Category: News

ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that Wednesday and Thursday have been declared public holidays by the Federal Government to mark the 2021 Eid-ul-Fitr celebration.

The disclosure was made known today by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on behalf of the Federal Government.

A statement by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, quoted Aregbesola as congratulating the Muslim faithful on the occasion.

He also called “all Nigerians, at home and abroad to use the period of this year’s Eidul-Fitr celebration to pray for peace, stability and economic transformation in the land”.

Aregbesola, who believes that development cannot thrive in a rancorous atmosphere, urged all “Nigerians to be law-abiding and embrace the spirit of love, self-discipline, kindness, and tolerance, as taught by the Holy Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him)”.

The minister also called on all security agencies in the country to “be more courageous and patriotic to surmount the ongoing battle against resurging insecurity and activities of criminal elements in Nigeria”.

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, and the holiday begins according to the sighting of the new moon.

Lagos Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu has said security agencies in the state were on top of threats by Oodua Republic and the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) agitators to disrupt law and order, and attack soft targets, respectively.

He stated this at a stakeholders’ forum on security chaired by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the state secretariat, Alausa and

Odumosu said: “The command has taken notice of agitators for Oodua Republic by some Yoruba separatist groups and the threats to disrupt law and order in the state. Twenty four of these groups have been identified and being closely monitored. “Similarly, the threat of IPOB to attack soft targets in Lagos is equally being put on the radar of the command intelligence gathering and other security services in the state. Strategies are being put in place to neutralise their activities.

“The command is using this medium to solicit for the support of all and sundry to be vigilant at all times and report any suspicious person or movement to security agencies. Let us adopt the slogan of “when you see something, say something.”

The Nation reports that increased attacks on police, other security facilities in the southeast and south-south regions of the country with IPOB being major suspects. Also, two attempted attacks on two police divisions in Lagos were foiled last month and security beefed up across the state to forestall further attempts.

Giving details of security efforts, Odumosu said strategies were continuously appraised in order to keep hoodlums at bay.

He said intelligence reports available to the command revealed that criminals use uncompleted, abandoned buildings, empty lands and hotels to plan and execute their missions.

He said abandoned vehicles were also used by these elements to hide firearms, urging the government to take immediate action towards possessing such properties for better security.

Self-proclaimed Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, has made a u-turn on comments he made in a video where he mocked the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, following the death of his son, Dare.

In the live Facebook video with his media aide, Oluyomi Koiki on Sunday, Igboho had said he refused to sympathise with Adeboye because the cleric did not support the clamour for a Yoruba nation.

Igboho also rained curses on Adeboye and other Yoruba leaders whom he said refused to support his cause, that they would continue to love their children, wives and families.

“Has Baba supported the Yoruba nation that we will now be greeting him? We don’t need to greet Adeboye. What is my own with that? We are not doing church here. This is not religion.

“Pastor Adeboye didn’t speak about the Yoruba nation. Look at the number of crowd in Baba Adeboye’s church. Is he not supposed to tell all of them to join the Yoruba nation? We don’t need to greet him.

“By the grace of God, anybody who says Yoruba will not get to the promised land, God will kill their children and wives and their entire family,” he had said.

However, following a backlash from Nigerians on social media, Igboho, in another post on Facebook late Sunday, recanted his words, saying he did not mock the man of God as he was misquoted.

Read also: Sunday Igboho mocks, curses Pastor Adeboye over son’s death in new video.

“They said I mocked Pastor Adeboye, I didn’t mock that man. He is our father. I wasn’t talking to him. I don’t know him and he does not know me,” Igboho posted.

“I am a Christian. Had it been that I am a Muslim, they would have said I’m trying to be religious intolerant (sic). I was only saying the Yoruba nation is not a religious matter.

“We accommodate Muslims, Christians and traditionalists. I didn’t insult that man. People just misquoted me by cutting that part of the video. Did I mock him? I didn’t say anything concerning him.

“I was asked a question about the death of his son, how will I mock him over his son’s death. I can’t pray that his son should die. I didn’t say anything negative about him.

“I said all elders who have the power to assist the Yoruba race but choose not to, I rained curses on them.

“God who created us knows when we will go back. Whoever mocks the dead will also die one day. We all will die. How will I mock the dead?

“I didn’t insult the deceased son. May God forgive the dead and may his soul rest in peace. May our father live long,” Igboho stated.

Eight suspected members of a high-profile, serial kidnapping syndicate have been arrested at Omo Ijesa village in Osun State.

The Osun State Police Command disclosed this on Sunday via a statement issued by its spokesman, SP Opalola Yemisi, adding that the arrest followed credible intelligence the command received.

She said the suspects were involved in the kidnap of a 65-year-old, Akiishi Catherine in Benue State, thus forcing the Commissioner of Police, CP Olawale Olokode, to lead the operation.

“Prior to the arrest, Police investigations revealed that the suspects relocated to Osun State after the kidnap of the woman as a deceptive tactics to avoid arrest by the Police in Benue State,” she said.

