Author: Vincent Osuwo

No fewer than 516 abducted victims have been rescued by the Katsina State Police Command in the last six months of January through June 2024. The police also disclosed that, during the period under review, it arrested more than 500 kidnapped suspects. Investigations reveal that weapons used by the terrorists during their heinous crime and rustled animals by bandits were also recovered, including one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), eight AK 47 rifles, one English pistol, more than 700 rounds of live ammunition, and 2,508 rustled animals in connection with banditry. According to the data, over 300 occurrences of banditry…

Amid rising concerns over his health and fitness, US President Joe Biden accidentally introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as Russian President Vladimir Putin at a NATO ceremony before correcting himself. “Now I want to hand it over to the president of Ukraine, who has as much courage as he has determination. Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin,” he said on Wednesday. Biden quickly corrected himself, saying, “I’m so focused on beating President Putin, we’ve got to worry about it.” Chronicle NG reports that Senator Peter Welch on Wednesday became the first Democratic senator to publicly call on US President Joe Biden…

The Defence Headquarters announced on Thursday that it discovered 57 illegal refineries and intercepted stolen crude oil worth more than N1 billion in one week.  On Thursday, the 82nd Division of the Nigerian Army discovered and set fire to three illicit refineries at Obuaku and Imo River in the Ipu West towns of Abia State’s Ukwa West Local Government Area. 12 boats and six vehicles were set on fire during the “Operation Dragon Spit” operation, which was overseen by Maj. Gen. Hassan Dada, General Officer Commanding, 82 Division, Enugu. Speaking with reporters in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, the GOC…

Anthony Joshua is certain to break Tyson Fury’s British attendance record in his forthcoming world title fight against Daniel Dubois. Joshua will face Dubois for the IBF title on September 21 at Wembley Stadium, where organisers estimate over 100,000 people. Fury broke a British attendance record in April 2023, when 94,000 people packed Wembley Stadium to watch him defeat Dillian Whyte. In an interview with talkSPORT, promoter Frank Warren expressed optimism that the upcoming bout would exceed that figure. “Oh, it’s massive. I mean, we will be applying to increase the capacity like we did last time when Tyson Fury…

Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State signed six new laws on Thursday, including the modified Sokoto Local Government and Chieftaincy Law, which sparked debate across the country.  The new law deprives the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, of the authority to select district and village chiefs throughout the state. Speaking at the signing ceremony, the governor maintained that the new legislation was not intended to witch hunt any individual or organisation but rather to strengthen the state’s government. “We note with concern the unnecessary tension created by our proposal to amend some of these laws. Some of the reactions…

A young lady suspected to be a student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, Enugu State, has reportedly been killed by unidentified individuals in an Enugu hotel.  Enok Utazi, President of the UNN Students Union, confirmed the event to our correspondent over the phone on Thursday but did not reveal the victim’s student status. He noted that, while there were rumours that the victim was a student, investigations were underway to verify the claim and that the SUG had contacted the police about the incident. He said, “I learned about the incident, and we have been trying to verify…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has praised the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold fiscal autonomy for local government councils across Nigeria.  In a statement posted on Thursday via X, Atiku welcomed the decision as “a win for the people of Nigeria” and a move in the right direction. The Supreme Court’s judgement reverses the earlier practice of transferring local council funds to state government accounts. Atiku slammed the previous arrangement, claiming that it was the result of a premature compromise. Showing his support for the ruling, Atiku said, “I align with the decision of the Supreme Court that the structure…

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that Saleh Mamman, a former Minister of Power, be remanded in Kuje prison in Abuja pending the outcome of his bail plea.  Justice James Omotosho issued the decision on Thursday, after the court resumed Mamman’s arraignment on a money laundering charge that had previously been taken down by the judge. The former minister pleaded not guilty to the accusation brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The EFCC charged Mamman with 12 counts of money laundering. He was accused of laundering around N33 billion. He pleaded not guilty to all allegations…

Kenyan President William Ruto announced on Thursday the removal of practically his entire cabinet and the formation of a “broad-based government” in response to huge anti-government rallies. r He stated that the measure affects all ministers, including the attorney general, but excludes Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Ruto stated that he made the decision to remove him “upon reflection, listening keenly to what the people of Kenya have said, and after a holistic appraisal of the performance of my cabinet and its achievements and challenges.”. The action comes after generally peaceful rallies…

England will face Spain in the 2024 European Championship final in the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany, on Sunday, July 14.  The event, which began on June 14, has included 51 games: 36 in the group stage and 15 in the knockout rounds. England is hoping to end its 58-year trophy drought, while Spain seeks to add to its collection with a fourth Euro Championship triumph. In December 2023, the UEFA Executive Committee authorised the prize money distribution mechanism for tournament participants. The prize money for the participating teams is set at the same level as UEFA EURO 2020, at €331…