The Harbingerngr News

*Release my husband, conductor, wife of detained driver begs Police Fresh facts on the arrest of suspects in connection with the murder of a man by some herders over the death of a cow in Mowo, Badagry area of Lagos, last Monday, have emerged. It was gathered that five persons have been arrested, including the driver of the commercial bus that accidentally hit the cow, his conductor, two herders and the owner of the cow that died. But wife of the driver, Favour Bright, had wondered why her husband and his conductor were being detained as common criminals over the murder they had no hand in. She said: “My husband, Bright Okpara, drove the vehicle that accidentally hit the cow that died. Immediately the incident happened, he and his conductor ran to the Police station to incident the matter. When the Police escorted them back, they saw a dead body on the floor. A woman there told them that herders killed the man, thinking he was the one that killed their cow. “Thereafter, the policemen t...

Atiku and Wike AMID growing tension in  the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the presidential candidate of the party,  Atiku Abubakar, has expressed confidence that the party would remain focused and united ahead of the 2023 general elections. In a series of tweets on his verified twitter handle @Atiku, yesterday, he explained that his desire to unify the nation would begin from the party, noting that he would continue to be not only a listening leader but also one that takes appropriate actions towards achieving set goals.    The former vice president said in one of the tweets: “@OfficialPDPNIG will remain united. Focus on our actions; we are taking actions to address the feelings of all party members. Unity in our community is my priority. “Our resolve to unify Nigerians starts in our party and moves to the community then on to society. Every governor, legislator, and other elected officials produced by our party, and party members and loyalists, are much ...

*Dozens, including 4 Chinese abducted  *2 policemen killed by gunmen in Enugu Terrorists, on Wednesday, June 29, attacked a mining firm located in Ajata-Aboki in Gurmana Ward of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, killing 20 military personnel, seven mobile policemen and scores of civilians. Many other security operatives and civilians were also said to have sustained injuries and were rushed to medical centres. The Niger killings came as two policemen were earlier killed by gunmen at a checkpoint in Enugu. This is even as the people of Birnin-Gwari in Kaduna State appeared to have heeded the directive of Zamfara State governor, Bello Mattawale, on Nigerians to defend themselves against bandits and terrorists, as they now confront those terrorising their communities. Among those abducted in the Niger attack are said to be four Chinese nationals working in the mining site. There are, however, conflicting figure in the number of casualties given by sources in the affected c...

By Adekunle Adekoya THE things I saw on our streets as I moved from one part of the country to another in pursuit of happiness, one year after, have neither lessened nor abated. If anything, they are worsening. I speak of the use of psychedelic substances by our youth, and the not-so-young as well; in fact, the use of drugs cuts across demographic belts. In Lagos and other major towns and cities, it can be said that the use of drugs has assumed pandemic proportions. In the suburbs, where unemployed young men and women are more in evidence than in the upscale areas, it is commonplace to see groups of young men, with ages ranging from as low as 12 or 13 to 30, at junctions and intersections. You might have noticed that at many of these junctions is usually a kiosk, made from wood and corrugated roofing sheets, or burlap, where items like sweets, candles, OTCs (Over-The-Counter) like analgesics, balms, cigarettes, toilet soap, and other similar items are sold. As such, young men, and the ...

*As Police arrest gatekeeper for impregnating boss teenage daughter N525m fraud: Court jails man 235 years Justice Agatha Okeke of a Federal High Court, Akwa Ibom State, has convicted and sentenced a notorious international fraudster, Scales Olatunji, to 235 years imprisonment for internet fraud and money laundering. Olatunji was arraigned on July 2, 2019 on 45-count charges bordering on identity theft, money laundering and conspiracy. He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, thus setting the stage for his trial. One of the counts reads: “That you, Scales Ishola “M”, Meraiyebu Charles “M”(at large), Gabriel Olugbenga “M”(at large), Ojomo  Ayodele “M”(at large) and Adekola Oluwatoyin “M”(at large), between January 2017, to October 2018, in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this court conspired amongst yourselves to convert the total sum of N525.17million,  which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activities to wit: fraud (Business E-mail ...

