Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Tuesday, 16th March 2021
1. ‘You’re A Joker’ – FG Reacts To Asari Dokubo’s Biafra Government
The Federal Government of Nigeria has described the formation of the Biafra Customary Government by Asari Dokubo as a “theatre of the absurd by a joker seeking attention’’.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this while speaking to reporters in Lagos on Monday.
Naija News had reported how Dokubo, leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Salvation Force, announced himself as the leader of the new Biafra Customary Government.
Dokubo also announced the names of some cabinet members, while announcing Uche Mefor as its head of Information and Communications.
However, Mohammed said President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration will not be distracted by the absurdity, adding that the government will not give any attention or time to Dokubo.
2. Police Transfer Suspected Fulani Warlord, Wakili, Two Others To CID
Fulani warlord, Isikilu Wakili, has been transferred by the Oyo State Police Command to the state Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, Ibadan for discreet investigation.
The spokesperson of the command, Olugbenga Fadeyi, in a statement released on Monday denied the command detained people who reported any case against the Fulani herdsmen at the police station in Ibarapa axis.
Recall that members of the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, arrested Wakili following a petition by residents of Ayete in the Ibarapa North Local Government Area that Wakili and his men were attacking their people.
3. JAMB Fixes Date To Announce Sale Of 2021/2022 UTME Forms
The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) has fixed March 24, 2021, to announce the commencement of the sale of 2021/2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) registration forms.
NAN reports that the board disclosed this in its Vol. 2, No. 15 Weekly Bulletin of the Office of the Registrar on Monday in Abuja.
According to the examination body, the official dates for the commencement of the sale of both documents and the conduct of the examinations would be announced not later than March 24.
While revealed that the 2021 exercise was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, JAMB warned that any ongoing sale of forms and registration was fraudulent and not associated with JAMB.
4. Bandits Kidnap Students, Teachers From Kaduna Primary School
Bandits have abducted students and teachers from UBE Primary School in Rama village in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
It was gathered that three teachers and some pupils were abducted on Monday morning while pupils were resuming for school.
This news medium understands that the gunmen came on about 12 motorcycles and shot sporadically into the air to scare the students and teachers.
5. Troops Neutralise 41 Terrorists, Rescue 60 Captives
Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole of the Nigerian Army on Monday neutralized 41 terrorists and rescued 60 captives comprising of elderly women and children in Gamboru, Borno State.
It was gathered that the troops also recovered sophisticated weapons after engaging the terrorists.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, stated this in a statement on Monday.
6. We Didn’t Appoint Sanusi As Our Leader In Nigeria – Tijjaniyya Sect
The Dhariqa Tijjaniyya, an Islamic sect, has denied appointing the former Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II, as its leader in Nigeria.
The Grand World Leader of Dhariqa Tijjaniyya, Sheikh Mahi Nyass, disclosed this when he spoke with newsmen on Monday in Sokoto.
Nyasa said that the appointment of the sect’s leader in Nigeria must be subjected to scrutiny and nomination from scholars in Nigeria and Senegal.
“Such decisions have to be discussed at different fora, agreement must be reached before the announcement.
“After nomination, a letter of credence endorsed by group of scholars, duly signed and stamped by grand world leader (Caliphatul Arrm) must be presented to the person appointed,” Nyass said.
7. Kaduna: Declare State Of Emergency On Education – Atiku Reacts To Kidnap Of School Children
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, had called on Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the education sector.
The former Vice President stated this while reacting to the recent abduction of teachers and students of UBE Primary School in Rama, Kaduna State.
Naija News had earlier reported that the students were kidnapped on Monday morning while entering the school premises.
Atiku in a post on Twitter called for 24-hour armed guards be positioned at every school in the affected and neighbouring states immediately.
8. Nothing Is Working In Nigeria Again – Senator Slams Buhari, APC
Former Imo East Senator, Samuel Anyanwu has lashed out at President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that Nigeria is worse off under their leadership.
The former lawmaker who is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) submitted that both Buhari and the APC were only interested in grabbing power but have no real development plans for Nigeria and Nigerians.
He made the submission in Owerri, the Imo State capital, stating that Nigeria has suffered bad leadership since the APC took over the power in 2015.
He accused both President Buhari and the APC of inflicting untold hardship on the citizens while they waste the commonwealth of the nation on frivolities.
Anyanwu lamented that insecurity, poverty, unemployment, and other negative indices have been on the rise during the current administration.
9. 2 Soldiers, 39 Terrorists Killed In Fierce Battle Between Army And ISWAP
A fierce battle between the Nigerian military and members of the Islamic State’s West African Province (ISWAP), a faction of the Boko Haram terrorist group has resulted in the death of many individuals from both sides.
It is understood that not fewer than two soldiers and 39 insurgents lost their lives during the bloody clash which took place on Sunday in Damasak, Borno State.
Naija News reports that Damasak is the the headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State and is about 160km from Maiduguri, the state capital.
Soldiers wounded during the fierce encounter have been evacuated for medical attention on Monday.
Damasak is understood to be in the control of the troops but the insurgents have been launching consistent attacks in an attempt to take over the area.
One of such attempts was what reportedly happened on Sunday as the ISWAP terrorists stormed the area but met stiff opposition from the Nigerian Military, assisted by their counterparts from the Niger Republic.
The encounter in Damasak lasted for over four hours with heavy shootings, Naija News understands.
10. We Paid Spiritualists, Vigilantes N14million To Fight Bandits
The Secretary of Shiroro Local Government Area in Niger State, Adams Kefas, has disclosed that N14 million was paid to spiritualists and vigilantes to fight banditry in the council.
Kefas made this known on Monday during an interrogation before the Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating the suspended Chairman of Shiroro LGA, Suleiman Dauda Chukuba, over a petition on alleged misappropriation of N50million tenement rate.
He said some of the spiritualists were brought in from Akare in Wushishi Local Government Area in Niger state and others from Chikun Local Government Area in Kaduna state.
Kefas said some of the vigilante groups were from the council while others were brought in from Chikun LGA to help combat insecurity in the council.