FG to begin airlifting of Nigerians trapped in Ukraine Wednesday – Newstrends
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FG to begin airlifting of Nigerians trapped in Ukraine Wednesday

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2 years ago

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Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama
  • 479 Nigerians secure exit routes

Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama, has said the Federal Government will on Wednesday start airlifting of Nigerians trapped at the Ukrainian borders with Budapest, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania.

Onyeama disclosed this while speaking on Channels TV, Politics Today, monitored in Lagos.

He said the government was discussing with Air Peace and Max Air airlines in Abuja, adding that it is making moves to find out from those countries how many Nigerians are currently there.

He said, “As of today, we were hoping we will be able to get the flights out, but we needed to be sure of the numbers to know the size of planes to deploy. So we made Romania the hub.”

The minister said he was in touch with the Ambassador in Ukraine and his staff and had directed them to set up a hotline for Nigerians in Ukraine, maintain contact with them, and advise them on what they should be doing and how they should stay safe.

Onyeama said, “We are also in contact with the ambassadors and diplomatic missions around Ukraine. Once the people started moving to the borders before it was shut; we have started evacuating Nigerian citizens. The next phase was to get them to the borders as safely as possible and to evacuate them to the capitals to begin an airlift.”

He added that it got the embassy to send staff to the border points in Hungary, Poland and Romania, Slovakia to assist Nigerians to arrange shelter and food for them.

Onyeama stated, “Though it’s a bit chaotic because of the panic. There has been some distressing news about discrimination about Nigerians being turned back at the border, initially, by the guards. So I called the minister of foreign affairs of Ukraine. I was actually surprised to get him considering the situation that they are in, and we communicated at length and he said the border guards were to allow foreigners to go through unimpeded, but the only restrictions were Ukrainian males between the ages of 18 and 60. And the borders guards have been directed. So we arranged with the embassy officials to start ferrying Nigerians to the capitals.”

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He said there were over 1,000 Nigerians who had crossed the borders, 250 in Poland, Budapest about 200, and Slovakia rising rapidly to around 200 mark.

The minister said, “There are some Nigerians on a place called Summi, closer to the Russian border. I have been in touch with the ambassador and given him some numbers to keep in touch with them, about 150 of them now looking to cross to Russia, we are hoping they will give them a permit to cross and we are hoping that by Wednesday, we will start deploying planes to airlifting and bringing back Nigerians.”

Asked if it was safe to fly in and out of Russia, Onyeama said it was not safe to fly, but to go by road, adding that there is also inherent risk.

“Though there is an element of risk there but the Russian Ambassador assured me that they were targeting military installations and not civilian abode,” Onyeama said.

Meanwhile, about 479 Nigerians are already across the Ukrainian border in Hungary and Poland with the rest as at press time being assisted to get to freedom.

A signed statement yesterday by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, explained, “In the last 24 hours, officials of the Nigerian Embassy have received 130 Nigerians safely at Bucharest, Romania, where they have been provided accommodation and will be documented, while we finalise arrangements to bring them back home.

“Also, officials at Budapest, Hungary have received and accommodated 74 Nigerians safely, where they are being documented for subsequent travel arrangements back to Nigeria.

“We are expecting another batch of about 200 into the city of Budapest, tomorrow (Monday)

“In Warsaw, Poland we have received 52 Nigerians and 23 are being processed at the Polish Government Reception Point at Hala Kijowska, Milny 90, 37-552 Milny, which is near the border of Korczowa-Krakowiec. The camp is well organised with beds and beddings, food, heating, clothing and medicals for evacuees.”

Aduda, in the statement, assured “Nigerians that all hands are on deck and arrangements are being put in place to effectively evacuate our citizens, in safety and dignity.”

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Stop parading yourself as NURTW president, group warns Baruwa

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3 hours ago

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May 5, 2024

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Stop parading yourself as NURTW president, group warns Baruwa

Members of the Progressive Forum of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Southwest zone have warned the former president of the union, Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, to desist from parading himself as president of the union

The said this in a statement signed by Alhaji Raufu Kolawole and Comrade Femi Ajanaku, chairman and secretary of the Forum, respectively

The Forum stated that the April 30 judgement of the National Industrial Court (NIC) presided over by Justice O.O Oyewunmi which handed off the NURTW case because of the fact that the matter has moved to the Court of Appeal in Abuja has rendered any claim to NURTW presidency by Baruwa as a ruse

The FORUM said with the latest judgement of 30th April, Baruwa and his people would have to wait for the judgement of the Court of Appeal to decide the case.

It stressed that any attempt to do anything contrary would amount to contempt of court.

The FORUM stated that “the only known leader that is saddled with responsibility of running the affairs of the union as of now is the Acting President, Alhaji Aliyu Issa Ore, and his team operating from the national headquarters of the union in Abuja.”

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Delta lady dies after 2 friends pushed her into pot of boiling pepper

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22 hours ago

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May 4, 2024

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Roseline

Delta lady dies after 2 friends pushed her into pot of boiling pepper

A Nigerian man identified as Israel Joe, has revealed how his friend, Roseline, died after she was pushed into a boiling pot of fresh pepper and tomatoes by her two female friends in Sapele, Delta State.

Joe stated that Roseline, a caterer, went on a trip with her friends to Sapele for a catering job where she tragically passed away on Saturday, April 13.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Joe said that before her untimely death, Roseline confided in him about two of her friends who were treating her coldly.

