Author: Daily Post Nigeria

Senator Ned Nwoko representing Delta North Senatorial District has raised the alarm over alleged manipulation of the process ahead of the All Progressives Congress, APC, primary election in the zone.

Nwoko is contesting alongside a former governor of the State, Ifeanyi Okowa who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the APC last year.

However, in a statement issued by Ekene Kerry, Director General of his Campaign Organisation on Monday morning, Nwoko said agents of the state government were hell-bent on truncating the will of the people.

The office said despite earning the trust of the people “the Delta State government has made it a priority to block his emergence.

“They are acting on the orders of former Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who has declared his intent to return to the Senate despite his rejection by Deltans in 2023.”

He recalled that as a sitting governor and PDP Vice Presidential candidate, “Dr. Okowa lost Delta to Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election 341,866 to 161,600 On that same day, the people of Delta North elected Senator Ned Nwoko over both LP and APC candidates. The people have spoken before and the people shall speak again.

“Senator Nwoko joined the APC when it became clear the PDP was drifting. He was vilified then by the same individuals who are now in APC, hijacking the party structure and shutting out free and fair participation.”

On the alleged plans to manipulate the primary election process, the Campaign Organisation said “The panel sent to conduct the primaries has been held hostage.  

“State machinery has been mobilized, with state government appointees acting as returning officers at ward and LGA levels to write results in favor of Dr. Okowa.  

“There are threats to defy the APC National Headquarters directive to transmit all results to Abuja, out of fear of Senator Nwoko’s popularity.  

“Our supporters are being threatened with violence.

“Let it be clear: No one has a monopoly of violence as our supporters will not be intimidated nor cowed into supporting a former governor rejected by his people in 2023.

“We call on the APC National Headquarters, security agencies, and all lovers of democracy to ensure a free, fair, and credible primary.

“To our supporters across Delta North: Do not be intimidated. Turn out massively and peacefully. Return Senator Ned Nwoko to the 11th Assembly.”

Delta North APC Primary: ‘Panel under hostage, my supporters under threat’ – Ned Nwoko

The Borno State Government says it is working closely with security agencies to secure the release of 42 students and children abducted from a school in Mussa, Askira-Uba Local Government Area of the state.

The victims were taken last Friday from the Primary and Junior Government Day Secondary School during an early morning attack that also extended to nearby homes.

The Special Adviser and spokesman to the Borno State Governor, Mallam Dauda Iliya, confirmed ongoing rescue efforts in a statement issued in Maiduguri.

According to him, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has been holding a series of meetings with heads of security agencies, including the military and police, to coordinate rescue operations.

He said the priority of the state government is to ensure the safe return of the abducted students, pupils, and other victims to their families.

“It could be recalled that Governor Zulum has been engaging security agencies since the incident occurred to ensure the abductees are rescued and reunited with their families,” he said.

Security sources had earlier disclosed that the abducted victims include four secondary school students, 28 primary school pupils, and 10 children taken from nearby residences.

Senator Ali Ndume, also confirmed the attack, describing it as “barbaric and heartbreaking,” while urging troops of Operation Hadin Kai to intensify rescue operations.

Ndume noted that the attack reflects a resurgence of insecurity in parts of Chibok and Askira-Uba and called for swift military response to secure the captives.

Borno Govt moves to rescue 42 abducted school children in Askira-Uba

Teachers in some public schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have called on the government and security agencies to ensure the release of their colleagues and students.

The teachers made the demand during a peaceful protest in the early hours of Monday.

DAILY POST gathered that about 39 students and seven teachers were kidnapped in some communities in the local government area on Friday.

Checks by our correspondent showed that schools in the area were deserted on Monday morning.

Meanwhile teachers in the local government area in the early hours of Monday took to the streets to demand immediate release of their colleagues and the kidnapped students.

The teachers who carried various placards sang solidarity songs, urging the government and the security agencies to rescue the abductees without delay.

A teacher in one of the schools said, “In my school, only two students came and one or two teachers as at the time I left.

“We couldn’t even go into the school premises, we stayed at the school gate, fearing any eventuality.”

Oyo abduction: Students shun schools in Oriire LGA as teachers stage protest [PHOTOS]

The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) has commenced an extensive upgrade of its healthcare infrastructure, driven by Federal Government interventions, as the tertiary institution moves to strengthen medical services for millions of Nigerians and patients from neighbouring African countries. Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Professor Ikpeme Ikpeme, disclosed this during a facility tour […]

The post FG intervention boosts healthcare infrastructure at UCTH appeared first on Tribune Online.

