Foreign analysts say Russia may be temporarily easing its offensive in Ukraine as the Russian military attempts to reassemble its forces for a renewed assault.

Russian forces made no claimed or assessed territorial gains in Ukraine “for the first time in 133 days of war,” according to the Institute for the Study of War.

Washington Post reports that the think tank based in Washington suggested that Moscow may be taking an “operational pause,” but that it does not entail “the complete cessation of active hostilities.”

“Russian forces will likely confine themselves to relatively small-scale offensive actions as they attempt to set conditions for more significant offensive operations and rebuild the combat power needed to attempt those more ambitious undertakings,” the institute said.

A Thursday statement from Russia’s Defense Ministry seemed to confirm that assessment. It said Russian military units involved in combat in Ukraine had been given time to rest.

“The units that performed combat missions during the special military operation are taking measures to recover their combat capabilities. The servicemen are given the opportunity to rest, receive letters and parcels from home,” read the statement, quoted by Russian state news agency Tass.

Shelling continued in Ukraine’s east, where at least nine civilians were killed and six wounded in 24 hours, Ukrainian officials said.

 

Ukraine’s presidential office said in its Thursday morning update that cities and villages in seven Ukrainian regions were shelled in the past day. Most of the civilian deaths occurred in Donetsk province, where fighting is ongoing. Seven civilians were killed there, including a child, the presidential office said.

 

Ten cities and villages came under shelling in Donetsk, and 35 buildings were destroyed, including a school, a vocational college and a hospital, officials said.

Donetsk is part of Donbas, a mostly Russian-speaking industrial region where Ukraine’s most experienced soldiers are concentrated. Pro-Russian separatists have fought Ukrainian forces and controlled much of the Donbas for eight years. Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised the independence of two self-proclaimed republics there just before Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

 

Putin on Monday claimed victory in Luhansk, the other province constituting the Donbas, after Ukrainian forces withdrew from the last city they controlled there. The governor of Luhansk, Serhiy Haidai, denied Wednesday that the Russians had completely captured the province.

In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, a boarding school was hit, but no one was injured. The Kharkiv region, which lies along the border with Russia, is under daily shelling, and two civilians were killed there over the past 24 hours.

The Ukrainian military said Thursday that Russian forces also carried out shelling and helicopter strikes in the Sumy region in the northeast.

 

Even as the fighting continued, the British Defense Ministry said it thinks Russia’s military is “reconstituting” its forces. A ministry intelligence assessment issued Thursday said the heavy shelling along the front line in Donetsk is likely intended to secure previous Russian gains.

Further hostilities were reported in the Black Sea where the Ukrainian military said Thursday that a Ukrainian flag had been planted on a strategic island that Russian troops withdrew from last month.

Ukraine’s Operational Command South said in a statement that Ukrainian military units had cleared Snake Island, an outpost off Ukraine’s southwestern coast vital for guaranteeing sea lanes out of the key port of Odesa. The command group also said the Ukrainian military had destroyed some 30 pieces of Russian military equipment, describing the discovery of “abandoned ammunition and vast ruins.”

Russian troops withdrew from the island on June 30 in what Russia’s Defense Ministry called “a goodwill gesture.” But the ministry said Thursday that a Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft had launched a missile strike on the island as Ukrainian forces attempted to plant the flag.

“As a result, some of the Ukrainian military personnel were destroyed, the rest fled,” the ministry said.

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Prince Joseph Kpokpogri, the estranged lover of controversial Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, has dragged the Federal Capital Territory minister and other agencies to court to claim over N2 billion in damages.
In May, SaharaReporters reported that a multi-million naira mansion belonging to Prince Kpokpogri was demolished by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in Abuja.

It was gathered that the mansion, which is in the Asokoro area, was invaded by officials of the FCT Administration with a bulldozer which began to demolish the building.
Speaking with SaharaReporters, the owner of the building, Kpokpogri expressed shock, saying he was not informed prior to the demolition by the officials. He described the demolition as illegal.
Meanwhile, in a video obtained by SaharaReporters, Kpokpogri's lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), told journalists on Thursday that his client has approached the court to claim over N2 billion in damages for the illegal demolition of his client’s house by Abuja authorities.
 
He stated that the case has been adjourned till June 15, 2022, for the continuation of hearing the motions filed before the court.
 
"Justice this time will not allow them to go scot-free. That was why we came before this honourable court, filing two motions, one for an interlocutory injunction; one, ex parte for an interim injunction.
"Through this ex parte motion, we are asking the court to restrain them, make an ex parte order to restrain all the agencies involved in this ugly incident from coming back to complete their demolition work.
"This young man [Kpokpogri] with his family was thrown into the street. Imagine a landlord becoming a tenant in his own country without a just cause. The case has been adjourned to the 15th of July for hearing of the motion. We are claiming over N2 billion," the senior advocate disclosed.

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ekweremadu

The Attorney-General of the United Kingdom has given consent to take the trial of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, on charges of conspiracy and organ harvesting to the Central Criminal Court in London.

 

By so doing, the case would not be treated by the magistrate court.

ekweremadu

The Ekweremadus appeared at the Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Thursday (today) where the judge adjourned the case till August 4, 2022.

Ekweremadu and Beatrice are to remain in custody till the next hearing.

The Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court had last Thursday adjourned the trial of Ekweremadu and Beatrice to July 7, today.

 

He faces a charge of conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of another person for exploitation under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

However, when the case came up on Thursday, the judge adjourned the case till August 4, 2022, and ordered that the Ekweremadus should remain in custody till the next hearing.

SaharaReporters had reported that Ekweremadu and Beatrice were arrested by the London Metropolitan Police on June 23, 2022, and charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.

Ekweremadu had since pleaded not guilty to the charges.

 

 

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Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned its members in Adamawa State not to vote for Mustapha Madawaki, the Labour Party governorship candidate in the state.

