Author: Safiu Kehinde

Safiu Kehinde  The Federal Capital Territory Police Command stormed kidnappers’ hideout in Abuja, foiling plot to attack on Independence Day. As contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit raided the kidnappers’ den in Sauka area of Abuja. Four suspected kidnappers were arrested in the process. According to the statement the suspects, Yau Sani, a.k.a. Baba (an ex-convict), Nuhu, a.k.a. Giwa, Kabiru Mohammed and Yusuf Hassan, were alleged to have been terrorizing the FCT. They confessed to series of kidnapping of unsuspecting residents while admitting to the death of seven victims.…

Israel bombed Beirut early on Thursday, killing at least six people, after its forces suffered their deadliest day on the Lebanese front in a year of clashes with Iran-backed Hezbollah. Israel said it had conducted a precise air strike on the Lebanese capital. Reuters witnesses reported hearing a massive blast, and a security source said it targeted a building in the district of Bachoura near parliament, the closest an Israeli strike has come to the central downtown district of Beirut. At least six people were killed and seven wounded, Lebanese health officials said. A photo circulating on Lebanese WhatsApp groups,…

Agency Report  Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to the African Union has urged continued support for Africa to address its peace and security challenges. Onanga-Anyanga made the call while briefing the Security Council on Wednesday at UN headquarters in New York. The head of the UN Office to the African Union (UNOAU) told ambassadors that despite the significant peace and security challenges facing Africa, there were reasons to be hopeful. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, who highlighted “encouraging developments” that were fueling optimism, however, urged their continued focus on the continent. “These include Africa’s resilient people and resourceful women…

Safiu Kehinde  The United Nations have said new estimates from humanitarians in East Africa indicate that over 65 million people in the region are now in need of assistance. UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric made this known on Wednesday while briefing reporters in New York. “That is more than 20 per cent of the total number of people in need globally. “The region is facing some of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, driven by climate change, conflict, political instability, economic shocks and disease outbreaks,’’ he said. Measles and Mpox outbreaks continue with at least 776 Mpox cases reported in the region…

Safiu Kehinde  The Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu has suspended examinations over the death of a student in a road crash on campus. The incident which occured on Monday claimed the life of Chiamaka Ozoigbondu, a student of Peaceland College. This was confirmed in a statement issued by the institute’s Acting Rector, Dr Emeka Ejim, and made available to newsmen in Enugu on Wednesday. Ejim also stated that the two other students, who were injured in the accident, were currently receiving medical care. According to him, the institute sympathised with the family of the deceased and extended its…

‎Safiu Kehinde  The publisher of QEDNG, Olumide Iyanda, has charged Online Publishers to embrace the use of Artificial intelligence (AI) to attract readers. Iyanda made this charge to mediapreneurs during his presentation yesterday at the ongoing Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) 8th Annual General Meeting. He charged them to leverage different online platforms and technology to promote their products or services and more with their audiences. Speaking at capacity-building session of the GOCOP AGM at Reverton Hotel, Lokoja, Kogi State, Iyanda insisted that media managers should post their stories where their readers can easily read them. The publisher, who…

Agency Report  Members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday called equal standing with the Senate, reminding the Federal Government that it is not subordinate to the upper chamber of the National Assembly. The call was sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Deputy Spokesperson for the house, Rep. Philip Agbese (APC-Benue) in conjunction with 235 members at plenary on Wednesday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Bola Tinubu in a live broadcast on Independence Day, conferred the honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on the President of the…

Safiu Kehinde A bill seeking to regulate and provide legal backing for private investigators in the country on Wednesday at plenary failed to pass second reading at the Senate as lawmakers expressed mixed reactions over the bill. Titled “A Bill for an Act to prescribe standard and conditions of licence for operation and practice of private investigators in the country”, it was sponsored by Sen.Osita, Ngwu (PDP-Enugu). The non passage of the bill for second reading, followed the fear and reservations expressed by lawmakers on the bill. The lawmakers had expressed fear that the bill if passed would empower private…

Safiu Kehinde  Edo state Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has lamented over the poor state of Samuel Ogbemudia stadium. Following his visit to the stadium located in Benin on Wednesday, Shaibu took to his X handle, expressing his displeasure over the poor state of the stadium’s facilities which he attributed to his one year absence from office. He decried the poor management of the stadium and the underutilization of its facilities. “As I stepped into the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium today, my heart bled as I was met with a scene that left me stunned and disheartened. “The once-thriving sports facility, meticulously…

Safiu Kehinde  In the wake of a leaked bomb threat voice note from an unidentified Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) chieftain, Osun state governor, Ademola Adeleke, has slammed N5 billion defamation lawsuit against the All Progressive Congress (APC). Following Osun APC reaction over the threat, inciting Adeleke’s connection to the bombing plot, the Osun governor filed the lawsuit against the opposition party’s media Director, Kola Olabisi. In a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed on Wednesday, Adeleke directed his lawyers to sue Olabisi for N5 billion as damages over the defamatory statement by the Osun APC Media Director Olabisi had accused…