News
Drama as Police Operatives Reportedly Shoot Each Other After Mistaking Themselves for IPOB Members
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The police in Abia State, southeast Nigeria, have launched an investigation into a reported incident where police officers allegedly exchanged gunfire after mistakenly identifying each other as members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Confusion Over Mistaken Identity
On Wednesday, a chaotic scene unfolded in the Alaoji Area of Aba, a major commercial center in the state, when two groups of police officers reportedly opened fire on each other.
According to information obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the shootout involved a police patrol team from the Police Area Command in Aba and another team from Umuahia, the state capital.
Eyewitnesses claimed that the officers appeared to have mistaken one another for IPOB members.
The confusion reportedly arose because the officers from Umuahia were using commercial buses, leading their colleagues from Aba to misidentify them as members of the separatist group.
The incident caused panic among shop owners around the Alaoji Motor Spare Parts Market and nearby passersby, who fled the area to avoid stray bullets.
The market is situated along the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway.
Tragically, a truck driver was fatally struck by a stray bullet during the exchange of gunfire.
The situation reportedly de-escalated after the officers realized they were all on the same side.
In response to the incident, the state police spokesperson, Maureen Chinaka, issued a statement on Thursday confirming that police authorities are conducting an investigation.
“From our preliminary investigation, there is no credible evidence to suggest that police officers mistook themselves for members of IPOB and fired at each other,” Ms Chinaka, an assistant superintendent of police, said.
“What we can confirm is that there was a shooting in that area, which resulted in the death of a civilian,” she stated.
The police spokesperson has encouraged anyone with valuable information about the incident to come forward and assist with the ongoing investigation.
IPOB, the group advocating for an independent Biafra from the South-East and parts of South-South Nigeria, has been associated with several fatal attacks in these regions.
(Premium Times)
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News
Air Force Begins Moving Electoral Materials For Edo Guber Election
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has began airlifting the sensitive election materials for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to Benin, Edo State, ahead of the upcoming governorship election scheduled for September 21, 2024.
This was disclosed on Wednesday by the Deputy Director, Public Relations and Information, Group Captain Kabiru Ali.
The operation is part of the NAF’s efforts to ensure the timely and secure delivery of materials necessary for a smooth electoral process.
This development reinforces the collaboration between NAF and INEC to facilitate logistics and ensure a peaceful election in Edo State.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, had previously reiterated NAF’s commitment to providing airlift support for the swift movement of electoral materials during a meeting with INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
This airlift operation is a crucial aspect of NAF’s constitutional responsibility to provide Military Aid to Civil Authority, underscoring the force’s dedication to supporting democratic processes in Nigeria. With the election just days away, the NAF’s timely intervention will help ensure the successful conduct of the governorship elections in Edo State.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State had earlier accused the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, of working with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to hunt the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and supporters in the state and force them into hiding ahead of September 21 governorship election.
Obaseki, who made the allegation when a delegation led by the former Head of State, Abdusalam Abubakar, met with him to get the governor and his party to sign peace accord, said that the IGP had made nonsense of his (Obaseki’s) role as the chief security officer of the state.
The governor had said that the police chief obtained a warrant to arrest 60 members and supporters of PDP in Edo and that the IGP sent an armed “gang” of policemen who invaded the state, attacked PDP members, shot at a local government chairman and arrested 10 persons who are currently being detained in Abuja without charges.
Asked by the former head of state if his party would sign the peace accord, Obaseki said, “The person who is supposed to enforce the peace accord is now an active participant in creating a destructive environment.
“We are now in a situation where from the Inspector General’s office, there are armed gang policemen who came into Edo State, invaded, arrested and took away PDP members.
News
“Dancing gives me abundant joy and peace of mind”-Gov Adeleke
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has given reasons why he loves dancing.
The ‘Dancing Governor’, as he is fondly called, revealed this on Wednesday while responding to a tweet on X.
An X user, @Iwogoke, while praising the governor, stated that Adeleke has been busy fulfilling his electoral promises to the people of Osun State, while his political opponents believe he is only good at dancing.
Iwogoke tweeted, “I’m not flattering you, Your Excellency, your opponents think you can only dance but while they are busy shouting and calling you ‘Dancing Governor’, you are busy fulfilling your electoral promises to the people.”
Responding to the tweet via his verified X account, Adeleke explained that he loves dancing because it brings him joy.
Speaking further on his love for dancing, Adeleke highlighted that while dancing brings him immense happiness, his greater fulfilment comes from delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Osun.
Outlining his administration’s efforts to enhance the state’s infrastructure, he noted that primary health centre rehabilitation is underway in at least 200 out of the 332 wards across Osun State, adding that road construction projects are also progressing in every local government area.
He wrote, “Dancing gives me joy, but delivering on my electoral promises and providing the dividends of democracy to the good people of Osun gives me even greater joy. Rehabilitation of primary health centers is ongoing in at least 200 out of 332 wards, and road construction is progressing in every Local Government!”
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