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THE STATES

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Adamawa

Mr Umar Atiku, Adamawa  State  Commissioner  for
Works said yesterday that the state government had approved a total of N2.6 billion for the reconstruction of Jimeta to Yola highway.
Atiku told newsmen in Yola, that the project would cover two major roads in the state capital.
He said among the roads to be reconstructed included Police round-about to Karewa junction and Army Barracks junction to Yola town.
He said contract in respect of the project, was awarded to PW Nigeria Construction Limited, and would start as soon as the rainy season was over.
He added that the project would be completed in eight months.

Ekiti

Governor of Ekiti State,  Kayode Fayemi has inaugurated
the 20-km Ikole-Ijesaisu-Ilumoba road, rehabilitated by his administration.
Fayemi also flagged off the construction of the eight-km Ikole township road and 20-km Ikole-Ara-Isinbode road, linking Ekiti and Ikare in Onda State.
The governor said that his administration was delivering on its electioneering promises in all sectors of the economy, especially in the provision of infrastructure.
Fayemi said that his administration was interested in rehabilitation of roads because this would engender development and improve the socio-economic lives of the people.

Gombe

The police in Gombe State said it recovered two Ak47 riffles
and 360 live ammunition in an uncompleted building during the Eid-el Kabir celebrations in Gombe metropolis.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr Fwaje Atajiri, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Gombe yesterday.
Atajiri said the police also recovered five empty magazines and a motorcycle in the building.
He said the period was hitch-free, but the command got intelligence report about a criminal hide-out in Kondulum Area of Gombe metropolis on Wednesday and raided the area.
The police spokesman said the suspects ran away on sighting the police operatives and left the weapons and ammunition.
He said the police was investigating the incident as well as the owner of the building.

FCT
A Muslim Scholar, Alhaji Mufutaudeen Ajijola-Anabi, has
urged Muslim parents to give proper training to their children.
Ajijola-Anabi, who is also the Chief Imam of the Abuja branch of “Dairat Jafariyat Fitorikat Tijaniyat’’ Islamic Organisation, gave the advice at the Eid-el-kabir praying ground in Abuja.
According to him, Allah has commanded Muslims to always show affection and kindness to their children, stressing that He forbids ill-treatment, abuse and neglect of duties.
The cleric quoted Allah as saying in the Qur’an: “Your Lord has decreed that you shall worship none except Him and show kindness to one another.’’

Kaduna

The transportation of prospective Christian pilgrims from
Kaduna State will commence on October 19, an official said.
Rev. Joseph Yari, the Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Christian Pilgrims Board, told newsmen in Kaduna that most arrangements had been concluded for the transportation.
He said 800 prospective Christian pilgrims were expected to embark on the 2013 pilgrimage to Israel.
Yari said the board would screen the intending pilgrims before they leave, adding that “the pilgrims will hold a national prayer in the Holy Land on October 24.
“The prayer is to intercede for peace, unity and development in Nigeria.’’

Kogi

Governor  Idris Wada of Kogi State has urged Nigerians to
live in peace and harmony irrespective of their religious affiliation.
The governor made the appeal in Lokoja in his congratulatory message to Muslims as they celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir.
He urged Muslims and Christians not to see themselves as enemies but as brothers and sisters created equally and with the same purpose by only one God.
Wada said the insecurity in some parts of the country could have been avoided if there was peace and love among adherents of the different faiths.

Kwara

The Olugbense ruling house of Offa has petitioned the
Chief Justice  of the Federation (CJN), Justice Aloma Muktar,  praying her  to reassign the stay-of-execution of judgment suit  filed by the deposed Olofa of Offa, Mufutau Gbadamosi.
The petition, which  was signed by  Mr Saka Keji on behalf of the ruling house,  was dated October  8  and made available to newsmen recently.
Keji stated in the petition that the Olugbense family had  no confidence in the new panel  of the Court of Appeal to which the suit had been assigned.
“We have no confidence that the new panel of justices can do justice to us in the case just as we have our fears and concerns  on the motion for stay,” he added.

Lagos

The Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Adeyemi
Ikuforiji, says only God would determine his governorship ambition.
“As a believer, I know that when the time comes, the Almighty God will show the light and make it clear that this is your next direction and your next seat.
”No matter the noise, the plotting of the coup and counter coup, what God has destined to be, no man can stop,” Ikuforiji told newsmen in Epe, during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
He said that he became the speaker by the will of God, and that only God would determine his next political step in 2015.

