Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Sunday, 25th April 2021.
1. Security Guards Shot Dead As Gunmen Burn Down Residence Of Imo Governor
Unknown gunmen have attacked the home of the governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, in Omuma in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State.
It was gathered that the armed men stormed the governor’s village in early hours of Saturday, killed two security men on duty before setting the house on fire.
According to Daily Trust, one of the security men killed was a personnel of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
A source who spoke on the condition anonymity, said cars parked at the compound and part of the building were also burnt.
There are claims that gunmen killed two other security men at Oguta- Mgbidi junction, the road which leads to the governor’s country home.
2. Suspected IPOB Commander Killed By Security Operatives In Imo
A joint operation on Saturday morning between operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and their counterparts from the Nigerian Army and Department of State Services (DSS) has resulted in the killing of the suspected insurgent attacking Imo and other southeast states.
The leader of the insurgents, identified as Commander Ikonso was killed during the gun battle between security operatives and the insurgents while six of his fighters were also arrested.
The encounter happened in Awomama Village Oru East LGA of Imo State.
Naija News gathered that three policemen and one army officer also sustained serious gun wounds during the encounter and have been taken to the hospital for treatment.
The insurgents reported to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are said to be responsible for several attacks in the area including the attack on the Imo Police Headquarters as well as the headquarters of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
3. Kaduna Abduction: Nigeria At War With Bandits – Gumi
Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi, on Friday said the killing of three abducted students of Greenfield University, Kaduna State has shown that bandits are at war with Nigeria.
Gumi in his statement noted that the only way forward is for the government to grant amnesty to the bandits for them to lay down their arms.
The cleric who had earlier aided the release of students abducted by bandits in Kastina and Niger States said he is helpless in the case of Kaduna State because the state government is not ready to negotiate with bandits.
He further stated that the only way he can intervene in the situation is if the state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai reconsiders his stance against negotiation with bandits.
He said, “The situation is becoming dire and I need the government’s support before I can do anything, and I think there is a great misunderstanding and poor reading of the situation on the ground. So, I’m really helpless; I don’t know what actually I can do as of now.”
4. Identities Of Slain Greenfield University Students Revealed
The identities of the three of the abducted students of Greenfield University, Kaduna State, who were killed by the bandits have been revealed.
Naija News reports that the names of the students are Abubakar Sadiq Yusuf Sanga, Dorathy Yohanna, and Precious Nwakacha.
The slain students were found in Kwanan Bature Village, close to the institution, where they were captured on 20 April.
One of the slain students and son of the former chairman of Jemaa Local Government Area of Kaduna state, Abubakar Sanga, was buried on Friday.
5. CAN Roasts President Buhari, Reveals Isa Pantami’s Targets
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has berated President Muhammadu Buhari for defending the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, who back terrorism previously.
Naija News reports that Pantami had once revealed how joyful he used to feel with the killing of those he considered infidels.
The minister said this in three audio recordings of his teachings in the 2000s, when he condemned deadly operations of the then Al Qaeda and Taliban elements who were on a campaign to obliterate the West and conquer other parts of the world.
Pantami in his submission while responding to audience questions about his views on the then leader of the terrorist group, Osama Bin Laden, stated that he still considers the leader of the extremists a better Muslim faithful to himself.
6. IPOB, ESN’ll Give Fulani Terrorists Hell In Southeast – Nnamdi Kanu
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, on Saturday said the the group and the Eastern Security Network will give Fulani terrorists Hell in the South-East.
He further stated that Fulani terrorist would not overrun the region while ESN and IPOB are still existing.
Kanu stated this while reacting to the attacks on security operatives by cattle traders at Artisan market in Enugu.
Speaking through the spokesman of IPOB, Emma Powerful, Kanu wondered why the Enugu State government and security outfits have not taken action over the incident.
7. Bandits Abduct 20 Women, Five Men In Katsina
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have reportedly abducted at least 20 women while attending a naming ceremony at Gidan Bido village, Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State.
According to Katsina Post, the incident occurred on Friday.
The gunmen also attacked and kidnapped five men at Unguwar Bawa village of Dandume LGA on Saturday.
The member representing Dandume LGA in the Katsina State House of Assembly is from Unguwar Bawa.
Katsina is one of the states most affected by terrorism and banditry in Nigeria’s North-West region.
8. Arewa Lists Conditions To Back Bola Tinubu 2023 Presidential Ambition
The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has given the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, conditions to back his 2023 presidential ambition.
Speaking to DailyPost, National President of AYCF, Yerima Shettima said the North would study his relationship with Nigerians from other regions before deciding to support Tinubu’s presidential ambition.
According to the AYCF president, the former Lagos State governor’s ability to maintain a good relationship with other regions would be a deciding factor for the North.
“If Tinubu decides to contest, there is a way we will answer him. If he decides to contest, we will certainly look at his relationship with other Nigerians outside the Southwest, how fair has he been we other Nigerians outside the Southwest,” Shettima said.
9. Akpabio Speaks On His Reported Arrest For Bribing EFCC Boss
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has described as false a report online that EFCC detained him for two hours after attempting to bribe the agency Chairman with $350,000.
The former Governor of Akwa Ibom and five others were reportedly detained for two hours last Monday by the EFCC after Akpabio attempted to bribe Bawa with $350,000 (about N135 million).
According to SaharaReporters, the minister attempted to bribe the EFCC boss because of corruption allegations levelled against him, dating back to the time he was governor of Akwa Ibom State.
It was gathered by the news medium that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, arranged the meeting between Akpabio and Bawa.
Akpabio was said to have carried the $350,000 in cash personally to Bawa before he was detained.
10. Pantami vs Adeosun: Buhari Exhibiting Double Standards – Moghalu
A former presidential candidate, Kingsley Moghalu, has berated President Muhammadu Buhari for refusing to sack Nigeria’s Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, over his backing of terrorism in the past.
Naija News reports that Nigerians had called on the Buhari govt to sack his Minister of Communication, Isa Pantami, for backing terrorism some years back.
Reacting in a series of tweets, Moghala, a former depuity governor or the CBN, said the presidency exhibited double standards as former minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun, was made to resign for wrongdoing in her past.
“I have refrained so far from commenting on the #Pantami controversy. From information available: anyone can a mistake, and has the right to recant from it. But when the evidence shows that a serving minister of Nigeria has expressed open support for global terrorist groups, he should never have scaled the vetting process and been approved for that office,” the tweet reads.