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 Adamawa
The 23rd Amoured  Brigade chapter of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA), last Wednesday distributed personal breast cancer examination kits to some women in the barracks after an enlightenment campaign.
The NAOWA Coordinator of the brigade, Mrs Magaret Akinroluyo, said in Yola that, the gesture was part of the association’s efforts to enhance the well being of the families of officers and soldiers as well as those of the surrounding communities.
Akinroluyo said that, the decision to concentrate on breast cancer was due to its dangers and ignorance about the dangers by many women.
“The ignorance on the effects of cancer in our society has done more harm to people due to lack of adequate awareness on the dangers of the disease.
“It is against this background that we decided to organise an enlightenment and education programme on cancer for our women in the barracks to ensure that they take preventive measures against the disease.

Borno
Brig.-Gen. Garba Audu has assumed office as the Commander of the 21 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Bama, Borno State.
Audu took over from Col. Adamu Laka, who is proceeding on strategic course at the National Defence University, Pakistan.
The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations Department, Lt.-Col. Samuel Kinsley said this in a statement in Maiduguri.
According to Kinsley, Audu is a member of the 37th Regular Course of the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy and commissioned into the Nigerian Army Amour Corps.
Until his appointment, he was Deputy Director, Safety at the Department of Standard and Evaluation, Defence Headquarters Abuja.
Meanwhile, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division Nigerian Army, Brig.- Gen. Victor Ezugwu has organised a farewell luncheon in honour of the former commander according to the statement.

FCT
Mr Musa Dikko, Chairman of Bwari Area Council, FCT, last Thursday, promised to increase traditional rulers’ monthly stipends by one hundred per cent.
Dikko, who led the council executive to the 10 political wards in the area, made the promise during his inspection visit to Ushafa community, in Bwari.
The wards visited were, Igu, Kawu, Usuma, Kuduru, Dutse, Ushafa, Bwari central, Kubwa, Byazim and Shere.
He said, the failure by past administrations of the area council to integrate and empower the traditional institutions, in their quest for development, was responsible for the lack of visible development in the communities.
Dikki, therefore, promised to review upwards, the monthly stipends of N10, 000 paid traditional rulers to N20, 000 with the aim of encouraging them to key into the council’s development efforts.

Gombe
The Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), has urged the Inspector General of Police, Idris Abubakar, to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the killers of Mr Famou  Giobaro, a broadcast journalist  in Bayelsa State.
The union made the request in a communiqué issued yesterday, at the end of the NUJ National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, held in Gombe State.
The communiqué was signed by the NUJ National Secretary, Malam Shuaibu Leman.
Recall that, on April 16, some unidentified gunmen  had killed Giobaro, a staff of Bayelsa-owned Glory FM 97.1, in his residence at INEC Road, Kpasia in Yenagoa, the state capital.

Kano
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kano State, said it had deployed 220 staff for Continued Voter Registration (CVR) commencing on Thursday.
The Administrative Secretary of the commission in the state, Alhaji Bala Shittu, disclosed this, at a stakeholders’ forum last Tuesday in Kano.
He said that, the meeting was to brief the stakeholders on the commission’s preparations and purpose of the exercise.
He said that, INEC had concluded all the necessary arrangements to ensure success of the exercise, adding that, five staff would be used in each of the 44 local government areas of the state.
Shittu said that, the 220 officials were presently undergoing training, stressing that, the purpose of the exercise was to enable citizens who had turned 18 years since after the last exercise in 2014, to register.

Kwara
An evangelist, Mr Olayiwola Abegunde, last Thursday advised politicians to promote tolerance and peaceful co-existence, to ensure peace, progress and political stability in the country .
Abegunde, gave the advice during a special prayer in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara.
He said that, tolerance and peaceful co-existence would also ensure smooth transition in 2019.
We recall that the prayer tagged: ‘Omu-Aran For Christ’, was organised by the UK/Northern Ireland chapter of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC).
The prayer, third in the series, was held at the palace of the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Charles Ibitoye and was to seek divine intervention in the socio-economic development of the community.

