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A Nigerian Air Force helicopter, on Friday, crashlanded and exploded at the NAF Base, Port Harcourt.

Though what led to the crash could not be immediately ascertained, it was learnt that the incident occurred around 7.50am.

A source said, “I was inside my apartment when I heard this thunderous sound at the NAF Base.

“The next thing I saw was a thick flame. I don’t know if there are casualties because I can’t go close to the scene for now. But I heard a blast twice.

Confirming the crash in a statement, the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the NAF MI-35P had taken off to embark on an operation against oil thieves in Rivers State.

He added that five persons on board survived with minor injuries.

The statement read, “A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) MI-35P helicopter has crashed at Port Harcourt today, December 1, 2023. The unfortunate incident occurred at about 7.45 am shortly after the aircraft took off for an operation against economic saboteurs in Rivers State.

” Fortunately, the entire crew of five survived the crash with very minor injuries and are currently being attended to at NAF Medical Centre Port Harcourt.’

He said the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, is on his way to the scene to assess the situation.

“The Chief of Air Staff is currently en route to Port Harcourt to assess the situation for himself, see to the wellbeing of the crew, and give further directives.

“An incident of this nature is yet again a grim reminder of the dangers associated with military flying and the risks NAF pilots and technicians experience in their onerous tasks of defending our nation and deterring criminal elements from their nefarious activities, ” the statement added.

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Gunmen have reportedly attacked two communities in Plateau State, killing seven persons.

The victims were said to have died following attacks by the assailants in Pukah and Pinper communities of Mangu Local Government Area of the state in the early hours of Thursday.

It was learnt that while six men and a lady were killed in Pukah community, the gunmen stole sheep and other domestic animals in Pinper community.

A resident of Pukah community, John Mark, confirmed the killings in Jos on Thursday.

Mark said, “The Pukah community in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State came under heavy attack by gunmen early this morning (Thursday). They also attacked another community in the council area known as Pinper.

“In Pukah community, they killed one lady and six men. But in Pinper, they carted away several numbers of sheep before they fled the communities.

Mark who condemned the attack said the incident had been reported to security operatives.

When contacted, the spokesman for the Military Taskforce in charge of maintaining peace in the state, Captain Oya James, said he would get back to our correspondent regarding the attack but he had yet to do so of the time of filing this report.

The report of the killing of the seven persons by gunmen in Mangu community came hours after the state government trained 600 personnel for the state-owned security outfit known as Operation Rainbow.

During their passing out parade in Jos on Wednesday, Governor Caleb Mutfwang who expressed his appreciation to President Bola  Tinubu for his support to state-owned security outfits stated that the revitalisation of the outfit was timely, coming when the state needed consolidation on the gains of tackling security challenges that had ravaged the state for years.

He cautioned the operatives that his administration would not allow indiscipline and unprofessional conduct and charged them to contribute their quota towards efforts to secure the lives and property of the citizens

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The Kano State Police Command, on Monday, warned against any form of protest following the Court of Appeal’s verdict upholding the sacking of the state governor, Abba Yusuf.

The command’s spokesman, SP Abdullah  Kiyawa, in a press statement, said security operatives have credible information that some persons are mobilising to  protest the verdict of the  court

The statement read,  “The call is as a result of credible information at the command’s disposal  that revealed the intention of some groups of political party supporters, using unconventional media platforms, mobilising people and planning to hit the streets in form of protest to the Kano State Governorship Appeal Court’s verdict, which was delivered on Friday, November 17, 2023.

“The information revealed that the intention of the protesters is to shut down the state in an action which may likely result in violence.

” It is on this note that the police command issued the warning to residents of the state to be extra-careful as whoever intends to conduct any protest or procession should do so in accordance with the provisions of the law.”

Prior to the court judgment, the leaderships of both the New Nigeria Peoples Party and the All Progressives Congress were invited by the state police command where peace accord was signed on Thursday, November 16, 2023.

The objective of the peace accord was to maintain harmony and ensure that the political landscape in the state remained peaceful, irrespective of the judgment’s outcome.

In addition, the leadership of the two  political parties promised that; no politically motivated clusters of people would be allowed at any location under whatever guise and that their supporters would not engage in any mass action suggesting preparation for violent processions, protests, or celebrations that may trigger reactions.

They also promised avoid unguarded statements from their members likely to increase political tension or undermine the security arrangements and sanctity of the judiciary.

They added that they  monitor, adhere and comply with the details contained in the peace accord signed before the Kano State Police Command.

