News & Announcements

Tragedy struck in Lagos, Nigeria, on Friday as a helicopter Crashed on top of a building on Friday, killing two persons.
According to a report, a witness to the sad incident said two lives were lost when the said helicopter dovetailed to the top of a building in the Opebi area of Ikeja, the capital of Nigeria’s commercial capital of Lagos on Friday. 
“Two people were brought out died and one person rescued alive.”

Meanwhile, in a live video at the scene by BBC Pidgin English monitored by societynow.ng an unnamed senior citizen explained she heard a rumble of thunder-like sound as the helicopter crashed into the fence between two buildings.

Another source disclosed that the pilot purposely aimed for the crash site to limit the impact of impact and destruction of properties.

“We saw it dovetailing and the pilot steering it towards this particular place’’ a source credited another witness – a plumber – working near the scene.”

The crash wrecked two cars in parts and collapsed a portion of the fence.

Investigators are yet to determine the passengers on the crashed helicopter and who the survivor is.

The destination and operator of the helicopter are yet to be confirmed at press time.

The crash site has been cordoned off to protect pieces of evidences that would aid investigation into the cause of the crash.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has postponed the resumption of international flights in and out o Nigeria.
Recall that weeks ago, the country announced that international flights in and out of Nigeria which were suspended in March in the aftermath o the outbreak of COVID-19, would commence on August 29.
But on Thursday during Nigerian Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing, the country’s aviation minister, Hadi Sirika, announced a postponement to the resumption.

Sirika said that tentatively, international flights into and out of Nigeria, it has been gathered, would start on Saturday, September 5, 2020.
A statement from Sirika read; “Regret to announce that the international flight resumption earlier scheduled to resume on 29th August has been shifted to 5th September 2020.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria Country Representative,  Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, has congratulated Nigeria and the entire African continent on the declaration of wild polio virus-free certification that was announced on August 25, 2020. 
WHO said the feat was possible due to the leadership and commitment of governments, global polio partners, traditional and religious institutions, frontline health workers and vaccinators. 

He made this known  on Thursday during a press conference in Abuja, which took place at Sheraton Hotel and Towers.The conference followed the August 25 official declaration of Nigeria and the African region as polio-free.
He added that it was a moment to celebrate the many individuals that worked tirelessly to make the milestone possible.

Mulombo further stated that  the certification showed what Nigeria and other African countries could accomplish when goals are backed by strong political commitment.
He said: “Nigeria’s battle with wild polio has been long and complex. I therefore commend the Government of Nigeria for the steadfast commitment in leading a massive national effort over the past couple of decades. 
“The leadership of the Presidential Task Force facilitated oversight of the program at the highest level, drawing on the necessary resources and holding states accountable for their responsibilities.

“Nigeria is lauded for several innovations that were devised to address the prevailing challenges under the strong coordination of the National Polio Emergency Operations Center. 
“The lessons and expertise from the Nigeria experience have been useful to address other disease outbreaks and are currently being deployed to strengthen routine immunization and primary health care,” he stated.
Mulombo, however, thanked donors and partners for their full support to the polio eradication effort. The unwavering support was critical for supporting the government to implement the recommended strategies. 
“We appreciate your commitment and count on you to continue supporting the Nigeria towards global certification and PHC systems strengthening.

“As we mark this milestone, we must emphasize the need to be vigilant to prevent the resurgence of wild poliovirus given the disease has not been eradicated globally. 102 wild poliovirus cases have so far been reported in Pakistan and Afghanistan this year.
“Additionally, we are faced with the continued threat of vaccine-derived polioviruses – 16 countries in the region are experiencing circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreaks. Nigeria and the region can defeat cVDPVs and protect against WPV importation if all commit to increasing vaccination coverage and strengthening disease surveillance.

“WHO looks forward to supporting you to build on the great success achieved to continuing the effort to close immunity gaps through a strong routine immunization and primary health care system.”

The Nigerian Minister of Health,  Dr.  Osagie Ehanire, said the achievement was made possible by the strong commitment of the country’s president as well as state and local government areas, with the support of development partners, sponsors and donors, traditional, religious and community leaders, and not the least, thousands of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) staff and gallant frontline health workers, who moved from house to house, community to community, vaccinating children, sometimes under difficult and daunting circumstances.

