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Ooni urges Southwest monarchs to embrace spiritual power amid insecurity

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During the inaugural Yoruba Security Summit addressing the escalating insecurity in the Southwest region, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the esteemed Ooni of Ife, emphasized the significance of traditional supernatural defenses in safeguarding both monarchs and their domains against external threats.

Speaking passionately, the Ooni underscored the vital role of ancestral spiritual power in warding off marauders and ensuring the protection of territories.

He sternly cautioned against neglecting these ancient practices, warning that those disinterested in harnessing supernatural energies risked relinquishing their rightful place on the throne.

Joined by esteemed counterparts such as the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade, and the Owa-Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole, the summit concluded with a unified call to action. In a jointly issued communique, the monarchs advocated for Southwest governors to convene regional security summits, fostering collaboration and strategic measures to address the pressing security challenges facing the region.

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We can’t find parents of over 230 kids raided on Kano sreets — Hisbah laments

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Commander-General, Kano State Hisbah Board, Aminu Daurawa, has lamented that no parent has approached the board or any state institution to claim the paternity of 250 children rescued from the streets.

In his recent video, the prominent Islamic Scholar narrated how Hisbah officers picked up no fewer than 230 children walking aimlessly in major streets of Kano metropolis.

He said majority of the picked children are not up to 15 years of age.

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He noted that the children were born and brought up in public places like railway station, under flyover, markets and motor parks.

The Hisbah boss said: “Whoever saw what happened some weeks ago of the 230 children picked up all which are not up to 15 years.

“This is just the first instance. We have traced and understand that there are about 5000 of such children. We only catch the 230 children because that is the number the place we have to house them can only contain.

“The governor has made the necessary preparations before agreeing to pick up the children. We pick the children in different places such as railway lines, under bridges, markets and motor parks.

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“Four of the children were confirmed dead due to heat, cold weather, sickness and other related illnesses. When we got to the location of where to pick the children around 1am- 3am which by that time every child was supposed to be at home with their parents.

“Before the operation we meet with the leadership of the places the children use to inform them of our intentions.

We also pick some in a football show house where they pay to watch football and who paid automatically has paid to have a place to sleep. Some are born and brought up in railway stations.”

In his response, a former presidential aide and chieftain of ruling All Provressive Congress(APC) Bashir Ahmad described the developments as heart breaking.

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He said: “So I watched that deeply moving video of Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, where he narrated a heartbreaking story about the recent Hisbah operation in Kano, which rescued over 250 children from the streets who were abandoned by their parents.

“As Sheikh Daurawa mentioned, even though the children gathered in one place for some days, receiving medical treatment, but none of the parents have come forward to reclaim their children.

“We have to commend the Kano State Government for initiating such a commendable effort, and it is a hope that the initiative will serves as an eye-opener and create an avenue for such critical discussions on this menace.

“While it is true that the government alone cannot address all issues, but it has the power to rally the support of capable individuals and organisations to tackle this challenge collectively and put an end to it once and for all.”

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Man sets girlfriend ablaze during argument in FCT, still confesses love

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A 47-year-old vulcaniser, Saheed Ganiyu, is cooling his heels in detention at the Utako Division of the FCT Police Command after he allegedly set his girlfriend, Esther (surname withheld), on fire. He reportedly poured her petrol from the bottle he had with him, while fire ignited from the lighter he also held.

But the suspect has denied the allegation, expressing his love for the victim and saying that the fire resulted from the cigarette he was trying to light, unknown to him that petrol from the bottle he clutched in his armpit had dripped on his girlfriend’s dress when they struggled with each other while he was trying to stop her from drinking alcohol.

His 32–year-old girlfriend is currently in the National Hospital, Abuja, battling for life with the severe burns she suffered from the fire. The suspect, who was almost lynched by the mob, was also rushed by the police to the hospital to receive medical treatment. He was, however, released to the police a few days after.

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Information gathered by the Nigerian Tribune had it that on December 29, 2024, at about 10:15 pm, there was a distress call made to FCT Police Command Control Room that there was a problem at Jabi Motor Park.

The Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, immediately dispatched a patrol team to the scene from Utako Division, and on getting there, the police operatives met a large crowd. In the midst of the crowd was the suspect, already beaten to stupor, and his girlfriend, Esther, who had severe burns.

It was further learnt that the two of them were immediately evacuated and taken to the National Hospital, Abuja, for medical attention and treatment. By then, the lady was said to have become unconscious.

Enquiries by the police at the scene revealed that the suspect and his girlfriend were in a hot argument that led to pulling and dragging each other within the motor park. The suspect, who had a plastic bottle containing about a half litre of petrol was alleged to have poured the combustible liquid on the girlfriend and ignited fire with his lighter. She was immediately engulfed in flame, and people rushed to help her extinguish it. By then, however, she had suffered severe burns.

