News
Remaining 87 Kaduna Baptist school students to be released in batches
President of Kaduna Baptist Conference, Ishaya Jangado, has said the remaining Bethel Baptist High School students still in captivity will be released in batches.
A total of 121 students were abducted when bandits invaded the school on July 5.
The bandits had earlier released one of the students based on health grounds while two others were rescued by the police.
Twenty-eight students were released on Saturday night at a location along Kaduna-Abuja road, after which vigilantes took them to 1 Division, Nigerian army.
Leaders of the Baptist Church led by the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Isreal Akanji, picked them up from the army division on Sunday.
They were later reunited with their parents at the school premises.
However, many of the parents were unhappy as their children were not among those released.
“I have been talking with the bandits and they told me that the children would be released in batches and they have released the first batch of 28,” Jangado said.
“I appealed to parents whose children are not among the first batch not to despair as they will be released too by the grace of God. If your child is not among those released don’t be disappointed, let’s keep praying.”
On his part, Akanji said, “A lot of efforts were made to ensure the release of the students. The number one effort was prayers; we prayed and prayed.
“We spoke to security agents; we spoke to the governor of Kaduna State and he promised that he was going to do his best to ensure the release of the children.
“We have waited; it is about three weeks now and finally, we are grateful that we have this batch that has come.
“All together, we have received 34 students out of the 121. We are still expecting 87 who have not come back yet.
“The children were just released by the people who abducted them. They kept them in a place and they called us and we went and carried them in our vehicles and brought them.
“Our prayer is that they will release the remaining students”.
Akanji maintained that the church did not pay any ransom to the bandits.
He said, “I don’t know where you got your information. I have heard a lot of information in the media. Some said we paid N60 million, some said we paid N100m.
“What we said is that as a church, we will not pay ransom because it is not right to pay people who have done what is wrong.
“I cannot answer for those who probably must have been involved in certain ways.”
No government official or security agency was present as the leaders of the church drove the students straight to the school and handed them to their parents.
News
Don’t host US, French military bases in Nigeria, northern leaders warn Tinubu
Don’t host US, French military bases in Nigeria, northern leaders warn Tinubu
Prominent northern leaders have cautioned against allowing the United States and French governments to relocate military bases from the Sahel region to Nigeria.
The leaders in an open letter to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly leadership urged the Federal Government to resist such pressure.
Those who signed the letter are Professor Abubakar Siddique Mohammed of the Centre for Democratic Development, Research and Training (CEDDERT), Zaria; Professor Kabiru Sulaiman Chafe, former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, representing the Arewa Research and Development Project (ARDP), Kaduna; Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); Professor Jibrin Ibrahim from the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Abuja; Auwal Musa (Rafsanjani) of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CCISLAC) Abuja; and Y. Z. Ya’u from the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Kano.
The letter highlighted reports of aggressive lobbying by the American and French governments targeting Nigeria and other Gulf of Guinea nations to enter new defence agreements allowing the redeployment of troops expelled from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
READ ALSO:
- Osun kingship Tussle: Court stops coronation of Gov Adeleke-appointed king
- We have added 625MW to national grid – Minister
- Minimum wage, maximum deceit and moral cowardice – Farooq Kperogi
Expressing concern, they cautioned that Nigeria, strategically positioned among the Gulf of Guinea countries, might yield to such pressure, compromising its defence and internal security.
“The recent expulsion of French and American troops from Niger due to their perceived ineffective presence raises questions about the efficacy of hosting foreign military bases,” they said in the open letter.
They also argued that the primary goal of these bases, ostensibly to combat terrorism in the Sahel, has not been achieved, as terrorism has only escalated since those camps were established.
“It is important to clearly state that there are only dangers and no gains from such military operations.
“The American operations in Niger Republic, for example, were ostensibly to pre-empt and uproot terrorists from the Sahel region. The result has so far been quite unimpressive if not a complete failure.
“It is apparent that the presence of American troops and other intelligence personnel in Niger Republic is not serving any useful purpose.
“This is for the simple reason that terrorism, far from diminishing, has risen dramatically since the US began its operations in the region,” they said.
The signatories warned against compromising Nigeria’s sovereignty and independence for short-term strategic alliances, highlighting potential adverse long-term consequences.
Moreover, they highlighted the negative impact of hosting foreign troops, including increased living costs and environmental degradation, which disproportionately affect lower-income populations and indigenous communities.
As of now, the presidency or the National Assembly have not publicly responded to the open letter.
Don’t host US, French military bases in Nigeria, northern leaders warn Tinubu
News
Osun kingship Tussle: Court stops coronation of Gov Adeleke-appointed king
Osun kingship Tussle: Court stops coronation of Gov Adeleke-appointed king
Just weeks after a court ousted a monarch chosen by Governor Ademola Adeleke, Justice Micheal Awe has halted the planned presentation of the staff of office to the second king of Iree, Oba Muritala Oyelakin.