He said declaring Nigeria as a polio virus-free state was “particularly significant for us, coming at a time when we are on the threshold of fostering an evolution in the health sector, built on the revelations and opportunities provided by the COVID-19 outbreak and inspired by the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari. “The Federal Government, through NPCHDA, has mapped out various polio assets across the country and started deploying them for the purpose of other disease interventions. 

“I urge state governors to support this effort and begin to implement the transition of the experienced polio human resources for Health, to other areas of the health sector, especially at primary care level. 
“This new era can be the rallying point for progress and development of Health on the African continent and our country. This is my message for you today.”

The ECOWAS mediators in Mali have told the country’s coupists that the region would accept a transition­al government led by a civilian or a retired army officer for a maximum of 12 months. 

This was disclosed to the media by Mr. Demo Adesina, a senior aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, who was in attendance when the ECOWAS special envoy to troubled Mali, led by former President Good luck Jonathan of Nigeria, briefed the Nigerian leader on their resolutions in the West African country.

Adesina, in a statement, said President Buhari noted that the priority in the Republic of Mali now should be securing the country, which is largely oc­cupied by terrorists.

The meeting between the Nigerian President and the ECOWAS special envoy came ahead of an extraordinary virtual summit by ECOWAS heads of state and leaders, sched­uled for Thursday.

Buhari stressed that: “About two-thirds of Mali is occupied by terrorists, and it makes common sense to secure the country, rather than pursuing individual interests.”

He said the sub-region would take a common po­sition on the issue when the leaders meet tomorrow, hoping that an amicable and generally acceptable position to all interested parties would be arrived at.

Jonathan brought the president up to speed on dialogue with the mili­tary coup leaders, who are seeking to stay in power for three years, before holding elections.

He said: “We asked them to allow ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to return to his personal residence, where he would be given tight security, but they said he could travel abroad, and not return to answer questions they may have for him.

“We also told them that what would be acceptable to ECOWAS was an interim government, headed by a civilian or retired military officer, to last for six or nine months and maximum of 12 calendar months.

“The interim govern­ment would then organize elections to restore full con­stitutional order.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has strictly reacted to the plan of South Africa pay television firm to hike the tariffs for viewers of its DStv and GOtv.
Recall that Multichoice had sent messages to subscribers in Nigeria that effective from September 1, there would be an increase in its various bouquets on DStv and GOtv.
As can be exclusively reported, the government said the increase is “hostile to Nigerians who are currently going through harsh economic conditions.”

The government also said the company did not consult with it before the decision was made, saying it only read about the increase in the media like every other Nigerians.
Multichoice had last week announced an increment in the prices of DSTV and GOTV subscriptions for the second time in less than four months.
The company in a statement to subscribers said that from Tuesday, September 1, 2020, MultiChoice will effect its new price regime which is as follows: DSTV Premium will move from N16, 200 to N18, 400, Compact Plus from N10, 925 to N12, 400, Compact from 6,975 to 7,900 and for users of GOtv Max, they will have to pay the sum N3,600 from 3,280.

One of the texts read: “Dear Customer, please be advised of a price adjustment on your DStv Premium package from September 1. Your new monthly subscription will be N18,400.”
The development has, however, angered Nigerians both on social media and on the streets who blame the government for allowing the South African-owned company to manipulate them.

In the course of its counter-insurgency operations, the Nigerian Army, on Tuesday, revealed that its fighters have killed the key commanders of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP).
The troops in a massive and simultaneous airstrike in Borno State, the troubled North-East zone of Nigeria, killed Abu Imraana, the ISWAP Naval Commander, and other key fighters of the Insurgents group.

The army disclosed this in an operational update issued through its Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, (CDMO), Major General John Enenche, and made available to newsmen in Abuja.
He said the air offensives were conducted by the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, which took another major scalp off the ISWAP elements operating in the Island settlements of the Lake Chad in the Northern part of Borno State.

Enenche in the update disclosed that “this occurred yesterday, 24 August 2020, in massive simultaneous air strikes executed under the subsidiary Operation HAIL STORM at Kirta Wulgo and Sabon Tumbun, 2 settlements on the fringes of the Lake, where several key ISWAP leaders and scores of their fighters were killed.

