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Northern elders reject alleged moves by Tinubu to reconcile with Bandit kingpin, Turji

Following a purported video of bandit kingpin Bello Turji seeking reconciliation with the Federal Government, a group of northern elders, has advised President Bola Tinubu to ignore his antics.

Alhaji Mustafa Dutsinma, the Northwest chairman of the Arewa Elders Progressive Group, in a statement issued in Kaduna on Thursday, cautioned against any attempt to reconcile with those associated with banditry.

According to him, the morale of the people is now high, and they have become confident and happy with military operations in the different theatres.

He said that Bello Turji was only pretending to be ready for reconciliation, considering the number of lives he and his gang had taken in the past few years of banditry in the north-west of Nigeria.

“We, the North elders, are compelled to address a pressing issue that threatens the security and stability of our nation.

“Recent reports suggest that President Tinubu is considering reconciling with notorious bandit Turji and his cohorts.

“We strongly advise against this move, as it will set a dangerous precedent and undermine the government’s efforts to combat banditry,” Dutsinma said.

He emphasised that reconciling with those who had perpetrated heinous crimes against innocent citizens would be a betrayal of public trust.

While commending the military operations going on so far in some villages of Shinkafi and Jibia, especially air and ground attacks, Dutsinma urged the military to sustain the offensives for effective results.

He said that reconciling with the bandits would be a slap in the face of victims and their families who have suffered unimaginable trauma and loss while demanding that justice be served and those responsible for the atrocities be held accountable.

Dutsinma said the relocation of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, Chief of Defence Staff, other service chiefs and senior military personnel to the troubled areas in the north reflected the commitment of the Federal Government towards tackling banditry.

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Ebonyi to begin payment of new minimum wage September -Information Commissioner

Ebonyi State Government says it has concluded arrangements to begin the implementation of the payment of Federal Government’s approved National Minimum Wage to civil servants in the State starting this September, 2024.

The state Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor disclosed this in an exclusive chat with DAILY POST on Thursday.

Okpor explained that the implementation was part of the Governor’s economic policies of improving the living standards of citizens of the State.

According to him, the administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State was the first in the South East region to agree to the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage for workers.

He noted that the empowerment packages of the present administration were in different categories as many indigenes and non-indigenes have been benefiting from the empowerment Programmes of the Governor.

“In the commencement of his administration, his Excellency in order ameliorate the present economic hardship being faced by citizens, owing to the removal of fuel subsidy, which has continued to impact on the cost of commodities and cost of living, across the country, including Ebonyi State, for instance, implemented the wage increment of N10,000.00 and later upgraded it to N20,000.00.

“The Governor of Ebonyi State is the first Executive Governor in the South East to agree to the payment of the new national minimum wage, which directive has been given to the relevant authorities to begin the payment this September,” he stated.

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Yahaya Bello is not in our custody, still wanted – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied reports claiming embattled former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello, is in their custody.

In a statement released on Wednesday, September 18, EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said the ex-governor remains wanted “for alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges.”

“Media reports today that a former Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello is in the holding facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is incorrect. The Commission wishes to state that Bello is not in its custody.

Bello, already declared wanted by the Commission for alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest,” Oyewale said.

Earlier today, Bello’s media team released a statement claiming he had honored the invitation from EFCC.

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Police commences investigation into officer’s altercation with Elderly woman

The Lagos State Police Command has commenced an investigation into circumstances leading to the altercation captured on video between a police officer and an elderly woman.

Preliminary investigation reveals that the incident took place in the Alagbado area of Lagos State in the first week of September 2024.

In a statement released, the spokesperson of the command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the Police Inspector and his supervising DSP have been brought in for questioning while the Complaint Response Unit has established contact with the woman in the video.

Hundeyin added that the Lagos State Police Command totally condemns the unprofessional conduct of the Inspector as it does not represent the ethics and operational standards of the Nigeria Police Force.

He stated that the command assures Lagosians that the investigation will be swift, thorough and conclusive while ensuring that the officers are disciplined as appropriate and members of the public are updated accordingly.