Biafra: S/East traditional rulers, Igbo bishops commend IPOB, make demands on Kanu’s trial – Newstrends
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Biafra: S/East traditional rulers, Igbo bishops commend IPOB, make demands on Kanu’s trial

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South East Council of Traditional Rulers and the Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops have commended the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, for allowing the Anambra State governorship election to hold peacefully.

The group in a statement signed by His Grace, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna, His Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, and His Grace, Most Rev. (Dr) Chibuzo Raphael Opoko, JP, also commended IPOB for listening to its appeal by calling off the Monday sit-at-home order.

“This has offered some relief to the already distressed social and economic life of our people,” the group said.

The body said it is relieved that the Anambra State Gubernatorial Election was conducted without any major incidents or breach of the peace.

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It also commends the people of Anambra State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Security Forces, the National Peace Committee, and all the other actors who contributed to the successful conduct of the election.

However, the joint body said it is highly disturbed by the persistent complaints by the IPOB legal team about the difficulties it encounters in dealing with the Department of State Services (DSS) and, especially, the sad events which occurred during Kanu’s appearance in court last Wednesday, November 10.

It urged the court to affirm the fundamental rights of Kanu, his lawyers, and other stakeholders.

“Failure to do so would lend weight to the suspicion in some quarters of a planned secret trial, as well as neutralise all the efforts being made to establish peace in the South East,” the group said.

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Furthermore, the joint group said it acknowledged the statement by the Attorney-General & Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN, in which he affirmed that the Federal Government was open to a political solution to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case.

“This statement is in line with the proposal earlier made by this Joint Body and by other well-meaning persons and groups in Nigeria. This body therefore eagerly awaits the concrete steps that would be taken in this regard,” it said.

“[We] acknowledge the roles played by various other Igbo organizations and groups in fostering peace in the South East zone and call on all to sustain the current effort until true peace, based on justice and equity, is achieved in our land,” it added.

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Delta man accused of raping 10-year-old daughter, infecting her wife HIV

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Delta man accused of raping 10-year-old daughter, infecting her wife HIV

A 50-year-old man living with HIV has been arrested for allegedly raping and infecting his 10-year-old daughter in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Human rights activist, Comrade Israel Joe, who confirmed the incident said the man identified as David was arrested by police from the Otu-Jeremi Division on Friday, April 4, 2025.

He further disclosed that the suspect had been with unsuspecting women and girls in the community and also allegedly infected his wife.

It was gathered that the incident came to light after the victim became sickly and emaciated.

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Her mother took her to a hospital for a medical examination and the result revealed she had been infected with HIV.

Following interrogation, the minor revealed that the father had been raping her.

“A man about 50 years old called Mr. David defiled/rąpeɗ his 10 years old daughter. The major issue is that this guy had been allegedly distributing HIV to unsuspecting teenagers and ladies in and around the town. With such wickedness, he also decided to share it with his own daughter after infesting the wife. We got him arrested during the early hours of today and medical examination on the daughter showed several penetrations from her own father. What a wicked world?,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, has confirmed the arrest of the suspect.

Delta man accused of raping 10-year-old daughter, infecting her wife HIV

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Rivers: Wike, Fubara reconciliation suffers setback

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Nyesom Wike and Siminalayi Fubara

Rivers: Wike, Fubara reconciliation suffers setback

More than two weeks after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, attempts to broker peace between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike remain stalled, with no visible progress in reconciliation efforts.

Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state legislature were suspended for six months following the political crisis that gripped the state. The National Assembly swiftly approved the President’s emergency declaration and proposed a reconciliation committee, yet no substantial steps have been taken since.

Sources within the state have indicated that the inaction stems partly from the role played by some key leaders during the crisis. According to a political insider from the Ijaw community, many of these figures failed to remain impartial and instead aligned themselves with either Wike or Fubara.

“Those that should have led us out of the woods this time around took sides in the crisis. They lack the credibility to call the two parties to a roundtable,” the source said.

He added: “Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who should have led the peace talks at this time, was pushed to side with Governor Fubara in the crisis. The Ijaw National Congress (INC), led by Prof. Benjamin Okaba, disappointed the Ijaw through its obvious partiality in the matter. Prof. Okaba did not help matters at all. The body can no longer be deployed to ensure genuine reconciliation. The leadership of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) also took a position in the crisis.”

