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Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd), has been deployed to Benin Republic. General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin (rtd), former Defence Chief, is the head of mission to Cameroon. At a brief ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, presented letters of credence to the ex-service chiefs. This was disclosed in a statement by Mr Kimiebi Ebienfa, information officer in the ministry. “The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Geoffrey Onyeama today 22 June 2021, presented Letters of Credence to the Ambassador-Designate of Nigeria to the Republic of Cameroon, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin…

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has flayed the South East Governors and other political leaders in the region over the disowning and condemnation statement credited to them against the group and its security outfit, Eastern Security Network, ESN. The group said it was regrettable that the Igbo leaders would be quick to disown and betray their own in their quest to appease their slave masters. In a statement issued by the Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB who noted the leaders had since lost grip and control of the masses, explained that the move was a desperate attempt…

President Muhammadu Buhari has asked Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Works and Housing, Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation, to dialogue with Twitter over the ban of the microblogging site. The Federal Government had banned Twitter indefinitely over alleged interference. Despite pressure from the international community and civil right groups, the Buhari government had maintained its stance. But in a statement on Tuesday, Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information, announced that a team had been set up to dialogue with Twitter. Aside Fashola and Malami, other ministers on the team are Isa Pantami (Communication and Digital Economy), Chris Ngige, (Labour), and Geoffrey…

Troops of the Nigerian Army along the Mokwa-Jebba Road have arrested a fleeing bandit during a stop and search operation along the road. He was said to be heading to Ogbomoso in Oyo State. The army said on Tuesday morning that the bandit was arrested on Sunday around 9pm, when the troops intercepted a car travelling from Zuru to Ibadan. The vigilant troops spotted an occupant of the vehicle, who claimed to be a military man, Sergeant Aminu Sule. “Upon a body search, the occupant was found to be in possession of a pair of camouflage uniform, military boots, knife…

Nigerian man arrested with 5 wraps of heroine hidden in his anus Ezenyeche Kingsley Ebuka, a Nigerian returning from Pakistan, has been arrested by NDLEA operatives for attempting to bring heroine into Nigeria. Ebuka, who was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos on June 14, was caught with five pellets of heroin weighing 250grams, hidden in his anus. The suspect had arrived the D arrival hall of the airport on Turkish airline flight from Pakistan with the illicit drug. He however failed to beat the eagle eyes of narcotic officers during inward clearance of passengers on the…

NYCN Pledges Support to AFI, in Fight Against Drug Abuse amongst Nigerian Youths The President and Founder Adorable Foundation International (AFI), Princess Ada Okeke Amam, alongside the Abuja Cordinator of the foundation Madam Jane Nwabuzuba, and other members of the foundation, today, June, 21, 2021, paid a visit to the President, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Comrade Solomon Adodo, to officially Invite him as a Guest Speaker at the AFI planned programme (An Awareness and Sensitization Campaign Against Drug Abuse -ASACADA), organized to Mark the June 26th International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The NYCN President in his…

  Buhari Appoints Barr. Dr George Abang Ekpungu as EFCC Secretary, Names Board Members President Muhammadu Buhari of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has appointed George Abang Ekpungu as the Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The appointment is for a fresh tenure of five years. Also appointed as Board Members of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are Luqman Muhammad (South South), Anumba Adaeze (South East), Alhaji Kole Raheem Adesina (North Central) and Alhaji Yahya Muhammad (North East). This appointment was in line with Section 2 (1) and Section 4 of the Economic and Financial Crimes…

Ahead Of Governorship Election, Heritage Bank Workers Storm Senator Andy Uba's House In Abuja, Ask Him To Pay Up His Debt Staff members of Heritage Bank Plc have accused Senator Andy Uba, representing Anambra South Senatorial District in the Senate, of collecting loans from the bank and refusing to pay them back. Over 20 young bank workers - Men and women, in branded T-shirts and Jean trousers are seen in a video gathered in front of what they described as Uba's house in protest, with placards in hand. A voice in the video said they were staff members of Heritage…

Popular Islamic cleric, Sheik Abubakar Gumi, has said there are about 100,000 armed bandits in the North-West alone. Gumi said the bandits kidnapping school pupils were disappointed that he negotiated with them without the involvement of the Federal Government. The cleric insisted that until the government engaged with the herdsmen, no school could be safe. He stated these during an interview with The PUNCH on efforts to rescue the kidnapped pupils of Tegina Islamic School, Niger State. The bandits had demanded N200m from the victims’ parents, which was later reduced to N150m. Gumi said despite efforts to get the pupils…

UAE Makes U-Turn, Reinstates Ban On Nigerian Flights Barely 48 hours after announcing resumption of flights to Nigeria, Emirates, the UAE flag carrier, has again announced indefinite suspension of flights to Nigeria. The UAE authorities had initially fixed Wednesday, June 23, 2021, for resumption of flights to Nigeria. But in a statement on its website on Monday, the airline said, “In line with government directives, passenger flights to and from Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) are suspended with effect from 21 June 2021 until further notice.” Daily Trust reports that the airline had on Saturday announced resumption of flights, which were…