said that scores of bandits were killed especially in the late hours of September 17th, 2021. The operation was made up of Air task force, Department of state security, Police officers and other security agencies. The rescued officer also sustained a minor injury but was treated in a medical facility and since handed over to the Nigerian Defense Academy's authority. He commended the efforts of the security agencies that carried out the operations and reiterated that the operations will continue until all culprits involved in the murder of the two other office...

Controversial Kaduna-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Gumi, has slammed former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode over his defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC. Fani-Kayode, who had been a great critic of the Buhari-led administration, joined APC on Thursday after he was received by the President at the State House, Abuja. Gumi, reacting, shared a throwback statement by Fani-Kayode in 2018 saying he would rather die than join the APC or bow to President Muhammadu Buhari. Gumi said he had long neglected the rantings of Fani-Kayode, knowing fully well that he is a traitor and fake. He described the former minister as a Yoruba Judas and a traitor. His post on Facebook read, “I have for long neglected the rantings of the Judas of Oduduwa attacking me knowing fully well that he is fake and a traitor.

The Nigerian Presidency has launched an attack on the Yoruba nation pro-secession group over its recent rally at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA. In a strong worded statement sent to POLITICS NIGERIA, signed by Presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, the Nigerian leadership criticised the group stating that “Nigerians and the entire World” would “judge them” over their collaboration with the proscribed Indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB. For Nigerian diaspora groups to use the world’s largest platform – the United Nations General Assembly – to garner attention to their causes is not unexpected. It was, however shocking, to see “Yoruba Nation” advocates yesterday unequivocally throw their lot in with Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).” “IPOB is a designated terrorist organisation. It has now publicly revealed a 50,000 strong paramilitary organisation. It regularly murders security services and innocent civilians, with a significant uptick of violent attacks this year. A...

The National Association of Resident Doctors and the Nigerian government have agreed to return to the negotiating table to address the contending issues responsible for the almost two months old strike. Galaxy's Godfrey Eshiemoghie reports that this resolution by both parties followed consultations at the National Industrial Court in Nigeria Wednesday at the resumption of hearing of the legal dispute between both parties. Counsel to the Resident Doctors, Femi Falana, assures that his clients are ready to return to the negotiation table to address the grey areas. The judge presiding over the matter, Justice Bashar Alkali had adjourned the hearing, reserving ruling on pending applications before him, till Friday 17 September 2021.

The Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, has said that former acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, CP Ibrahim Magu, is still on the Federal Government’s payroll as a police officer despite his suspension by the President, Muhammadu Buhari. The minister spoke on Tuesday when he featured as a guest on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ current affairs programme. Magu, who served as acting chairman of the EFCC from 2015 to 2020, was rejected twice by the Senate. He was later suspended along with several others in July 2020 for allegedly mismanaging funds of the commission, an allegation which he vehemently denied. The former EFCC boss was probed for over three months by a judicial panel of inquiry led by a former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami. The panel made several recommendations but the report has not been made public to date. The President later in February 2021 named Abdulrasheed Bawa as the new EFCC chairman to replace ...

By Golok Nanmwa ,Jos Outgone Chairman of the Plateau State Youth Council (PYC) Dr. Fabong Jemchang on Monday said that the Youth Council in the state during his three years tenure has trained over 12,000 youths across the 17 Local Government of the State on different skills acquisition as well as secured hundreds of employment opportunities from both the formal and informal sector for the Youths. Dr. Jemchang stated this in Jos while handing over documents and office to the New PYC Chairman Mr. Lot Adas at the Azi Nyako Youth Centre Dadin Kowa Jos. He said the different skills acquisition includes Cosmetology, Metal fabrication, tailoring, welding and Poultry amongst others. According to him, the youth Council under his leadership has also created an appropriate office that will help the young people on the Plateau learn leadership skills. "We came as learners perfected the skills of leadership and now handed over to a succeeding generation which we have to improved on the m...

Gov. Nasir Ahmad El-rufai of Kaduna State has appealed for calm over the killing of a Pastor in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area. This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner, for Internal Security and Home Affairs in Kaduna. El-rufai urged security agencies to apprehend the killers. “Security agencies have reported to the Kaduna State Government the killing of a Pastor of ECWA Church, Kibori-Asha Awuce, in Zangon Kataf LGA, by assailants.” The Governor expressed deep sadness over the killing. He offered prayers for the repose of the soul of the cleric. El-rufai condoled with the ECWA Church in Kibori-Asha Awuce. He prayed for God to grant them fortitude and comfort over this sudden and painful loss. “Security agencies are conducting investigations in the general area. “Aruwan said. The Age gathered that Rev. Silas Yakubu Ali was hacked to death by suspected bandits on Saturday.