In a sequence of events, two kings had emerged as the Aree of Iree in the Boripe local government area of Osun state after Adeleke disapproved of the appointment of Oba Ademola Ponnle by his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola, and instead selected Muritala Oyelakin as king.
This dual kingship sparked a crisis within the community, with kingmakers neglecting the traditional rites of Oba Oyelakin.
Originally scheduled for Saturday, May 5, the ceremony for presenting the certificate, instrument, and staff of office to Oba Oyelakin as the Aree of Iree was put on hold.
READ ALSO:
- We have added 625MW to national grid – Minister
- Minimum wage, maximum deceit and moral cowardice – Farooq Kperogi
- EFCC nabs 20 suspected internet fraudsters in Sapele
Justice Awe, presiding over the State High Court in Ikirun, Osun State, issued a restraining order against Governor Adeleke, his administration, and four traditional chiefs, including King Oba Oyelakin, prohibiting them from proceeding with the staff of office presentation ceremony.
The order was issued in response to a lawsuit filed by Oba Ademola Ponnle, who sought to halt the ceremony. Justice Awe granted the request, emphasizing the need to maintain the status quo until further legal proceedings.
The court order forbids Oba Oyelakin from receiving any instruments or staff of office as the Aree of Iree or undergoing any formal installation until the matter is heard on Wednesday, May 8.
Osun kingship Tussle: Court stops coronation of Gov Adeleke-appointed king
News
We have added 625MW to national grid – Minister
We have added 625MW to national grid – Minister
The Federal Government has announced the addition of 625MW of power to the national grid, increasing the grid’s wheeling capacity to 4800MW.
Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser, Strategic Communications to the Minister of Power said this in a statement in Abuja on Friday.
Mr Bolaji quoted the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu as saying this at the inauguration of the 63 Mega Volt Ampere (MVA), 132/33 Kilo Volt (KV )mobile station at Ajah, Lagos and at the inuaguration of 60MWA, 132/33KV Power Transformer in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi.
According to the minister, the pivotal project is a testament to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu towards transforming the Power sector in the pursuit of reliable and sustainable energy infrastructure for a better Nigeria.
Mr Adelabu said that the mobile substation being inaugurated was a strategic deployment aimed at improving the transmission capacity constraints by over 1300mv across the nation.
He spoke on the significance of the project and other equipment undergoing installation under the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).
Mr Adelabu said that the mobile substations equally stands as a beacon of hope for businesses, household reliant on uninterrupted power supply, stopgap measure during maintenance and emergency.
He commended the collaborative efforts of the FGN Power Company, the German Government and Siemens Energy whose partnership has facilitated the production and installation of the substations.
READ ALSO:
- Minimum wage, maximum deceit and moral cowardice – Farooq Kperogi
- EFCC nabs 20 suspected internet fraudsters in Sapele
- Nigerian pastor under fire over porn-addiction remedy
The minister also announced the remote inuaguration of a 60MVA power transformer at Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi.
“Together, these equipment will boost our transmission wheeling capacity by 123mw, thereby paving the way for enhanced electricity supply for all Nigerians”.
”I urgy all Nigerians to safeguard these vital installations against acts of vandalisation and sabotage,”he said.
Mr Adelabu noted that the success of governments initiatives hinges on collective responsibility.
He also called on the management of the Power Company and all stakeholders in the power sector to work with determination to ensure that the timelines set for projects delivery are achieved.
“Together, we will embark on a journey towards a brighter future for Nigeria, one powered by innovation, resilience and collective determination”, he said.
Earlier in his remarks, Kenny Anuwe, Managing Director of FGN Power Company said, ” as Nigeria continues its journey towards energy sufficiency and economic prosperity, initiatives like the PPI.
According to him, this underscores President Tinubu’s unwavering determination to deliver adequate electricity towards unlocking Nigeria’s full economic potentials.
Mr Anuwe assured of FGN Power Company’s commitment in driving progress and delivering tangible improvements in electricity access for all Nigerians in this transformative era in Nigeria’s power Sector.
Mr Tunji said that FGN Power was established by the Presidency as a special purpose vehicle (SPV), tasked with implementing the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) with Siemens serving as the technical partner.
We have added 625MW to national grid – Minister
NAN
Many dead, houses razed in Delta tanker explosion
Court sends teenager to prison for defiling 8-year-old neighbour’s daughter
In Texas, pro-Palestine university protesters clash with state leaders
-
News3 days agoLabour-FG face-off imminent as NLC rejects new salary increase
-
Auto3 days agoAppeal court takes over NURTW case as NIC withdraws
-
Africa3 days agoMan who has lived in America for over 13 years says he’s tired, wants to return home
-
metro3 days agoTerrorists release video of kidnapped palace servant, others in Zamfara
-
metro2 days agoSecurity forces, vigilantes arrest kidnapper terrorising communities in Kogi
-
metro3 days agoInspector arrested with snatched car
-
metro2 days ago19-year-old boy convicted for impregnating 14-year-old sister
-
News2 days agoDrama as Delta workers boo Gov Oborevwori over minimum wage