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THE STATES

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Adamawa
The Save Lives Foundation, an NGO, yesterday, said it was targeting one million vulnerable women and children for free medical assistance in Adamawa State.
The Programme Officer of the NGO in Adamawa State, Miss Tanso Maken, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Yola.
Maken said that the NGO planned to carry out its medical outreach in the 21 local government areas of the state, noting that the outreach had already commenced in Ganye local government and that the turnout was encouraging.
She said the medical assistance which targeted mostly indigent women and children, would give priority to the insurgency-affected local councils in the state.
The programme officer said the returned Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the affected areas were in dire need of medical care, stressing that “our NGO’s objective is to affect mostly the vulnerable people.”
She urged the Adamawa Government to collaborate with the NGO to achieve the task of giving medical assistance to indigent communities.
She added that “Save Lives Foundation is immensely concerned about the health conditions of indigent communities.

Benue
Eight persons were feared dead following an attack by suspected herdsmen, on two villages in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, a police statement said.
The Spokesman of the Police Command in Benue State, ASP Moses Yamu, confirmed the attacks in a statement recently in Makurdi.
Yamu said the attacks on Akaa and Tse-Orlalu villages in Mbamar, Ugondo communities, were perpetrated by suspected herdsmen late last Sunday.
He said that the police were yet to establish the motive for the attack and that adequate personnel had been drafted to the villages to restore normalcy.
He said the attackers invaded the villages, killed eight people and injured many others.

FCT
The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) said it has registered 321 visually impaired candidates for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The Head, JAMB Information and Media, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made this known in an interview with newsmen    in Bwari  yesterday.
Benjamin said that the figure was higher than the 201 candidates registered for the examination in 2016.
He said that adequate arrangement has been made for the visually impaired candidates to participate fully in the forthcoming UTME.
According to him, the board used to  conduct the Computer Based Test (CBT) using Braille Apex Machine, but most of them complained about its usage.

Kwara
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has ordered residents of Alagbado Community in Ilorin to vacate the land allegedly encroached upon by the people.
NAF Coordinator, 303 Medium Airlift Group (MAG), Mr Adeniyi Mathew, told newsmen in Ilorin yesterday that the land was allocated to the Air Force in 1987.
Adeniyi, who presented the land chart to newsmen, said that 20 acres out of a total of 220 acres of the land belonging to NAF was encroached upon by the community.
He said that he was part of the delegation that visited Alagbado in 2010 to inform the community that the land belonged to NAF.
“Take it or leave it, the land belongs to the NAF; it has been so as far back as 1987 as you can see in the chart.
“They started encroaching on the land since 2008 and in 2010, I was part of the NAF team that went to the community to inform them of the encroachment,” he said.

Kogi
Kogi State acting Head of Service (HOS), Mrs. Kehinde Lawal, recently, advised the state’s striking medical doctors against placing monetary gains over service to humanity.
“Your calling is to save lives; monetary gains should be secondary,” Lawal said at a meeting with the health workers’ union and the management of the Kogi State Specialist Hospital, in Lokoja.
She said that government had an excellent package for health workers in the state, but stressed the need to place effective service delivery above other considerations.
Lawal urged the union leaders to always channel their requests through her office for prompt action, “instead of embarking on strike”.
She appealed to the doctors to go back to work, promising that government would clear the backlog of salaries owed them “very soon”.

Lagos
A 25-year-old fashion designer, Jamiu Ayoade, has been shot dead by a trigger-happy police officer in Lagos, according to dependable sources.
The sources told newsmen that the police officer, who is believed to be a senior officer at  Ijeshatedo Divisional Police Headquarters (name withheld) allegedly shot and killed Ayoade last Sunday evening in the area.
The incident which occurred at about 7.30 p.m. at No. 49, Wosilat Daudu Street, Ijeshatedo, also left two persons injured.
The deceased, Ayoade had gone to the area to attend a friend’s birthday party when he met his untimely death, one of the sources said.
It was learnt that the officer and his men had stormed the venue of the birthday party in two patrol vans at about 6. 30 p.m. and left after observing what the youths were doing.