But there is a lot of confusion over the recent actions of the workers’ union as it is planning to organise a mega rally in Kebbi in support of the ruling All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Dr. Nasir Idris in the state.

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba.

NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, in a statement obtained by SaharaReporters said Madawaki, the Labour Party’s governorship candidate in Adamawa, has a questionable character and is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

 

It was learnt that Madawaki, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kriston Lally, and the NLC years back initiated a mass housing project which promised to deliver houses at competitive prices but the plan collapsed when accusations of illegal withdrawals of subscribers’ funds and inability to provide land surfaced.

 

“That until Mr. Mustapha Umar Madawaki establishes his innocence, the Nigeria Labour Congress would never lend its support to such suspicious characters who have very serious criminal charges in the court of law. The policy of the NLC is to support only candidates of the Labour Party who meet its requirements of strength of character and commitment to the ideology cum Charter of Demands of the Nigerian working class,” Ayuba had said.

 

“The Nigeria Labour Congress enjoins all workers in Adamawa State not to recognize or identify with or support or vote for Mr. Mustapha Umar Madawaki. NLC has communicated this decision to the Labour Party; a party formed by Organized Labour; and

 

“The Nigeria Labour Congress reiterates that Mr. Mustapha Madawaki in an apparent display of crass impunity and consistent with a pattern of grand deception took Organized Labour in Adamawa State to court claiming defamation of character. We hope he would pursue that case to a logical conclusion as Nigerians are eager to watch the parody of how quickly an accused can suddenly adorn himself in the robe of an accuser. If he manages to show up in court, we are ready to account to the court how Mr. Mustapha Madawaki wants to swim in the sweats of Nigerian workers to the governorship seat of Adamawa State.”

 

However, the union, which has now disowned the Labour Party’s governorship candidate in Adamawa seems to be confused as it had asked workers and the general populace to vote for Labour Party candidates across all elective positions in the 2023 general elections.

Meanwhile, the same workers’ union has declared support for the APC governorship candidate in Kebbi State. Idris is the Deputy President of the NLC.

 

“What can we call this sort of confusion from the Labour bureaucracy? You are campaigning and mobilising for APC in Kebbi but you are asking people not to vote for Labour in Adamawa. Then you are saying people should vote for Labour Party in other places,” a top NLC member told SaharaReporters.

 

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One of the aides to the former Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, who spoke to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity has debunked a viral claim that the ex-governor has left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to join Labour Party.

Since Thursday morning, there have been a series of tweeps claiming that Ambode has defected to the Labour Party to contest for the Lagos governorship seat in the forthcoming 2023 election.

A Twitter user, identified as Gidi said via his verified Twitter handle, "Former Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode has Reportedly Picked a Labour Party Gubernatorial Ticket for the 2023 Lagos Polls."

"I am told by a reliable source that Ambode has finished paperwork to join the Labour Party as their Gubernatorial candidate, but some Lagos APC chieftains close to him are pressuring him against it. They have promised him a ministerial position in the event APC returns to power," a Twitter user, identified as Kereti also said.

However, the aide told SaharaReporters that Ambode is not planning to leave APC.

"Ambode is a very loyal member of APC. What you are reading is just a lie that they (bloggers) want to use to cause more problems to Ambode.

"He is not going anywhere. He is still with APC," the aide said.

“@SamzyVG: BREAKING NEWS : Former Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode has Reportedly Picked Labour Party Gubernatorial Ticket for the 2023 Lagos Polls. #ItsHappening pic.twitter.com/w8mlH9O5Zn

— GIDI (@Gidi_Traffic) July 7, 2022

Ambode ran for the office of the Governor of Lagos State in April 2015 as a member of the APC, the state's ruling party.

He won the election, defeating the second-place candidate, Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party by 150,000 votes.

He succeeded former governor, Babatunde Fashola. In 2019, Ambode lost in the governorship primary election to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, which denied him an opportunity to run for a second term.

He eventually supported Sanwo-Olu campaign that brought about a smooth transition in the state.

I am told by a reliable source that Ambode has finished paperwork to join the Labour Party as their Gubernatorial candidate, but some Lagos APC chieftains close to him are pressuring him against it. They have promised him a ministerial position in the event APC return to power.

— Kereti (@KeretiUsoroh) July 7, 2022

 

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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Thursday alleged that Islamic terrorists are plotting to eliminate its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, in the facility of Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS).

 

The pro-Biafra leader, Kanu has been in the detention facility of the DSS since June 2021, when the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami broke the news of his rendition to Nigeria.

 

Following Tuesday’s terrorist attack on Kuje Correctional Centre, in which hundreds of inmates, including terrorists, escaped, IPOB said their leader, Kanu and other members of the group are being targeted for attack by terrorists.

The pro-Biafra group in a statement issued, on Thursday, by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, said their leader should be transferred to a prison in the South-East to ensure his safety.

The statement partly reads, “We want everybody to understand that the reality of the Fulani agenda to Fulanise Nigeria is around the corner. All Fulani’s calculated plan to attack our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in DSS custody is being done with full collaboration with the DSS.

 

“Our intelligence unit uncovered the Fulani evil plan against our leader. Therefore, we demand that our leader Kanu be immediately transferred to a prison in the Eastern region for his safety because if anything untoward happens to him Nigeria will see and feel total and consuming madness even after the Biafran Nation’s freedom is fully achieved; they will never have peace.”

 

Powerful also alleged that terrorists arranged the recent attack on President Muhammadu Buhari’s advance team to raise money for arms procurement.

 

“What happened in Katsina with reference to the so-called attack on Buhari is an arranged attack by Buhari and Fulani to raise more money to procure and acquire arms which they will use to prosecute their planned jihad to conquer every part of Nigeria but Biafraland will be their waterloo because we are Umuchineke.