 

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday, May 18, granted bail in the sum of N5 million and one surety in like sum to social critic, Justice Chidebere also known as Justice crack who is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged cybercrime offences linked to a viral video concerning the feeding of Nigerian Army.

Hearing of the bail application was stalled last Thursday as a result of disputes between two lawyers who claimed they have been contracted to represent Crack Insecurity Solutions Forum

However, on Monday, Justice Abdulmalik granted bail to Crack after the Federal government opened its case against the blogger by calling its first witness, Uruntu Douglas, an operative of DSS.

The witness told the court that he took the extrajudicial statement of the defendant when he was transferred to the DSS custody by the Nigeria Army Intelligence Defence Corp.

He said Crack gave his statement voluntarily and data was extracted from his phone which includes pictures he received from some soldiers who decried their welfare which he posted on his Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube and TikTok account.

The pages of these accounts were tendered and admitted as exhibit

The DSS had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/253/2026, sued Crack, as sole defendant over alleged cybercrime offences linked to a viral video concerning the Nigerian Army.

Mark was alleged to have circulated a false information and publication of materials capable of causing public unrest.

Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has disclosed that six persons in the community suspected to be informants linked to the attack on the schools in Oriire Local Government Area have been arrested by the police and are currently under investigation.

Governor Makinde made this known during a press briefing.

He further revealed that another three persons of interest had been arrested by another security outfit in the state, adding that all intelligence gathered was being harmonised to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident.

The governor assured residents that government presence and security surveillance would remain in the affected communities to prevent a recurrence of the unfortunate incident.

The Nigerian Navy has sustained operational pressure against crude oil theft and illegal refining activities with the dismantling of a reactivated illegal refining cluster…

The post Navy dismantles illegal refinery cluster in Rivers–Bayelsa corridor appeared first on Tribune Online.

Gov. Seyi Makinde has confirmed the killing of one of the teachers and the arrest of six suspects related to the kidnapping incident at Ahoro-Esinele Community, Oyo State.

Makinde said this in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Suleimon Olanrewaju, in Ibadan on Monday.

He expressed his condolences to the victim’s family and assured his government would explore both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to rescue others in the kidnappers’ den.

He equally sympathised with the family members of the tactical team of soldiers, Amotekun Corps and local vigilantes, who lost their lives in the rescue operation.

According to him, the operatives lost their lives when they ran into Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), planted by the abductors.

He stated that the wounded security personnel were responding positively to treatment and that the government would spare no cost in taking care of them.

He appealed to the victims’ relatives, religious bodies and other interested parties to exercise patience, promising that the government will rescue and reunite the victims with their families.

“So, please, there may not be quick fixes, but we will continue to endeavour to push ourselves to the limit to resolve this quickly.

“What we know right now is that seven teachers in all were abducted. And, unfortunately, we got a video this morning that one of the teachers, I understand, the mathematics teacher, was killed by the terrorists,” he stated.

Makinde, however, said the government has achieved some success with the operation, with some individuals already arrested in connection with the situation.

“Well, from the information available from the Commissioner of Police, about six individuals have been arrested within the locality.

“Some of them, we believe, are perhaps informants or people running logistics for the terrorists.

“Also, three individuals of interest have been arrested by another security outfit within the state,” he said.

The governor acknowledged the need to engage neighbouring states to curb the influx of terrorists into Oyo State.

“We must appreciate the fact that with the pressure on the terrorists and the bandits in the North-West and the North-East, they will keep moving southwards.

“So, we are talking.

“The Governor of Kwara has spoken to me, but the problem that we have is when you have pressure in one place, we must be prepared on this side to, also, either repel or neutralise terrorists fleeing the pressure point,” the governor added.

He also assured the citizens that they would be kept abreast of progress in the rescue operation through a daily briefing.

Oyo Students’ Abduction: Makinde Confirms Teacher’s killing, Arrest Of Suspects is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Chairman of the Defence Industries Association of Nigeria (DIAN), Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Alaya, has called for urgent and sustained efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s local defence industry capabilities in order to enhance national security and reduce dependence on foreign military hardware. This was contained in a statement made available to Defence Correspondents in Abuja on Monday […]

The post We must strengthen Nigeria’s local defence industry capabilities — DIAN Chairman appeared first on Tribune Online.

A former leader of the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), Hon. Belusochukwu Michael Enwere, has withdrawn from the race for the Imo East Senatorial seat…

The post APC aspirant, Enwere, withdraws from Imo East Senate race appeared first on Tribune Online.