Breaking News in Nigeria Today 4 January 2019
Breaking News Today: Military Helicopter Goes Missing and Man Poisons his 3 Children. Continue reading for more…
1. Air force Helicopter Goes Missing in Boko Haram Fight
A helicopter of the Nigerian Air Force deployed for attack in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents has gone missing in action. There are fears that the aircraft had crashed at an unknown location.
The NAF had confirmed the aircraft is missing in a release around 10.30pm on Wednesday, noting that the helicopter was lost in combat while providing air support to troops of 145 Battalion at Damasak in Northern Borno State.
2. Man Poison His 3 Children with ‘Sniper’
The Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa State, Aminu Saleh has confirmed that a father of three, Samuel Sunday has been arrested for poisoning his three children with sniper insecticide killing two while one survived.
The survivor kid told newsmen that their father and his brother gave them the sniper to drink.
The CP said that the suspect and his brother, Aya Preye, were being charged for the murder of the two children. He identified the deceased boys as Miracle, 12 and God’s time, 10.
He added that the suspect had accused his sons of being wizards and were responsible for his sickness. The children lived with their grandmother as their parents of the kids were divorced
3. We’ve a Meeting with Labour to Avert Industrial Action – FG
Following the January 8 date Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC has set for the commencement of an indefinite nationwide strike, the FG through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has invited executives of the organized labour for a meeting on Friday at the Conference Hall of the ministry.
But when contacted to confirm receipt of invitation for the meeting, General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, revealed they would honour the invitation, though it had passed the stage of attending meetings on the issue of minimum wage,
He added that what was expected of the presidency was to forward a bill to the National Assembly for the enactment of new minimum wage act.
4. Fire Razes 600 Shops in Benue Market
The fire affected over 600 lockup shops and open stalls housing grains, poultry and fish products, beverages and other household items including clothing.
Residents said it took two hours before fire service officials whose station was close could arrive the scene.
One of the shop owners, a woman, reportedly fainted on seeing the damages done by the fire. She was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was revived.
5. NANS Plans Mass Action against FG, ASUU, ASUP on Jan 7
The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has issued a notice to all its structures and organs to commence mobilisation for mass action against the FG, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics on January 7.
This was contained in a statement signed by the association’s President, Danielson Akpan.
Akpan accused the university lecturers and the FG of not showing enough commitment to end the strike.
6. Anxiety in Police Circles as IGP’s Tenure Ends Today
There is anxiety in Police circles over what could happen in the next 24 hours, as the service term of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, comes to an end today.
Idris, the nation’s 19th Inspector General of Police, was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, on March 21, 2016, to replace Solomon Arase. The 59 year old Niger State born Police Chief is due for retirement having enlisted in 1984.
But there are rumours that he will get a likely tenure extension from President Buhari having not attained the mandatory retirement age of 60 years.
7. Atiku Pays an American $90,000 Monthly – BMO
The Buhari Media Organisation, BMO, has accused the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, of paying an American lobbyist $90,000 monthly just to be releasing fake news.
BMO further stated that the recent rise of fake news on social media, targeted at the Nigerian military was the creation of the former Vice President.
The BMO said recent claims of terrorists’ attacks on the military; desertion by police personnel; allegations of corruption scandals in the military hierarchy and the resurfacing of a 2014 claim by soldiers of lack of weaponry as fake reports Atiku sponsored Brian Ballard.
8. IG Removes Imo CP, Three Deputy Commissioners
The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has removed the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galadanchi.
Reports showed that the Commissioner of Police in charge of Kogi State Command, Ali Janga, has been transferred to Imo State.
Janga was in Imo State in November 2018 on election duty during the APC primaries that later ended in controversy.
Meanwhile, Hakeem Olusegun Odumosu was appointed to replace Johnson Babatunde Kokumo as the Commissioner of Police in Edo State.
Also removed by the IG were the three Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) in Imo State Police Command.
The DCPs were in charge of the Operations and State Criminal and Investigation Departments of the Command.
The IG also removed 11 out of the 14 Assistant Commissioners of Police in the Command.
9. Burna Boy, Mr Eazi to Make Coachella Debut
Nigerian music stars Burna Boy and Mr. Eazi are set to make their Coachella debut in April.
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is an annual music and arts festival held at the Empire Polo club in California, USA.
According to the Coachella lineup announced on Coachella’s official instagram account @coachella, Burna Boy will perform his set on April 13 and 20.
Mr Eazi will have his performance on April 14 and 21.
10. Boko Haram Raids Military Posts in Borno
Fighters from the IS-affiliated Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP raided more military posts in Borno state on Tuesday.
“They first dislodged soldiers at a checkpoint in Kimba in Biu and then took over another post at Sabon Gari, five kilometers away,” said one military officer of the latest attacks. The jihadists launched another attack on a base in nearby Wajirko, according to a militiaman in the area.
11. Nobody’s Safe in Katsina, Governor Masari Cries Out
According to the Governor of Katsina State, President Buhari’s State of Origin, security agencies revealed to him that kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry and cattle rustling are now the order of the day in Katsina state.
Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State, yesterday, raised the alarm that the state is under security siege, stating that no one, not even him, is safe.
The alarm by the governor is coming barely 24 hours after his Borno State counterpart, Kashim Shettima, raised similar concerns by Boko Haram.
Only a few days ago, Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari also expressed his own concerns stating that he wouldn’t mind the FG imposing a state of emergency on the state.