 

“A very pertinent question to ask is, how can bandits and terrorists be rampaging the North, even supposedly attacking the president’s convoy and breaking into prison yards to release their colleagues while Buhari and Fulani governments deployed and continue to deploy battalions of soldiers to occupy many peaceful communities in Biafraland? The international community must watch and pay attention to the Nigerian Government and its Fulani Islamisation and Fulanisation agenda."

IPOB warned nothing should happen to its members who were detained in the facility for committing no crime other than being of Igbo extraction.

 

IPOB alleged that the attack was a plot by terrorists to eliminate members detained in the facility, and called for their release.

 

It added, “We the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wish to draw the world’s attention to the Nigerian Government and its security agencies, especially the Army and DSS agents’ instruction to the bandits rampaging the North to attack the Kuje correctional centre in Abuja.

 

“The Nigeria security agencies, especially the military and DSS agents in a covert action detailing a systematic strategy to eliminate IPOB members detained in Kuje prison and yesterday’s attack has confirmed our earlier intel.

 

“We want to let the world know that IPOB members were profiled and detained in Kuje prison yards for simply being persons indigenous to Biafra and of Igbo race.

 

“We have their details and want them alive because if anything untoward happens to our comrades who are detained in Kuje, IPOB will never take it easy with Nigeria Government and her security agencies.

 

“It is high time to release these innocent folks who were detained illegally and unjustly, Nigeria cannot continue to detain them indefinitely while allowing terrorists and bandits to come and slaughter them under disguised arrangements by the Buhari-Fulani administration.”

 

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ekweremadu

The Attorney-General of the United Kingdom has given consent to take the trial of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, on charges of conspiracy and organ harvesting to the Central Criminal Court in London.

 

By so doing, the case would not be treated by the magistrate court.

ekweremadu

The Ekweremadus appeared at the Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Thursday (today) where the judge adjourned the case till August 4, 2022.

Ekweremadu and Beatrice are to remain in custody till the next hearing.

The Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court had last Thursday adjourned the trial of Ekweremadu and Beatrice to July 7, today.

 

He faces a charge of conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of another person for exploitation under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

However, when the case came up on Thursday, the judge adjourned the case till August 4, 2022, and ordered that the Ekweremadus should remain in custody till the next hearing.

SaharaReporters had reported that Ekweremadu and Beatrice were arrested by the London Metropolitan Police on June 23, 2022, and charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.

Ekweremadu had since pleaded not guilty to the charges.

 

 

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A Westminster Magistrates Court in the United Kingdom has ruled that David Ukpo, the alleged victim in the organ harvesting case against former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice, is not 15 years old as initially claimed.

Gavin Irwin, counsel for the Ekweremadus at Westminster Magistrates Court, London, insisted that the victim in the case, Ukpo is not a minor as the prosecutor claimed.

Irwin, while addressing the court on Thursday claimed that the victim has admitted that he is 21 years old as against the 15 years claimed by the prosecutor which could make the victim a minor.

 

"We deny that there was exploitation or intent to do so," Ekweremadu’s lawyer said.

According to Arise TV, Ukpo admitted to the court that he is 21 years old and had been in the UK since February but did not present himself to the police till May.

The couple who are currently being detained in different prisons in the UK over alleged organ harvesting and trafficking appeared in the UK Court on Thursday for continued trial.

See Also Scandal Organ Harvesting: Ekweremadu Appears Before UK Court, Date Fixed To Decide Location Of Trial 0 Comments 1 Week Ago

SaharaReporters earlier reported that Ekweremadu had approached Nigeria’s Federal High Court, Abuja to compel the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to provide a certified copy of the victim’s information to the UK Court to establish his real age.

 

The Commission denied the request but later requested to send the victim’s information to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF) for onward transmission to the UK Court.

See Also Exclusive EXCLUSIVE: Organ Harvesting: Beatrice, Wife Of Nigerian Ex-Deputy Senate President, Ekweremadu, Held In HMP Bronzefield Prison, Europe’s Largest Female Jail 0 Comments 1 Week Ago

But while it is not yet clear whether the information was eventually sent to London before the Thursday court proceedings, Ekweremadu’s counsel claimed that the victim has admitted that he is 21 years old, but the prosecutor objected to the claim.

However, the court ruled that the victim is not a minor, hence, Ukpo will no longer be considered a minor in the trial.

Meanwhile, the case has been adjourned to August 4 and the Ekweremadus will appear at the Central Criminal Court in London for the continuation of the trial as approved by the UK Attorney General.

 

Present at the Westminster Magistrates Court from Nigeria were former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; former Senate President, David Mark; former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Adamu Bulkachuwa.

 

 

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One of the Boko Haram members who escaped during Tuesday’s terrorist attack on Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, the nation’s capital has voluntarily returned.

 

Sources said the suspect, identified as Bukar Bukar, was brought back to the facility by his lawyer (name withheld) on Wednesday evening.

“One of the Boko Haram members was arrested by Nigerian soldiers, and another Boko Haram inmate was brought back by his lawyer yesterday,” one of the sources said.

 

On Wednesday, the Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, known as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in a video claimed responsibility for the attack.

 

In the video, the terrorist sect showed some of its men shooting their way into the facility.

 

Though the Nigeria Correction Service’s spokesperson, Umar Abubakar, said one Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps personnel and four inmates died during the incident, a source told SaharaReporters that 10 inmates were killed during the incident.

See Also Exclusive EXCLUSIVE: How Terrorists Attacked Kuje Prison With Massive Firepower, Preached For 20 Minutes, Gave Us Transport Fare And Ordered Us To Leave – Escaped Inmate 0 Comments 6 Days Ago

Another source also dismissed the claim by the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, that 64 Boko Haram members escaped, saying that over 201 members of the group were unaccounted for.

