The nationwide hardship protest of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), did not come without surprises, one of which was the involvement of the residents of South-Eastern States in the protest.

It was widely reported that residents of South-Eastern States will jettison the hardship protests against the President Bola Tinubu led government.

But, in a twist of events, pictures of the ongoing protest from the labour union in South-Eastern states have continued to emerge.

Pictures from Anambra State, the home state of the Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, shows that citizens turned-out for the hardship protest.

The Advice

There was an increased call for demonstration against the increased hardship Nigerians are going through.

This prompted prominent individuals and bodies from the South-eastern region including Ohanaeze Ndigbo among other to send warnings to residents of the region.

Also Read: PHOTOS: NLC Shuns FG, Kicks Off Nationwide ‘Hardship’ Protest

The residents were advised to shun any form of protest against the President Bola Tinubu led government.

However, pictures from the Anambra NLC hardship protests indicates that there was a massive turnout on the first day of the NLC led hardship protest.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced that some areas in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), will experience six hours of total blackout on Saturday, February 10, 2024.

The TCN, published a statement on Friday via its spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah.

Mbah explained that the blackout would enable the commission’s maintenance crew to carry out a scheduled annual preventive maintenance on its 132kV line 1.

This is at Gwagwalada and Apo Transmission Substations.

Mbah added that the exercise would affect the 132/33kV Kukwaba Transmission Substation.

It will last for six hours, on Saturday while the maintenance holds between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Affected Areas

The statement identified areas to be affected.

They include parts of Lokogoma, Kabusa Garden, TradeMore, Pyakasa, Aherita, Chika, Games Village, Stadium, Wuye, Utako, Life Camp and Idu.

The TCN spokesperson apologised in advance to residents of the affected areas.

To them, the power supply would be restored as soon as the maintenance work is completed.

“The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) wishes to announce that its maintenance crew will carry out a scheduled annual preventive maintenance.

“This will be on its 132kV line 1 at both Gwagwalada and Apo Transmission Substations.

“The maintenance is slated for Saturday, 10th February 2024, between the hours of 9:00am to 3:00pm.

“Consequently, there will be a power interruption at the 132/33kV Kukwaba Transmission Substation for six hours on Saturday, tomorrow.

“The areas affected include parts of Lokogoma, Kabusa Garden, TradeMore, Pyakasa, Aherita, Chika, Games Village, Stadium, Wuye, Utako, Life Camp and Idu.

The Attack

“Power supply will be restored as soon as the maintenance work is completed as indicated.

“We regret any inconveniences this will cause electricity consumers in the affected areas,” the statement read.

The TCN Gwagwalada-Kukwaba-Apo 132KV Transmission Line 1 in the Abuja axis was attacked by suspected vandals In December.

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The vandalism of the line was said to have taken place at night when the bulk power supply on the line was cut off.

This prompted an early morning investigation by TCN linesmen.

They discovered a vandalised portion of the line route between Tower 23 and Tower 25.

Fourteen travellers kidnapped by gunmen in Inele Eteke within Kogi State’s Olalamaboro Local Government Area have regained their freedom.

The spokesman for the Kogi State Police Command, SP William Ovye, revealed this on Thursday, February 8.

“I have just been informed by the DPO that all the kidnapped victims of God Is Good Motors, GIG and ABC have regained their freedom”, he said.

On Saturday, February 3, 2024, bandits hijacked two buses owned by GIG and ABC transport company.

The Ransom

They seized approximately 14 passengers and took them to an undisclosed location.

According to sources, God is Good Motors had 12 passengers while ABC had two passengers on board.

The GIG bus departed from Umuahia in Abia State at 7:30 am on Saturday, and was headed to Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

The abductors of these 14 passengers, heading to Abuja, communicated with the families of the victims, requesting 15 million Naira as ransom.

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It remains uncertain whether the ransom was paid before the release of the abducted individuals.

The teachers and students of Apostolic Faith Group of Schools in Emure-Ekiti, Ekiti State, who were abducted last week, have regained their freedom.

The kidnapped victims were released by their abductors at approximately 2:00 a.m. on Sunday.

The Chairman of Emure Local Government, Adebayo Oluwatosin confirmed the development.

According to him, the victims were now in the palace of Elemure of Emure Ekiti.

He said the driver was killed while the other eight regained their freedom. Their freedom came after they spent roughly seven days with the abductors.

It is, however, unclear whether the ransom demanded by the kidnappers was paid before the release.

