Yakubu was arrested after intelligence revealed that he was involved in harbouring Boko Haram terrorists deployed to Taraba State for attacks.

Troops of 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army/Sector 3, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have arrested a food vendor who is said to specialise in hosting Boko Haram terrorists deployed to Taraba State for attacks.

The food vendor identified as Nura Yakubu, was arrested in the Garba Chede community of Bali Local Government Area, Taraba State.

Yakubu was arrested after intelligence revealed that he was involved in harbouring Boko Haram terrorists deployed to Taraba State for attacks.

According to a press statement by Captain Olubodunde Oni, Acting Assistant Director of 6 Brigade Army Public Relations, further findings implicated Yakubu and his associates in the kidnapping of a businessman named Arinze and the son of Alhaji Ibrahim in the Garbatau community of Bali Local Government Area.

Additionally, following the abduction of a district head in Jalingo Local Government Area on November 27, 2024, and his release after a ransom payment, troops intensified intelligence-driven operations to track the culprits.

This led to the arrest of Musa Suito on December 18, 2024, in Jalingo.

Suito, a vigilante providing security services to prominent individuals, exploited his position to gather information on potential targets for kidnappers.

Items recovered from him included a Dane gun and two cartridges.

In light of these developments, the 6 Brigade of the Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of lives and property in Taraba State and beyond.

The army also called on the public for continued support in the fight against crime.

“We urge members of the public to remain vigilant and provide timely and credible information to security agencies to strengthen the fight against criminal elements,” Oni stated.

A video shared by Senator Ali Ndume of Nigerians queuing for palliatives at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Bourdillon residence has sparked widespread reactions. The footage, posted on December 25, 2024, highlights an issue that has become a point of contention: the persistent poverty faced by millions of Nigerians.

During a media chat on December 23, President Tinubu revealed that he has been distributing food palliatives from his Lagos residence for over 25 years. He emphasized that this long-standing tradition has always been orderly and without incidents of stampedes or fatalities.

This declaration came as a response to recent tragedies where palliative distributions in Abuja, Anambra, and Oyo states resulted in stampedes, causing multiple deaths. Tinubu blamed the lack of proper organization by the event planners in those states for the chaos.

On Christmas Eve, Senator Ndume, who represents Borno South in the National Assembly, shared a video on social media depicting a large queue of Nigerians at Tinubu’s house waiting for food handouts. Ndume wrote beside the video:

“Queues for presidential handouts at Bourdillon on Christmas Eve highlight a sobering reality: Poverty knows no tribe, religion, politics, or region. It is a universal challenge that demands collective action and sustainable solutions.”

While Ndume’s statement intended to draw attention to the realities of poverty, it was met with mixed reactions, sparking both criticism and support.

The video and Ndume’s accompanying remarks have triggered a wave of responses, particularly on social media. Supporters of Tinubu defended his actions, while others questioned Ndume’s motives.

One Twitter user, Segun, commented:

“He [Tinubu] has been feeding people for over two decades, even before becoming president. This is nothing new.”

In contrast, another commenter, Noik, criticized Ndume’s actions:

“You are a disappointment. Using this to target the president is disloyal and counterproductive.”

Others defended Tinubu’s charitable efforts, likening them to similar initiatives by influential figures across Nigeria. However, critics argued that the incident reflects a failure to address the root causes of poverty in the country.

Ndume’s post has reignited discussions about poverty and the inefficiencies in palliative distribution. While Tinubu’s generosity is commendable, the reliance on handouts underscores systemic challenges:

Worsening Poverty: Many Nigerians continue to struggle with basic necessities, relying on charitable efforts for survival.

Tragic Stampedes: Recent incidents in Abuja and other states highlight the urgent need for better planning and distribution systems.

Political Undertones: Ndume’s post has been interpreted by some as a politically motivated critique of Tinubu’s administration, further fueling partisan debates.

Senator Ndume’s video has drawn attention to the stark realities of poverty in Nigeria and sparked a heated debate about the effectiveness of palliative distributions.

While President Tinubu’s charitable efforts reflect his commitment to supporting vulnerable Nigerians, the incident highlights the urgent need for sustainable solutions to address poverty at its root.

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, has authorized senior lawyer Femi Falana to prosecute Leonard Stanley Ekeh, the chairman of Zinox Group, and his wife, Chioma, over allegations of fraudulently hijacking a government contract and embezzling over N162 million.

The case, which had been stalled for years, has been revived with this new directive, marking a significant development in a long-running legal battle. The fraud allegations involve the theft of a contract awarded to Citadel Oracle Concept Limited in 2012 to supply computers to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) headquarters.

Ekeh, according to the charges, allegedly opened a bank account in the name of Citadel Oracle and forged the signature of Citadel’s CEO, Benjamin Joseph, to illegally claim the contract’s funds. The crime was reported to the police under the then Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, but investigations were reportedly slow and ineffective. Joseph accused the police of colluding with Ekeh, given his influential status, to prevent any meaningful progress in the case.

In a controversial twist, the police charged Joseph with filing a false petition against the IGP, a charge that emerged just days before Arase’s retirement. This move effectively turned Joseph from the whistleblower into the accused, while Ekeh and other suspects were listed as prosecution witnesses in the case.

The case remained stalled for several years until former AGF Abubakar Malami issued a directive for prosecution. However, Malami later withdrew the directive under a nolle prosequi, halting any further action. Now, with the fresh authorization from the current AGF, Fagbemi, Falana has been instructed to proceed with the prosecution of Ekeh, his wife Chioma, and several others implicated in the fraud.

The co-accused include Chris Eze Ozims, Folashade Oyebode, Princess Kama, Chief Onny Igbokwe, Charles Adigwe, and Osilo Oruoha.

In a statement issued in 2022, Leonard Ekeh denied the fraud allegations, claiming that investigations conducted by the police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had exonerated him and his company from any wrongdoing.

Credit: [Peoples Gazette]