See Also Breaking News BREAKING: 10 Inmates, Nigerian Civil Defence Officer Killed During Attack By Ansaru Terrorists On Kuje Prison 0 Comments 1 Week Ago

“A total of 879 inmates escaped from the facility during the unfortunate attack. As of the time of this report, 443 have been recaptured, 551 inmates are currently in custody, 443 inmates are still at large, 4 inmates are dead and 16 inmates sustained various degrees of injuries and are being treated at the moment. However, efforts are ongoing to recapture all fleeing inmates,” NCS spokesperson had said.

 

“The Service will deploy its Corrections Information Management System in synergy with National Identity Management Commission to track all fleeing inmates and return them to custody.”

 

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The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has said that there was no prior information or an intelligence report before Tuesday’s terrorist attack on Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, the nation’s capital.

SaharaReporters earlier reported how terrorists who have now identified themselves as members of the militant group, the Islamic State's West Africa Province (ISWAP) invaded the prison facility around 9:05 pm on Tuesday and operated till 1:30 am on Wednesday morning.

The terrorists killed some inmates and an official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). They also freed hundreds of inmates including Boko Haram terrorists who were held in the facility.

 

Reacting to the incident, the NCoS Public Relations Officer, Umar Abubakar, while speaking on TVC News’ ‘Your View’ on Thursday morning said that NCoS only gathered intelligence about a prison facility in Bauchi and one other place but none for Kuje facility.

 

According to Abubakar, the attackers adopted the principle of surprise.

See Also Insecurity Nigerian Government Confirms Gunmen Attack On Kuje Prison Where Hundreds Of Inmates Escaped 0 Comments 1 Week Ago

The service spokesperson said, “We didn’t have intelligence about Kuje Correctional Centre. The intelligence we had was about Bauchi and another. We will only appeal to the communities where these facilities are located to assist us with intelligence. It also has to do with the synergy among the various security agencies.

 

“All our facilities are fortified. What I want to tell you is that what they adopted is the principle of surprise. They came in with IEDs to our facilities and when they came in, the armed men on the ground engaged them in a fierce battle.

See Also Exclusive EXCLUSIVE: How Terrorists Attacked Kuje Prison With Massive Firepower, Preached For 20 Minutes, Gave Us Transport Fare And Ordered Us To Leave – Escaped Inmate 0 Comments 6 Days Ago

“They shared themselves into three. There was an attempt to gain entrance through the main gate of the facility but they could not. Because of the fierce battle from the armed men on the ground. The third group now used IEDs by the wall. They brought down the wall and got access to the facility.”

 

Abubakar also confirmed the killing of the NSCDC officer during the attack, while some officers of the NCoS sustained gunshot injuries.

See Also Exclusive EXCLUSIVE: How Ansaru Terrorists Attacked Kuje Prison, Freed Over 500 Boko Haram Members, Herdsmen In Nigerian Capital 0 Comments 1 Week Ago

The NCoS spokesperson however disclosed that three of the terrorists were shot dead while some escaped with bullet wounds.

He said, “On the side of the security personnel on duty, we lost one civil defence officer, while some of our men sustained gunshot wounds; they are currently being treated in one of the hospitals.

WATCH: Aftermath Of Terrorists Attack On Kuje Prison Where Hundreds Of Boko Haram Members Were Freed In Nigeria’s Capital, Abuja pic.twitter.com/zWzMfDjVdP

— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) July 6, 2022

“Then, on the side of the terrorists, three were gunned down and some escaped with gunshots wounds and we have made an appeal to hospitals and clinics that if there is anybody who comes to the hospital or clinic with a gunshot wound, such person is a criminal and such person should be reported to the nearest police station or they can get across to us.”

PHOTONEWS: Scene Of Terrorists Attack On Kuje Prison In Abuja, Hundreds Of Boko Haram Members Freed pic.twitter.com/jkWKazonVF

— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) July 6, 2022

 

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A South African national, simply identified as Saheed, has arrived in Saudi Arabia after spending three years on the road from South Africa.

Saheed who made this known in a video obtained by SaharaReporters said he started trekking from South Africa in August 2018 and arrived in Saudi Arabia in July 2022 to perform Hajj.

He said he stayed in Palestine for one year and eight months due to the closure of the border as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I am here to perform Hajj and after Hajj, I will continue my journey Insha Allah," he said.

He further confirmed that he would be trekking back to South Africa after his stay in Mecca.

Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims.

It is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and of supporting their family during their absence from home.

 

 

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Kuje Prison

One of the inmates who fled Kuje Correctional Centre after the prison facility was attacked Tuesday night has spoken about the attack, how inmates were freed by terrorists and why he has decided to turn himself in.

 

Speaking to SaharaReporters exclusively, Adamu Eli narrated how the terrorists came in large numbers.

Kuje Prison Premium Times

Eli, alongside 49 others, who are currently standing trial on charges bordering on illegal possession of firearms, was moved to the Kuje Correctional Centre from the Yola Prison a fortnight ago.

 

He said, "The night of the attack was frightening; rattling gunfire, loud bangs of explosives surrounded the building.

 

"It was practically difficult to resist those guys, they came in with all kinds of firepower; chanting 'Allahuakbar'!

"After pulling down parts of the wall, the terrorists came in and boldly preached Islam to us for like 20 minutes, distributed transportation fare, clothes to us and ordered us to leave.

"Like me, those of us who were moved in from Yola, initially never wanted to leave the facility, but on second thought, we reasoned they may get provoked and kill us if we refuse to obey their orders.

"I fled to Zuba, later I relocated to Mararaba, near Abuja, where we converged; there I informed fellow inmates that we have to return to Kuje before the authorities would start hunting for us.

"So immediately after now, we'll be going back to Kuje because we know we're innocent of the charges brought against us and we have confidence in the justice system; we'll be vindicated at the end of the trial.”

 

"We have to move fast, more so that we left one of us, Ayuba, there because he's been sick for days and was too weak to run with us," he added.