“The suspects have also planned to use Osun State as a safe haven for the negotiation and collection of ransom even after murdering the woman in cold blood.”

The police authorities identified the suspects as Orikashima David, Teryange Demenogo, Terngu Tortindi, Anawuese Akough, Mbalumulum Kaorga, Comfort Terdoo, Michael Msendoo and Aondoaseer Terver, all Tivs from Benue State.

The suspects were said to have murdered the kidnap victim in Benue State before relocating to Osun State.

According to the police spokesman, the suspects revealed to the police team how they have murdered three other victims in their previous operations, adding that they would be handed over to the Benue State Police Command as soon as preliminary investigations are concluded.

Reacting to the incident, the police job commended personnel of the command for a job well done, reassuring Osun citizens that there will be no hiding place for criminals in the state.

He noted that the new policing vision of the Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP Usman Alkali Baba, is already assisting the command in redefining its strategies toward combating crimes in the state.

Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, (aka Sunday Igboho) has mocked the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, over the recent death of his son, Dare.

Igboho in a short video vowed not to condole with Adeboye, explained that such elder does not deserve condolence because they have not supported the clamour for the creation of Yoruba nation.

During a live Facebook broadcast with his media aide, Olayomi Koiki, on Saturday night, he said, “Has Baba supported Yoruba nation that we will now be greeting him? We don’t need to greet Adeboye. What is my own with that? We are not doing church here. This is not religion.

Pastor Adeboye didn’t speak about Yoruba nation. Look at the number of crowd in Baba Adeboye’s church. Is he not supposed to tell all of them to join Yoruba nation? We don’t need to greet him.

“God himself will start asking questions from all the enemies of the Yoruba race. By the grace of God, anybody who says Yoruba will not get to the promised land, God will kill their children and wives and their entire family.”

“Anybody who does not support Yoruba nation, those who have powers, be it pastors or anybody that has the followers, but does not support Yoruba nation, God I call on you; you’re the one who owns me and the creator of everything.

Those elders who see our sufferings, who see that the Fulanis are kidnapping us and collecting ransom, but choose not to support us, as you kill their children, kill their wives. So shall it be!” Sunday Igboho emphasized.

Ogun State Government has received a proposal from a US-based Consortium, The Triumvirate Group (TTG), for the construction of a compact 3-in-1 airport in Ajumo, Ijebu Waterside Local Government Area, which would be supported with infrastructure to include road & rail networks, as well as hospitality facilities and a casino.

The Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser, Dapo Okubadejo disclosed this during a meeting with representatives of the Group in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta which was also attended by officials of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC).

He revealed that under the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration a lot of work had been done to improve the ease of doing business in Ogun State to promote an enabling environment for investors and enhance the positioning of Ogun, the Gateway State as Africa’s model logistics and industrial hub. Ogun welcomes proposals from both foreign and local investors to develop the State’s Infrastructure Development Programme.

He pointed out that the State was already constructing a Cargo airport in Ikenne Local Government Area of the State, which would also include an aerotropolis (a world standard airport city, sitting on about 5000 hectares of land). He invited TTG to explore opportunities to partner with the State on this project.

Okubadejo stated further that the cargo airport formed part of Ogun’s economic development objectives as highlighted in the state’s economic blueprint and strategic transport plan which encompasses a network of roads, rail airport and deep seaport.

Okubadejo noted that the proposal had the hallmark of a Public Private Partnership project, but more information on financing, duration and execution of the project was needed. He encouraged TTG to forward an Outline Business Case with attendant economic, social and environmental impact assessments with attendant air traffic studies to the Director-General of the Public Private Partnership Office, Dapo Oduwole.

TTG’s Nigerian Consultants – African Investments Limited, led by Niyi Raji confirmed that the proposed project would be private sector driven, confirming that TTG was a consortium of investors in the USA, with financial capacity and expertise in major infrastructural projects as well as a record of performance.

He submitted that the proposal, when it eventually comes to fruition would not only boost the State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and transform the state, but would also create employment opportunities to local residents and other neighboring States.

Recently, the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges mandated the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to return the seized rice in major Ibadan markets giving the agency 2-week ultimatum to do so.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has told the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges to focus on lawmaking and not usurp the powers of other arms of government by interpreting the laws of the land.

This is coming on the heels of a two-week ultimatum given to the NCS by the Senate committee to return bags of rice seized at the popular Oja Oba and Bodija markets in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, recently.

Reacting to a viral video which shows the committee lampooning Customs over raids on markets, the Customs NCS spokesmen, Joseph Attah, told newsmen that the Customs is backed by law to raid any place once there is enough intelligence that contrabands abound there.

Attah said: “Is it today that Customs has been raiding markets? Why is there so much noise about the Ibadan raid? When Customs raided markets in Mubi in Adamawa State and another notorious market in Kano, why wasn’t there any outrage?