Also, they promised that their parties will support all the arrangements put in place by the security apparatus to maintain peace and order, and that any person or group of persons directly or indirectly found disrupting the peace before, during and after the appeal court judgment shall face the full wrath of the law

Following the peace accord, the state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed  Gumel, called on all residents to maintain calmness and avoid any form of unlawful gathering, protest, or procession that may trigger violence, as joint security forces have since been mobilised and dispatched to strategic locations to safeguard peace and order throughout the state.

“Reiteratively, whoever attempts to disrupt the peace in the state will be arrested and made to face the wrath of the law,” he declared.

The CP, while appreciating the people of the state for their cooperation, support and understanding, urged them not to hesitate in reporting suspicious movement of people.

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There was pandemonium on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State after some hoodlums beat a Nigerian soldier to a stupor.

The soldier whose identity is yet to be known was left wounded after being attacked by the hoodlums at the Poly Junction area of Iree.

The cause of the disagreement that led to the attack on the soldier, who was dressed in Nigerian Army camouflage, is also not yet known.

Bystanders who observed the altercation could not intervene for fear of getting assaulted by the hoodlums.

A trader at Poly Junction, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “The incident happened today (Tuesday). I don’t know what happened between the hoodlums and the soldier, but I saw them beating him.

“We were even begging the hoodlums to leave him. The hoodlums were led by one Gbedu. He is a notorious thug in the town. They beat the soldier and broke his head. They later left him drenched in his blood.”

He added that some soldiers arrived at the scene and took the wounded soldier away.

However, the incident has left many people in the town scared for fear of reprisal attacks by soldiers.

As a result, shops were observed to be closed, and residents, including students of the polytechnic, remained indoors.

The spokesperson of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Osun Command, Kehinde Adeleke, confirmed the incident.

He stated, “Some miscreants in Iree attacked some personnel of the Nigerian Army who were on a mission to Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and wounded some of them. What led to the attack was still sketchy.”

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A tragic incident occurred as a boat carrying farmers from Ubbe District in Nasarawa Eggon capsized while crossing a river in Hunki village of Awe LGA. The farmers, returning from their rice farm on Monday night, faced this unfortunate accident.

The identified victims, Alkali Congo, Shedrack Dauda, Mashack Dauda, and Akolo Moses, lost their lives in the incident. The bodies have been transported back to the village for proper identification by their grieving families.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ramhan Nansel, confirmed the incident, revealing that local divers had retrieved four corpses, while the boat’s driver remained missing. The search efforts are ongoing.

The Acting Commissioner of Police expressed sympathy for the deceased families and offered prayers for their consolation during this difficult time.

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The governor of Edo, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has disclosed the reasons for his administration’s decision to offer automatic employment to all first-class graduates of the state.

Obaseki on Monday said the Edo government has decided to offer automatic employment to all first-class graduates of the state from all the universities across Nigeria.

He said this when he received 21 first-class graduates who were recently employed in the state’s Civil/Public Service, at the Government House in Benin City, the capital of Edo.

The Edo governor thereafter said his government decided to take such step in order to develop the right workforce to drive the state’s growth and development.

Obaseki during his address further explained that the decision was deliberate to bring in brilliant minds into Edo’s Civil/Public Service to help build the state and Nigeria at large.

“Your choice into the service is deliberate as it is a well-thought-out plan and process to help us build our State and make it great again,” he said.

“Great nations are built by the brightest and most brilliant people like you, who left school and went straight to work for the government and such led to the turnaround of such societies.

“Edo will experience a turnaround and people like you will be responsible. You are coming into the service at a very important and interesting time when our country is being restructured by default.

“The central government is becoming weaker as it doesn’t have the resources to undertake the responsibility it ought to take according to the constitution and this will lead to a renegotiation.

“The system is not sustainable but yet I don’t see Nigeria disintegrating. We need to invite young people to deal with the situation and set the nation on the right path, threading on the path that aligns with global development.

“We have set ourselves as a State on the path of development. We have embraced paperless governance, connected all our local governments to fiber optic internet and built infrastructure.

“With young minds like yours, we will take the world. It’s a new world for you, young minds and running away from Nigeria will not solve the problem and the reasons why people are running away can be addressed by people like you.”

Obaseki told the 21 first-class graduates he hosted on Monday that all they need to do is create the opportunity, preparing them for leadership or having leaders like themseleves to help check these challenges.

