Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Sunday, 9th May 2021.
1. Ortom Bombs El-Rufai, Says Kaduna Gov Misleading Buhari
The Benue State government led by Governor Samuel Ortom has warned Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to deal with the insecurity ravaging his state before talking about that of other locations in the country.
The Benue State government in a statement on Saturday issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Terver Akase also accused El-Rufai of misleading President Muhammadu Buhari on issues of insecurity ravaging Nigeria.
The position of the Benue State government comes as a response to an earlier position by El-Rufai who accused Ortom of blaming the federal government for insecurity in Benue as a way to cover up his own leadership failures.
2. Seven Policemen Killed As Gunmen Attack Rivers Police Stations
Gunmen have killed at least seven policemen during an attack on checkpoints and police stations in Rivers State, on Friday night.
Naija News learned that the gunmen killed two police officers in the Rumuji police station in Emuoha Local Government Area of state, burnt the station, and some vehicles inside the facility.
Also, the gunmen attacked a police station and burnt two patrol vehicles along the Rumuji axis of the East-West Road in the state around 10pm on Friday.
A checkpoint of the security outfit called C-4-i along the East-West Road was also attacked, even as three operatives were feared killed there.
3. US Rejects Buhari Request, Says Biden Won’t Relocate Africa Command To Nigeria
The United States has rejected plans to relocate its Africa Command from its current base in Germany to Nigeria or any other part of Africa.
Naija News reports that the US was responding to a request from President Muhammadu Buhari to Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, to consider relocating AFRICOM to Africa to assist Nigeria and other adjoining countries to combat worsening insecurity.
In an emailed response to The PUNCH, US government rejected any plan to relocate AFRICOM from its current base in Germany to Nigeria or any part of Africa.
The United States Department of Defence’ Pentagon stated that previous studies have shown that the cost of relocating AFRICOM from Germany to Africa is very huge.
4. Nigerians Have Marginalized Igbos Through Collective Punishment – Shehu Sani
Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani has opined that Igbos have been suffering a collective punishment in Nigeria.
This is as the former lawmaker added that the Igbos have suffered marginalization since the civil war which took place between 1967 and 1970.
He added that the marginalisation has affected the political fortunes of the region but the Igbos have proven to be dependable and patriotic.
Sani made the submission on Saturday in Kaduna at a meeting organised by the Association of Eze-Ndigbo in Diaspora.
5. Kidnapped ABSU Student Regains Freedom
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has announced the release of the only student of Abia State University (ABSU) kidnapped by gunmen on the Okigwe-Uturu Road earlier in the week.
In a statement via his Twitter handle on Saturday, Ikpeazu said he has spoken with the female student and her parent.
The governor said that his administration has since taken measures to strengthen the security around the area where the incident happened.
He added that the security of lives and property of the people of the state remains one of the priorities of his government.
6. Nigeria Will Become Ungovernable If… – Catholic Bishops
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) says Nigeria will “become ungovernable” if the federal government continues to ignore criticisms and recommendations.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by the President of CBCN, Augustine Akubeze, the clergies also asked President Muhammadu Buhari to address the country on his effort in tackling insecurity.
The bishops, who also bemoaned the spate of abduction of students by bandits, said Nigerians want to “directly hear” from Buhari — and not presidential spokespersons.
The Catholic leaders urged the president to convene a national conference geared towards implementing restructuring and devolution of power.
7. Gunmen Release Abducted Kogi Miyetti Allah Leader
Kidnappers have released the chairman of the Kogi chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Wakili Damina.
Naija News reports that Damina was said to have been abducted from his residence on April 30 by some armed men dressed in army uniforms.
Speaking on Saturday in Lokoja, the Kogi capital, MACBAN secretary in the state, Adamu Abubakar, said Damina was released in Abuja on Friday night.
The MACBAN secretary said from what Damina narrated of his experience, his abductors were suspected to be from one of the security agencies.
8. What I’ll Do If My Child Is Abducted – Gumi Reveals
Prominent Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has said that he will head to Aso Rock if his child is abducted by bandits.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Pidgin on Friday, the cleric reiterated his stance that ransom should be paid to bandits to free their captives.
On Wednesday, the cleric had urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to pay the N100 million demanded by the abductors of Greenfield University students kidnapped in April.
Commenting again on the development, Gumi said the federal government has to choose between the option of saving the lives of students or paying the N100 million.
9. Five Ward Chairmen, Others Dumps APC For PDP In Benue
Benue State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday, May 7 received to its camp five new defectors from the All Progressive Congress, APC.
Naija News understands that the decampers including five ward chairmen and their supporters joined the opposition party in the Makurdi Local Government Area of the state.
The defection ceremony held at the LGEA Primary School, Wurukum, Makurdi, was witnessed by top government officials and PDP chieftains across the state.
10. How BBNaija Taught Me To Ignore People – Alex Unusual
Former Big Brother Housemate, and social media influencer Alexandra Asogwa, better known as Alex Unusual, has said she learned how to ignore people at the Big Brother Naija House.
She made this know in an interview with Saturday Beats, where she said she does not enjoy controversies, even though it sells some people better in the public space.