Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 13th October 2021
1. Senate Allows INEC Determine Mode To Transmit Election Results
The senate has empowered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to determine the best mode to for the transmission of election results.
Naija News reports that the senate made the decision while reconsidering the election amendment act.
Under a new amendment of Clause 52 (2) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, the Senate resolved that “voting at an election and transmission of results under this Bill shall be in accordance with the procedure determined by the Commission, which may include electronic voting”.
Following the lawmakers’ decision, INEC will be empowered to decide how to transmit election results — either electronically or manually.
2. Anambra: Details Emerge Into Unknown Gunmen’s Attempt To Hold Obiano’s Convoy Hostage
Gunmen alleged to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Tuesday held the convoy of the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano of Anambra State, hostage for about an hour.
The incident happened as the attackers disrupted the campaign train of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) at Odata Secondary School in Ihiala Local Government Area of the State, ahead of the November 6 governorship election.
There are reports that “the governor’s convoy was held for about one hour, while there were gunshots all over” even as the Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed that operatives of Anambra Police Command repelled the attack at Odata.
While confirming that there was an attack in Ihiala, the police spokesman listed exhibits recovered from the attackers to include: one AK 47 rifle, two magazine with 30 rounds of ammunition, one Lexus 350 SUV, one Rav 4 jeep, one Mercedes Benz, and a Toyota Corolla.
Naija News reports that Ikenga stated that preliminary investigation revealed that the hoodlums started shooting sporadically when the governor’s convoy arrived Odata Secondary School but security operatives took control.
3. 29 Private Jets Owners In Nigeria Threatened, Risk Losing Planes After 14 Days
Following the release of its report on the verification of privately-owned airplanes in the country, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Tuesday threatened to impound 29 jets on which the owners did not pay statutory import duties.
Customs’ Public Relations Officer, Mr Joseph Attah, told a press conference in Abuja that the 29 airplanes would be impounded if the owners did not show up at the expiration of the 14 days ultimatum given.
Naija News recalls that Customs had on May 31, announced its plan to verify import documents of privately-owned airplanes in the country. The exercise took place between June 7 and August 6 at the Tariff and Trade Department of the Service.
Attah explained that within the stipulated period, 86 private jets or airplane operators showed up for the exercise and presented relevant documents for verification.
According to him, 57 of them were verified as commercial charter operators and were duly cleared for operations.
4. Uzodinma Condemns Killings, Burning Of Houses In Izombe, Imo State
The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has condemned the killings and destruction of properties in Izombe village in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.
Naija News reports that Nigerian Army clashed with some youths in the village, which led to the death of two soldiers and a suspected Owerri prison escapee, named Obele.
The incident, which occurred last week Friday, also led to the burning of some houses in the community.
Speaking on Tuesday during a visit to Izombe, Governor Uzodinma stated that his administration will fish out culprits behind the violence in the community.
The governor added that he would constitute a committee to commence the process of assisting in rebuilding the houses.
Uzodinma, however, gave a seven-day warning to the youths in the area to return weapons at their disposal or face the law.
5. Femi Adesina Admits Insecurity Exploded Under Buhari Govt
The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has stated that the present administration is tackling insecurity head-on.
Naija News understands that Adesina made the observation during a recent interview on Channels Television, where he compared the current situation in the country to what was ‘witnessed in 2015’.
While defending his principal’s achievement so far in the fight against insurgency, Adesina said the incumbent government has and is doing well on insecurity but many people are mistaking it for stagnation.
Adesina admits that though at some point, insecurity challenges under the present government ‘exploded again and it became hydra-headed’, he is optimistic that the government has done great in ending the menace.
6. Bandits Invade Catholic Seminary In Kaduna, Kidnap Students
St. Albert The Great Institute of Philosophy, a Catholic-run seminary located in the Fayit community in Kagoma Chiefdom in the Jama’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, has been attacked by gunmen suspected to be bandits terrorists.
According to reports, the bandit terrorists invaded the seminary on Monday night.
The terrorists stormed the school at about 8 pm and began shooting sporadically, causing everyone to run to safety.
A source that spoke with NewsWire on the incident said the attack lasted for more than an hour before local hunters and vigilantes intervened and “chased the terrorists away.”
A further report had it that some students of the school were kidnapped by the terrorists while others were injured.
The Kaduna Police Command has confirmed the development.
7. Senate Directs Political Parties To Use Direct Primary Mode
The Senate on Tuesday approved that all political parties must use the direct primary mode in picking candidates.
Naija News reports that the Senate approved four clauses in the electoral act amendment bill.
Recall that former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had noted that while Nigerians are concerned about the absence of electronic transmission of results in the proposed amendment to the Electoral Act, there is another potential problem in the Act that may clog the nation’s electoral process.
While identifying this problem in the proposed law as the provision which makes direct primaries compulsory for parties, he urged members of the National Assembly to save the country from the trouble that will be caused by the proposal to make direct primaries compulsory.
Naija News reports that Saraki, who stated this in a statement issued Monday by his spokesman, Yusuph Olaniyonu, observed that many of the political parties lack the necessary infrastructure to successfully conduct direct primaries at all levels, while the attempt would lead to litigations that might jeopardize the general election.
The former Senate President, who urged federal lawmakers not to create a new problem in a bid to solve another, said the direct primaries option will also put pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), whose officials must monitor all the primary elections.
8. DSS Releases Veteran Actor Chiwetalu Agu
The Department of State Services (DSS) has released veteran Nollywood actor, Chiwetalu Agu from its custody.
The National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas, made this known in a statement made available to Naija News on Tuesday.
Rollas said that the veteran actor was released after due consultation with the DSS, and was received by him and a colleague, Steve Eboh, at the DSS headquarters.
He added that the elated veteran Actor thanked God for surviving the ordeal and commended the leadership of the Actors Guild of Nigeria for their relentless efforts in securing his release.
9. Zamfara: Hundreds Of Bandits Killed, Arrested – Matawalle
The Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, on Tuesday said hundreds of bandits have been killed or arrested.
He further stated that his administration would not allow complacency in the fight against banditry.
Matawalle stated this at the swearing-in of the Secretary to the State Government, Head of Service, 18 commissioners, 16 special advisers and three Director-Generals.
The All Progressives Congress chieftain said the state is in a critical time and is trying to get out of bandit attacks.
Matawalle in his statement attributed the recent successes to security measures taken to flush out the criminals.
10. Many ISWAP Fighters Killed As Nigerian Troops Ambush Terrorists
Troops of the Nigerian Army and two fighter helicopters of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have killed many Islamic State in West Africa Province, ISWAP, terrorists.
Naija News understands that the ISWAP terrorists were on a mission to attack the military base at Ngamdu.
It was gathered that the clash occurred on Tuesday at Ngamdu, a border town between Yobe and Borno States.
The terrorists had attempted to attack a military base in the area before they were stopped by the troops who had been put on high alert.
The attack, planned by ISWAP fighters, was repelled by the military helicopters, supported by troops of Super Camp in Ngamdu.
A security source told PRNigeria that the ISWAP elements stormed the town in MRAP and gun trucks.
Those are the top Nigerian newspapers headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
This article was originally published on Naija News