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Uzodimma Donates N185m to Families of Security Officers Killed by Gunmen

Governor Hope Uzodimma has doled out N185 million to the families of security agents who were killed in an ambush by unknown gunmen at Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State in the course of carrying out their duties.

Also compensated were security officers who survived the attacks.

The Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the governor, Oguwike Nwachuku, who made the disclosure in a statement, said Governor Uzodimma, while performing the ceremony, yesterday, in Owerri, appreciated the fallen heroes and those of them who sustained various degrees of injuries in the course of the attack, during “Search and Flush Operations.’’
Addressing the audience in an emotion laden voice, the governor, who remembered how the security agents put their lives on line to protect the citizens of the state, not only prayed God to grant their various families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, but, also, to grant the survivors quick recovery from the injuries they are currently nursing.The governor noted that the occasion has brought to the fore the situation of insecurity in Imo State “as being beyond what people think and goes a long way to showcase the problems and the negative impact inflicted on the state.”The governor recalled that this is not the first time the state government would appreciate those who died or were injured while carrying out their assigned duties and promised to continue to show love to the families and agencies affected, so that they would continue to discharge their duties without fear or discouragement.He said though he was aware that the Federal Government and the security agencies have different compensation plans for their personnel, “yet this is an opportunity to appreciate the invaluable jobs the security agencies, that is, Police, Army, Air Force, Navy, NDELA, Civil Defence and other paramilitary agencies are doing in Imo State.”
Governor Uzodimma proceeded to announce the state government’s donation of N185 million to those affected and prayed to God to give the families the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss, “and the repose of the souls of those who paid the supreme price for their fatherland.”

Earlier, while leading the audience into the reason for the event, the Secretary to Imo State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu, welcomed the bereaved families to the solemn event and thanked governor Uzodimma for “being responsive to the plight of the security agencies in the state.”

He also appreciated the government for coming to the aid of the families of the deceased and for assisting those who were wounded in the course of performing their duties.

Iwu said: “The attacks and killings of security agencies will not deter them from fighting against insecurity and restoring peace in the state. Government will continue to support the families and the various security outfits in the state.”

Those who died and were compensated include; Isaac Yakubu and Mr. Samson Edeh of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA); Ezeagu Emeka Tobias of National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC); Abraham Anas of Nigerian Air Force and Abas Ejiofor of the Nigerian Police.

The injured officers include; Ibrahim Abubakar, Umeh Lawrence, Akwaraji Charles, Abubakar Haruna, Inspector Odukwe, Onyekachi Ndubuisi and others.

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‘Look at How Stupid and Unintelligent you people are’ – Asari Dokubo Slams Those Saying Lagos Belongs to the Binis

Asari Dokubo has slammed Nigerians who are pushing the narrative that Lagos state belongs to the Binis. His comment comes days after the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare 11, said that the Binis founded some parts of Lagos state.

The Monarch’s comment sparked a debate with people agreeing and also countering the monarch’s assertion. Some people in their submissions, insisted that the Binis own Lagos state

In a video shared online, Asari asked which of the Obas of Benin owned Lagos.

He described those peddling the idea that Lagos belongs to the Binis as unintelligent and stupid people.

“Look at how unintelligent and stupid you are to say that the Bini people founded Lagos. It’s a useless argument.

“Daume also attacked Lagos and attacked Abeokuta and Daume is in Benin Republic. So Daume people will say they owe this place because they came to fight there?

Borogu, which of them is the Benin Republic, will now say that because they had their army all over the place in those days, Igbo-Ora and the whole Okedun belong to them?

“You don’t know history. The Bini army attacked Lagos Island. The Ijaw army ferried them to attack not the whole of Lagos, just Lagos Island.

“Lagos was five divisions, four of these divisions were in the former Western Region. You don’t know history. But they keep Talking about ‘Lagos belongs to Benin’ which Oba of Benin can Lagos belong to?

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Nigerians will soon enjoy improved Electricity supply — Power Minister

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has assured that Nigerians will soon start enjoying improved power supply across the country.

This was even as he stated that the totality of the re-enacted electricity act has changed the entire landscape of the power sector.

The Minister disclosed this at the 3rd edition of the Power Correspondents Association of Nigeria annual workshop in Abuja on Thursday.

According to him, the 2023 Electricity Act has liberalised electricity generation, transmission, and distribution while also empowering states, organisations, and even individuals to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity.

He noted that the key part of the 2023 Electricity Act is the development of the Integrated National Electricity Policy and Strategic Implementation Plan.

“We are working with the National Council on Power (NCP) to develop and send the implementation strategy to the FederalE Executive Council (FEC) for approval,” he said.

Also, he said, “Part of the strategy in our road map is the emphasis on the bottom-up approach, unlike the top-down approach of the past.

“The implication, with the bottom-up approach, is that we will prioritise metering, distribution, and transmission infrastructure. In the short term, we will focus on customers down to distribution and transmission infrastructure. This is to ensure that a significant portion of what is generated currently gets to end users.

“We will also pay attention to the generation segment, particularly in areas of distributed (embedded) power from renewable energy sources, while at the same time advancing base load power through thermal and hydroelectric plants in the medium to long term.”

He further noted that the administration would explore the country’s regional energy potential.

“We will focus on solar energy in the North, mini hydropower plants in the Middle Belt and the Southwest, hybridised with solar, while our coastal states will be identified for wind energy utilisation.

Taking all the above into consideration, especially with the liberalisation of the sector, Nigerians will soon start to experience the objective that led to the Act, which is improved power supply across the country,” he said

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Court Remands 14-year-old Suspected Killer of FUTMinna Lecturer

A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Minna, Niger State capital, has remanded a 14-year-old prime suspect, Joy Afekafe, over murder of Mrs. Funmilola Sherifat Adefolalu, an associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna.

The Nigerian Police, Niger State Command, arraigned the 14-year-old Afekafe on three count charges which include criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide and armed robbery.

The offences are in contrary to sections 97, 221 and 298 of the penal code law

The prosecution told Chief Magistrate Fati Hassan Umar that two other suspects in the crime: Wallex and Smart are still at large.

The prosecutor, DSP Ahmed Saidu told the court that the trio had invaded the residence of the deceased on the 28th of October 2023 ”where you took a knife in the kitchen and stabbed her all over her body.

”You also used a wooden stool and hit her on her head after which you carted away $3000, one laptop computer, one mobile phone, two power banks and a car battery.”

The prosecution added that as a result, “the victim was taken to the IBB Specialist hospital where she was confirmed dead by medical doctors”.

When the charge was read to Afekafe, she pleaded not guilty to the crime.

The prosecution pleaded with the court to remand the accused in the Correctional Centre to enable the Police forward the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution in the state Ministry of Justice for legal advice, adding that it is only the High Court that has jurisdiction to try the case.

Chief Magistrate Fati Hassan Umar directed that Afekafe be remanded at the Children Correctional Centre before adjourning the case to 11th of December, 2023 for further mention