Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Sunday, 28th February 2021.
1. Kagara School Boys Released
The kidnapped students and staff of the Government Science College in Kagara, Niger State have been released by their abductors.
It was gathered that the students and staff who have been in captivity for days were released on Saturday morning.
The development was disclosed by a credible source to ThisDay, which noted that the abductees are on their way to Minna and should be in the Niger State capital in a couple of hours.
2. Journalists Barred As Freed Kagara Students, Staff Arrive Minna
The freed students, staff, and family members of Government Science College in Kagara, Niger State abducted by bandits last week have arrived Minna under tight security.
Naija News had reported that the students and staff were released on Saturday morning. The students and the staff were released from a location close to where the fifty-three abductees were released a week ago.
The boys and others freed by the bandits were taken to a government hotel known as NSDC Suites, opposite Government House for refreshment.
However, journalists were prevented from getting close to the boys and were not allowed to take pictures by security agencies.
3. How Man With AK-47 Rifle ‘Attacked’ Governor Wike’s Convoy
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has revealed that a man who was not in police uniform but was armed with AK 47 rifle blocked his convoy at Waterlines Junction, Port Harcourt.
Making the revelation when the new Rivers Commissioner of Police, Eboka Friday visited him in his office, Wike said the man trailed his convoy until his security details stopped him.
He however did not say whether the man was arrested or the action taken by his security aides against the suspect.
4. Buhari Is Ineffective, Incompetent, And Clueless – Aisha Yesufu
A Nigerian socio-political activist and co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls Movement, Aisha Yesufu has described the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari as being ineffective, incompetent, and clueless.
She made the statement while responding to questions during an interview on Channels TV on the state of security in Nigeria and the steps being taken by President Buhari to combat the insecurity ravaging the nation.
While responding to a question about her disposition to President’s assurance to Nigerians about efforts being made to rescue all those who have been abducted, Mrs Yesufu said: “what I make of the statement is absolutely nothing”.
5. Insecurity: Buhari Blames State Governments For Rewarding Bandits With Money, Cars
President Muhammadu Buhari has warned state governments to stop the practice of giving cash, cars, and other forms of rewards to bandits in the name of negotiating with them.
The President noted that such practices are dangerous and only elevate the level of criminal activities in the country.
He added that the actions by such state governments have the potential to backfire with a lot of negative consequences.
Buhari rather urged the state and local governments to beef up security in and around schools and other places that may be targeted by the insurgents.
6. Boko Haram Releases Bride Abducted In Borno
Boko Haram has released a bride who was abducted along Maiduguri/Damaturu Highway on Thursday.
The insurgents had abducted her alongside her friends and some travellers plying that route.
According to Daily Trust, Boko Haram dropped the victims off at a village near Damaturu, Yobe State capital, around midnight.
It was not disclosed if any ransom was paid.
7. Allow Free Flow Of Food From North To South Or….., Nigerian Military Warns
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has warned that it will not tolerate the action by any person or group to prevent the free movement of trucks conveying food from the north to the southern part of the country.
The military gave the caution on Friday while reacting to a social media video which alleged that some hoodlums are turning back trucks conveying food from the north to the south.
A statement issued on the development by the acting director for defence information, Onyema Nwachukwu warned that anyone caught in such practice will be severely dealt with.
8. Salihu Tanko Yakasai: Ganduje Fires Dawisu For Criticizing Buhari
Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has fired Salihu Tanko Yakasai as his media adviser after criticizing the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
On Friday, Salihu called on the APC government under President Buhari to “end the security crisis in the North or resign”.
A statement from Information Commissioner Mohammed Garba said the governor had taken the action because of his “indecent remarks”.
“He (Salihu) failed to distinguish between his own views and the views of the government on public issues, so he will not be allowed to continue working with a government that he does not support.” The statement quoted Mohammed Garba as saying.
9. Father Of Ganduje’s Media Aide Confirms Son’s Arrest By DSS For Criticizing Buhari
The father of Salihu Tanko-Yakasai, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai has confirmed the arrest of his son by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The younger Tanko-Yakasai is one of the media aides to Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
As earlier reported by Naija News, the media aide to Governor Ganduje had called on President Muhammadu Buhari to address the activities of bandits in the country or resign.
Tanko-Yakasai stated this on Friday while reacting to the abduction of schoolgirls at Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
10. Saudi Crown Prince Approved Killing Of Jamal Khashoggi – US Report
The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, approved the 2018 murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to a declassified assessment of the killing released to Congress by US intelligence agencies.
The four-page report confirmed the long-suspected view that the 35-year-old future king had a personal hand in the violent and premeditated murder of one of his most prominent critics, a columnist and former Saudi insider who was living in exile in the US and used his platform to decry the prince’s crackdown on dissent.
Friday’s release of the assessment was expected to be accompanied by further actions from the Joe Biden administration, which are expected to be unveiled by the State Department.