Yomi Otubela SCHOOL owners, parents and educators have been charged to ensure that children in their care are protected from negative influences that may make them victims of sexual molestation and substance abuse.  This advise was given at a seminar organised by Lagooz Schools, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos; to  sensitise pupils and parents on sexual exploitation, drug abuse, gender identity and others. The seminar took place in the school premises. Nollywood actress, Sola Kosoko-Abina, who was the guest speaker, urged parents, educators and school owners to ensure that children are trained and protected from negative influences that would make them  victims of sexual molestation and drug abuse. "The major responsibility lies in the hands of parents in ensuring a safe and healthy environment to raise their children and also give them adequate training and guidance regarding sex education and drug abuse. Educators and school owners must also ensure the safety of children in their ca...

CRASHED: Auto accident involving two cars at Anthony bus stop inward 3rd Mainland Bridge, Lagos, yesterday. NO fewer than 3 persons were burnt to death while 2 others were rescued with burns on Monday evening when a diesel tanker exploded in Kogi. An eyewitness said the accident occurred at about 10 pm on Monday night. Traffic was at stand still due to the magnitude of the fire for hours until operatives’ of FRSC conducted traffic control to clear the hold up that had built-up. It was gathered that an articulated vehicle (tanker) carrying diesel and two trailers carrying containers heading for Abuja axis along other smaller vehicles were involved in the accident. It was further gathered that the tanker trailer heading for Abuja axis with diesel lost control around Living Faith Church after Felele NNPC Filling Station in Lokoja as a result of break failure and then rammed into the middle of two trailers carrying containers and then fell down and exploded. Some security agents were d...

DITCHED: A car plunged into a stream as a result of over-speeding at Ring Road, Imiringi Town, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, yesterday. Photo: NAN. *One shot dead, Police station, cars destroyed *10 escape death as truck rams into hotel Six persons lost their lives, Monday, in an auto accident in Kaugama Local Government Area of Jigawa State, while many escaped death as a truck rammed into a hotel in Abia State. Confirming the death of the six persons in Jigawa State, yesterday, Police command’s spokesman, DSP Lawan Shiisu, said three other persons sustained injuries in the accident which occurred at about 11:20 p.m. along Hadejia-Kano road on Monday. He said: “On June 26, at about 11:20 p.m., information on our disposal revealed that there was a fatal motor accident along Hadejia-Kano road. “The accident involved Lexus car with number plate: AAA 153 EA, driven by one Habib Habib, aged 30 years of Yalleman quarters in Kaugama LGA,” Shiisu alleged that the driver, who was...

Danger: Residents of Abule Ijoko, Ogun State, scooping fuel spilled by a fallen tanker. *Gunmen abduct 3 Ondo indigenes, demand N40m ransom ...as DPO kidnapped in Kaduna A suspected member of a kidnap gang that had been terrorising road users in Plateau State has opened up on tricks used by the gang to abduct victims on the expressways in the northern parts of the country. The suspect, Illyasu Saidu, revealed that members of his gang usually posed on the expressway as security agents on duty during operations. At other times, Saidu, who is also an ex-convict, said his gang would attack victims and dispossess them of their phones and cash before dashing into the forest. But he ran out of luck as operatives of the Force Intelligence Response Team smashed his 10-man syndicate recently. Kidnap operations In an interview with the suspect, he said: “I was once arrested by the Police for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, cattle rustling and kidnapping. The case was charged to court and I w...

  From left: Deputy Dean of Law/Head of Department of Public Law, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Muhammed Ladan; UNHCR Nigeria Representative, Ms. Chansa Kapaya; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim; Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Special Duties, Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremiengo; Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Segun Dawodu (right behind) and others during the signing and declaration of Lagos as “City With Refugees” at the American Corner, Local Airport Road, Ikeja, on Monday, June 27, 2022.   •Warn failure of FG to protect lives •Denounce spate of targeted terror attacks on churches, abduction of church leaders  •Reiterate call for state police LEADERS of thoughts and elder statesmen from four of the six geo-political zones of the country, under the aegis of Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum,...

