THE STATES

Borno
The Nigerian Army last Thursday said that it killed 10 Boko Haram insurgents in a clearance operations in Marte Local Government Area of  Borno State.
A statement issued in Maiduguri  by the spokesman  of the 8 Task Force Division, Col. Timothy Atigha, said the troops also recovered bicycles and cows from the insurgents.
He also said that the troops launched  two separate attacks against  the insurgents at Maza, Danari and Mowo villages of Marte and Monguno Local Government Areas.
“In continuation of ongoing efforts to deny terrorists freedom of action in its area of responsibility, troops of the 8 Task Force Division have neutralised 10 terrorists in Maza village of Marte Local Government Area of the state.
“The terrorists fell into an ambush laid by troops at about 9: 00 p.m.  on Tuesday,  as they attempted to sneak back into their swampy hideouts in the Lake Chad Basin.
” The troops also recovered 52 rustled cows from the insurgents at Danari and Mowo villages in Monguno Local Government Area,” he said.

Ekiti
The Secretary-General of  the Lagos State branch of  Ekiti Parapo, Mr Sunday Olowoyobiojo, has urged youths  to acquire vocational skills  which will enable them  affect their generation positively.
Olowoyobiojo, made the plea  in an interview with newsmen in Ado-Ekiti last Thursday.
Ekiti Parapo is the umbrella body of all Ekiti  indigenes in Nigeria and the Diaspora.
Olowoyobiojo  said  it was  important for all youths to embrace  the Federal Government’s diversification initiatives  in the agriculture sector  irrespective of their profession.
“In this 21st Century, for Nigeria to achieve meaningful growth and development, her youths must realise that attainment of academic qualifications or professional certification is not enough”, he said.

FCT
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has concluded arrangement to establish a Global Commission on the Future of Work.
ILO Director-General, Mr Guy Ryder said this in a statement made available to newsmen last Wednesday in Abuja.
Ryder said that the commission would be launched on                         ( August 2)  and the names of Commission members would be announced during the event at ILO headquarters in Geneva.
According to him, the responsibilities of the commission will evolve around four centenary conversations on work and society, decent jobs for all.
He said others are the organisation of work and production, and the governance of work.

Gombe
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), last Wednesday began the distribution of  990 tonnes of grains to over 40,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Gombe State.
NEMA Director General, Mustapha Maihaja, said the grains were to cushion the effect of hardship faced  by the displaced persons in the North East Zone.
The reports that the grains, which  comprised of  maize, soya beans and Guinea corn, were being distributed under the Federal Government Special Food Intervention Programme.
Maihaja, who was represented by Malam Abdulsalam Mohammed, said  a household of father, wife and four children was entitled  to 25 kg of maize, 12.5 kg of soya beans and 12.5 kg of  guinea corn
“Those that are more than six will get 100 kg of the assorted grains. The grains will be given  to all IDPs in the 11 local government areas of the state,” he said.

Kaduna
The Kaduna State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), says it has intercepted two suspected human traffickers and rescued 44 minors in Kaduna.
The Sector Commander, Malam Umar Ibrahim, told newsmen in Kaduna on Thursday that the suspects, a driver and one other adult were arrested last Wednesday on Kaduna – Zaria Expressway.
According to him, the suspects were arrested by FRSC patrol team led by Assistant Route Commander, Audu Usman, when he stopped a Fiat Bus (J5) with registration number XC 532 ZAR for overloading.
“Our patrol men along Kaduna – Zaria expressway, around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, stopped a white and blue colour fiat bus popularly known as J5 for overloading,” he said.
Kogi
Executive Director, Centre for Human Rights and Con
flict Resolution (CHRCR) in Kogi State, Mr Idris Miliki, has called for the establishment of government institutions to manage conflicts at state level.
Miliki made the call in an interview with newsmen last Wednesday in Lokoja.
He noted that while a lot of resources were being deployed to fight insecurity, not much attention was given to the management of conflicts.
The rights activist said that conflict and security could trigger emergencies and create unpleasant situations, adding that none should be accorded less attention.
Miliki expressed concern that conflict leading to killings in Omala, Bassa, Abugi, Ogaminana and some flash points in Kogi, were not properly addressed.

Lagos
The National Council of the Nigeria Boys’ Brigade says it has perfected plans to raise N100 million to enhance youth development.
President, Boys’ Brigade Nigeria, Mr Sunny Nwosu, made the assertion at a news conference last Wednesday in Lagos.
Nwosu said that the funds would be used to complete its national headquarters in Abuja and for the development of its vocational centres in Abuja and Lagos.
He said that its investiture slated for August 27 at St. Ferdinand Catholic Church, Ipaja, Lagos would be used to raise the money.
“We want to mould a future for youths with the fear of God because, without fear of God many things will go wrong in the country,” he said.

Ogun
An Idi-Ogungun Customary Court at Agodi in Ibadan, last Thursday dissolved a 7-year-old marriage between one Ganiyat Safejo and her husband, Suleiman Safejo over lack of adequate care.
The president of the court, Chief Mukaila Balogun and the court assessors, Ganiyu Alao and Aare Samotu, resolved that the relationship between the couple has broken down irretrievably.
“Having carefully considered the evidence of parties, the court is of the view that the relationship between the couple has broken down to a point of irreconcilability.
“Therefore the marriage is hereby dissolved and custody of the only child of the marriage is to remain with the plaintiff.
“Defendant is ordered to be forthwith financially responsible to his child by paying the plaintiff, via the court registry, the sum of N3, 500 monthly being money for child support,” Balogun said.

Ondo
Governor  Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, last Wednesday, urged residents to take advantage of the free services of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria.
Akeredolu, gave the advice during a courtesy visit to him by members of the Ondo State chapter of the council in Akure.
He said a lot of people were suffering because they did not have the means to engage the services of a lawyer,
“We should have the offices in local government areas, where it will be easily accessible to the people.
“The offices can be a reference point manned by a lawyer who is a corps member. He or she will be given some orientation for immediate advice and documentation, which will be sent to the headquarters if it deserves further attention”, he said.
“The offices can be a reference point manned by a lawyer who is a corps member. He or she will be given some orientation for immediate advice and documentation, which will be sent to the headquarters if it deserves further attention.

Plateau
Sacked councillors in Plateau State have given Governor Simon Lalong a 30-day ultimatum to pay their N1.57 billion accrued salaries and allowances or face another court action.
The councillors, through their counsel, Mr Gyang Zi, gave the ultimatum in a letter dated August 14, 2017.
Reports that Lalong had on July 15, 2015, sacked the councillors and replaced them with interim management committees, even though they had nine months to complete their two-year tenure.
Miffed by the action, the councillors in 15 out of the 17 LGAs, dragged the government before Justice David Mann of the Plateau High Court in Jos, who gave judgment in their favour on August 4.

Taraba
Taraba State Co-ordinator of New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Mr Dennis Nev, has commended Governor Darius Ishaku for opening up rural roads across the state.
Nev told newsmen recently in Jalingo that the projects would open up growth opportunities for rural dwellers and boost the Taraba economy.
He particularly identified the ongoing construction of Lacheke-Pantisawa, Wukari-Tsokundi, Chanchanji-Takum and Mararaba Baissa roads as “huge steps” that would ease movement and boost commercial activities.
Nev also commended Ishaku for fulfilling his promise to fix the Chanchanji bridge.
“Fixing that bridge is a dream come true for the people. The governor promised to do it during his campaign and it is good that he has kept his word,” he said.