Eli and 49 other inmates, who have been in detention for eight years were discharged by Justice Abdulaziz Anka of the Federal High Court in Yola, after five years of prosecution.

Anka discharged them after ruling on 'a no-case submission' in their favour. They were, however, rearrested and charged with the same offence, according to their counsel, Barrister Daniel Danladi.

 

"The prosecution knowing what the outcome of the ruling on our 'no-case submission' will be like, they filed another case, charged the same people standing trial; which is an abuse of court process, because you cannot stand trial in two cases having the same elements, the same ingredients. In law, this amounts to double Jeopardy.

 

"So, they arranged with the DSS (Department of State Services) and made a siege to the court to forcibly take them from the court so that they can stand another trial.

 

"Now the position of the law is very clear, DSS is not supposed to be involved in this kind of case. They're not in any way made for this kind of arrest. But it seems they were getting orders from above; I learnt that it was on the orders of the Attorney General of the Federation (Abubakar Malami)," Danladi said.

 

On Wednesday, the Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, known as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in a video claimed responsibility for the attack.

 

In the video, the terrorist sect showed some of its men shooting their way into the facility.

 

Though the Nigeria Correction Service’s spokesperson, Umar Abubakar, said one Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps personnel and four inmates died during the incident, a source told SaharaReporters that 10 inmates were killed during the incident.

 

Another source also dismissed the claim by the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, that 64 Boko Haram members escaped, saying that over 201 members of the group were unaccounted for.

 

“A total of 879 inmates escaped from the facility during the unfortunate attack. As of the time of this report, 443 have been recaptured, 551 inmates are currently in custody, 443 inmates are still at large, 4 inmates are dead and 16 inmates sustained various degrees of injuries and are being treated at the moment. However, efforts are ongoing to recapture all fleeing inmates,” NCS spokesperson had said.

 

“The Service will deploy its Corrections Information Management System in synergy with National Identity Management Commission to track all fleeing inmates and return them to custody.”

 

 

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Boris Johnson

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his resignation as Conservative Party leader Thursday after the latest ethics scandal around his leadership led some 50 senior lawmakers to quit the government.

 

The Prime Minister who said he would stay on as prime minister until a replacement is chosen had clung to power for two days, defiantly telling lawmakers on Wednesday that he had a "colossal mandate" from voters and intended to get on with the business of government, according to Washington Post.

Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson was on Thursday forced to concede defeat after two more members of his Cabinet quit and one of his closest allies, Treasury Chief Nadhim Zahawi, publicly told him to resign for the good of the country.

 

It wasn't immediately clear when Johnson would leave office, however.

 

His resignation will trigger an internal election to pick a new leader of the Conservative Party, who will also be the next prime minister. That process is likely to take place over the summer.

 

Johnson signalled that he intends to stay in office until that concludes. Such a move would be controversial, and critics say he should not be allowed to remain even as caretaker prime minister.

 

"Now PM has finally done the decent thing he needs to hand in the seals of office, apologise to Her Majesty (Queen Elizabeth II), allow her to appoint a Caretaker under whom Ministers can serve, so the Conservative Party can choose a new leader properly," George Freeman, who quit as science minister on Thursday, said in a tweet.

 

Zahawi, who was promoted earlier this week as Johnson tried to shore up his Cabinet, said he and a group of colleagues had privately expressed their concerns to the prime minister on Wednesday and he decided to go public after Johnson ignored the advice to resign.

 

"I am heartbroken that he hasn't listened and that he is now undermining the incredible achievements of this government," Zahawi said in a letter posted on Twitter. "But the country deserves a government that is not only stable but which acts with integrity."

 

Thursday morning's resignations meant that 50 Cabinet secretaries, ministers and lower-level officials had quit the government over two days, often castigating the prime minister for his lack of integrity. With more than 20 positions unfilled, the crisis had stalled the business of some parliamentary committees because there were no ministers available to speak on the government's behalf.

 

It is a humiliating defeat for Johnson, who succeeded in leading Britain out of the European Union and was credited with rolling out one of the world's most successful mass vaccination campaigns to combat COVID-19.

 

But the perpetually rumpled leader known for greeting critics with bombast and bluster was also dogged by criticism that he was willing to bend, and sometimes break the rules to achieve his goals.

 

Boris Johnson said on Thursday that he was “immensely proud” of his achievements as British prime minister

 

Johnson cited the national response to the coronavirus pandemic, the country’s support for Ukraine in the battle against Russia, and Britain’s departure from the European Union.

 

“The reason I have fought so far in the last few days to continue to deliver that mandate in person is not just because I wanted to do so but because I felt it was my job, my duty, my obligation,” said Johnson.

 

He delivered the address to the nation after he was prompted to resign by a Conservative Party revolt and a list of scandals — including parties that violated his own pandemic lockdown rules and the appointment of a lawmaker to a key post despite sexual misconduct allegations.

 

“Of course, it’s painful not to be able to see through those projects myself,” Johnson said of his plans for the country. “In politics, no one is remotely indispensable.”

 

Johnson, 58, managed to remain in power for almost three years, despite allegations that he was too close to party donors, that he protected supporters from bullying and corruption allegations, and that he misled Parliament about government office parties that broke pandemic lockdown rules.

 

Recent disclosures that Johnson knew about sexual misconduct allegations against a Conservative lawmaker before he promoted him to a senior position in government proved to be one scandal too many.

 

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As the former Nigerian Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice return to the UK court Thursday (today) for trial over alleged organ harvesting, a Nigerian court has ordered that the biodata of the alleged victim, David Ekpo, should be transmitted to the European court.

 

Justice Inyang Ekwo of Nigeria’s Federal High Court, Abuja ordered the National Identification Management Commission (NIMC) to immediately release the biodata of Ukpo to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, for immediate transmission to the UK Court.

