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THE STATES

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Borno

The Nigerian Army says it will not be distracted in its
resolve to end Boko Haram terrorism in the North East.
The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Maiduguri.
Irabor was reacting to an online publication alleging diversion of money meant for the prosecution of the war by the military high command.
“The attention of Theatre Command has been drawn to some issues in the online Sahara Reporters of June 24, with a story line alleging that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and his wives own some properties in Dubai.
“The report among other vicious and smear campaign issues, impugned that some `concerned officers and soldiers in the North East’ allegedly wrote a petition on the state of affairs in the Operation Lafiya Dole,’’ he said.
Irabor described the reports as baseless, unfounded and wicked insinuation.

FCT

National President, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ),
Waheed Odushile, has described the late Chuks Ehirim, the former Chairman of the FCT Council of the union as “a detribalised, fearless and patriotic Nigerian.’’
Late Ehirim, died on June 16 after a brief illness.
Speaking at a valedictory congress in Abuja in honour of the late Ehirim, Odushile said that the deceased stood for the profession, adding “he was a pillar of journalism.’’
The NUJ president stressed the need for the institution of life insurance, as well as health insurance scheme for journalists in the country.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the FCT Council, Mr Paul Ella, said that the late Ehirim, his predecessor, led the council well.
He said the council was shocked by Ehirim’s death, adding that the deceased would be remembered for his commitment to establish a befitting secretariat for the secretariat for the council.
Gombe

The wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari, has do
nated food items to members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State.
Presenting the items on her behalf in Gombe State, the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the last general elections, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya, said the items included 2,200 bags of semolina, 100 cartons of macaroni, 300 cartoons of spaghetti and 1,300 cartoons of noodles.
Yahaya said the food items which would be distributed to the less privileged was to cushion the effects of the current Ramadan.
“People should not look at the quantity of the items but the spirit behind the gesture,’’ he said.
In his speech, Mr Karu Ishaya, the Chairman of APC in the state, thanked the president’s wife for the gesture.

Jigawa

The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
in Jigawa State said it arrested 91 drug suspects between January and June 25, this year, in the state.
The state Commandant of the agency, Alhaji Abdullahi Abdul, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen to commemorate the United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking in Dutse.
Abdul explained that within the period, a total of 1.296.078.9 tonnes of hard drugs and psychotropic substances were seized from the suspects in the state.
He said cannabis sativa also known as Indian hemp alone, measured 1.286.226.5 tonnes, while psychotropic substance which weighed 9.852.4kgs was recovered.
Abdul said that 51 of the suspects had been prosecuted in competent court of law in the state.
The commandant added that other suspects were standing trial at the Federal High Court in Dutse .
Abdul stated that in the last six months, 62 drug addicts were counselled and rehabilitated by the command.

Kaduna

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), has concluded arrange
ment to acquire 10 super mesh training aircraft from Pakistan Air Force to boost the country’s security.
The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, made the disclosure at the graduation of Student Pilot Course (SPC) 41B in Kaduna.
He said that the aircraft would be inducted into the 301 Flying Training School, Kaduna.  He said that Pakistani pilots would soon arrive in the country to train Nigerian pilots at the 310 Flying Training School.
He said that the induction of the super mesh aircraft would enhance the capability of student pilots to the full spectrum of military flying training.

Kano

The Kano State Government says it is ready to allow work
ing journalists in the state to visit and assess projects it executed within the last one year.
The Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, disclosed this while distributing food items to the executive members of various chapels of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kano State Council, at the NUJ Press Centre in Kano.
He said the state government had considered the move as an opportunity to, not only partner but, also give journalists and the public a chance to scrutinise the projects so far executed by the administration in the last one year.
He said the Ganduje administration was prepared to support journalists with necessary logistics to assess the projects.
Katsina

Healthcare and Education Support Initiative (HESI), an
NGO has intensified awareness campaign against the spread and management of tuberculosis in communities in Katsina State.
The Coordinator of the NGO, Dr Halima Yalwa-Adamu, made this known at a four-day sensitisation lecture and interactive session in Malumfashi.
She also called for collective efforts to create awareness and prevention of the disease.  Yalwa-Adamu said the NGO had conducted a sample survey in 2,500 households in Malumfashi Local Government Area.

Kwara

The Kwara State branch of the Nigeria Union of Local
Government Employees (NULGE), has rejected the distribution of the June allocation to agencies and councils by the state government.
A statement from Mr Afolabi Abayomi, the Secretary of the union, in llorin described the distribution as “unfair”.
The statement was issued after the Joint Account Allocation Account Committee meeting held on June 23 and June 24 in llorin.
Osun

The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris
has reiterated the readiness of the Nigeria Police Force to recover the Mobile Police Training School at Gwoza, Borno State.
Idris disclosed this at the Passing-Out of the Squadron Commanders Seminar/Combat Operation Course 02/2016 at Ila-Orogun in Osun.
He reiterated the determination of the police under his watch to accord more attention to special police unit.
According to him, the training school deserted due to the activities of Boko Haram insurgents will be recovered.
The Acting IGP added that due to enormous security challenges facing the country, the police would go through total restructuring and reforms to ensure the stability of the nation.
Sokoto

The Association for the Welfare of Indigent Women and
Children in Sokoto State, has donated assorted food items, worth about N500,000 to 95 needy persons in Sokoto.
Wife of the state governor, Hajiya Mariya Aminu, represented by the State Woman Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hajiya Fatima ‘ Yar-Kangiwa, presented the food items to the beneficiaries.
Aminu commended the association for the gesture, saying it would go a long way to alleviate the sufferings of the beneficiaries. “Those who are more endowed with wealth should assist the less-privileged ones, especially during the ongoing Ramadan fast,” she said.  The state Chairperson of the association Hajiya Amina Yusuf-Yabo, commended the wife of the governor for donating N200,000 to the association.
Taraba

Senator Yusuf Abubakar (APC-Taraba Central), has dis
tributed about N10 million worth of empowerment items to his constituents.
Our correspondent who monitored the distribution exercise said the items include 165 motor cycles, 60 electricity generators and 51 wheel chairs.
No fewer than 300 youths, women and people living with disabilities from across the zone, comprising five local government areas, benefited from the empowerment initiative.
Distributing the items in Bali, the lawmaker said the exercise was aimed at empowering youths and women of the area to be self-reliant.

Zamfara

Dansadau Community in Maru Local Government Area
of Zamfara State, has commended the Federal Government for combating cattle rustlers and other criminals in the area.
Sen. Saidu Dansadau, in a statement in Gusau on behalf of the community, lamented that Dansadau Community had, in the past two years, come under series of attack by unknown gunmen and cattle rustlers.
According to him, those attackers had killed hundreds of people, destroyed several houses and other property.
“The criminals had defied many security efforts to stop their activities and continued to come in different guises.

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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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