“The missions were conducted on the heels of credible Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports indicating that some ISWAP leaders and fighters had relocated to Sabon Tumbun due to the impact of the recent airstrikes at the nearby Island settlement of Tumbuma Baba.
“Similarly, up to 15 high ranking ISWAP Commanders along with scores of their fighters were harbored at Kirta Wulgo, which serves as Administrative Headquarters and training camp for ISWAP.
“Accordingly, the Air Task Force dispatched an enhanced force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships to attack the 2 locations scoring devastating hits leading to the elimination of several of the terrorists.
“Prominent terrorists’ leaders, including Abu Imraana, ISWAP Naval Commander, as well as Mallam Ibrahim and Mallam Abba, are believed to be among the many ISWAP casualties.”

The Ogun State Police Command in southwest Nigeria has confirmed the killing of a hitherto wanted serial killer, Feyisola Dosunmu, on Tuesday.
The serial killer was shot dead by the police which trailed him to his hideout at the Iperu area of the state.
Popularly known as Spartan, the suspected criminal, who was aged 28 before his death, had reportedly killed more than seven people in the last couple of months, leading to him being declared wanted by the Ogun State Police Command.

He was declared wanted after killing more than seven persons at different locations of the state.
Spartan’ was alleged to be a notorious cultist and drug addict who macheted a nursing mother to death at Ogere before killing a security guard attached to one poultry farms at Iperu Remo, Ogun State.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed that he was killed at his hideout in Iperu during a raid by the Police and he was attempting to kill anybody on sight with his cutlass.

Protesters ignored the mobilization of the Wisconsin National Guard and an emergency curfew on Monday night to again protest the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29 years old unarmed black man.

Recall that Blake was shot seven times in front of his children and his fiancee on Sunday.

He was mediating in a fight between two women and while entering his SUV, two cops trailed him and bending to supposedly enter his car, one of the shot home seven times at the back.

The Kenosha County Courthouse was the site of more protests late Monday, as a large crowd gathered in the evening and members of law enforcement barricaded the area, according to local reports. Some Interstate 94 exit ramps in Kenosha County were closed, too. 

Officers, usatoday.com noted, used tear gas to disperse protesters in front of the courthouse and protesters threw water bottles at officers in riot gear after the county’s 8 p.m. curfew went into effect, according to reports from the scene. 

By late Monday, a truck had been set ablaze, recreating a scene from Sunday’s protests that saw city trucks on fire. The danger appeared to build deeper into the night: Several structures, including a Wisconsin Department of Corrections building, were set on fire in Kenosha. A local furniture store was also completely engulfed in flames. 

There were protests elsewhere on Monday, too.

Hundreds gathered in Times Square in Manhattan and marched to Washington Square Park, according to CBS New York. In Minneapolis, where George Floyd was killed by a now-fired police officer on Memorial Day, protesters marched to a police precinct, according to WCCO-TV. The station reported five people were arrested for crimes related to “civil unrest.” 

A large group of protesters also marched to the state Capitol building in Madison. 

The Kenosha County Courthouse and Administration Building was closed Monday “due to damage sustained during last night’s civil unrest,” the county said on social media.. After video of Blake’s shooting spread across social media on Sunday night, protests in the area led to property damage – at least three city vehicles burned, and words were spray-painted onto the courthouse. 

“Kenosha County recently declared racism to be a public health crisis, and our leaders – myself included – have resolved to address this issue in a meaningful way. Sunday’s tragedy and the ensuing reaction reinforce the need for change in our community,” County Executive Jim Kreuser said in a statement. 

The National Guard was deployed to Kenosha County “to help protect critical infrastructure and assist in maintaining public safety and the ability of individuals to peacefully protest” the Guard’s public affairs office said in a statement Monday. State Gov. Tony Evers called the deployment a “limited mobilization.

Meanwhile, the victim’s father, Blake She, said his son is still alive, even as he completely condemned the shooting of his son.

“Thanks for the prayers and the concerns,” he said. “See this sh** out here is real.

“The sh** I tell y’all about it’s real, man. So no matter what they say, it doesn’t justify shooting my son in the back eight times.”

“None of that sh** is justified by what they did to my son,” Blake Sr continued. “After surgery he is stable. Stable. Still here.

“You hit him with eight shots. You can’t take nothing that’s not yours. Forget it.” 

Blake came out of surgery on Monday morning and remains in ICU, according to reports.

“We will continue to pray as he fights,” one family member wrote on Twitter as the protests continue.

However, the cops had said that they thought Blake was going for a gun when he bent into his car, an argument the Wisconsin governor waved aside as not being strong enough to pull the trigger.

On Sunday, Nigerian Separatist Group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), lost 21 Members after they were attacked while holding their meeting in Emene, Enugu State in the South-Eastern part of the country.