This follows a request by the NIMC and in response to the request of the detained former Deputy Senator for his defence in the UK court.

 

Meanwhile, the Federal High Court had on July 1 issued an order following a suit by Ekweremadu and his wife requesting that NIMC release details of Ukpo to them but the Commission did not obey the order.

 

But at Wednesday’s proceedings, NIMC representative, Mr. Muazu Mohammed, informed Justice Ekwo that the Commission could not obey the court order because it was not served with a hearing notice before the order was issued against it.

 

Mohammed had earlier asked for revocation of the order but later amended his motion on notice, Leadership reports.

 

Rather than asking for revocation of the order, Mohammed requested that NIMC should be directed to submit information on David Ukpo to the AGF instead of Ekweremadu for onward transmission to the UK Court.

 

As Ekweremadu’s counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) did not oppose the request.

 

SaharaReporters earlier exclusively reported how Ekweremadu’s wife is being held at HMP Bronzefield prison in the United Kingdom, an adult and young offender female prison located on the outskirts of Ashford in Surrey, England.

 

It is also the only purpose-built private prison solely for women in the UK, and is the largest female prison in Europe and operated by Sodexo Justice Services.

 

Senator Ekweremadu and his wife have been denied bail as the prosecutors reportedly informed the court that the Nigerian lawmaker procured a passport for the boy and claimed he was 21 years old whereas it was discovered that he was 15 years old.

 

The case was adjourned to July 7 (today) at Westminster Magistrate Court to enable the UK Attorney General, Suella Braverman, to determine whether the case will be tried in the country or in Nigeria.

 

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The Special Counsel for Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Aloy Ejimakor has criticised the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, over his alleged anti-Igbo comment.

The former Kano State governor had said Igbos are good in business but are at the “bottom in politics”.

It also reported that Kwankwaso, who made the comment in Gombe while inaugurating the state’s NNPP office, said northerners would not vote for Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi because of the agitations for a separate state of Biafra in the region.

 

He also dismissed the possibility of becoming the running mate to Obi in the 2023 presidential elections, saying the South-East region would stand a better chance with him as the presidential candidate and Obi as his running mate.

The NNPP and Labour Party were having discussions to form an alliance and present a presidential candidate between them for the next general elections.

 

Since Kwankwaso made the comments, there have been reactions coming from every quarter including Mr Obi himself, who described the statement of the former governor as the reason "100 million Nigerians are in poverty".

 

However, Ejimakor who took to his Twitter handle on Thursday morning to condemn the comment asked why South-East candidates score highest in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), while northerners are the least performers in the examinations.

He also asked why the South-East region enjoys a high Human Development Index while the North wallows at the bottom of the table despite the efforts of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

According to Kwankwaso, the North is the grandmaster in politics & Southeast is a learner.

Why then is SE highest in WAEC, JAMB & Human Development Index while the North is lowest?

And why did these indices improve in the North under OBJ & GEJ but plummeted under GMB?#Oxymoron

— aloy ejimakor (@AloyEjimakor) July 7, 2022

He noted that under President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, the situation in the North instead of getting better became worse.

 

Ejimakor said on his Twitter handle, @AloyEjimakor, “According to Kwankwaso, the North is the grandmaster in politics & Southeast is a learner.

 

“Why then is SE highest in WAEC, JAMB & Human Development Index while the North is lowest?

 

“And why did these indices improve in the North under OBJ (Olusegun Obasanjo) & GEJ Goodluck Jonathan) but plummeted under GMB (Muhammadu Buhari)?”

 

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Former Senate President, David Mark and Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, the former Minister of State for Education have arrived at the Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, the United Kingdom to observe the trial of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice.

 

The Enugu West senator was arrested alongside his wife last month by the London Metropolitan Police for allegedly conspiring to bring a child to the UK for organ harvesting.

The Cable

The couple were earlier tried at the Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court in London and denied bail as the prosecutors claimed that David Ukpo, the victim who alleged that he was coerced to donate his kidney to the Senator’s daughter, is said to be 15 years old.

 

However, there have been contrary claims that Ukpo is 21 years old.

 

They are both charged with conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.

 

The case was however adjourned to Thursday, July 7 at Westminster Magistrate Court to enable the UK Attorney General, Suella Braverman, to determine whether the case will be tried in the country or Nigeria.

 

Also in court are some Nigerian senators led by Adamu Muhammad Bulkachuwa, Chairman, Senate Committee Foreign Affairs.

 

Meanwhile, Ekweremadu and his wife are yet to arrive in the courtroom.

 

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Boris Johnson is to resign on Thursday as Conservative leader but will push to stay on as prime minister until autumn after his chancellor, Nadhim Zahawi, called on him to go and a string of cabinet ministers walked out.

 

The decision comes at a time when his newly-elected Finance Minister Nadhim Zahawi said 'he must go'

Boris Johnson on Thursday agreed to resign as Conservative leader after losing the support of his ministers.

 

A report by BBC said that a Conservative leadership contest will be held this summer and a new prime minister will be in place in time for the party conference in October.

 

A new Tory leader is expected to be in place by the time of the Conservative Party conference in October, it added.

 

The reports come after a slew of resignations in the UK government over the last few days.  More than 50 Tory MPs quit the UK government in a period of less than 48 hours.

 

At least four more ministers also deserted British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday, saying he is no longer fit to be in charge after a series of scandals.

 

Dozens in his Conservative Party are also in open revolt.

 

But Johnson was defiantly hanging onto power on Thursday despite all the resignations, the unstoppable revolt by his own lawmakers, and signs of paralysis in his government.

 

Britain’s minister for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis, was among the four ministers who announced their resignation on Thursday.

 

He said he no longer believed the values of honesty, integrity and mutual respect were being upheld by Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government.

 

Lewis joined around 50 politicians who have quit government positions in the last two days in an effort to force Johnson out of power.

