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Bauchi
Dry season farmers in Gamawa Local Govern
ment Area of Bauchi State have commended the member representing Madaki Gololo (PDP-Gamawa) for providing inputs to his constituents.
The Chairman, Rice Famers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) in the area, Malam Abdullahi Usman gave the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi.
“Our farmers are interested in dry season farming, but the issue of inputs has remained our greatest challenge.
“We cried out to the member and he supported us with 187 irrigation water pumps and also dug 187 wash-bows in various clusters across the local government area.’’

Benue
Bishop Nathan Inyom of the Anglican Commun
ion, Makurdi, Benue State, has called on the Federal Government to develop a peace policy to facilitate effective management of crises in the country.
The Bishop made the call in an interview with newsmen in Makurdi.
Inyom said that without a policy document detailing crises management of issues, it would be difficult to contain the recurring crises in the country.

Ekiti
A Nutritionist, Mrs Cecilia Dolapo, says people
who eat cashew fruits or nuts regularly are less likely to develop cancer-related diseases.
Dolapo said this in an interview with newsmen in Ido, Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti.
According to her, cashew nuts are ripe with proanthocyanidiusi, a class of flavanois that can starve tumour and stop cancer cells from dividing.
She said that the intake of the nut, which is  kidney-shaped seed, was also good for people who want to lose weight.

FCT
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs 1, Prof.
Viola Onwuliri, and the Cuba’s Foreign Minister, Bruno Parilla, have pledged to work towards expanding economic and trade cooperation to attract tangible benefits to both countries.
The two ministers made the pledge while speaking in Abuja at a reception organised by Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry for the visiting Cuban Minister who concluded his four-day official visit to Nigeria recently.
Onwuliri said that economic cooperation was “heartening’’ because of the socio-economic reforms taking place simultaneously in both countries.
She suggested that priority should be given to cooperation in the areas of medicine, pharmacy and education in the renewed efforts to expand economic ties between both countries.

Jigawa
The Gumel Local Government Area of Jigawa
State  says it has spent about N4 million on water equipment for the people of the area.
The council Chairman, Alhaji Alasan Babandi, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Gumel.
Babandi listed the equipment to include 17 submersible pumps, pipes and hand pumps, among others.
He said that the equipment had been installed at Galagamma, Dahiru Atta Primary School and Prison Quarters at Gumel town for utilisation.
Kano
A Kano State High Court has sentenced four per
sons to 84 years imprisonment for armed robbery.
Monday Joseph, Umar Adamu, Simon Chile and Mukhtar Adamu, were convicted for robbing A. A. Rano Tudun Wada filling station in 2012.
The convicts had in December 2012 attacked the Assistant Manager and some staff of the filling station, and carted away N2.68 million during the operation.
Delivering judgement recently, Justice Nura Sagir said that each of the convicts would serve 21 years in prison.

Kebbi
The Kebbi State Government says it will soon revive
its four moribund companies to attract investors and generate employment for the youth.
Chairman of the Committee on Resuscitation of Moribund Industries, Alhaji Usman Mhammed, made this known to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi.
According to him, the companies are Neem Seeds Processing Plant, Transformer Manufacturing Company and the Cassava Processing Plant.
He said modalities were being worked out to also revive the Kitchen Wares Factory.

Kogi
The Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Nasir Ajanah,
has released four awaiting trial inmates and granted bail to one for unjust and illegal incarceration at the Medium Security Prison, Kabba.
The beneficiaries included Joseph Kashuwa, Safiu Lawal, Isiaka Mohammed and Mohammed Tambuyah while Mohammed Haruna was granted bail.
Ajanah said the continuous incarceration of Kashuwa was unjustifiable as the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) had issued an advice for his release in November last year.
He said the DPP had said there was no prima facie case established against him.
Lagoss

A psychiatrist, Dr Peter Ogunnubi, has urged stake
holders in the health sector to tackle non-communicable diseases such as cancer and depression effectively.
Ogunnubi told newsmen in Lagos that by 2020, cancer would be the commonest non-communicable disease worldwide, followed by depression.
The psychiatrist who works at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, said that cases of depression in the country had been underreported.
“By 2020 cancer will be the foremost non-communicable disease followed by depression, the way we are going.
Nasarawa

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in
Nasarawa State, said it had deployed its staff to rural areas to sensitise people ahead of the March 22, local government elections in the state.
The acting state Director of NOA, Mr Elisha Iyakwari, told newsmen in Lafia that this was part of the agency’s preparatory efforts for  free and peaceful local government polls in the state.
Iyakwari said the agency’s aim was to take the campaign to rural communities in the state to further re-orientate the people at the grassroots on the forthcoming polls.
”We have deployed our members of staff to villages, market squares to carryout voters education and to sensitise the people on their civic responsibility ahead of the Local Government polls.

Osun

An Osogbo Grade II Customary Court has dis
solved the 15-year-old marriage between Mutiat Asimiyu and her husband, Saheed over constant beating.
In his judgment, the President of the court, Chief Bolarinwa Popoola, dissolved the marriage and held that the marriage was problematic with accusations and counter accusations bordered on distrust.
“The court, hereby, dissolve the marriage in favour of the petitioner,” he held.
Popoola awarded custody of two children, aged 12 and 10 to the father, while custody of the four-year-old child was awarded to the petitioner.

Oyo

A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Iseyin, Oyo State
has sentenced a middle-aged man, Ganiyu Saheed, to nine months in prison with hard labour for stealing from a widow.
Delivering judgment, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Abiola Richard, sentenced Saheed, after he pleaded guilty.
Richard, who did not give the convict an option to pay a fine, said that the sentence would serve as deterrent to others who engaged in such nefarious acts in the society.
The prosecutor, Inspector Friday Sule, had on January 21, told the court that the convict committed the offence on December 4, 2013.

L-R: Lagos Commissioner for budget and planning, Mr. Ben Akabueze, Deputy German Consul General, Jorg Stephan, German Consul General, Mr Michael Derug, Gov Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and German Vice Consul, Sophia Stephan, during a visit of the Consul General To Gov. Fashola in Lagos, recently.

L-R: Lagos Commissioner for budget and planning, Mr. Ben Akabueze, Deputy German Consul General, Jorg Stephan, German Consul General, Mr Michael Derug, Gov Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and German Vice Consul, Sophia Stephan, during a visit of the Consul General To Gov. Fashola in Lagos, recently.

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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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