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Infuriated by the act, the mob reportedly descended on him. He was discharged on December 31 and taken to the police station while Esther is still receiving treatment.

In an interview by the Nigerian Tribune, Ganiyu, from Ibadan, Oyo State, said that he didn’t deliberately set his beloved girlfriend on fire, but didn’t know the petrol bottle he put in his armpit dripped and sprinkled on her dress while they were struggling over the lit cigarette she wanted to take from him. He said that the lady was trying to retaliate his displeasure with the way she was addicted to alcohol.

The suspect, a vulcaniser said: “I came to stay in Abuja in 2008. Esther is my girlfriend, and I love her so much. We started dating in February 2024.

“Esther is a lady who used to help me a lot. She would come to my business stand every morning and clean everywhere. She would also put my vulcanising machine at the appropriate place. On Sunday, December 29, she told me that she was going to church and I gave her N200 as offering. I also gave her N2,500 to buy something that we could eat on her return.

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“I expected her return from church and waited at my stand but didn’t see her.

Before that day, she had asked me for clothes and shoes she would wear at the new year, so I put the money I made together and went to buy a shirt and a pair of shoes for her at the cost of N30,000 before her return. I planned buying the jeans she would wear with the shirt before the New Year.

“At about 6 pm, I closed from my stand and went to the side I used to stay for night work. To my displeasure, I saw my girl where Ogogoro (alcohol) was being sold. She was taking the one named ‘Yahoo.’ I called her and asked why she did that again when she told me that she was going to church as she had changed from being alcoholic.

“I tried to collect the bottle from her and she was dragging it with me. I collected it and threw it away. I went to the place I was doing night job and called her several times to go and help buy petrol that I would use, but she didn’t respond. She still stayed where alcohol was being sold. I went to buy the petrol myself, just half a litre.

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“When I returned, I saw her holding another bottle of alcohol. I held her from the back and tried to snatch the bottle from her. I didn’t know that the cover of the petrol bottle I held in my armpit was twisting and turning. I continued dragging the alcohol bottle she held. I pushed her and she pushed me back, making the fuel bottle to fall. She was pouring vituperation on me but I left the place.

“I went to buy cigarette, and as I was smoking the first one, Esther came and removed it from my mouth. As I put the second one and wanted to light it, Esther came to me again.

“Then I heard something like and explosion. Then I saw her body on fire. I didn’t know that the fuel that had initially dripped had soaked her dress.

“Esther is my love that I don’t joke with. If she went out to buy something and didn’t return in good time, I would be so concerned.

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I love her so much that I would not eat if she had not eaten. I used to make her eat first. She can be asked if I’m lying. I didn’t like her to be troubled, especially because of the leg deformity she has. On December 23, I sustained this injury (showing it) because of her. One Aboki tainted her deformity by calling her Gurugu (someone limping) and I was so furious.”

He said that it was not the first time he saw her with alcoholic drink. “I noticed it after we started dating. I corrected her many times but she always flared up. She was drinking Bull, Yahoo, Igboya, among other alcoholic drinks. Though I also take, I don’t like such a thing for a woman. And I don’t take it while at work. I don’t take any drugs, only cigarettes. She was also always taking Tramadol, telling me that her leg was paining her.

“I didn’t pour petrol on her. It was the devil that turned things this way. Since she was hospitalized, despite my own condition as a result of much beating, I have not felt well. I know that my life has been destroyed.

“I appeal that I should be allowed to see her. I’m ready to marry her. Though I’m a Muslim, I want her to be going to church so that she can be transformed positively. She was already changing at a time when she started attending church,” he stated.

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The suspect is a divorcee whose ex-wife remarried long time ago. One of his three children, all males, is already a father.

Esther’s uncle, Mr Modaki Kofur, a retired Warrant Officer of the Nigerian Army, said that Esther had once lived with him. “My sister is in Taraba State and Esther had been with me.

“The deformity she has is a result of her falling during obstacles training when she was to be recruited into the Nigerian Navy about 12 years ago. She broke her hip bone.

“She left my house over two years ago, and I thought she was in Enugu State, where she said she was going to work. She came to where my family is in February 2024. She said that her life was not going smoothly and had been told to go back to me for prayers. I told her that I always wish her well.

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To my surprise, I heard of what happened to her on December 31. I was told that she was rushed to National Hospital. I went on January 1 and saw her in a terrible state. The problem we have now is money to take care of her. We have spent a lot since the incident occurred, and we were told by the hospital that she may need to be there for two months. That’s why we have been telling me the man who caused the problem to look for more money, but he has not been able to do anything.”