The Ransom

The kidnappers had demanded ₦100 million ransom for the release of the nine victims who were abducted on Monday.

The principal of the secondary section of the school, Boje Olanireti, confirmed the development via an interview on Tuesday.

The abduction of the school children and four staff members occurred when the school bus conveying 25 pupils home after school hours was stopped by gunmen in the Emure community in Ekiti State.

According to Olanireti, the dire incident occurred about a five-minute drive from the school.

The Kidnap

She said: “Immediately, the school closed at 3:00 p.m., and by the time we gathered all the children, it was already 3:30 p.m. It was that time that they moved.

“So, the incident happened between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.

“The school is in a suburb of Emure village, so they were going back home in Eporo.

“The incident occurred just about a five-minute drive from the school to Eporo.

“When the gunmen attacked, the people around heard the gunshots. They came to Emure with motorcycles to inform the people in the school about what happened.

“We immediately reported to the police station at Emure.

“The students were over 25 on the bus when the incident happened.

“When the gunmen attacked them, they shot the tyre of the vehicle and asked the children to come out of the bus.

“They asked all of them to lie down and picked five students and four staff members.

“They, after that, asked others to go”.

Olanireti added that “the five students comprise two from the secondary (school) and three from primary school while the four staff comprise two teachers, one driver and one bus assistant.

“When the parents heard about the incident, they came from Eporo and they have been making frantic efforts by reaching out to some security outfits, including the police and Amotekun.

The Demand

“The security operatives have also been talking to the proprietor of the primary school and he has been giving them information.

“By the time they opened communication, they first called the husband of one of the teachers and demanded ₦10 million for each kidnapped victim.
But when they later called the headmaster, they demanded ₦100 million for all of them.”

A family source at Eporo Ekiti, who preferred anonymity, also confirmed on Tuesday that the kidnappers had contacted the family of one of the children demanding ₦100 million on the victims.

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The source said: “They called the family of one of the school children and they are requesting ₦10 million per victim.

“What we gathered is that there are nine persons kidnapped – five schoolchildren, two teachers, one bus assistant, and a driver.

“The parents are at Eporo. The bus was taking them home after closing.

“It was in the process that the kidnappers struck. None of the families of the abductees can afford the ransom.’’

By Kingsley Eghagha (Politics Reporter)

The leaders of the Labour Party including the party’s Presidential candidate, Peter Obi and National Chairman, Julius Abure, will today (Thursday) flag-off the party’s campaign for the Bye Elections of Surulere Federal Constituency 1, Lagos State holding on Saturday, 3rd February.

The former presidential candidate of LP, according to a statement on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, will also formally inaugurate the 30 member Campaign Council led by the Abia state governor, Alex Otti.

Engr Adeola Adebanjo aka Skele who is the Labour Party’s candidate for the Bye elections is expected to lead thousands of party members and Obidient family in the state to win the seat recently vacated by the former Speaker of the House of Representatives and the current Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila

The campaign committee which will be inaugurated by Peter Obi also has as members Alhaji Farouk Ibrahim , LP’s National Secretary, Arch Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, former LP governorship candidate in the state, members of the national assembly and other top party leaders. Veteran Olawale Okunniyi will serve as the Secretary of the campaign committee. NNL.

The tragic death of Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, a young Nigerian lady who was kidnapped and later killed by her abductors, is still fresh in the minds of Nigerians.

People of all walks of life troop out to console and stand by her family in their difficult times.

Many have sent condolence messages to the family, but for others, like Peter Obi, it is better to be there in person.

Obi visited the family of late Nabeeha on Tuesday.

During the visit, he said he visited the family to commiserate with them on the loss of their loved one.

In his remarks, he emphasised the need for the government to see to it that criminality in Nigeria was contained.

To him, it is traumatic for any parent to lose a child.

Furthermore, he stressed the need for the security agencies and the government to be alive to their responsibilities.

Nabeeha’s Abduction

The deceased was one of the victims kidnapped in a series of abductions that took place in the Sagwari Estate Layout in the Dutsen-Alhaji area of the Bwari Area Council of Abuja.

In a tragic incident that shook the community, about 19 abductees were taken by bandits.

The kidnappers demanded a colossal ransom of ₦700 million for nine victims.

Among those kidnapped was Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, a 400-level Biological Science student at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Four hostages, including Nabeeha, were killed by the kidnappers.

