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Abducted Zamfara schoolgirls: IGP deploys helicopters as seven students escape
Police have intensified their search for over 300 schoolgirls kidnapped from a Zamfara school in the early hours of Friday with the deployment of two surveillance helicopters to the state by the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammad Adamu.
This came as seven out of the 317 schoolgirls abducted by bandits at Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe have reportedly escaped.
The police deployed two surveillance helicopters in an operation to rescue the schoolgirls.
The deployment of the helicopters, the police said, was in addition to the personnel of operation Puff Adder II earlier sent to the state.
“Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have commenced a coordinated search and rescue operation, involving the deployment of both ground and aerial assets, aimed at locating and rescuing the students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, Zamfara state, abducted in the early hours of Friday, 25th February, 2021,” the statement said.
“To ensure the success of the ongoing operation, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni, has ordered the immediate deployment of two (2) operational surveillance helicopters to Zamfara State.
“This is in addition to the personnel of Operation Puff Adder II earlier deployed to the State to support efforts by the Command to combat banditry, kidnapping and other related crimes.
“The IGP, while condemning the barbaric and callous abduction of the innocent female students, has assured that the Police and other security forces will not relent until the abducted students are successfully rescued and reunited with their families.”
According to the police, the rescue operation is being carried out alongside the military and other members of the law enforcement community with the support of the state government and other stakeholders.
The IGP also called for calm and enjoined members of the public, particularly the people of Zamfara State, not to hesitate in availing the police with useful information that could assist in the rescue of the abducted schoolgirls.
Meanwhile, a source at Jangebe town confirmed that seven of the abducted schoolgirls on Friday evening that the girls had returned home from their captors.
They were said to have maneuvered their way back from the bandits while trekking along the forest.
The source said more of the girls had escaped and were being expected having run out of the grip of the bandits in the forests.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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