Lagos
In a major re-jigging of the Nigeria Customs Service for effective and efficient service delivery, the Comptroller General, Col. Hammed Ali (rtd), has approved the  redeployment of 48 Comptrollers.
A statement   signed  by  the service spokesman, Deputy Comptroller,  Joseph Attah and made available  to our correspondent in Lagos said, the redeployment which is inline with the ongoing  reforms moved Comptroller Madugu, M.J. from Sokoto/ Kebbi/Zamfara to Ogun State Command,  Comptroller  Udo-aka, EA from Investigation  to Oyo/Osun Commands  and Comptroller . Isiyaku K from Tariff  and Trade to Port-Harcourt  1, among  others.
Similarly, the Comptroller General’s compliance team has been disbanded and a new team reconstituted .
The new compliance team is divided into three which comprise   Team A for Western Axis, B for Northern Axis and C for Eastern Axis.
They are to complement the Federal Operations units in order to vigorously crackdown on all forms of smuggling activities  nationwide  with particular focus on the enforcement of no importation of rice and vehicles through the land borders.

Nasarawa
Nasarawa State Government has approved over N32 million for school feeding and other logistics for the 29 boarding secondary schools in the state.
The Commissioner for Education, Malam Aliyu Tijjani, made the statement last Thursday in Lafia, at a meeting he held with principals of secondary schools from the southern senatorial district of the state.
Tijjani, who was represented by Aliyu Abdullahi-Agwai, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said that, the monthly allocation for the school feeding programme was N20 million.
“However, the state government decided to increase the allocation by over N12 million due to some inadequacies and other basic needs in the schools in view of the free education policy,” he said.
The commissioner said, the gesture was in line with the government’s quest to re-position the education sector.Niger

Niger
A university teacher, Malam Bashir Yankunzu, has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for suspending two key functionaries in his administration over allegations of involvement in corrupt practices.
On April 19, Buhari suspended the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachair Lawal and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mr Ayodele Oke.
Lawal, was suspended over corruption allegations in the award of contracts in the Presidential Initiative for the North East.
Oke was suspended in connection with the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The suspension of the two principal officers appears to have given a clear signal on the renewed determination of the President to stamp out corruption in the country.

Ogun
A 29-year-old man, Dotun Akande, who allegedly stole N935,000 of his employer, was on Tuesday brought before an Ota magistrates’ Court in Ogun
Akande, who lives at No. 28 Ayantunde St., Iyana-Iyesi, Ota, is facing a charge of stealing.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Chudu Gbesi, told the court that the accused committed the offence sometimes in May to August, 2016, at Orisun Microfinance Bank, Sango-Ota.
He said the accused, who was the staff of the Microfinance Bank, collected N935,000 from customers and refused to remit the money to his employer.

Plateau
Over 400 Fulani Christian converts have been tasked on preaching the gospel of peace to their kindred in order to reduce the prevailing crises in the country.
Rev. Copper Sebok, Reverend in charge of COCIN Church Panyam, gave the charge yesterday at the end of a 3-day conference organised for all Fulani converts of all denominations across the country.
Reports that, the conference was aimed at awakening the need for preaching peace to their fellow brothers and sisters across the country.
“The conference is also a re-union service for all Fulani converts regardless of their denominations and to share experiences and encourage one another in the propagation of the gospel of peace.

Yobe
Governor  Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State, has appealed to the Federal Government to intensify the mop-up operations against Boko Haram remnants in the North-East to save lives and property.
Gaidam, made the appeal in Damaturu on Thursday, while declaring open a two-day National Sensitisation Workshop on the Implementation of the National Counter Terrorism Strategy organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
“I wish to make a passionate appeal to the Federal Government through the Office of the National Security Adviser to intensify the mopping up of the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East in conjunction with the vigilance groups,” he said.

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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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