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Prior to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) deadline for the Naira swap, terrorists affiliated with the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) gave out large quantities of old Naira notes to a large number of commuters in the Lake Chad Basin.

According to reports, the event happened on Saturday, January 28, in Guzamala LGA of Borno State along the Maiduguri/Monguno route.

The ISWAP members were described by eyewitnesses to the media as having two gun trucks and wearing military camouflage.

According to a local, Bakura Ibrahim, the rebels stood by the roadside with bags of old naira notes and took cover under a tree.

He said; “We left Monguno at about 12 noon. As we approached Mairari, there were no existing checkpoints in the area; we were apprehensive.

“They stopped us and asked if we were going to Maiduguri, then they started giving each person 100,000 old naira notes, but we could not believe it. They gave each occupant of the Golf Volkswagen.”

Another source said;  “The group simply told us, “If you think you can go to their banks and change it to new naira, go and do so; may Allah make it beneficial to you.”

The Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri, has abolished the Omajaja term from Itsekiris’s vocabulary owing to what he described as its negative connotation over time.

He made the declaration in a Royal Proclamation in a statement he personally endorsed as the Kingdom rolled out drums to celebrate its annual Praise day.

He noted the palace would no longer make reference to the term, saying all Ìtsekírìs are now to be referred to as Omiwere, and that every Itsekiris’s individual is freeborn.

Ogiame added that the classification does not alter the law and manner of succession to the throne.

He said, “All Ìtsekírìs are now to be referred to as Omiwere.

The official palace-approved symbol or logo for Omiwere will be aware of the leaf.

Those that wish to add something unique to represent them, are free to do so.

The logo shall be worn with pride by all Omiwere. “Today, we move to make further clarifications to our existing society.

These clarifications are not to make one feel inferior or superior to the other, but simply to establish identity and general order in our society.

“Ìtsekírìs are Omajaja, this is not to say we should remove slaves from freeborn, because slaves no longer exist in our society. Both the Prince and Princesses and the children of the Chiefs are Ìtsekírì children. Before now, they were all referred to as Omajaja. The term Omajaja has come to take on a negative connotation over time in our society. It is important to note that from today henceforth, I use my authority to abolish the word Omajaja from our vocabulary.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of Itsekiri sons and daughters on Saturday gathered at the Aghofen, Olu Palace church, Warri to give thanks to the Almighty God.

The soul-lifting event called “Annual Praise Day” was convened by the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III.

The annual Praise and Thanksgiving day is a yearly event held by the Iwere Nation to give thanks to God for sustaining the Warri kingdom.

Different gospel artists and praise groups gave ministration at the well-attended event.

Among the artists were: Ada Gold, Felix Ekenguda, Dero Ofoluwafo, Katy Jakes, Ruke Gure, Blossom Mene, and Mairo Ese.

Others were: Iwere Praise Choir, Ogono for Jesus, Revelation Band, and others.