Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 20th October 2021
1. Five Killed As Gunmen Attack Over 20 Traditional Rulers In Imo State
Unknown gunmen have killed no fewer than five traditional rulers during an attack by gunmen at Nnenasa community Headquarters of Njaba LGA of Imo State.
Sources disclosed to Channels Television that the traditional rulers from the area numbering over 20 were in a meeting at the local government headquarters in the community when gunmen invaded the place.
It was gathered that the gunmen attacked the meeting shooting sporadically and killing at least five traditional rulers on the spot.
Those who sustained heavy gunshots injuries have been rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
2. It Is Unacceptable – Ortom Reacts To Goronyo Killings In Sokoto
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has condemned the massacre of people during an attack on Goronyo Market, in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State by armed bandits.
The Governor who described the worsening security situation in Nigeria as unacceptable called on the federal government to urgently address the situation.
Ortom in a statement on Tuesday by his acting Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur also sent condolence messages to the families of those affected as well as to the people and government of Sokoto State.
Naija News recalls more than 43 persons were killed as bandits invaded the Goronyo market in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The bandits stormed the weekly market, shooting sporadically and killing several persons in the process. It was gathered that some traders and buyers were killed, while many others were injured during the attack.
According to Daily Trust, the bandits operated for several hours unhindered by security agencies or vigilantes.
Ortom in his reaction, called on the government to do more to ensure citizens and residents live in peace.
3. Pandora Papers: Popular Nigerian Judge Indicted In Offshore Scandal
Former President of the Delta State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Stella Ogene, has been alleged to have acquired a London property through an offshore company.
Naija News reports that the retired judge becomes the latest Nigerian elite to be indicted in offshore dealings by the Pandora Papers exposé.
In the latest exposé published in Premium Times, Justice Ogene who was honoured as the longest-serving Head of Customary Court in Nigeria was referred to Cook Worldwide, a financial secrecy seller with an office in Panama, a notorious tax haven, by a British-Nigerian London property consultant, Chike Obianaba.
According to the document seen by the newspaper, Cook Worldwide acted fast and Assete Media Limited was born on September 7, 2009, with Ogene its beneficial owner, director, and secretary.
4. #EndSARS: Police Ban Street Protests In Lagos State
The Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has announced that it will not allow any street protest in commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the #EndSARS protest.
The Command also denied that it has granted approval for any street protest in whatever form to hold tomorrow in commemoration of the #EndSARS movement.
According to a statement on Tuesday by the spokesperson of the command, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, only indoor and virtual events are permitted to hold in commemoration of the #EndSARS protest.
Ajisebutu explained that street protests could not be permitted because intelligence information says some people are planning to hijack the protest and disturb public peace.
He warned the organizers of both the pro and anti #EndSARS protests to sheath their sword as no street protest will be permitted and security operatives have been ordered to enforce the order.
5. PIA: I’m Not Suprised With Buhari’s Character – Asari Dokubo
Former Niger-Delta Militant, Asari Dokubu has berated President Muhammadu Buhari for giving three percent equity share to oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta.
In an interview with The Punch on Monday, Dokubo lamented the “marginalization of the region in the equity share in the Petroleum Industry Bill, saying that he was not surprised with the President’s action.
The former warlord added that the three percent equity stake for the region is an insult to the Niger Delta people, despite asking for a ten percent equity share.
According to the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Salvation Force, the political elites in the region have been “captured” and cannot condemn the President for his action.
6. President Buhari Sacks CEOs Of DPR, PPPRA, PEF, Scraps Agencies
The Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government has officially scrapped the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF).
This was made known by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, while speaking on the side-lines of the inauguration of the boards of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission, Naija News reports.
He stated that the Buhari-led administration has also sacked the chief executive officers of the three agencies.
According to the minister, the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act, the NPRA and NURC had taken over the functions of the DPR, PPPRA and PEF.
7. Boko Haram/ISWAP Terrorists Killed As Troops Foil Attack On Military Base
Many terrorists loyal to the Boko Haram and ISWAP groups have died in the hands of security forces after a failed attempt to attack a military base in Borno.
On Monday, the terrorists had attempted to overrun the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in the Wulgo area of Borno State but encountered stiff resistance from the military.
According to the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu in a statement on Tuesday, a collaborative effort between the Nigerian troops of Joint Task Force, North East Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) and the Cameroonian Defence Force frustrated the attempted attack by the terrorists.
Three Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters were killed in the battle that ensued as the gallant soldiers forced the terrorists into a retreat.
8. Outcome Of Twitter Negotiations Will Affect All Social Media Platforms In Nigeria – Lai Mohammed
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has disclosed that the social media reforms embarked upon in the wake of the Twitter ban in Nigeria will also affect other platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and others.
According to the Minister, the outcome of the federal government’s negotiating team with Twitter will be submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari and the approval will be implemented across other platforms.
He made the submission on Monday during an interview on ‘This Morning’ a programme by TVC.
He said: “All I can say is that the recommendations we are going to make will not only be applicable to Twitter, but they will be applicable to all OTTs and other social media platforms in Nigeria.
9. Igboho, Nnamdi Kanu More Popular Than All Southern Politicians – Peter Obi
Former Anambra State Governor and 2019 Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi has taken a swipe at southern politicians.
This is as he asserted that no southern politician is as popular as Chief Sunday Adeyemo more popularly known as Sunday Igboho and the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
Obi made his mind known while delivering a lecture on national security recently.
In supporting his argument, the former Anambra State Governor while blaming the issue on poor leadership was of the opinion that people have been frustrated and only find rays of hope in such individuals.
He said the pro-secession agitators are now seen as symbols of hope by many people, hence the growing attraction to them.
10. Police Investigate Officer Seen Voting During Kano APC Congress
The Nigerian Police Force on Tuesday disclosed that it has began Investigation after a police officer was caught in a video casting a ballot during the state Congress of the Governor Abdullahi Ganduje-led the All Progressives Congress in Kano State.
It was disclosed that the police officer was spotted in a trending picture beside the new chairman of the party, Abdullahi Abbas.
The spokesman of the state police command, Abubakar Zayyanu, in a statement said the Assistant Inspector General in charge of the zone, Abubakar Sadiq Bello, directed a probe of the officer.
The AIG in the statement described the act as unprofessional.
The police officer identified as Bashir Mohammed is attached to the Kano Government House, from where he was deployed to work with the state APC chairman.
Those are the top Nigerian newspapers headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
This article was originally published on Naija News