The governor added that there is the need to create a new system and re-enact a new direction for the nation and nobody will need to travel out for greener pastures if we make this nation work.

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Kano–In a bid to help folks in Kano State, the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP) is set to give away sheep and goats to 6,000 individuals through their animal breeding program. This initiative aims to boost livestock and support the needy, particularly women and those with fewer resources in the area.

Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, the head of the KSADP, announced this effort during the official launch of the distribution program across different local areas, including Rano, Kibiya, Bunkure, Kura, Garun Mallam, and Sumaila.

He clarified that the program received funding from the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihood Fund. The primary goal is to empower local residents, particularly women and youth, to raise livestock. These animals are valuable for food, income, and fertilizer production.

The state government’s goal is to provide small ruminant animals through KSADP, with the hope of improving the living conditions of those in need. Importantly, the animals will be given free of charge, and those who receive fattening sheep and goats will also get assistance in the form of animal feed and medications.

Muhammad emphasized the importance of using this opportunity wisely, especially given the current challenging economic conditions in the country. To enhance the health of the animals, the KSADP has trained and equipped community animal health workers to provide professional services and minimize livestock health issues.

One of the beneficiaries, Kala Bunkure, expressed gratitude to the Islamic Development Bank, the Lives and Livelihood Fund, and the state government for their support, promising to take good care of the animals. This initiative promises to bring much-needed relief to the local community and offers a chance for economic improvement.

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Ilorin, Kwara State – In a fervent plea to address the pressing issues of food security and recurrent flooding that have taken a toll on human lives and communities along the River Niger and River Benue, Kwara State Governor, Mr. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has called upon the federal government to embark on urgent dredging operations of these vital waterways.

Governor AbdulRazaq made this appeal during a visit by a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, led by the Honourable Minister, Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev, to the Government House in Ilorin.

The governor voiced his deep concerns about the devastating impact of annual flooding on the nation, particularly on the communities residing along these rivers and their tributaries. He emphasized that dredging the River Niger and River Benue down to the delta is not just a matter of navigation but also a crucial step towards bolstering agriculture and nurturing the marine economy that these rivers could potentially offer.

He stated, “Issues of internally displaced persons are of concerns. People are leaving their traditional abodes because of the water level. We know that on both banks of River Niger and Benue, rice is being farmed a lot. The issue of dredging is not just about navigation. It is also about agriculture and building the marine economy from those rivers.”

Governor AbdulRazaq also commended the Ministry’s support for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programs and Open Defecation Free (ODF) initiatives, highlighting the positive impact on the state. He further sought the Ministry’s assistance in implementing a water master plan, a proposal that holds the promise of benefiting Kwara’s residents significantly.

He expressed gratitude, saying, “I commend your ministry for the push on ODF. When we came in 2019, Nigeria overtook Bangladesh as one of the worst cases in ODF, and so we became number one in the world. Kwara was number one in North-central and last worst case in Nigeria. But with the efforts we made with your Ministry, we’ve gone up and we are no longer the worst case in ODF. We thank your Ministry’s support and engagement in that period. We also want to collaborate with and seek assistance from the Ministry on our new water master plan for Kwara.”

Governor AbdulRazaq acknowledged the crucial role played by river basin development authorities in achieving food security and urged them to intensify their efforts.

He said, “Without river basin development authorities, we cannot achieve the level of food security we want to achieve. That is something we really need to do. All your programs on water and sanitation are basically essential things. If we get that right, we will have less traffic in our primary healthcare facilities across the nation. So, your ministry is key to food security, good health, and human capital development.”

In response, Minister Utsev revealed that their visit was part of a nationwide tour aimed at assessing projects and challenges faced by the River Basin Development Authorities (RBDA) for enhanced results, starting with the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority in Ilorin. He sought Governor AbdulRazaq’s support to encourage other governors to engage in RBDA activities.

Minister Utsev stated, “Your Excellency, this is a familiarization visit and assessment of the projects and programs, including challenges of the RBDA in Nigeria. And we are here in Kwara State to start this tour because you are the Chairman Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), and we feel it is important to do that in order to receive your blessings and support.”

He underscored the Ministry’s role in driving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda by promoting food security, improving WASH programs, and strengthening the national economy. Minister Utsev also highlighted their intention to assess ongoing federal government projects in the state and commission those that are completed during their visit.

The call for urgent action to dredge the River Niger and Benue resonates with the imperative of safeguarding lives, property, and the nation’s food security, and it remains to be seen how the federal government responds to this pressing matter.

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