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He further lamented the political polarization: “You remember that all the elders in Rivers are already divided into Wike’s or Fubara’s elders. These are people that should have risen to the occasion at this point, but they no longer command the respect that can foster genuine reconciliation. As it stands, there is nothing visible being done to kick-start any reconciliation.”

As the political uncertainty deepens, Governor Fubara has reportedly returned to his private residence in Port Harcourt, while several lawmakers are said to be abroad.

In a strongly worded critique, President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Jonathan Lokpobiri, faulted the Ijaw community for mishandling the situation.

“Permit me to reflect on the state we are as Ijaw nation regarding the state of emergency in Rivers,” he said. “I can, with all sense of responsibility and conviction, state that if we had applied wisdom in the management of this crisis in Rivers, we would not be where we are today. Instead of using wisdom in matters we can nip in the bud, we chose to threaten war that we were not prepared for. I have seen over times that emotion has never won a war. But planning and strategic consultations do.”

Lokpobiri added: “People in the name of struggle, even in the matters we can nip in the bud and caution ourselves internally, rush to the media and threaten war and give the enemies an opportunity to fortify themselves for it, and when the war comes, we no longer speak.”

He emphasized that careless rhetoric from some leaders derailed potential peace efforts. “People speak carelessly in an attempt to put an ethnic group into a war that is avoidable. For those who threatened fire and brimstone, the war came but I didn’t hear their voices anymore. We must be wise in prosecuting the struggles of the Niger Delta.”

“If this was how our leaders went about their struggle, I am not sure anybody would have respected the Ijaw nation. Most of those making unguarded statements are people we clap for without cautioning them. There is no war between Ijaw and Ikwerre and any other ethnic group. If the Ikwerre ethnic group had responded to our unguarded statements, there would be war already in Rivers,” he added.

While backing a return to governance for Fubara, Lokpobiri called for caution. “Sometimes wisdom is stronger than the arms we think we have gathered. If we had solved this problem internally as we advised earlier, we wouldn’t get to this embarrassing moment of a state of emergency. I expected missiles to flow when this state of emergency was declared, but those who threatened the war never said anything anymore.”

Meanwhile, President of the Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), Kennedy Tonjo-West, said he has initiated consultations aimed at launching the reconciliation process.

“I am already undertaking some consultations so that the process of reconciliation can start on time. We want Rivers to return to a process of reconciliation without any delay,” he stated.

Vice-Admiral Ibok Ibas (rtd), appointed as Rivers State’s Sole Administrator, officially took office on March 20 following the emergency declaration.

 

Rivers: Wike, Fubara reconciliation suffers setback

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How scavenger triggered explosion of military grenade in Lagos

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How scavenger triggered explosion of military grenade in Lagos

The bomb explosion on Taiwo Street, Idi-Araba, in the Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State was triggered by a scavenger.

The explosion claimed the life of the scavenger and left three others severely injured.

Findings by Chronicle NG revealed that the scavenger was attempting to dismantle military-grade grenades with the intention of collecting them as part of the scrap metal he was searching for.

The yet-to-be-identified scavenger was handling one of the grenades when it detonated, killing him instantly.

Three other victims, whose names and addresses are also unknown, sustained varying degrees of injury and were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

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SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident.

He said, “At 13:30 hours on April 3, 2025, a distress call was received by the EOD unit based in Ikeja that there was a bomb explosion on Taiwo Street, Idi-Araba. Our team of EOD-CBRN operatives was swiftly mobilised to the scene.

“On arrival, the team ensured the area was safe, and after a thorough inspection, it was discovered that the explosion was caused by military-grade grenades that had been tampered with by a scavenger who was trying to split one of them. Sadly, the scavenger lost his life at the scene, while three others were injured and taken to a nearby hospital.”

Hundeyin also confirmed that the scene was secured and photographed and crucial evidence was collected for analysis.

“The deceased’s body has been moved to a public mortuary for autopsy, and an investigation has been initiated. Further developments will be communicated,” he added.

How scavenger triggered explosion of military grenade in Lagos

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