Niger
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger  State chapter, has described the release of the 82 girls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS) Chibok, Borno in 2014 by Boko Haram insurgents as fulfilled campaign promise by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The CAN Chairman in the state, Rev. Mattew Echioda, said this in an interview with newsmen in Minna yesterday.
Echioda said the release of the girls would give hope to parents of the remaining girls who were still in captivity that their daughters would also be freed soon.
He also described the release of the girls as “gallant” and outstanding achievement by the Federal Government that should be commended by Nigerians.

Ogun
Personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS),  Federal Operations Unit, Ikeja,  recently,   killed a suspected smuggler at Sango-Ota in  Ogun State.
Confirming the incident newsmen on telephone, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Bimbola Oyeyemi, said  the suspected smuggler was killed during a gun duel.
Oyeyemi said that officers of the NCS had  intercepted some smugglers at the toll gate in Ota.
They, however, resisted arrest and opened fire and in the exchange,  the yet to be identified man was killed.
“There was a gun fire between the officials of the NCS and the smugglers at the toll-gate, Ota, Ogun State, that brought about the death of one of the smugglers,” he said.
The spokesman said that the police had, however, restored peace in the area and prevented  loss of innocent lives.

Ondo
An Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State yesterday admitted a 35 year-old commercial motorcyclist to bail in the sum of N50, 000 over alleged dangerous driving.
The accused, Solomon Ikudairo, of no fixed address, is facing a three-count charge of dangerous driving, driving without a driver’s licence and driving an unregistered motorcycle on a public highway.
The Magistrate, Mr Banji Ayeomoni, who admitted the accused to bail, however, ordered him to produce one surety in like sum.

Osun
A  Modakeke Magistrate’s Court in Osun State  yesterday   remanded three accused persons, Timileyin Muyiwa, 25; Sunday Oluwole, 19 and Ayomikusibe Olunlade, 19- in prison custody over alleged armed robbery.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Ona Glory, told the court that the accused committed the offence on February  22, 2016 around 12:30 a.m. at Irebami Area of  Modakeke in  Ife East Area Council   of  Osun.
Glory said that the accused conspired with others now at large to commit  the offence.
The prosecutor  said  that the three accused persons, while armed   with dangerous weapons such as  gun and  machetes,  robbed  one Bosede Ayoola of her properties.

Plateau
The Duk Community in Pankshin  local government  Area of  Plateau State has closed-up the well where four youths drowned on April 19.
The community also banned visiting irrigation farmers from the village.
According to its leader, Andrew Damulak, banning the visiting farmers will save the community from “more mysterious deaths”.
Recall that the youths – Tonzum Ngwalamba, Nentawe Leptak, Sati Tongleb and Ngompang Ngoshim – aged 18-25, drowned in the said well while trying to push the nozzle of a water pumping machine into it.
The first victim had tried to push the nozzle when he fell into the well.
The second victim jumped into the well to rescue the first, but did not come out; such rescue effort continued until the well swallowed four of the youths within a very short time.

Zamfara
The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo would be part of dignitaries slated  to commission multi-billion naira projects executed by Zamfara State Government to mark  Governor Abdul’aziz Yari’s six years in office.
The Chairman, Anniversary  Committee,  Alhaji Lawal Liman, made the disclosure  in Gusau yesterday while inspecting Danturai Government Day Secondary School, one of the projects to be inaugurated.
Liman, who is the state Commissioner for Rural and Community Development, said 34 different projects executed by the state government would be inaugurated.
“Some of the important personalities will comprise state governors, ministers, royal fathers and leaders of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC),” he said.
According to him, the projects to be inaugurated include, roads, schools, hospitals, rural water supply and electrification among others.
Liman said the Army Command Secondary Schools established in the state and constructed by the state government, would also be inaugurated.