 

Helen Whately, a junior treasury minister, also quit on Thursday, along with security minister Damian Hinds.

 

Hinds said the country needed Prime Minister Boris Johnson to go in order to restore trust in our democracy.

 

“More important than any government or leader are the standards we uphold in public life and faith in our democracy and public administration,” Hinds said in his resignation letter to Johnson.

 

“Because of the serious erosion in these, I have come to the conclusion that the right thing for our country and for our party is for you to stand down as party leader and prime minister.”

 

Guy Opperman, a British junior minister who oversees pensions, also resigned on Thursday, saying the unwillingness of Prime Minister Boris Johnson to quit had left him no choice.

 

British junior culture minister Chris Philp resigned as well and asked Johnson to quit over a series of scandals that have dogged his administration.

 

The Telegraph quoted its sources saying that Johnson spoke with Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs, and agreed to stand down.

 

Initially, Johnson had vowed to fight on, despite clamouring pressure on him to quit and an ongoing wave of resignations.

 

A No 10 spokesperson said: “The prime minister will make a statement to the country today.”

 

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The family of Emmanuel Agbomu of Egor, Benin City, Edo State has alleged the extrajudicial killing of their son, Ebi Larry Agbomu, who was arrested by police operatives led by one Inspector Ogbemudia Friday Nosa on May 24, 2022, at his residence, Guobadia Street, Off Country Home Road, Benin City.

 

Agbomu in a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba through the Officer-in-Charge, Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID), said that since the arrest of Larry in his house, his whereabouts had remained unknown.

The family, which said they are not against crime fighting in the state, noted that if Larry had committed any offence known to the law, the police should have prosecuted him and allowed the law to take its cause instead of killing him.

 

The petition sent to the IGP, dated June 7, 2022, exactly one month ago, called for a thorough investigation into the alleged extrajudicial killing.

It also asked the police authorities to prosecute officers involved in the killing of Larry.

 

The petition is titled: "Covered Up Police Conduct; Extra Judicial Killing Of Ebi Larry Agbomu".

 

Agbomu, father of Ebi Larry, while narrating the event of May 24 in his petition and how he got to know about it, urged the IGP Usman Baba to use his good office to ensure the culprits are brought to justice.

 

He narrated thus: "On the 25th day of May 2022, I got to know from one Emmanuel, a friend to my son, Ebi Larry Agbomu who lived with my son in the apartment my son rented at Guobadia Street, Off Country Home Road, Benin City that when he got home in the evening of Tuesday 24th May, 2022, he met everything scattered in the apartment and did not find my son, Larry.

 

"On enquiry from neighbours, he was told that some policemen who refused to disclose where they came from took Larry together with Larry's personal belongings like electronics, electrical gadgets and educational certificates away after torturing him. Emmanuel claimed some of his own personal belongings including his certificates were also taken away.

 

"Same day I came to know of this, I visited the house of Larry in the company of my wife, his mother and neighbours amongst whom was a pastor who narrated to us how they were frightened by the police who broke into the apartment of Larry (who was at the material time at 7:30 pm) at home and forcefully brought him out of the house.

 

"The Pastor told me that he summoned the courage to climb down from the upstairs to ask one of the officers the next destination they were taking Larry to but that the police drove the pastor away telling him to go back to his apartment, that they did not come for him (the pastor)."

 

He explained after he got the information, his family members and Emmanuel went to police formations to know where Larry was but unfortunately, they did not find him everywhere they went.

 

He continued, "As the search for Larry became intensified, reliable information from persons who are afraid to be mentioned said the manager of Residential Inn (which is situated along Christ Way, Off Country Home Road) whose name is Tony Okunhon was arrested on allegation that some boys who planned the kidnap of the owner of Zigi Hotel (situated at Plot 3, New Etete Layout, Off Country Home Road) lodged in his hotel but was later released to the owner of the Residential Inn.

 

"The Tony is said to have disclosed (despite being under threat of death from police officers who claimed to be from the police detachment at Gapiona, G.R.A., Benin-City) that one Akpos alleged to be a spy on the owner of Zigi Hotel was caught by the police detectives at Zigi Hotel and after being tortured confessed that he had gang members who were on the ground to do the kidnap.

 

"The detectives were said to have ordered the said Akpos to tell his gang members that they should swing into action by coming to kidnap their target and the gang members actually arrived, leading to a shootout between the police and the kidnappers whereby the police used superior gun power to gun down some of the kidnappers and arrested them while some died on the spot.

 

"The police orderly attached to the owner of Zigi Hotel who was said to also be on the ground then is one Inspector Ogbemudia Friday Nosa.

 

"The manager of Residential Inn was said to have been arrested by the detectives because Akpos said his gang members lodged there. Before the very eyes of Tony, Akpos was asked where he lives and he was said to have mentioned that he cohabits with my son, Larry and that seemed to be the offence my son committed that made the detectives to be led to the house of my son (who was not at the scene of the crime) to arrest him."

 

He added, "My children made a private investigation to reach the owner of Zigi Hotel and Tony and the owner of Zigi Hotel confirmed the arrest of my son as well as others by the police he detailed; Tony also said that my son, Larry and others in the custody of the detectives are all dead.

 

"I am not against crime-fighting. If my son (who was not at the scene but arrested at home) was connected with the alleged attempt to kidnap and volunteers confessional statement in his living state or if there be any video recording which both owner of Zigi Hotel and Tony said the detectives made, such recording

ought to be put on the media and the boys ought to be profiled to face the law having been arrested.

 

"Such extra-judicial killing of my son who never wielded gun against them does not serve the interest of justice. The worst thing is that the killing or whereabouts of my son or his corpse is covered up by the detectives and the owner of Zigi Hotel till date.

