Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Monday, 26th April 2021
1. Pantami: Presidency Now Employer And Defender Of Boko Haram – Fayose
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has slammed the Muhammadu Buhari presidency, describing it as an employer and defender of Boko Haram terrorists and armed bandits.
Fayose who described the situation as appalling, lamented that nowhere is safe again in the country and called on Nigerians to restrict their movements so as not to fall victim to the prevailing situation.
He made his view known in a statement on Sunday by his Media Aide, Lere Olayinka, in which he made reference to the saga involving the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami.
The statement held that the Pantami issue has further exposed the government’s hypocrisy and complicity, adding that “it is saddening and worrisome that spokesmen of the president were the ones going from one media house to another to defend someone who openly supported terrorists.”
2. Uzodinma: You Don’t Have Monopoly Of Violence – NGF Warns IPOB
The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has condemned the attack on the country home of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Naija News reports that three security operatives were killed when gunmen suspected to be IPOB members attacked Uzodinma’s country home in the Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State. Part of the building and cars in the compound were also torched by the assailants.
The gunmen were said to have launched the attack following the killing of its Commander, one Ikonso, by joint security operatives on Saturday morning.
The NGF in a statement titled, ‘Razing of Governor Hope Uzodinma’s Country Home – Message from Colleagues’, said the attackers constitute a small league of persons trying to harm Nigeria’s corporate existence.
The statement signed by NGF Chairman and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, urged security agents to bring the assailants to book.
3. Shehu Sani Confirms Attack On Kaduna Church, Reveals Number Killed, Kidnapped
Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani has condemned Sunday’s attack on Haske Baptist Church in Chikun local government area of Kaduna State.
The former Senator while condemning the attack, revealed in a statement on his Twitter account that two worshippers were killed while six others were abducted by gunmen who stormed the church on Sunday morning.
He added that over seventy people have been kidnapped from the axis in the last one week.
Naija News earlier reported the gunmen attack on worshippers in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State.
Confirming the report, Sani wrote on Twitter: “The attacks and abduction on Haske Baptist Church in Chikun LG, Kaduna State early this morning is tragic and condemnable. I called and confirmed that two were killed and Six were kidnapped. Over 70 people are in the hands of kidnappers within that axis in the last one week.”
4. Gunmen Attack Rivers State, Kill Soldiers, Policemen, Customs
An attack by suspected gunmen of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on two security checkpoints in Rivers State has left not less than eight security operatives dead.
The attack was said to have happened on Saturday evening at about 11.30pm at two joint security checkpoints along the Airport Road, Omahwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Those killed according to reports include two soldiers, three customs operatives, and three police officers.
The gunmen who carried out the attack were said to have been in military uniform, making it difficult for the security operatives to suspect an attack.
Sources quoted by Punch said the attacks were launched simultaneously on the two security locations.
5. Ikonso: Native Doctors Can’t Stop Military Technology – APC Mocks IPOB
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to the killing of a Commander of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Ikonso on Saturday.
It will be recalled that Ikonso was killed in Imo State during a joint operation by security forces comprising the Nigeria Police Force and their counterparts from the Nigerian Army and Department of State Services (DSS).
Reacting on Sunday, through an APC support Twitter account which is a commentary and support account for the APC and Muhammadu Buhari’s next-level administration, the APC warned Nigerian youths not to allow themselves to be used to fight other tribes or communities.
It added that the protection given by native doctors can’t withstand the military firepower of today.
The tweet was accompanied by a photo of the slain IPOB commander showing his dead body where he wore a vest made of leather and cowries that appears to be a form of native protection.
6. Nigeria’ll Be In Trouble If We Choose Wrongly In 2023 – Dogara
The former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Saturday said the security challenges in some parts of the country are becoming huge issues.
Dogara in his statement said Nigeria is at war with itself and for the challenges affecting it to end, Nigerians must change the way they think and act.
The lawmaker while speaking at the 10th convocation of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, on Saturday, said the present challenges affecting the country had long been foretold, but the warnings were not attended to.
7. JAMB Postpones 2021 UTME Mock Exams, Fixes New Date
The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) has announced the postponement of the 2021 Mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Naija News reports that the exam, earlier scheduled to hold on Saturday, 30th April has been rescheduled to hold on Thursday, 20th May.
In a statement to newsmen, Head, JAMB Public Affairs, Fabian Benjamin, said the change of date was due to ongoing adjustments in operational processes.
According to the JAMB official, the new date would not affect the Mock Examination and other schedules, including the date for the UTME fixed for 5th to 19th June 2021.
He informed all stakeholders that the 2021 UTME/DE registration exercise is still ongoing and will end on 15th May 2021.
8. Killing IPOB’s Ikonso Biggest Mistake Since Killing Of Boko Haram’s Yusuf – Fani-Kayode
Former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode has described the killing of IPOB and ESN Commander, Ikonso, as the biggest mistake the Nigerian state has made.
In a post on his Twitter page on Sunday, Fani-Kayode noted that this mistake was equal to the killing of Mohammed Yusuf, the founder of Boko Haram insurgency.
According to the PDP stalwart, the killing of Ikonso has succeeded in radicalizing the pro-Biafra group IPOB.
9. Boko Haram: Buni Meets Chief Of Defence Staff After Geidam Attack
Yobe state Governor and Chairman APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni on Sunday met with the Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Leo Irabor.
Naija News reports that the meeting was held over the continuous Boko Haram attacks on Geidam.
The meeting was made known in a press statement signed by the Director-General of Press Affairs and Media to the Governor, Mamman Mohammed.
According to the governor’s aide, Buni had since Friday been liaising with the security authorities to find a lasting solution to the incessant attacks on Geidam and the border communities.
The APC leader stated that a permanent solution to the intrusion of Boko Haram into the state was needed urgently.
10. IPOB: Another ESN Commander Takes Over
Barely 24 hours after the killing of the leader of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) Commander Ikonso, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Sunday announced that the military wing of the group has gotten a new commander.
Recall that Nigeria special forces had early on Saturday stormed the operational headquarters of the ESN in Awomama, Oru East LGA of Imo State, killing Ikonso and six members of the group.
Speaking on Channels TV, Sunday Politics, IPOB Secretary, Emma Powerful, announced a new commander but declined to make his name public.
He also denied ESN’s involvement in the attack on Governor Hope Uzodinma’s house.