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Gun Men Kill Police Raid Station In Abia
Two Police officers attached to the Obingwa Divisional Police station, Umuobiakwa in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia state have been killed by armed men suspected to be members of a criminal gang.
In another development, the Police in Abia State have arrested four teenagers in a bush in Umuahia where they were allegedly conducting the initiation rites.
News of the attack filtered into the state capital last Tuesday when the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ali Okechukwu, confirmed that the command actually lost two officers during the attack.
The hoodlums stormed the Police Station in the early hours of Saturday, September 5, 2009 in a Rambo movie style to free one of their gang members said to be held in detention by the police.
Witnesses said the assailants, in the process, sprayed the station with bullets while Police men, stunned by the surprise attack, took to their heels in search of safety.
The attackers were said to have shot their way into the detention room and freed the suspects but the PPRO said that the police were doing everything possible to track down the hoodlums and also re-arrest the escapee suspects.
Meanwhile, about five teenagers suspected to be members of a cult gang have been arrested by the Abia State Police Command in a joint operation with the state Vigilance Services (popularly known as Bakassi Boys.)
Outgoing Abia State Police Commissioner, Edgar Tam Nanakumo, who paraded the suspects Tuesday, said that they were nabbed at Amuzukwu area of Umuahia, the state capital, where they were initiating new members of the cult fraternity identified as the Bukaneers.
Nanakumo said that the teenage suspects, including two brothers, were rounded up at an initiation ceremony inside a bush at Amuzukwu village in Umuahia North Local Government Area following a tip off.
He said that on sighting the security operatives, the cult members attempted to escape but were caught by the Policemen.
The police boss gave the names of the suspected cultists as Ndubuisi Igbokwe, 16, Humphrey Onuigbo, 15, Udochukwu Ihemeudu, 16, Ikechukwu Ihemeudu 15, and Chidiebere Elijah, 16, adding that one of them is a student of Ibeku High School, Umuahia, while others are school drop outs.
In separate interviews with the suspects, they all denied the allegations levelled against them, saying they were out to collect money from one of their friends when the police arrested them.
Also paraded by the Police were seven suspected armed robbers and kidnappers, while items such as one locally made single-barrel short gun, three pump action guns, 20 live cartridges, one expended cartridge, eight handsets of different models and three identity (ID) cards of the Abia state Vigilance Services.
The police boss, who said that crime control and prevention had yielded fruitful results, added that police would not relent in the task of chasing away criminals from the state.
He, therefore, called on the state government to help the command with more vehicles and communication gadgets to accomplish their task.
Nanakumo used the forum to announce that he had been posted to Abuja, adding that the Commissioner of Police in-charge of Administration in Lagos Airport command, Mr. Jonathan Johnson, had been posted to replace him.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that the country would win the fight against insecurity.
The President gave the assurance at the Argungu International Fishing Festival in Argungu town, Kebbi State, on Saturday.
He noted that the relative peace currently being enjoyed in Kebbi and neighbouring states was the result of sustained investments in security intelligence, coordination among security agencies, and community engagement.
Tinubu assured farmers and fishermen of sustained federal support to guarantee food security and safety across the country.
“The peace we are witnessing today is not accidental. It is the outcome of deliberate and sustained efforts. I assure you that the fight against banditry, insurgency, and insecurity will be won.
“Our farmers, fishermen, traders, and families will go about their lawful activities without fear,” he assured.
The President commended the organisers of the festival for sustaining the cultural event for decades, noting that it had endured for 83 years despite social and security challenges.
Describing the Argungu festival as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence, Tinubu stated that it reflects the richness of the country’s culture and the opportunities to harness its natural and human resources for national growth.
He said, “Today, this festival stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among our people.
“It reflects the richness of our culture, the strength of our traditions, and the opportunities inherent in harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”
The President was received by a large crowd of residents, traditional rulers, fishermen, tourists, and government officials from across the country.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth and women empowerment, irrigation development, rural electrification, and agricultural productivity.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, said his administration was determined to elevate the Argungu Fishing Festival to full international standards while pursuing aggressive development across critical sectors of the state.
The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed today, in observance of Presidents’ Day.
The mission made this known in a notice shared on its official X page, yesterday.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of Presidents’ Day,” the post read.
According to the embassy, Presidents’ Day was originally established to honour the birthday of the former US President, George Washington, but has evolved into a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents and their leadership in shaping the country’s history.
The embassy noted that the holiday also recognises the influence of U.S. presidents on global affairs.
In a related message, the mission highlighted that Washington created the first “Badge of Military Merit,” which later became the Purple Heart. The medal still bears Washington’s image today.
Presidents’ Day is observed on the third Monday of February annually in the United States as a federal holiday.
News
Guterres Backs Nigeria’s Bid For UN Security Council Seat …Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Regional Security Role
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has charged Nigeria with spearheading Africa’s quest for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status.
Guterres, who backed Nigeria’s bid for the world body’s security council seat, also praised the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as well as Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Sahel and ECOWAS regions, despite facing its own security challenges.
The UN scribe made the remarks last Friday night during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the meeting, Guterres said Nigeria’s large population, sustained democratic governance, vast natural and human resources, and longstanding commitment to multilateralism placed it in a unique position to lead Africa in the evolving global order.
“Given Nigeria’s demographic strength, democratic continuity and deep resource base, the country stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” he said.
The UN Secretary-General and the vice president discussed key developments in Nigeria and the country’s expanding leadership role in promoting regional stability across West Africa and the Sahel.
Guterres commended the remarkable and outstanding reforms of the administration of President Tinubu, noting that Nigeria’s bold economic restructuring and security commitments have strengthened its continental standing.
The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria–UN collaboration to advance global economic growth, peace and security, sustainable development, and a coordinated humanitarian response across Africa.
In his remarks, Shettima thanked the UN Secretary-General for his leadership in advancing global peace, noting that Africa has benefited immensely from his tenure, even as the United Nations undergoes internal restructuring.
“We remain committed to multilateralism and to deepening our partnerships with the United Nations and other global institutions,” the vice president said.
Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system to reflect evolving global realities.
He emphasised that Africa must have stronger representation in global decision-making structures and declared that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation, with Guterres reaffirming the UN’s support for Nigeria’s reform agenda and its growing leadership role in advancing peace, security, and development across Africa.