Edo 2020: APC raises alarm over proliferation of arms

The All Progressives Congress Campaign Council for the Edo Governorship Election has raised an alarm over the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the state ahead of the September 19 election.

The Vice-Chairman, Communication and Publicity Committee of the council, Patrick Obahiagbon, who was flanked by the Committee Chairman, John Mayaki, raised the alarm at a press briefing in Abuja, on Friday.

Obahiagbon also allegedly said political thugs were being imported from neighbouring states by the Peoples Democratic Party.

He expressed disappointment that firearms were now being freely distributed and used by thugs as if they were “political chewing gums.”


The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus, had at a press conference in Abuja, on Thursday, raised an alarm over an alleged plot by the APC to put pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission to postpone the election.


Secondus had warned that the PDP will not accept the postponement of the election.

However, Obahiagbon dismissed insinuations that the APC was pushing for a postponement of an election it was “poised to win.”

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Edo 2020: APC raises alarm over proliferation of arms – Punch Newspapers

John Alechenu, Abuja The All Progressives Congress Campaign Council for the Edo Governorship Election has raised an alarm over the proliferation...

Postponing Edo, Ondo polls will create constitutional crisis – INEC

The Chairman, Information and Voters Education Committee, Independent Electoral Commission, Festus Okoye, has assured the people of Edo and Ondo states of INEC’s determination to conduct peaceful and credible elections noting that anything to the contrary would create a constitutional logjam crisis.

Okoye spoke at a sensitisation forum for the media in Benin, on Thursday.

He said “Political Parties and all the critical stakeholders in the electoral process must see the conduct of these elections as a national project that must be executed in strict compliance with all the safety protocols.

“There is no alternative to the peaceful conduct of these elections as the alternative will leave the people of the two states with a constitutional logjam that may be difficult to resolve.

“On our part, we are determined and resolved to proceed with the conduct of the Edo and Ondo Governorship elections and all the outstanding bye-elections. In doing so, the Commission will not compromise the safety and welfare of its staff, ad-hoc staff as well as the voters. We will work closely with the security agencies to arrest threats and degrade acts of violence.”

The Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Johnson Sinikiem, said the September 19 governorship election would be the first to be conducted under the Covid-19 pandemic, noting that it has become imperative for journalists to be conversant with the new realities.

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Postponing Edo, Ondo polls will create constitutional crisis – INEC – Punch Newspapers

Adeyinka Olaseni, Benin The Chairman, Information and Voters Education Committee, Independent Electoral Commission, Festus Okoye, has assured the ...

UCL final: Marseille police recant, say PSG fans can wear shirts

Police in Marseille on Friday dropped plans to ban Paris Saint-Germain shirts in the city on the day of their Champions League final.

PSG face Bayern Munich in Lisbon on Sunday evening, attempting to become only the second French winners after Marseille, who won controversially in 1993.

The Bouches-du-Rhone prefecture said it was up to PSG fans to think about their own safety.


The police said in a statement that they “urge Parisian fans watching the final in Marseille to refrain from wearing ostentatious signs in the public space and to show moderation in their possible celebrations so as not to be attacked”.

The prefecture said on Thursday that they would ban PSG shirts around the Old Port in Marseille, but on Friday issued a statement saying: “faced with the incomprehension caused by this order, the police prefect decided today to repeal it.”

“The sole purpose of this order was to protect Parisian fans, and was in no way intended to restrict freedom of movement,” explained the prefecture.

It said that the intention had been “to avoid a repeat of the disturbances to public order that occurred around the Old Port during the broadcasting of the semi-final” on Tuesday when PSG beat RB Leipzig to reach a first Champions League final.


It also said that “the forces of law and order deployed around the Old Port will be particularly vigilant in order to prevent the action of any troublemakers, without exception.”

On Thursday, the police said, “There is strong animosity on the part of some Marseilles residents, supporters or not, toward the PSG team, in contradiction with any sporting spirit.”

Tensions between fans of the two clubs are so strong that the French interior ministry issues travel bans for away fans when the clubs meet and police systematically arrest fans in PSG shirts in Marseille’s Velodrome stadium.

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UCL final: Marseille police recant, say PSG fans can wear shirts – Punch Newspapers

Police in Marseille on Friday dropped plans to ban Paris Saint-Germain shirts in the city on the day of their Champions League final. PSG face B...

Police Arrest 9 Suspects In Single Operation In Enugu

The Police Command in Enugu State has arrested no fewer than nine suspected criminals for various offences in a single operation within the state.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, in a statement issued on Friday in Enugu, also said that one locally-made pistol with two live cartridges, seven motorcycles and motorcycles’ spare parts were recovered.

According to him, the suspected criminals were between the ages of I8 and 24 years.

“The command wishes to inform the general public, particularly residents of the state that it has successfully arrested nine male suspects involved in conspiracy, armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms, cultism and receiving of stolen property.