Governor Bello Matawalle •We’ve no govt in Nigeria anymore;  country on auto pilot — MBF  •Nothing new about Zamfara govt's call — CAN   Following the directive by Zamfara State government to citizens of the state to bear arms to defend themselves against unstoppable banditry and terrorist's attacks, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, yesterday asked Attorney General of the Federation to tell Nigerians if the state governor, Bello Matawalle, has the powers to give such order. He also insisted that only the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces had the constitutional powers to give directives to the armed forces as an instrument of policy implementation. The CDS pointed out that already, there were actions members of the security agencies, including the armed forces, police and other security agencies, were taking to address insecurity in Zamfara and environs. Speaking at the opening of a joint exercise for the National Defence College and War Colleges of ...

The late bus conductor. HELL was let loose at Age-Mowo area of Badagry in Lagos, on Monday, June 27, 2022, after a middle-aged bus conductor was lynched by rampaging cattle herders, over the death of a cow, when his commercial bus, around 6.30am, ran into two cows that strayed onto the highway along the ever-busy Lagos/Badagry expressway. One of the cows died in the accident.  The 30-year-old conductor, identified as Ahmed, aka Omoga, was  beaten to death in the full glare of some securitymen, including policemen who were on duty around the scene, and a crowd of onlookers. Further, a police station is also located a few poles from where the irate herders descended on the conductor after his driver fled, and beat him to death. Pandemonium The incident, which sparked off a pandemonium, degenerated into protest by the people around the scene, incensed by the killing of the conductor, whose body was left lying in the middle of the road.  Eyewitnesses said the driver of a LT ...

By Adekunle Adekoya IT is no longer news that the governorship election in Ekiti has come and gone, or that Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress, APC, won. Further, we saw how the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was trounced to a third position, running behind the SDP, which fielded Segun Oni, a former governor who ruled the state on the PDP platform. On that election, we must congratulate ourselves; a lot of progress has been made, if previous experience was anything to go by. The balloting exercise on election day was largely peaceful, while the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, seemed to have tamed its logistics devils. Voting was organised and as many observers noted, peaceful and orderly. Incidences of ballot-snatching, thuggery and other devils that mar voting here somehow receded as they were not in evidence. In addition, electoral officials arrived early at the polling units, alongside security operatives, while equipment fun...

By Francis Ewherido Nigerian-owned government universities have been closed since February 14 (Valentine’s Day of all days), 2021, when the Academic Staff Union of Universities started an indefinite strike. There was a prior warning strike. Cumulatively, almost two years of studies have been lost. Within this period, we saw some top government officials posting graduation photos of their children in foreign universities. Even a Nigerian University vice-chancellor did too. That is daylight witchcraft. The politicians will meet the students and other youths at the polls very soon. Enough of this nonsense. I was in the university between 1984 and 1988. I graduated two months before the first major ASUU strike in August 1988, but I empathize with the students and their parents. I was in the university at the same time with two of my brothers. My father had passed on in May 1988, while I was writing my degree examination. Three of my youngest brothers were in secondary school then, preparin...

By Emeka Obasi WITH Social Media churning out new levels of awareness, one expected something different at the last Ekiti gubernatorial elections. It did not happen. We are all back to the French saying, the more things change, the more they remain the same. The Youth who complain so  bitterly  all year long, disappointed even themselves by joining the dirty but lucrative business of ‘See and Buy.’ For the uninitiated, this is the slang for Vote Buying. In Ekiti, the transaction was done in naira. Voter turnout was so poor that of 988,923 registered voters, 360, 753 came out to vote. This represents about 36.5 percent of eligible voters. It turned out to be the lowest in the state since 2003 when turnout was 43.5 percent. In 2014, it was 49.1 percent, falling to 44.4 percent in 2014. The Internet is awash with jingles and cartoons creating a new order. You have comments running into hundred of thousands and likes gaining more numbers. I did not see that translate to votes. Thi...