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Cleric Preaches Love As Deputy Governor, Chief Judge Grace Wedding In PH

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The Presiding Bishop of Kingdom Life Gospel Ministries Outreach, Port Harcourt, Bishop Victor Uzosike, has described love as the bedrock of human existence, family stability and societal harmony, stressing that without love, nothing meaningful can thrive.

Bishop Uzosike made this assertion while speaking to journalists during the wedding ceremony of his daughter, Praise Uzosike, to Architect Chibuzor Akubueze on Saturday, December 20, 2025. The solemnisation was held at the Kingdom Life Gospel Ministries Outreach, Port Harcourt, and was attended by dignitaries from across Nigeria and beyond.

According to the cleric, love is not only the foundation of relationships but also a powerful force that determines the success of individuals, families and communities.

“If you do not love a place, that place will not bless you. If you do not love your children, they will not be useful to you. If you do not love your family, your family will become a strange island to you. What you do not love, you do not have. Love is the key,” he said.

Reflecting on his family’s journey, Bishop Uzosike said God’s love had sustained them through seasons of challenges and triumphs, noting that unity had remained their greatest strength.

“We have stayed together as one family. God has shown us love in miraculous and mysterious ways, especially during difficult times,” he stated.

Describing the wedding as an amazing and beautiful experience, the bishop expressed appreciation for the show of love from his daughter’s friends, many of whom travelled from the United Kingdom and Ghana to attend the ceremony. He revealed that some of them personally paid for their flights and accommodation, which he described as a rare display of genuine friendship.

He also disclosed that his first daughter, who lives in Manchester, United Kingdom, with her husband, could not attend the wedding due to tight schedules, but noted that she remains happily married and fulfilled.

While thanking guests for honouring his family with their presence, prayers and goodwill, Bishop Uzosike said he felt proud and grateful to God.

“One of the greatest gifts God can give to a man is children who are sound in all ramifications. My children can see, hear, speak and walk. That alone is enough reason to be grateful,” he said.

He praised the bride, describing Praise as an exceptional achiever who had distinguished herself academically. According to him, she completed secondary school at 15, graduated with First Class honours at 19, and earned distinctions in her MBA as well as her first and second master’s degrees.

“For a long time, people believed that highly educated women may not marry early or at all. Today, Praise has proved otherwise. She has made her mother and me very proud,” he said, describing her as a rare gem.

Bishop Uzosike also expressed joy over his son-in-law, whom he described as God-fearing, disciplined and professionally sound.

“He is well brought up, passionate about God and morally upright. His parents did a great job. My wife, Pastor Esther, also did an excellent job,” he added.

The wedding ceremony attracted prominent personalities, including the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Prof. Ngozi Odu; the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Justice Matilda Ayemeyie; and several senior clerics.

Bishop Fidelis Ugbong officiated the solemnisation, while Apostle Chika Onuzo delivered the sermon, identifying communication, sex and money as key factors that can strengthen or weaken marriages.

Prof. Ngozi Odu also prayed for the couple and paid glowing tributes, drawing admiration from attendees.

The reception, held at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Port Harcourt, was equally colourful. Justice Matilda Ayemeyie proposed the toast, describing marriage as not always a bed of roses and emphasising patience, commitment and understanding.

The event was chaired by Chief Henry Nwabugo and attended by notable personalities, including retired Supreme Court Justice Mary Odili; Apostle David Zilly-Aggrey; Hon. Otunba Jumbo; Nze Best Anele; and Prof. Henry Ogiri, among others.

Guests were entertained with dance performances by the couple, while the parents’ outing added elegance to the celebration. The master of ceremonies, Ambassador Kingsley, kept the audience engaged with humour and interactive sessions.

Overall, the wedding was a remarkable blend of spirituality, culture and celebration, marked by love, joy and unforgettable moments.

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2027: APC Chieftain Predicts Tinubu’s Victory  …Says Bayelsa Stakeholders Supporting President en masse  … IPAC Knitted Together, Working In Synergy With His Office

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Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC), in Bayelsa State and Special Adviser to the State Governor on Inter-Party Relations, Dr Jackson Ebi Suokiri has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would secure landslide win in the 2027 Presidential polls.