Some friends and colleagues of Major Christopher Datong have taken it upon themselves to secretly raise ransom to rescue him from bandit terrorists. It would be recalled that Major Christopher Datong was identified as the officer kidnapped by the terrorists who struck during the attack on NDA with two other officers losing their lives. The kidnappers later reportedly contacted the military authorities and demanded a ransom of N200m be paid for his release but no official update has been given since then. It was gathered that friends of Datong, who has spent 17 days in the captivity of the bandits, are keeping their ransom efforts as anonymous as possible in order not to incur punishments from the military authorities which are still bent on an option of search-and-rescue. A top military source told Sahara Reporters that a ransom was being prepared among his friends in the Nigerian Army. According to the source, the ransom would be paid to the bandits through some religious negotiators....

                   Gov. Lalong Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong has said that despite his influence as the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum to convince his colleagues to stand against open grazing and adopt ranching, the effort to ban the practice in his state is being frustrated by the State House of Assembly. According to him, contrary to the false narrative spread in the state that the government is not doing anything to stop open grazing, the bill seeking to ban the act, which has been sent to the Assembly is yet to be passed. The governor stated this at the Azi Nyako Youth Centre, Dadin Kowa, Jos, while swearing in the Executive Members of the Plateau Youth Council (PYC) on Thursday. Lalong said the National Livestock Transformation Programme (NLTP) would have been launched at the Wase Grazing Reserve to commence ranching if not for the recent attacks and subsequent disruptions. The governor called on the youths to be cautious of some politicians who take pride in set...

Former Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and right hand man of former head of state, late General Sani Abacha, General Jeremiah Timbut Useni (rtd), has said though he was the most senior military officer in the country and the appropriate person to succeed Abacha after his death in June 1998, he could not do so because some people did not want him on account of his Christian faith. Useni, who later became a politician serving as senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District of Plateau State from 2015 to 2019, noted that ideally he should have been Abacha’s successor, but was denied the opportunity, paving the way for General Abdulsalami Abubakar to emerge as head of state. The Langtang, born former military officer who spoke on Arise TV evening programme, The Arise Interview on Wednesday, also explained that contrary to widely held speculations, Abacha died of natural causes, having been sick for periods before his death. Useni dismissed insinuations that the late ...

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday passed the Value Added Tax Bill, with Speaker Mudashiru Obasa directing the Acting Clerk of the House, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, to transmit a clean copy to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for assent. The House also passed the bill that prohibits open cattle grazing in the state. The two bills were passed after unanimous votes by the lawmakers at the sitting where the bills were read the third time. Strengthening open grazing ban in the South Immediately after their passage, Speaker Obasa commended his colleagues for their passion to see that the state continues to grow. “I thank you all for this historic exercise,” Obasa said. The House had held separate public hearings on the bills on Wednesday, with stakeholders expressing support.

A Northern Coalition Group, known as The Movement For A New Arewa, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to grant former governor of Plateau State, Senator Joshua Dariye, presidential pardon for the interest of peace. The group noted that Chief Joshua Dariye has been in prison since the inception of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in the country. National President and National Secretary, Mal. Abdulkareem Bayero and Alhaji Abdullahi Musa, in a statement “called on President Muhammadu Buhari in his usual magnanimity to extend presidential pardon to former Plateau State Governor Joshua Dariye for the interest of peace.” The group observed that “Chief Joshua Dariye who has been in prison since the inception of the present administration needs to breath an air of freedom as a citizen of the country.” The group is of the opinion that if the north is to return to its past glory, the likes of Senator Joshua Dariye must be released from prison to join in the peace buildi...

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association warned that a cow could cost up to N2 million in Lagos State if the anti-grazing bill is passed into law in the state. Zonal Secretary of Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in the South West, during a one-day public hearing organised by the state House of Assembly on the anti-open grazing bill on Wednesday. The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday sent the bill on open grazing to the committee on agriculture after it scaled second reading. It was entitled, “A bill for a law to Prohibit Open Cattle Grazing In Lagos State, the Trespass of Cattle Land And For Other Connected Purposes”. During the public hearing, Usman appealed to the state government for assistance, noting that ranching is more expensive than open grazing. Usman, who agreed that there were some criminally-minded herders, argued that raising a cow in one location could increase the price of a cow to as much as N2 million.   He also pleaded with the government to subsid...

