Theophilus Afe

By Victoria of The Herald. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Friday alerted Nigerians of an alleged plot by Boko Haram affiliate, Muslim Brotherhood Cell in Kogi State, to launch a deadly attack on banks, army depots and prisons across the nation. In a statement signed by his Special Assistant, Segun Ayeyemi, Mohammed disclosed that the Cell was planning to acquire bomb-making chemicals and high-calibre weapons which it intends to use in perpetrating the act. According to the statement made available, the Minister revealed that intelligence monitoring had shown that the cell was making frantic efforts in advancing its Improved Explosive Devises, IEDs. The statement reads, “One Usman, an IED apprentice, left the cell some time back to join Islamic State in Libya. The new desire to acquire IED precursor chemicals could suggest that Usman or other persons may have returned from Libya and have acquired IED-making skills intended to increase the activities of th...

By VICTORIA. The founder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari may not return to his seat if serious prayers were not offered to God. He called on Nigerians to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari to return and continue as President. Buhari, who was expected back in the country on Sunday following the completion of his vacation, sent a letter to the National Assembly on the same day extending his 10-day vacation in the United Kingdom to enable him complete and receive test results from his doctors. Ayodele, reacting to the President’s death rumour, said, “Buhari’s coming back needs a lot of prayers. He needs a lot of prayers to be able to come back to that seat otherwise, it might not work as we are looking at it. Only God will bring Buhari back.” The INRI Spiritual leader noted that some of the issues confronting the country will continue. “I want to tell you that the economic hardship will continue. Dasuki i...

From GEORGE ONYEJIUWA, Owerri, and JEFF AMECHI AGBODO, Onitsha. Various groups agitating for independent state of Biafra in Southeast Nigeria have sounded a note of warning to leaders and governors from the zone to forget their calls for a president of Igbo extraction either in 2019 or 2023. They said they are only interested in Biafra as a separate state and not the nation’s presidency. The Founder of Biafra Independent Movement/ Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign state of Biafra, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike says that the actualisation of the state of Biafra is the ultimate and the only aim of Ndigbo, which could not be supplanted with the presidency of Nigeria. Uwazuruike who started the renewed agitation for the sovereign state of Biafra in 1999 with his founding of MASSOB, reiterated that what Ndigbo wants is their own independent state and would not be deflected from that objective. “Ndigbo wants Biafra and nothing more , that is why  the agitation since 1999 in which...

By Danielle Ogbeche. Renowned Nigerian musician, born Chinagorom Onuoha, popularly known as African China has called out the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, and the Federal Government after an officer on T.Shirt, believed to be uniform for special squad threatened to shoot him in Lagos State for no just cause. The ‘No Condition is Permanent’ hit maker hinted that he had just left the Ajegunle area of the state where he was shooting a music video when the said officer accosted him while driving. The Imo State born shared a video clip on his Instagram page @realafricanchina, which showed a man dressed in police uniform, armed with a gun and threatening to shoot him. While the man remained in front of him, stopping him from driving past him with a gun pointed at him through the windscreen, the artistes intermittently said, ” shoot me” while equally putting a call across to relevant authorities that he was being held hostage. On his Instagram page, African China wrote: “Nigeria, see the ki...

By Olaleye Aluko and Tony Okafor. Two soldiers, Corporal Bature Samuel  and Corporal Abdulazeez Usman, who brutalised a wheelchair-bound man along New Market Road, Onitsha, Anambra State on Tuesday, have been sentenced to 21 days imprisonment with hard labour. The two soldiers of 82 Provost Company also lost their ranks. According to a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, the soldiers’ ranks have been reduced from corporal to privates, coupled with the 21 days Imprisonment with Hard Labour. The DAPR added that the convicts would also forfeit 21 days pay to the Federal Government of Nigeria. “The Nigerian Army has also reached out to the victim of their unjustifiable assault, Mr. Chijoke Uraku (alias CJ), as widely reported by the media. We wish to reiterate our avowed determination to ensure that troops conduct themselves in the most orderly and professional manner at all times. Any act of indiscipline would not be tolerated,” Usman added. The...

Major General David Jemibewon (rtd) like many Nigerians, is not happy with the current state of affairs in the country. The former military governor of Oyo State and former Minister of Police Affairs believes that many things have gone wrong in Nigeria. However, for him, the situation is not irredeemable if all can join hands to lift the nation. In this interview with WILLY EYA, he opens up on a lot of national issues. First of all, let us share your thoughts on the state of affairs in Nigeria with particular focus on the economy. Truly, the situation is really gloomy. This is because people who used to have, do not have again and people who did not have but were hoping to have, their hopes have even been further dashed. Honestly, I do not know how to describe the situation but the situation could be better. Do you see the government making enough efforts to get the nation out of the woods? To be honest with you, I do not know because I am not in possession of information to lead m...

By Leon Usigbe - Abuja From left: Isa Aremu, deputy NLC president; Ibe Kachukwu, Minister of Petroleum; Senator Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment; Ag President Yemi Osinbajo; Ayuba Wabba, NLC president; and Baba Gaigama, TUC president and others during the interaction with the Ag President at the State House. Feb 9, 2017. Photo: NOVO ISIORO. ACTING President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday welcomed protesting labour union members, commending them for taking their campaign to the Presidential Villa, Abuja on behalf of the Nigerian people. A delegation of the union leaders led by President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabara, and President of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Boboi Kaigama, came to his office to lay down their grievances over the hardship faced by Nigerians, with Osinbajo using the opportunity to harp on the necessity to win the ongoing war against corruption. Speaking at the occasion, the acting President said government was desirous of show...