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Sunday Night Blasts Leave Scores Dead In Jos …As Suicide Attack In Church Claims Six …Gunmen Kill 30 In Zamfara

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L-R: Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Sir Mike Okiro, Commissioner for Media, South-East Zone, Dame Comfort Obi and Commisioner for Women Affairs, Hajia Aisha Tukur, at a news conference on the alleged N275 million Election Monitoring Fund's fraud rocking the PSC, in Abuja, recently.

L-R: Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Sir Mike Okiro, Commissioner for Media, South-East Zone, Dame Comfort Obi and Commisioner for Women Affairs, Hajia Aisha Tukur, at a news conference on the alleged N275 million Election Monitoring Fund’s fraud rocking the PSC, in Abuja, recently.

Scores of people were believed to have lost their lives as two suicide bombers detonated their bombs in Jos, the Plateau State capital last night.
Details of the blasts are sketchy as of the time of this report.
Our correspondent gathered that the first bomb went off at a restaurant opposite the Bauchi road campus of the University of Jos at about 9.15pm, while the second one exploded at a mosque near Yan Tyre (tyre market) area of Dilimi Junction, along the same Bauchi road about 15 minutes later.
While the casualty figure from the first blast was given by an eyewitness as 15, the figure from the second blast at the mosque could not be ascertained.
The latest incident occurred less than five months after a similar bomb was detonated where the first bomb went off.
It was learnt that while the first bomb might have been detonated by a suicide bomber as it happened inside a restaurant, the insurgent might have used a rocket launcher to attack the mosque.
According to an eyewitness, the front of the mosque is usually crowded as it serves as the location where the leader of the Izalla sect, Sheikh YahayaJingir, normally performs the tafsir (breaking of fast).
The insurgents were said to have targeted worshippers who usually stay around after the breaking of fast.
The insurgents were said to have started shooting sporadically to beat a barricade mounted by security men in front of the mosque before launching the attack.
The eyewitness said, “We have counted 15 bodies that died instantly from the first blast. We are now moving to the scene of the second one at the mosque. But the soldiers are asking us to go back because the casualty is high.”
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Emmanuel Abuh, who confirmed the twin blast, said men of the anti-bomb squad had been dispatched to the area.
He explained that the exact casualty figure and the extent of damage could not be ascertained until the men cleared the area.
Abua added, “It is too early to give any figure. We have dispatched our men there and we are expecting feedback from them.”
Meanwhile, the Police in Yobe State yesterday confirmed the killing of six persons in a suicide bomb attack on a church in Potiskum.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state command, Mr. Toyin Gbedegesin told newsmen in Damaturu that the death included the suicide bomber.
The spokesman said: “A male suicide bomber detonated a bomb at Redeem Church at Jigawa area of Potiskum, killing five on the spot.
“A female member of the church, who sustained injuries, also died while receiving treatment in the hospital.’’
He said the injured are receiving treatment at various health facilities in the area.
it would be recalled that Potiskum last suffered a twin suicide attack on June 15, in which 10 people were killed and several others injured.
Similarly, no fewer than 30 persons have been reported dead following fresh attacks by gunmen in Birnin-Magaji local government area of Zamfara.
Chairman of the council, Alhaji Muhammad Gusami told newsmen yesterday  that the attacks took place in Kokeya and Chigama villages in the area.
Gusami said the gunmen invaded Kokeya village with motorcycles and killed two persons, set some houses ablaze and carted away animals mostly cows.
He said that the “unfortunate incident’’ had been reported to the Divisional Police Officer of Birnin-Magaji as well as soldiers on surveillance of the zone.
According to him, while this is going on, the attackers returned the next day and invaded the neighbouring village of Chigama.
“‘The gunmen, however, killed more than 30 persons whose bodies were still being recovered from the bush,’’ he said.
The chairman said the corpses have been taken to Birnin-magaji General Hospital.
He said the Chigama attack took place shortly after three police trucks just left the area when they noticed that peace had returned to the area.
He added that the armed bandits also set several houses on fire on their second attack on Chigama village.
An eye-witness,Malam Ibrahim Sani also told newsmen  that the gunmen who invaded Kokeya came while the villagers were closing from their prayers.
“The state attackers shot sporadically in the air which prompted the people of Chigama to intervene.
“That may have provoked the gunmen to come back so as to punish Chigama people for trying to prevent the attack the previous day.
“While three persons were killed from Kokeya and Chigama on the first day in Kokeya, more than 50 were killed on the second day in Chigama while several houses were burnt,’’ said Sani.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sanusi Amiru, who confirmed the attack, said that the police and army have moved to the area and normalcy had been restored.