The Nigeria Police Force headquarters has paraded the killers of Pa Defwan Dariye, the father of former governor of Plateau State Joshua Dariye. The 93-year-old man was killed after his abductors collected N10 million ransom from his family. The leader of the kidnap gang Jethro Nguyen, 53, an indigene of Bokkos, said he had to hire ten others including some Fulani herders to successfully abduct the old man from his palace and kept him in custody for about ten days before killing him. Nguyen, who is also the mastermind of the crime, said he gave one of the abductors the order to shoot and kill the old man. He said he decided to abduct the old man because he was a good target to make money as his son was a one time governor of Plateau State and senator of the Federal Republic.

  By Golok Nanmwa Executive  Chairman of Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State, Hon. Ubandoma Laven,  yesterday said   hunters in the Council have arrested two cattle rustlers and have handed them over to security agents. The Chairman  also commended security agencies for beefing up security in the area after he raised alarm over planned influx of terrorists. He also said if communities were more vigilant, no bandits or terrorists would invade them. Laven made this known  while interacting  with journalists in Jos the State Capital. He said, “I must commend my hunters’ group in Langtang North, because just yesterday, they arrested two cattle rustlers and I think they are doing a great job in this Council. “The hunters caught two young men between 11pm and 1am, as they were trying to rustle cattle, the two men have been handed over to the police, and the DPO is handling the issue.” he added  Laven further added that “We are not saying we should take laws into our hands, ...

Prominent Islamic cleric, Dr Ahmad Gumi has called on Fulani ethnic group to ensure they register and obtain voter cards ahead of the 2023 general elections in the country, so they can elect leaders who would provide good governance and protect their interest. The Islamic cleric said this while presenting animals and foodstuffs to the families of Fulani that were affected by insecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic, organized by a pastoral group under the aegis of Bilital Marroobe Pastoralists Association of Nigeria (BILMPAN) in Kaduna. Gumi who cautioned herdsmen, particularly those living in the forests against banditry and kidnapping, stated that their bloc votes is very important in the emergence of any credible leader in Kaduna as well as in the country. He said, “If we want our votes to matter and make a difference, we must work towards bloc voting in the next election. We should be ready to work as a team to succeed."

  The National Secretary of Fulani Socio-Cultural Association, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Saleh Alhassan, says members of the association won’t obey the anti-open grazing laws enacted by some Southern governors. Alhassan also described the law as “satanic and empty.” SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the 17 Southern governors led by Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state met in Lagos on July 5, 2021, and “set a timeline of Wednesday, 1st September, 2021 for the promulgation of the anti open grazing law in all member states”. On August 31, 2021, Akeredolu signed into law, the Anti-Grazing Bill passed by the State House of Assembly. “This is worthwhile and a very laudable development aimed at stemming needless instances of skirmishes, conflicts as well as infractions on the enviably peaceful disposition of the good people of Ondo State,” Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, had said in a statement. Some other governors in the Southern part of the country...

Bigwigs of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Plateau State, have warned the House of Assembly Speaker, Ayuba Abok,  against expanding ethno-religious divide in the state as a result of the recent crisis which led to several deaths and destruction of properties. The bigwigs who bore their minds in Jos the Plateau State capital at an emergency meeting to address the reoccurrence of crisis in the state said some politicians have infiltrated the House of Assembly and are taking advantage of the unrest in Jos to score unnecessary political point. Speaking on behalf of the APC chieftains, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, said the interview granted by the speaker on a national television about the crisis and putting the government in bad light was uncalled for, adding that the other recent activities of the house in response to the situation on ground was not in the interest of the people, but to polarize the state and cause more division among the people. Zazzaga said the speaker should therefore t...

C. Ronaldo Manchester United fans will hope that Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to the club brings success on the pitch as his return has already brought commercial success off the pitch. The famous Manchester United No. 7 jersey given to Ronaldo that will be worn by him this season, has smashed the Premier League record for Jersey sales in just 12 hours after the merchandise was released. According to LovetheSales.com, that tracks sales data from over 1,000 UK online retailers, in the 12 hours after Ronaldo’s new kit was released, fans splashed out £32.5m ($60m) on his jersey. According to Fox News, the sales broke a Premier League record for the 12 hours after a player’s official shirt number was announced. Announcing Ronaldo’s jersey number, Manchester United said, “We can confirm that Cristiano Ronaldo will wear the iconic no.7 shirt after returning to Old Trafford. “The Portuguese superstar famously wore the legendary shirt number during his first spell with the club an...

Gunmen Suspected to be bandits have attacked the Keke Community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and abducted 18 residents. Galaxy TV Bosan Yakusak gathered that the bandits had stormed the area in the early hours of Tuesday. Reports say the gunmen numbering about 20, stormed the area with sophisticated weapons, shooting sporadically before whisking the victims away. The Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, ASP Mohammed Jalige is yet to confirm the report as he said the information has not reached him yet.