Nabeeha was abducted with six other siblings, along with their father, Alhaji Mansoor Al-Kadriyar.

They were taken from their home at Zuma 1, on the outskirts of Bwari town in Abuja, on January 2.

Tragedy struck in the Ejigbo area of Osun State after a United States-based Nigerian lecturer and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Richard Idowu, was gunned down.

The incident occurred between 8:00 and 8:30 pm on Saturday and has thrown the community into mourning and sparking tension among residents.

The shooting happened at the private residence of Prince Eniola Oyeyode, son of the Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Omowonuola Oyeyode.

The location was part of the celebrations marking the monarch’s 50th anniversary on the throne.

Idowu attended the coronation anniversary before being summoned to a meeting at Eniola’s residence along Inisa Road in Ejigbo.

The Meeting

An eyewitness, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that the meeting included a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ayodele Asalu, and another individual, Timothy.

Following the conclusion of the meeting, as attendees were departing, gunshots rang out.

Idowu was struck in the leg.

He subsequently died from his injuries while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Ejigbo.

The circumstances surrounding the shooting and the motive behind the attack remain unclear.

Recounting the incident, a Personal Assistant to the deceased, Afiz Lawal, said the incident happened in his presence.

He explained, “When we returned to Osun from Ogun State where Governor Adeleke took a Chieftaincy title, we moved to Ejigbo for 50th coronation anniversary of the Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Oyeyode Oyesosin.

He continued, “Immediately after the coronation party, we were about to start coming to Osogbo.
Then Prince Eniola, son of Ogiyan, told us to go to his house along Inisa Road in Ejigbo for a brief meeting.

The Shot

Those who attended the meeting include Hon. Asler (Ayodele Asalu) and one Hon Timothy.

“When the meeting ended, they all dispersed and were entering their vehicles.
I heard Prince Eniola say, release, asking a local hunter there on the premises to release gunshots into the air.

Unfortunately, instead of firing into the air, he shot towards the ground.
That was how Hon Richard Idowu was hit on the leg, and he immediately fell.

No Good Hospital

“Before we could get him to the hospital, he had already lost so much blood and there is no good hospital in Ejigbo.

He gave up at a private hospital in Ejigbo. The incident happened between 8:00 and 8:30 pm on Saturday.
He was a PDP chieftain and a lecturer based in the United States of America.”

Asked if the incident could be regarded as a case of misfiring, Lawal further said, “It may be planned or accidental, but I just narrated how the incident happened because I was at the scene.

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His remains have been deposited at the morgue of UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.”

It was also said the man who fired the shot was beaten to death, but Lawal could not confirm that.

Popular Nigerian influencer, Olaoluwa Adekunle, also known as Tunde Ednut has set the internet ablaze with his reply to a birthday message from the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Peter Obi.

It all started when the LP flag bearer took to his X account to congratulate Ednut on his birthday.

He praised him for using his influence to help numerous emerging Nigerian comedians, musicians, and other creatives into the spotlight.

Obi wrote, “I extend my heartfelt birthday wishes to the remarkable Nigerian entertainment blogger and global internet influencer, Tunde Olaoluwa Adekunle, widely known as ‘Tunde Ednut’, as he celebrates his 38th birthday.

I Am Not A Blogger

“Despite his relatively young age, he has leveraged his internet expertise and influence to propel numerous emerging Nigerian comedians, musicians, and other creative artists into the spotlight.
This has significantly expanded Nigeria’s creative output, which serves as a crucial source of foreign exchange for our country.”

Reacting to the birthday wish from the former governor, Tunde took to his Instagram account to show his appreciation.
However, he explained to Obi that he is not a blogger.

Tunde wrote, “This is huge for me, wow I am very honoured sir, wow, Thank you, but sir I am not a blogger sir, I am an entertainer sir.”

Shifting Blames

Ednut’s reply was like a bomb, and indeed, it exploded. You see, one cannot entirely blame Peter Obi for referring to Ednut as a blogger. There is widespread confusion regarding his occupation and this has raised numerous questions as to how he makes his money and how he affords the expensive lifestyle he lives.

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Even after claiming to be an entertainer, many people could not help but wonder what form of entertainment he engages in.

If you have been dreaming of joining the Nigerian Army an opportunity is now here to push that dream to reality. 

This is because the army has officially opened its recruitment portal for the online application process for the 2024 Direct Short Service Commission Course.

A statement was issued on Friday, January 19, via the various social media handles of the Nigerian Army.