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Group Doles out N13m To Market Women In Isiama 

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The peaceful Town of Isiama in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State was at the weekend agog with activities following the donation of over N13million to market women by Engr. Justus Ngerebara in partnership with Fast Track Development Initiatives, a non-governmental organization, as part of its first phase empowerment programme.
According to Justus Ngerebara, who is also the Executive Director of the organization, the women, numbering 108, will receive various sums based on their business proposal.
He stated that the organization will carry out an annual review of the performances of the beneficiaries, with a view to rewarding those who put the money into good use.
According to him, the initiative was a collaborative effort between himself and his wife, Dr. Unyime Ngerebara, in partnership with Fast Track Development Initiative (FDI), an organization committed to youth capacity building and community development.
He said the family believe deeply in the transformative power of women’s empowerment as a catalyst for economic growth, especially in rural communities.
“As the saying goes, when you empower a woman, you empower a community. This truth resonate strongly with us, knowing that empowered women uplift households and inspire generational change”, he stated.
Ngerebara described the programme as the beginning of more things to come and urged the beneficiaries to view the gesture “as a reflection of our deep love for the community and our commitment to easing the burdens of economic hardship.
“We encourage you to invest wisely, channel these resources into your business not frivolities.
“We will continue to follow up with each participant to monitor progress and Offer guidance.
“It is our goal to see thriving business, creative solutions to households hunger and a ripple effect of prosperity through Isiama.
“We also call on the men to stand beside their spouses, offering support and encouragement to ensure these resources are maximized for growth”, he said.
In an interview, Ngerebara said the second phase of the empowerment programme will start very soon, stressing that since inception the organization has done so much for the community.
He listed some of the programmes carried out by the group in the community to include the installation of solar powered lights, and solar powered water.
While declaring the event open, a former coymmissioner for Works in Rivers State, Engr. Sampson Ngerebara, described the event as the first of its kind in the community.
Engr. Ngerebara said the programme will go a long way to improve the conditions of not only the beneficiaries, but also the entire Isiama Community.
He also charged them against wasting the resources on frivolities, adding that their success will attract more of such empowerment programme to Isiama community
Giving a brief talk on women empowerment, a lecturer at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Dr. Awajimogobo Felix MacLean, warned the beneficiaries to justify the effort of the donor by avoiding wastages.
Dr. MacLean also urged them to be consistent in their line of business as well as avoid unnecessary competition.
She also stressed the need for them to network among themselves, while working out ways of helping the community to develop.
Guest of Honour at the occasion, Professor Uriah Oboada Alafonye, said Engr Justus Ngerebara, the initiator of the programme, has set a standard for present and future generations of leaders both in the community and the rest of Andoni to follow.
Prof Alafonye who is of the department of Arts Education, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, also appealed to the beneficiaries to seize the opportunity provided by the programme to reduce poverty in the community.
Speaking, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Hebron Mercy Fyneface, a crayfish seller and an interior designer, said it was the first time she was receiving such gesture from any organization or government.
She thanked Engr Justus Ngerebara for remembering the women of Isiama and urged others to emulate him.
By: John Bibor
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Fubara’s Return Excites NCSU … As Hope Rises For Civil Servants 