According to Emma Powerful, the group’s spokesperson, in a press release to the media and accompanied with gory pictures of slain members, IPOB members were having their meeting when the men of the secret service, Department of State Service (DSS), heavily armed, stormed the place and started shooting sporadically.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB said 21 of its members were killed in the clash.

Mr. Powerful said 47 IPOB members were also arrested.

Premium Times could not independently verify the claims on casualty by the IPOB spokesman.

“The Nigerian government and her security agencies have once again exhibited another crude round of killing and massacre against the peaceful and unarmed IPOB family members in Enugu State today 23rd of August, 2020″

“We are surprised how Nigerian security agencies in their respective formations like army, police, and DSS will be slaughtering our people without any provocation.

“This rampant killing of innocent members of IPOB will be reciprocated in due cause. IPOB members have been slaughtered and arrested in their numbers across different locations in Enugu State today Sunday 23rd August 2020.

“We MUST warn and put the whole world on notice that Nigerian Government and her security operatives should stop killing our people because we are a peaceful organization with the mandate of restoring Biafra sovereignty within the shortest period,”

Mr. Powerful narrated his group’s version of how the violence started.

He said the IPOB members were holding a peaceful meeting when armed SSS operatives stormed the area shooting sporadically.

“Today, the Nigerian security personnel stormed IPOB meeting ground in Enugu and started shooting sporadically which consumed lives of 21 members and 47 arrested for just no cause or provocation,” Mr. Powerful said.

He alleged that the security operatives took the bodies of the slain IPOB members away.

“The security in the whole world must understand that keeping quiet and following the rule of law should not be construed as weakness on the part of IPOB.”

“IPOB is a well-rooted movement committed fully on the pursuit of Biafra freedom and independence from Nigeria. 

“We are not a violent group and there is nothing they can do to change our resolve to maintain peace and order in our land.

“The efforts of the Nigeria government and her partners in crime in trying to push IPOB to change their tactics will amount to vanity”.

“We are warning and asking Nigeria government and her security operatives to stop this atrocity immediately. Why have they refused to confront Fulani terrorists herdsmen, Boko Haram terrorists, Ansaru group, Fulani bandits, ISIS and other groups ravaging the country and busy killing innocent and unarmed citizens of IPOB?”

Mr. Poweful threatened: “those responsible for this barbaric killing in Enugu today must pay for their actions against IPOB at the appropriate time.”

“It is laughable for DSS to be claiming that they lost five personnel in the hands of unarmed and peaceful people. It is clear to all that IPOB doesn’t indulge or carry arm or involve with any object. IPOB is a peaceful movement and we must remain so till Biafra is totally achieved”, he added.

However, in a statement by Peter Afunanya, its spokesperson, DSS denied killing IPOB members but alleged that the Separatist Group attacked them and killed two of its personnel.

Afunanya said: “Our patrol team was attacked in Emene, Enugu State by members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

“The Service lost two personnel in what was clearly an unprovoked violent attack launched by IPOB on the team.

“However, all measures have been put in place to ensure that their killers and everyone involved in this dastardly act are promptly apprehended and brought to justice. Consequently, a full-scale investigation will be carried out with regard to the incident.

“Once again, the Service reaffirms its commitment to assiduously work with other security agencies to maintain public safety and order. It, therefore, urges law-abiding citizens and residents to go about their normal businesses without fear,” the spokesperson said.

The Oyo State Command of the Nigerian Police Force has confirmed the re-arrest of a teenage serial killer, Sunday Shodipe.

Recall that the 19 years old criminal suspect, who had allegedly killed a lot of people in the Akinyele Local Government Area of Minutes in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, escaped from lawful custody on August 11, 2020.
According to a statement signed by DCP Frank Mba, the Nigerian Police image-maker, which was made available to Independent, Shodipe was re-arrested on Sunday by police operatives at the Bodija area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. 

the erstwhile fugitive is a prime suspect in multiple murder of innocent citizens at Akinyele Local Government Area, Moniya, Ibadan, Oyo State. 

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu, while commending the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu, and his team for a job well done, equally expressed his sincere appreciation to the citizens for their support and understanding while the manhunt for the rearrested Shodipe lasted.
Meanwhile, the IGP has warned against any form of complacency on the part of the operatives of the Oyo State Police Command, stressing that all hands must be on deck to bring the case to a positive and successful closure.