He urged the Nigeria Police to investigate and arrest the killers of Roseline, pointing out that no progress has been made in the case since her murder.

Joe’s post read, “She was pushed into a big boiling pot of fresh pepper and tomatoes by her friend on Saturday, 13th April. She battled for about two weeks with her roasted/boiled body and finally ḍíęɗ last week Friday 26th April.

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“Nobody in the neighborhood in Otokutu knew Roseline had been allegedly kíIIed by these same friends. She was buried with no one to bid her goodbye and with no single bųríaI poster to honour her. Just two days in the morgue, the mørtųarƴ attendants demanded she be carried away to be buried.

“She traveled with them for a catering job in Sapele where they were speaking their local language with this Yoruba girl, Rozzy, not understanding their conversation.

“All of a sudden, she landed in a very big pot of boiling fresh pepper and tomatoes where they even still delayed in rescuing her. She was later rushed to Sage Hospital by Estate in Warri, where they managed the situation, but my friend couldn’t make it.”

Joe said he was pained that those responsible for her death were still walking free.

He added, “What pains me is that these two girls are still walking and gallivanting everywhere like nothing happened. I hate intimidation and oppression, especially against non-indigenous persons. The police must smoke them out so they can face the law. Na God dey help who nor get helper.

“We shall fight for Rozzy. You can not just be kíIIęɗ like a chicken and bųřried like an aŋímąl. Nobody deserves such a hørribIe dęąth. We never got to meet Rose, only chatting on Facebook due to endless busy schedules only to see you, at the most disgusting sight at Sage Hospital, hoping for your recovery, but dęąțĥ stole you Justice shall prevail, including if you would be exhumed.”

Delta lady dies after 2 friends pushed her into pot of boiling pepper

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My wife slept with our plumber, connived to dupe me — Man tells court

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22 hours ago

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May 4, 2024

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My wife slept with our plumber, connived to dupe me — Man tells court

Grade A Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State has adjourned till June 3, further hearing in the divorce suit brought before it by a man, Ige, against his wife, Sikira, whom he accused of irresponsibility and infidelity.

Ige added that Sikira was a dupe.

According to Ige, Sikira lacked the ability to take proper care of him and their children and always carried out her duties towards them in a lackadaisical manner.

The plaintiff explained further that the defendant encouraged him to employ the service of a particular plumber when he was building his house, but unknowing to him, the man was her lover.

Ige stated that Sikira was having s3xual affair with the plumber on a regular basis while he was at work.

The plaintiff added that the defendant connived with the plumber to dupe him by adding extra amount to every item he bought when carrying out plumbing work at his site.

Ige said that Sikira eventually moved out of his house and went with all his property.

The plaintiff stated that he desired a fresh start and therefore wanted a clean cut from his wife, which was why he was in court.

The defendant denied all the allegations brought against her but gave in to divorce.

The defendant described the plaintiff as the pot calling the kettle black.

According to the defendant, the plaintiff was in the habit of drinking himself to stupour and beating her.

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She told the court how she caught her husband having sex with a teenager in their apartment.

Sikiral further explained that he once came back home drunk and that he beat and tore her clothes to shreds.

She added that he took the nude pictures of her and sent it to his girlfriend.

The defendant also said that the plaintiff’s girlfriend urged him to seek a way of afflicting the defendant with madness.

According to his girlfriend, it would cost just N200 to perpetrate the evil.

Ige gave his testimony, saying, “My lord, I came to court today because I want a clean cut from my wife.

“Sikira has ridiculed me enough. My life is also not safe with her.

“I met and fell in love with her, and went to her parents with my family to ask for her hand in marriage.

“I paid her bride price and provided all that her family demanded as marital rite.

“Sikara, after all I have spent, got to my house and started misbehaving.

“I realised after we got married that she lacked the ability to run a proper home.

“My wife was lackadaisical concerning my welfare and that of our children.

“The attention and dedication of a loving mother and wife was obviously missing in our lives.

“Sikirat preferred to be out all day than stay back home to keep me and our children company.

“My lord, I stopped trusting my wife a long time ago.

“Sikira is wicked and was unfaithful to me.

“She introduced a plumber to me when I was building my house, and I employed him to do the plumbing work.

“I never had an inkling that the man was her lover.

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“They were consistently having s3xual affair while I was away at work.

“Sikira went further to connive with this man to dupe me.

“She would ask him to add an amount to the items he purchased for the plumbing work and collect this from him.

“My wife made our home a hell to live in and also made my life miserable.

“She later left with all my property.

“My lord, I want to put my past behind me and start life afresh.

“I, therefore, pray that this court grant me a clean cut from my wife.

“My lord, I pray that you dissolve our marriage and grant me custody of our children, who she hardly showed affection towards.”

Sikira stated, “My lord, my husband is the pot calling the kettle black.

“All he said about me are lies.

“Ige is irresponsible. He was always drinking himself to stupour and punching me.

“I once caught him having sex with a teenager in our room.

“He once came back home drunk and, as usual, descended on me with punches.

“He went further to tear my clothes, took my nude pictures and sent them to his girlfriend.

“His girlfriend urged him to afflict me with madness.

“She told him it would only cost him N200 to do so.

“I did not pack out of his house. He threw my belongings out.

“I am also no longer willing to stay married to him.

“I pray that our marriage be dissolved.”

The court president, Mrs S.M Akintayo adjourned the case.

My wife slept with our plumber, connived to dupe me — Man tells court

(TRIBUNE)

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