“A brief history of the breakthrough shows that two of the suspects were arrested on Aug. 7, by operatives of the command attached to Udenu Area Command, while on stop-and-search duty at Inyi, along Enugu/Makurdi expressway and recovered one locally-made pistol with two live cartridges from them.

“They were subsequently transferred to the command’s Anti-Cultism Unit for further investigation, which resulted in the arrest of four other gang members in Enugu-Ezike community on Aug. 16 at about 0330hrs.


“Preliminary investigation shows that the suspects confessed to being members of Vikings Confraternity and a notorious armed robbery gang operating within Igbo-Etiti and Nsukka axis of the state.

“It further reveals that one of the suspects made his residence the gang’s criminal hideout and venue for planning their operations.

“While three other members of the gang were recipients of the robbed motorcycles and other criminal proceeds,’’ he said.

The police spokesman said that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Ahmad Abdurrahman, had commended the operatives for the breakthrough.

He said that the commissioner also charged the various police units in the state to redouble their efforts at preventing and/or detecting acts of crimes and criminality.

“The command further entreats residents of the state to remain law-abiding, vigilant and continue to support the command by promptly reporting suspected criminals and acts of criminality to the nearest police station,” he said.

Ndukwe added that the command’s hotlines are: 08032003702, 08086671202, 08075390883 or 08098880172. (NAN)

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Police arrest 9 suspects in single operation in Enugu - Orient Daily News

The Police Command in Enugu State has arrested no fewer than nine suspected criminals for various offences in a single operation within the state. The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, in a statement issued on Friday in Enugu, al

COVID-19: Online Beauty Contest Launched For Models

An online beauty contest for models, ‘My Perfect Pics’, has been launched in line with the social distancing guideline of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), its organisers have said.

Mr Goke Olorunnihi, an orgnising partner of the contest, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja that the initiative was to ensure that Nigerian models can ‘trade’ from the comfort of their homes.

According to him, many young models are leaving the profession as a result of enormous challenges before and during the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown.

”The concept of the online beauty contest is to encourage Nigerian models to earn, even while they stay at home and maintain social distance.

”The modelling business in Nigeria is still growing and yet to have a proper structure; therefore, some models, especially upcoming ones are not having stable income.

”Like other professionals that suffered setbacks, models who stay at home are now struggling to feed.

”We hardly see Nigerian companies looking for a model to advertise their products, as they are now targeting social media influencers and celebrities; this is killing the modelling industry in the country,” he said.

Olorunnihi explained that the online beauty contest platform offered contestants a monthly cash prize and an opportunity to feature in the grand finale to came up twice a year.

He added that the monthly winners would enter into the grand finale and the winner of the grand finale would be determined by a combination of votes of the judges and those of the public.

”The contest started in July and produced Janet Akor as first winner, who won 30,000 naira and a spot in the grand finale.

”Contestants are to upload their pictures on our website after registration and get friends to vote for them.

”The finale, a live photoshoot of all the monthly winners from July to November, will be done in front of live judges and live audience.

The grand finale contestants will compete to win a year modelling contract, N200,000 and other prizes from sponsors,” he said. (NAN)

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COVID-19: Online beauty contest launched for models - Orient Daily News

An online beauty contest for models, ‘My Perfect Pics’, has been launched in line with the social distancing guideline of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), its organisers have said. Mr Goke Olorunnihi, an orgnising partner of the contest

Enugu State Embarks On Vaccination To Sustain Polio Free-Status

The Enugu State Government says it will embark on a six-day specific-target polio vaccination to sustain the state’s decades-long polio free-status.

Dr George Ugwu, the Executive Secretary of Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA), disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Friday.

Ugwu said that the polio specific-target vaccination would take place in Uzo-Uwani Local Government area between Aug. 22 and Aug. 27.

The executive secretary said that a total of 35,775 children from three months to five years had been penciled in for vaccination in the council area within the six days.

He said that 29 vaccination teams had been trained and mobilised for the exercise taking place in primary healthcare centres in the council area.

According to him, the exercise is intended to ensure the sustenance of the state’s polio free-status and by extension the whole Nigeria.

Ugwu appealed to parents, mothers and caregivers to take their children under five years old with their health cards to the primary healthcare centres nearest to them in the council area.

“The ENS-PHCDA, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), WHO, UNICEF as well as Rotary International, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) and other stakeholders are to hold fractional inactivated polio vaccine in Uzo-Uwani council area.

“This is an immunisation campaign that involves mass immunisation of children three month to five years with polio vaccine and other vaccines by trained and authorised health workers.

“This immunisation exercise is facility-based, Not house-to-house. Health workers will be ready at the primary healthcare centres and other public places where children under five years are found in the council area to administer vaccine on them.

“The vaccine protects these children from polio-myelitis and other infections which paralyze or kill such infected child,’’ he said.