“Section 147 of the CEMA law gives the Customs powers to do this. Again, comparing what happened in Ibadan to what happened in Katsina State is totally wrong. These are two different scenarios. What happened in Ibadan can only be compared to a raid that happened in Ilorin where a lady came forward to say her rice was locally made. After a careful examination and the discovery that the rice was not foreign rice, her bags were returned to her.

If the traders in Ibadan say theirs are not bags of foreign rice, let them come forward with proof. If their claims are genuine, their bags of rice will be returned to them.”

When told that the Senate committee raised allegations of Customs officers taking money away from the raided shops while carrying out the operation, the Customs spokesman explained that money was only found in one bag of rice.

“While giving account of the number of bags of rice seized from the Ibadan markets, a particular bag was found to contain N522,350. The money is there, intact and in safe custody. Whoever claims to be the owner should come and collect it with proof of ownership,” the Customs spokesman added.

Concerning claims by the Senate committee that such raids ought to be done in the presence of the shop owners, the Customs spokesman explained that for every raid, Customs ensures that anything that will lead to injuries or loss of lives are always avoided.

“Anytime intelligence report gives us evidence of contraband in an area, our men are always advised to deploy strategies that will minimise injuries or even loss of lives. If our men had gone there to cart away the bags of rice in the presence of the owners, would they have just stood by and watched? Definitely, there would be a clash that could claim lives. So, anytime we carry out raids, we make sure we adopt strategies that will reduce unnecessary loss of lives or injuries to anybody,” Attah added.

Also speaking on the video of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, NCS’s Deputy National Public Relations Officer, Timi Bomodi, asked the senators to focus on lawmaking and not start interpreting laws.

He said: “Section 147 of the CEMA Act is clear on this issue. I think the senators are doing their jobs. The senators make laws but they should leave the interpretation of laws to the courts. It is the job of the courts to interpret laws. The senators cannot make laws and at the same time interpret laws. If they are doing that, then they are usurping the authority of another arm of government. We operate a democracy and there are three arms of government in it. The senators should not usurp the powers of another constituted authority.

“If there is any ambiguity in Section 147 of the CEMA Act, it is the law courts that can interpret that, not the Senate. Section 147 of the CEMA says ‘any place’. Is the market not a place?”

Two persons were feared killed while one other person was injured on Thursday after some gunmen attacked a bank’s bullion van in Elemoso village along Akure-Ondo highway in Ondo East Local Government Area of Ondo State.

It was gathered that the armed robbers intercepted the bullion van which was conveying cash from a bank to Akure, the state capital, around 5:00 p.m. and carted away the cash.

A source in the village disclosed that the armed men who were travelling in a Lexus car opened fire at the bullion van and shot at the two of the occupants of the vehicle

The source stated that the robbers, after intercepting the van, jumped out of their vehicles, blocked the road, shot at the bullion van, forcing the door to open.

He said the robbers operated unhindered for about 20 minutes, shooting sporadically to scare away travellers and residents of the community, while some travellers abandoned their vehicles on the road.

He also said the police escort van was reportedly riddled with bullets while a traveller who was coming from Ondo town in his car was shot.

The source, however, said some men of the Amotekun officials from Ondo town rushed to the scene of the incident but said the armed robbers had left before their arrival.

Confirming the incident, the state Commander of Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, said three people were shot by the armed robbers, but only one of the victims was met at the scene

He, however, his men rushed the victim to a hospital in Ondo town for medical attention.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Tee Leo Ikoro, also confirmed the incident, but said no life lost in the attack

He stated that all the security agencies including local hunters and vigilante mobilised to the scene of the incident but the robbers had gone before they arrived there.

He however said some detectives from the state command are on the trail of the armed robbers, saying investigation would commence immediately.

ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that there is ongoing protest in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State by some anti-secessionists who were seen carrying placards with various inscriptions.

It was leant that the secessionists embarked on protest to tackle Sunday Igboho and Nnamdi Kanu who have been raising their voices in support of declaration of Oduduwa Republic and Biafra.

Details later.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has sent condolence message to Pastor Enoch Adeboye over the demise of his son, Pastor Dare Adeboye.

This was contained in a statement released today via his official Twitter handle which reads in part:

“I send my sincere heartfelt condolences to the family of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Pastor Enoch Adeboye and his wife Pastor Folu Adeboye on the passing of their beloved son, Pastor Dare Adeboye.

“No doubt the death of a loved one is usually painful as it is irreparable, but we must always take solace in God especially if the deceased lived a good life, just like the late pastor Dare Adeboye.

“Pastor Dare Adeboye was an outstanding shepherd in the vineyard who followed the worthy example of his father playing active roles as a cleric in RCCG Eket, Akwa Ibom.

“I sympathise with Pastor Adeboye, his wife, siblings and widow of the deceased and the entire members of RCCG. I pray that God will grant the late Pastor Dare Adeboye eternal rest and grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”.