Nasarawa

Governor  Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has
inaugurated five newly acquired fire-fighting trucks to boost the fire-fighting capacity of the state’s fire service.
Al-Makura said that the fire-fighting trucks would boost the operations of the state’s fire service.
He said that the trucks would be deployed to strategic areas that were vulnerable to fire outbreaks, enjoining the firemen to make judicious use of the facilities.
Besides, Al-Makura said that the towing vehicles would be stationed at accident-prone areas, especially the Akwanga-Lafia road.

Ogun

The police yesterday arraigned a driver, Adewale Adesanya,
40, before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun on a two-count charge of manslaughter and reckless driving.
The police prosecutor, Cpl. Rosemary Brown, told the court that the accused committed the offence on September 27 at 2.30 p.m. near Excel Primary School on Ilogbo-Oju-Ore road, Sango Ota.
The prosecutor said the accused drove his Mitsubishi gallant car with Lagos registration number SMK 916 BL recklessly and killed a 47-year-old Sunday Balogun.
Brown said the other victim, Mr Ibrahim Otefila, was still receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in the state.
She said the offences contravened sections 17 and 18 of the Road Traffic Act 29 Vol. 21 of the revised laws of Ogun State, 2006.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Osun
Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has stressed
the need for peace, security and cooperation among Nigerians to move the nation forward.
The governor said this in his Eid-el-Kabir message, signed by Mr Semiu Okanlawon, the Director of Communication in the Governor’s Office.
He urged Muslims to live in peace, while exhibiting tolerance towards adherents of other faiths.
Aregbesola, however, called on the adherents of all religions to protect the sanctity of human life, saying in all the Scriptures, God never commanded or appointed anyone as judge over other human beings.

Oyo

No fewer than 157 graduates of Caleb University, Imota,
Lagos State, would participate at the third convocation ceremony billed for Saturday.
This was contained in a statement issued by the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju, and made available to newsmen in Ibadan.
The vice- chancellor said the convocation ceremony would mark  another milestone in the history of the university which took off in 2008.
“As at today, the university has continued to enjoy the National Universities Commission’s full accreditation status, thereby confirming our core objective of ensuring the production of quality graduates who would contribute positively to national growth,’’ he said.
Sokoto

The Sultan of Sokoto State, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged
striking workers to call off their strikes and go back to the negotiating table.
Abubakar made the call as part of his Eid el-Kabir message to the Muslim faithful.
“We wish to use this opportunity to call on all those on strike, especially university academic and non-academic staff to call off their strikes so as to reduce the sufferings of the people.
“And they should go back to the negotiating table in order to bring an end to the crisis.
“This is a problem in the development of the country. We urged the government to listen to the complaints of the workers with the intention of solving them”, he said.

Aig Zone 12, Mr Edgar Nanakumo (left), with Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State during his courtesy visit in Bauchi, yesterday Photo: NAN

Aig Zone 12, Mr Edgar Nanakumo (left), with Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State during his courtesy visit in Bauchi, yesterday Photo: NAN

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Rumuaholu Community Denies Land Grabbing Allegations, Accuses Obio/Akpor Chairman of Interference in Land Dispute