Ugwu also said that within this period, other scheduled routine immunisation activities would also go on in various health centres in all health centres simultaneously.

He stressed that: “all vaccines are free, safe and very effective’’, adding that “all health facilities and workers will observe the NCDC COVID-19 preventive measures and protocols.’’ (NAN).

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Enugu State embarks on vaccination to sustain polio free-status - Orient Daily News

The Enugu State Government says it will embark on a six-day specific-target polio vaccination to sustain the state’s decades-long polio free-status. Dr George Ugwu, the  Executive Secretary of Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (

Vacate Your Houses, NEMA Tells Residents In Flood Prone Communities In Kogi

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has advised people living in flood prone areas in Kogi to get ready to vacate their houses anytime from now.

The agency’s Head of Abuja Area Operation Office, Mr Bitrus Samuel, gave the advice in Lokoja on Friday during a sensitisation campaign for people living in flood prone communities in the state.

He asked the people to start packing their personal effects as the country would soon start experiencing heavy rainfall as predicted by the relevant government agencies.


Samuel urged them to form themselves into groups to respond to the flood and identify nearby highlands that they can relocate to in case of flood to minimise loss of lives and property.

He warned the people against resisting relocation in their own interest, saying that camps were already being prepared for those of them that would be displaced.

Also speaking at the event, Mr Julius Mejiyan, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Mangement Agency (SEMA), said that nine local government areas in the state were prone to flood disaster.



He identified the local government areas as Lokoja, Kogi Bassa, Ibaji, Ajaokuta, Omala, Olamaboro, Ofu and Idah saying that the sensitisation campaign would be taken to the nooks and crannies of the council areas.

Mejiyan also said that internally displaced people’s (IDP) camps were also being prepared in readiness for the floods.

He added that the state government was not leaving anything to chance as far as the impending flood disaster was concerned.

Leaders of the various communities visited pledged to support the exercise by spreading the message to other residents in their communities.

The Head of Sarki Noma, Alhaji Bala Namama and the Madaki of Achanyi Adankolo , Malam Sidi Ali, said that flood disaster had become a yearly occurrence in their communities .

They pleaded with federal and state governments to come to their aid by constructing drainage channels to reduce the impact of the floods on their communities. (NAN)

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Vacate your houses, NEMA tells residents in flood prone communities in Kogi - Orient Daily News

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has advised people living in flood prone areas in Kogi to get ready to vacate their houses anytime from now. The agency’s Head of Abuja Area Operation Office, Mr Bitrus Samuel, gave the advice in Lokoj

NCC Activates 112 Emegency Code In Kogi

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has activated the 112 free emergency call number in Kogi State.

This was confirmed in a statement issued on Friday in Lokoja by SOLSAN Technology Ventures Ltd., the private firm managing the emergency number on behalf of NCC in the state.

Mr Shola Ajayi who signed the statement said that the emergency number, which could be dialed from any phone was activated in March.


He said that 112 was a sort code assigned by the NCC for all manner of emergencies such as armed robbery, kidnapping, accident, fire , floods, banditry and vandalism among others.

” When calls are received by the 112 agents, they are usually escalated to the correct agency responsible for such emergency .

” The emergency communication project is a non-commercial collaboration project between Federal Government through the NCC, state governments, telecom companies , security agencies and power companies,” he explained.

He listed the telecom companies in the arrangement as MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile, saying that all the collaborating establishments are contributing to the 112 emergency code as their social responsibility commitment to the society.

According to him, the 112 number is strictly for emergency calls only and not for prank callers. (NAN)

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NCC activates 112 emegency code in Kogi - Orient Daily News

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has activated the 112 free emergency call number in Kogi State. This was confirmed in a statement issued on Friday in Lokoja by SOLSAN Technology Ventures Ltd., the private firm managing the emergency numb

3 Killed As Cultists Clash In Rivers Community

Three persons were killed while many sustained injuries as two rival cult groups clashed in Luebe community, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers.

An eyewitness, who simply identified himself as Barinor, said members of the Iceland and Greenlanders cult groups fought in broad daylight for supremacy.

He said that the three persons were shot to death in an exchange of gunfire between the rival cult groups in the area.


The spokesman of the Police Command in Rivers, SP Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the development, adding that normalcy had since been restored in the area.

He said that three persons died in the clash, contrary to media reports that 10 persons were killed.

“Among the deceased persons that lost their lives are two cultists and a chief who is said to be supporting one of the cult groups.

“Reports from the Divisional Police Officer in the area revealed that the cultists stormed Luebe community and went for their perceived opponents,” he said.

Omoni said security has been beefed up in the community to forestall possible reprisal attacks from the rival cult groups. (NAN)

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3 killed as cultists clash in Rivers community - Orient Daily News

Three persons were killed while many sustained injuries as two rival cult groups clashed in Luebe community, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers. An eyewitness, who simply identified himself as Barinor, said members of the Iceland and Greenlanders