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The umbrella body of civil servants in Rivers State, the Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has expressed delight over the lifting of emergency rule in the State and the return to office of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof Ngozi Nma Odu and members of the State House of Assembly, saying, the development portends good omen for workers, the people and the State.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who gave the indication in an interview in Port Harcourt, said the return of the Governor to office portends good omen and better days for civil servants in particular, stressing that the union heartily welcomes the Governor back to office, to resume his good works in the State, after six months of the emergency rule, as well as his deputy and members of the House of Assembly.
He noted that civil servants in the State are not only elated over the development but are also full of hope that the Governor would start from where he stopped in attending to their welfare needs.
He contended that the political crisis that recently engulfed the State and the six-month emergency rule had for over one year pulled the State backwards, but expressed delight that a permanent solution has been found to stem further political upheavals in the State, and thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making this possible; the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and leader of the State, Chief Nyesom Wike; Governor Fubara; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule; members of the House; and other stakeholders for agreeing to amicably resolve all contending issues.
The labour leader said this is the right time for all political gladiators in the State to bury the hatchet, work together and embrace peace and genuine reconciliation in the overall interest of the State.
He described as too hasty the resolution of the House, mandating the Governor to present a supplementary budget to it, and pleaded with members of the House to be calm, to tread with caution, and harmoniously work with the Governor.
He said the return of democratic governance in the State would fast-track progress and development in the State, and enjoined the people of the State, particularly civil servants to continue to give their support and cooperation to the Fubara administration.
Osumah expressed optimism that Governor Fubara would give prompt attention to challenges facing civil servants in the State, being a former civil servant himself, stressing that the workers truly have hope, now that the Governor has returned to office, and knowing the kind of Governor he is.
According to him, he is going to look into the controversial and contentious contributory pension scheme; rehabilitation of the State Secretariat Complex; recruitment into the state civil service; extension of service and retirement years for civil servants; provision of vehicles to industrial unions; as well as provision of befitting staff quarters for civil servants; among others.
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NDDC Organizes ADR Capacity Building for Staff

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The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has organized a one-day sensitization program for its personnel on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) approaches to promote workplace compliance on transparency and due process.
The workshop, themed “Promoting Transparency and Due Process in the Workplace using ADR Approaches in Building a Culture of Accountability and Integrity,” aimed to equip staff with the skills to resolve disputes effectively.
Declaring the event open on thursday in port Harcourt,The NDDC Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, emphasized the importance of using ADR mechanisms to resolve conflicts in the workplace.
Dr. Ogbuku  represented by his chief of staff,Rev Omeya Oworibo,noted that ADR approaches can encourage a culture of honesty, fairness, transparency, trust, and reduce conflicts among staff, ultimately promoting efficiency and productivity.
He averred that those disputes and quarrels if not proper resolved can derail the vision and objectives of the commission to the people, noting that the commission must as a team and unity as service provider in order to render a profitable service delivery to the people.
 “ADR approach will encourage culture of honesty,fairness, transparency ,trust  and reduce back bitting and the workforce, noting that such tendency would in turns promote efficiency and increase results in workplace.
 when integrity and honesty becomes the operandi of an organisation and employees begins to trust that their matters will be handled with fairness it will breed team work and increase in productivity.”he stated
He commended the department of DCR for organising the workshop and urged the participants to make good use of the opportunity and imbibe the culture of tolerance, integrity and teamwork in workplace.
Also speaking,the NDDC acting director of DCR ,Mr Godwin Ayewumi Ogedegbe noted that the theme of the captures the core of what the commission seeks to achieve a workplace where every action is expected to be guided by openness, fairness, and a steadfastness commitment to due process, where conflicts are not merely resolved, but prevented through structured,principled processes , and where accountability and integrity are not aspirational ideals but every day practice.
In his  keynote presentation on the theme “workplace Ethics and alternative Dispute Resolution Correlation,
Prof. Sylvester Odion Akhaine of the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos, delivered a keynote presentation on “Workplace Ethics and Alternative Dispute Resolution Correlation.” He stressed the importance of due process, transparency, integrity, and accountability in the workplace, noting that these values are essential for productivity and organizational goals.
The workshop aimed to promote a culture of accountability and integrity in the NDDC workplace. By equipping staff with ADR skills and promoting transparency and due process, the commission can build a more efficient and productive work environment.
By: Akujobi Amadi
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