In his comment, CP Disu stressed the need for controlled anger, advising members of the public to always exercise patience and seek peace whenever there is disagreement, so as to avoid unexpected negative results.

He added that the suspect would be arraigned in court after the conclusion of the investigation.

( Tribune, excluding headline )

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Defence Ministry Solicits Additional N20bn Families Of Deceased Military Personnel

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By Gloria Ikibah
The Minister of state for Defence, Muhammad Matawalle has requested that the House of Representatives approves an additional N20 billion for the payment of families of deceased military personnel.
The minister stated this at the commencement of the 2025 budget defence session organised by the House Committee on Defense, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Matawalle who represented the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru called for an improvement in the living standard of the military personnel.
He said: “We have non-payment and accumulated bills of group life insurance, which is very important, Mr. Chairman, the very important issues that we have is non-payment and accumulated bills of group life insurance for military personnel, which I believe or I requested the committee for consideration of maybe the sum of 20 billion as an additional funds for payment of families of deceased military personnel.
“We have another issue. Mr. Chairman, if you look at the budget of 2024, most of the barracks, the allocation being made is zero. How do we expect the personnel of the military to perform while their living standard is inadequate? All the zones, all the zones, all the provision that we made, the allocation in 2024 is zerr and these are the people that we expect them to perform magic. For us in the ministry, we have a lot of challenges.
“While we look at the budget of 2025, just 50 billion. We have shortfall of 18 billion of the last year’s budget. And people expect the ministry to do wonders.
“The Ministry of Defense is supposed to provide some equipment for some of the zones but we cannot. Out of what we have in 2024, we can be able to provide just 20 APCs. What 20 APCs can do? In Katsina alone, Mr. Chairman, if we can be able to have 50 APCs that can go inside bush to flush out those criminals, I assure you, within two months, we’ll finish the issue of banditry.
“There is no provision for that. People have been complaining. Their money being given to defense.What is there? But this is what we have. And people are expecting us to do extra things out of the budget. We cannot do it, Mr. Chairman.
“So I believe this House will consider more funding to the Ministry of Defense, so that even within our own, as administrators, we can be able to provide some equipment to some plush areas of attacks. It is all over the country. If you go to southwest, southeast, northeast, north central, northwest.
“If you look at the budget of 2025, 50 billion to Ministry of Defense. There’s other people outside are thinking that the whole money of Nigeria is into the Ministry of Defense. It is not like that.
“We cannot be able to renovate any barracks in 2024. We have a lot of complaints.
“We cannot be able to pay some of their entitlement, their military, their theatres, operations. We cannot be able to pay. In fact, this month, I have to write a letter to Mr. President to pay even the presidential guard.
“I believe this committee can look into the issue of the Ministry of Defense to see how you can be able to squeeze and add more funding to the Ministry, so as at least you can expect more from us. We thank you very much.
“We assure you that despite the fact that with the limited resources, the Ministry and the personnel are doing their best to ensure safety of all citizens. I thank the honorable members for listening to us. Thank you very much, sir.
Earlier in his remarks, Chairman Committee on Defence, Rep. Babajimi Benson,  reiterated the commitment of the National Assembly to ensure effective resource allocation to strengthen Nigeria’s defence sector.
The Chairman highlighted the critical role the Armed Forces play in safeguarding national security amidst evolving security challenges.
He admitted the professionalism and dedication of Nigeria’s military in combating insurgency, terrorism, and banditry; adding that the dynamic nature of global and domestic security threats necessitates continuous innovation and adaptation.
“This exercise remains a cornerstone of our legislative responsibility, ensuring the efficient allocation of resources to bolster national security,” he stated, adding that the legislature has prioritized increased funding for the defence sector in recent years.
Rep. Benson reiterated the importance of fiscal transparency and accountability in the use of allocated funds.
“With these enhanced resources comes a heightened expectation for prudent, transparent, and impactful utilization. Every naira must be judiciously spent to strengthen the operational capacity of the Armed Forces and deliver tangible results.
“The budget defence session comes at a time when Nigeria faces evolving security threats that demand heightened vigilance and inter-agency collaboration”, he said.
He therefore urged Defence agencies to adopt strategic initiatives focused on measurable outcomes, operational efficiency, and the integration of modern technologies.
According to him, key issues highlighted for deliberation include delays in project implementation, resource mismanagement, and the need for capacity-building programs to equip personnel with contemporary skills.
He reiterated that the unwavering the support of the 10th for the Armed Forces and their mission to ensure a secure and prosperous Nigeria, and described the budget defence as more than a legislative duty, framing it as a reaffirmation of collective responsibility to the Nigerian people.
The session is set to continue on January 16, 2025, with further deliberations expected from defence agencies and stakeholders.
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