The Nigerian Army mentioned that the application period would conclude on February 23.

Eligible applicants are encouraged to visit the recruitment portal for further details.

The post emphasised that the application is accessible to both civilians and current military personnel.

However, it clarified that only military personnel who have been sponsored by civil institutions by any of the Services of the Nigerian Armed Forces will be considered.

Deadline

“This is to inform the general public that the online application for Direct Short Service Commission Course 28/2024 has commenced.

“All applications must be submitted online not later than 23 February 2024. Visit http://recruitment.army.mil.ng.

“Application Is Free. The DSSC is open to both civilians and serving military personnel.
Only serving military personnel sponsored to civil institutions by any of the Services of the Nigerian Armed Forces shall be considered.”

Requirements For Application

All applicants must satisfy the following conditions:

Be a Nigerian as defined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Be a male or female between the ages of 20 and 30 years. Medical consultants could be between 25 – 40 years of age by April 2024.

Be medically, mentally, and physically fit according to NA standards.

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Be recommended and attested to his/her good character by at least 2 recognizable referees who are either a Local Government Chairman/Secretary or an officer of the Armed Forces not below the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and equivalent or an Assistant Commissioner of Police and above who must hail from the applicant’s state of origin. Passport photographs of referees must be affixed to the letter of attestation.

Applicants must submit a letter of Attestation from their former institutions.

Measure in height at least 1.68m (for males) and 1.65m (for females).

Must not have been convicted by any court of law. Military personnel applying must be free from any disciplinary case and endorsed by the applicant’s Commanding Officer/Commander.

Possess at least a first degree with not less than Second Class Lower Division or HND (where applicable) of not less than Lower Credit from any accredited institution of learning.

Must have a valid birth certificate endorsed by the National Population Commission, Hospital, or Local Government Council or a valid age declaration.

Possess a valid certificate of state of origin.

Applicants must possess an NYSC discharge certificate or valid exemption certificate as appropriate.

Graduates with professional qualifications must be duly registered by relevant regulating bodies recognised by Nigerian Laws at the commencement of cadet training.

Other Requirements 

Only Post-secondary academic credentials obtained from 2014 to date will be considered.

Applicants must present valid contact addresses and telephone numbers of parents/guardians and Next of Kin as appropriate.

Candidates must not have any bodily inscriptions or tattoos.

Candidates must tender all original copies of educational certificates (primary to Post-secondary).

Service personnel must present valid military identity cards and letters of recommendation by their Commanding Officers/Commanders. They must also present valid letter(s) of Service sponsorship to tertiary academic institutions (where applicable). Additionally, they must have served for a period of not less than 5 years.

Candidates must not belong to any cult/society/fraternity.

Candidates with the ability to swim will have an added advantage.

How To Apply

As stated in the announcement, all eligible and interested applicants are to submit their details online free of charge from January, 19, 2024 to February, 23, 2024.

Follow these steps to apply

Go online and visit the Nigerian Army webpage at recruitment.army.mil.ng and choose the DSSC option from the page.

You will be redirected to the page where you can read the qualification criteria for the ongoing DSSC courses.

Click on the “Apply Now” button for the DSSC as per your qualification and Corps of choice.

At the prompt, you will be required to select if you are serving or have served in the Armed Forces of Nigeria. Choose the appropriate option and proceed.

If you do not have an account, click on “Sign Up” (a verification will be sent to your email) or enter your login details and log in.

Fill out the form and ensure all required documents listed below are uploaded:
Passport photograph.

Educational certificates.

Evidence of membership of any professional body.

Certificate of state of origin.

Birth certificate or age declaration.

NIN/BVN.

‘E don cast, last last, na everybody go chop breakfast’, you maybe wondering why we choose to begin this article with Burna Boy’s lines. Well, not to worry, by the time you read this tragic story that happened in Delta State to the end, you will surely understand.

This is a story of a boy, identified as Victor.

Victor is from Agbor community, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The young man may not have known how to handle ‘breakfast’; a term which Nigerians have christened for heartbreak.
He killed himself over fears of being dumped by his girlfriend for another man.

Victor’s Death

The deceased locked himself in his one-room apartment, situated at No. 4 Monye Lane, before hanging himself.

Victor was reportedly found dead when his door was opened.

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It was learnt that the deceased had stabbed and injured himself on several occasions when he had issues with his girlfriend.

The police is yet to comment on the incident at the time of filing this report.