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Fear Grips Andoni Communities …Over Return Of George Adumu

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Following recent reports on radio and in some local and national newspapers that dreaded cultists and ex-militants, George Adumu, Wellborn Isaiah, Loveday Samuel and Luke Loveday will soon regain their freedom sequel to a purported order by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, an eerie air of fear has descended on Andoni communities where the quartet and their cohorts unleashed mayhem before they were arrested last December and subsequently charged to court.

Jonah Ikut, an itinerant fisherman who spoke with this reporter at Kaa waterside over the weekend lamented over the Nigerian justice system that let criminal get away with their crimes.

“How can government allow George and his boys go free. We are finished,” Ikut bemoaned.

Agnes Etetegwung is a local fish seller at Ajakajak fishing port. For her the only option to stay alive is perhaps to re-locate.

“The last time George and his gang attacked us here; they beat us, raped some of us and took all our money. Our husbands were not spared,” she sobbed intermittently, “maybe I and my family will have to leave this area completely.

A cross section of drivers interviewed by this reporter at Ngo jetty expressed their worries that the seeming calm that had returned to Andoni communities will soon be truncated.

A boat driver who craved anonymity did not hide his anger. He said, “How can they set George and his cultists free after killing innocent individuals, beheading and burying human beings alive and raping our children in Andoni” he queried rhetorically.

It would be recalled that George Adumu and three other members of his Icelander group reportedly attempted to assassinate one Naaman Jehoshaphat on 28 November 2009 at Golf Prince Hotel, Abana Street, Old GRA of Port Harcourt. The matter was reported to the police who trailed and arrested them days later. They were subsequently charged to court for kidnapping, assassination attempt and other offences pending against them with the police.

It was reported that George Adumu and his boys were being sponsored by powerful persons in Andoni LGA. During the hearing of the matter in court, the suspects were represented by Fatai Aremu Oso (SAN).

In a dramatic development at last week’s hearing, the court was amazed when Fatai Aremu Oso (SAN) read to the open court a letter purportedly authored by the Attorney-General, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) to the Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon, Ken Chikere advising the Rivers State Attorney-General to withdraw the case against George Adumu and Co.

Meanwhile, cultists of George Adumu’s group are reported to be celebrating in some Andoni communities since the news of possible reprieve for their kingpins started circulating in the media last week. It is equally reported that some of them are openly boasting and threatening to unleash mayhem on those they suspect to be behind the incarceration of their cult leaders.

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Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons

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Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.

Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.

The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.

Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.

“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.

“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”

Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.

In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.

Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.

Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.

 

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NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure during an inspection of the Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, last Thursday.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
According to him, the centralised production system aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for improved service delivery.
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FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year 

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to roll out Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platforms across key sectors of the economy, starting in early 2026.
Director of E-Government and Digital Economy at NITDA, Dr. Salisu Kaka, made the disclosure in Abuja during a stakeholder review session of the DPI and NGDX drafts at the Digital Public Infrastructure Live Event.
The forum, themed “Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure through Standards, Data Exchange and e-Government Transformation,” brought together regulators, state governments, and private sector stakeholders to harmonise inputs for building inclusive, secure, and interoperable systems for governance and service delivery.
According to Kaka, Nigeria already has several foundational elements in place, including national identity systems and digital payment platforms.
What remains is the establishment of the data exchange framework, which he said would be finalised by the end of 2025.
“Before the end of this year and by next year we will be fully ready with the foundational element, and we start dropping the use cases across sectors,” Kaka explained.
He stressed that the federal government recognises the autonomy of states urging them to align with national standards.
“If the states can model and reflect what happens at the national level, then we can have a 360-degree view of the whole data exchange across the country and drive all-of-government processes,” he added.
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