The Governor’s Aide stated this in Yenagoa, the state capital on Wednesday while fielding questions from newsmen against the backdrop of Tuesday’s pioneer Stakeholders meeting of the party convened by the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri as leader of the Party in the State upon his recent defection late last year.

He averred that Party stakeholders in the state were prepared to give the President the massive support needed to return elected, come 2027 following his sterling trajectory of performance and qualitative leadership prowess.

Dr Suokiri stressed that the reason for the governor’s swapping of party was in the best interest of the state, while also noting that the governor took the right decision as there was no need continuing with opposition politics even as the state has to align with the national government for rapid socioeconomic and political advantages for the state and its people.

“Governor Diri’s defection like you’ve personally heard him saying was for the best interest of our state, Bayelsa. When you’ve a President performing well at the national level and being very supportive to your state as a governor, I don’t think you’ve to be in an opposition party anymore, but rather align with the centre.

“Diri is a bridge builder. He is at peace with everybody and willing to work with all, irrespective of party affiliations or political differences for the interest of the state.

“As Stakeholders we’ve resolved to collectively work to return President Tinubu elected for second term in 2027. And you can see the Governor is not pressuring anybody or the structure of his former party, the PDP to defect like he has done.

“The PDP structure in the state is still intact, and for the APC, his new Party even as current leader in the State, he has been working with the structure and everybody he met on ground, hence you can see that the APC Caretaker Committee led by Dr. Dennis Otiotio has been maintained at the pioneer Stakeholders meeting convened by the Governor.

“But you must also know like you’ve seen and I’ve previously said that Governor Diri has outperformed expectations of Bayelsans in all sectors, be it economy, infrastructure, health, education, etc.”, he said.

Meanwhile, as against insinuations that some political parties were not working with the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Inter-Party Relations, the Governor’s Aide has revealed that as it were currently, all the 19 registered political parties with presence in the state are working in unity with his office as members of the Inter-party advisory council (IPAC).

“IPAC is working in unity with my office. Before the Governor’s defection the only party that wasn’t working with my office was the APC. But since after his formal defection, the APC and even those other parties that were either sympathetic to the APC, the governor’s new party or the PDP, his former Party are all now working together with my office as members of IPAC”, Suokiri added.

 

By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

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Firefighters battle New Year Day inferno in Abuja, several states

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Federal Fire Service FFS entered the New Year on full operational alert, tackling multiple fire outbreaks across the country from midnight into the early hours of January 1, 2026, in what officials described as one of the busiest festive-season deployments in recent years.
The intensified nationwide response followed a December 2025 directive issued by the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Samuel Adeyemi, who had ordered that no firefighter should proceed on leave throughout the holidays.
According to a statement by the National Public Relations Officer and Head of Corporate Services of the FFS, DCF Paul Abraham, the no-leave policy proved critical as the Service moved swiftly to contain fires in several states.
The Federal Capital Territory FCT recorded its first fire incident of the year barely twenty-three minutes after midnight when flames erupted at Cake Hot Restaurant located within River Plate Park, Wuse, Abuja.
Abraham said fire crews from the Federal Fire Service and the FCT Fire Service arrived promptly and were able to stop the blaze before it could spread through the popular recreational centre.
While a section of the garden area was destroyed, no lives were lost and no injuries were recorded.
Officials said property worth an estimated ?1.5 billion was saved, although losses were placed at about ?500 million.
“Preliminary findings suggested that the fire was triggered by objects thrown during New Year celebrations, reinforcing long-standing warnings over the dangers posed by fireworks during the harmattan season”, the Service said.
The Controller General had repeatedly urged Nigerians to avoid fireworks, candles and open flames indoors, warning that the dry winds characteristic of the season allow fires to spread rapidly.
He also warned the public about electrical faults and power surges and advised that electrical appliances be switched off and unplugged when not in use or when occupants leave their homes, stressing that overloading sockets and extension boxes remains a significant cause of domestic fires.
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