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The Ekeanyanwu family of Rumuaholu Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State has strongly refuted allegations of land grabbing levelled against it, describing recent media reports as false, misleading, and deliberately fabricated.
The family made its position known during a press briefing held on Wednesday at the residence of Dr. Colonel Ogwumerum Eke in Rumuaholu. The briefing was attended by community leaders, stakeholders, and family representatives.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Dr. Eke dismissed claims attributed to the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Hon. Gift Worlu, which allegedly labelled the family as land grabbers. He described the allegations as baseless, frivolous, and lacking any factual foundation.
According to Dr. Eke, the Ekeanyanwu family remains the legitimate owner of the parcel of land known as Ohia Agbada, comprising approximately 6,000 plots situated along the Obiri-Ikwerre Airport Road corridor. He further maintained that Victory Estate, located within the disputed area, belongs exclusively to the Ekeanyanwu family and not to the Rumuosi Community as claimed by the council chairman.
Dr. Eke stated that ownership of the land had been affirmed by the courts, citing Case No. CCC/22/2015 at the Choba Customary Court. He explained that while the suit was instituted against another family in Rumuaholu, the Rumuosi Community sought to be joined in the matter but their application was rejected by the court.
He further disclosed that the family currently holds 15 subsisting court judgments in its favour relating to the disputed land, including judgments from the Customary Court, High Court, and Court of Appeal.
The family spokesman alleged that the Obio/Akpor council chairman, in collaboration with the local Anti-Land Grabbing Committee, was attempting to undermine the court decisions and dispossess the family of its land through what he described as “backdoor means.”
Dr. Eke accused the chairman of assuming the role of an appellate authority over matters that had already been conclusively determined by competent courts.
Expressing concern over recent developments, he alleged that individuals acting under the influence of the council chairman had destroyed properties worth millions of naira within Victory Estate. He described the action as a direct affront to existing court judgments and the rule of law.
Displaying copies of court judgments during the briefing, Dr. Eke questioned the rationale behind branding judgment creditors as land grabbers, insisting that those challenging the court rulings were the real offenders.
He called on members of the public to disregard what he termed misleading radio announcements purportedly made by the council chairman and urged government institutions and security agencies to uphold the sanctity of court judgments.
Also speaking at the briefing, Elder Prince Ndaokani, Principal Oji Owhor of Rumuaholu Community, supported the Ekeanyanwu family’s claims. He maintained that the disputed land originally belonged to Dr. Eke’s late father, who, according to Ikwerre native customary law, acquired ownership through the clearing and development of the land.
However, the allegations were dismissed by the Chairman of the Obio/Akpor Anti-Land Grabbing Committee, Chief Alex Wali, who responded on behalf of the local government council.
Chief Wali declined to engage directly with the claims made by Dr. Eke, stating: “That man cannot be gifted with our valued response to his tirades. People like that should not be in public but should be rotting in jail for heinous crimes against humanity.”
He maintained that nothing would prevent the council chairman from carrying out his constitutional responsibilities as the chief executive and chief security officer of the local government area.
According to him, the protection of lives and property remains a fundamental responsibility of government at all levels, and the council would continue to discharge its duties in that regard.
The dispute is the latest chapter in a long-running land ownership controversy in the area, with both sides maintaining opposing claims over the disputed property.
By Akujobi Amadi
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Asarama Kingdom Condemns Gruesome Murder of A Commercial Vehicle Driver

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The Asarama General Assembly in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State has condemned the gruesome murder of a commercial vehicle driver by some identified criminal elements in the community.
It would be recalled that on Thursday the 28th of May  2026, the kingdom was thrown into mourning, following the gruesome murder of a commercial vehicle driver by some criminal elements
The Assembly which said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt also called for the establishment of a Mobile police and police anti cultism departments  at the Asarama Police Division.
The Okangh Ama /Paramount Ruler of Asarama kingdom HRM king Appolus J Nteijaewaye who read the text for the briefing onbehalf of The Asarama General Assembly at the briefing said the community condemned in totality the gruesome incident.
He said the kingdom also extends its condolences to the bereaved family of the murdered driver, stressing that as a kingdom it would leave no stone unturned to ensure that such an incident never occur within it’s territorial space again.
The General Assembly also commended the prompt intervention of the Nigerian police Force which led to the arrest of some members of the criminal gang, adding that even though the crime was committed at Asarama, some of those allegedly involved were not indigenes of Asarama kingdom.
“As a kingdom we use the sober moment of this unfortunate incident to further commend the prompt reaction of the leadership and men of the Nigeria Police Force in Rivers state that led to their effective results aimed at eliminating criminality and deterring the evil ones in our society “
The Community also described the incident as a pointer to the level of vulnerability of not only Asarama kingdom but the entire society, against the background that the sanctity of life ought to be sacred and protected by individuals, groups, communities and governmental institutions”
Meanwhile ,The Asarama General Assembly has called for the establishment of a Mobile Police  as well as police anti cultism departments at the Asarama Police Division
It said this has become necessary inview of the strategic location of the kingdom as a gateway to the rest of Andoni communities and Opobo -Nkoro Local Government Area.
“Owing to the peculiarity of our geographical location especially the amphibious nature of Asarama kingdom, intricately linked with its neighbouring inter ethnic Ogoni and Opobo -Nkoro Local Government Areas in general and intra Andoni communities in particular, the relevant authorities should urgently approved special mobile police force,Anti cultism and Marin units to be attached to the Asarama Divisional headquarters”
The kingdom also decried the continuous neglect of the Asarama police Division, since it’s establishment adding that the division up till date,does not have a single firearm as well as enough personnel
It said this situation has exposed the community to activities of criminal elements.
“The sordid state of the only security outfit that ought to police our territory and beyond now seems to complicate the delicate insecurity that we are already exposed to, first as a nation and second as a people inhabiting an intricate amphibious gateway kingdom
“Consequently we hereby cry to the appropriate authorities to urgently equip the Asarama Divisional Police headquarters with adequate men arms and ammunition “the Community said.
John Bibor
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Rivers Commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

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The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.

Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.

The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.

“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.

Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state

He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.

“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.

While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.

He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process.

Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.

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