 

"We urge you to use your good offices to invite the owner of Zigi Hotel, Inspector Ogbemudia Friday Nosa and Tony Okunhon to disclose the police detectives behind the extra-judicial killing of my son.

 

"I seek justice in this matter in the most peaceful way.”

 

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned its members in Adamawa State not to recognise or identify with Mustapha Madawaki, as the Labour Party candidate for the governorship position in the state.

 

NLC President, Ayuba Wabba disclosed this in a statement, adding that the union has communicated its decision to the Labour Party, which was formed by Organised Labour.

According to Ayuba, Madawaki has a questionable character and is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

 

It was learnt that Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kriston Lally and the NLC years back initiated a mass housing project which promised to deliver houses at competitive prices but the plan collapsed when accusations of illegal withdrawals of subscribers’ funds and inability to provide land surfaced.

 

The statement read, “As a follow-up to a recent press release by Organized Labour in Adamawa State disclaiming the candidature of Mr. Mustapha Umar Madawaki who claims to be contesting for the governorship position in Adamawa State on the platform of the Labour Party, we wish to reiterate the following important points of concern:

 

“Mr. Mustapha Umar Madawaki has been charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the account of the failed Kriston Lally/NLC Housing Project in 2015;

 

“Following the seriousness of the allegations preferred against Mr. Mustapha Umar Madawaki, the outcry of workers and the proactive steps taken by the NLC leadership, the EFCC had to step into the matter. After a thorough investigation, the EFCC charged Mr. Mustapha Umar Madawaki to court. The case between Mr. Mustapha Umar Madawaki and the Federal Government of Nigeria at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court 14, Nyanya, Abuja, Charge No: C12/23/17, is currently before Hon. Justice U.P. Kekemeke and has been ongoing since 2017;

 

“That until Mr. Mustapha Umar Madawaki establishes his innocence, the Nigeria Labour Congress would never lend its support to such suspicious characters who have very serious criminal charges in the court of law. The policy of the NLC is to support only candidates of the Labour Party who meets its requirements of strength of character and commitment to the ideology cum Charter of Demands of the Nigerian working class;

 

“The Nigeria Labour Congress enjoins all workers in Adamawa State not to recognize or identify with or support or vote for Mr. Mustapha Umar Madawaki. NLC has communicated this decision to the Labour Party; a party formed by Organized Labour; and

 

“The Nigeria Labour Congress reiterates that Mr. Mustapha Madawaki in an apparent display of crass impunity and consistent with a pattern of grand deception took Organized Labour in Adamawa State to court claiming defamation of character. We hope he would pursue that case to a logical conclusion as Nigerians are eager to watch the parody of how quickly an accused can suddenly adorn himself in the robe of an accuser. If he manages to show up in court, we are ready to account to the court how Mr. Mustapha Madawaki wants to swim in the sweats of Nigerian workers to the governorship seat of Adamawa State.”

 

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Residents of Dutsinma villages in Katsina State where the presidential advance team was ambushed on Tuesday have narrated how the security agents in the convoy did not exchange fire with the terrorists.

According to the villagers, that gave the terrorists the opportunity to escape unhurt.

This, however, contradicts the account given by the presidency on the incident.

 

The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media, Garba Shehu had said shortly after the incident that the convoy included an advance team of security guards, protocol and media officers.

 

He said, “The attackers opened fire on the convoy from ambush positions but were repelled by the military, police and DSS (Department of State Services) personnel accompanying the convoy."

 

Shehu said two persons in the convoy were receiving treatment for the minor injuries they suffered and that all the other personnel, staff and vehicles made it safely to Daura.

 

Dutsinma, where the attack happened is about 152 kilometres from Buhari’s hometown of Daura.

 

But contrary to the Presidency's account, eyewitnesses told Daily Trust that the convoy did not exchange gunfire with the terrorists, saying it made the assailants escape unhurt.

 

It reported that the attackers had invaded one village called Buturkai where they dispersed the residents, forcing them to relocate to Turare village where the attack occurred, and some of them to Shandai, a grazing reserve area.

 

According to the report, that happened before the arrival of the presidency's advance team.

 

“At Buturkai, the bandits killed three persons and went to Dogon Ruwa village where they killed two people, broke into so many shops and carted away valuables before proceeding to Marke village where they rustled some animals,” an eyewitness told the newspaper.

 

The witness further said when the advance team arrived at Turare and discovered what was going on, they parked their vehicles at the LEA Primary School in the village for some time, made some enquiries and when it was clear that the bandits had covered some distance, they continued with their journey, while shooting sporadically into the air until they passed the danger zone.

 

A resident of Marke, where the bandits were at the time the team arrived, also said, “It was after the bandits had left our village that the long convoy of the security personnel (advance team) passed, shooting into the air.

 

“From our understanding, it was the same group of bandits that killed the area commander around Zakka area that passed through Kwanar Dutse to Kunamawar Mai Awaki where they killed two people, then Kunamwa Babba, they killed two people also, one of whom was the husband of my sister-in-law,” he said.

 

He added that the same bandits proceeded to Unguwar Gurbai where they killed six people and then Doguwar Dankwambo where they killed two people and Unguwar Ido village where they killed another six people.

 

Meanwhile, residents of Kunkunni village said a fighter jet dropped a bomb, killing two people and injuring several others around 11 pm on Tuesday.

 

“The bandits passed by the southern part of the village with their herds of animals, but later we saw a bright light in the sky followed by a very thunderous sound. Later we discovered that two people had died and some injured.

 

“As I am talking to you, I just returned from the General Hospital, Dutsinma and I left nine people in critical condition at the emergency section of the hospital,” the resident said.

 

It was gathered that several others from Safana Local Government Area injured by the bandits during Tuesday’s attacks were also at the general hospital.

SaharaReporters on Wednesday reported that a fighter jet operated by the Nigerian Air Force bombed Kunkuna village in the Safana Local Government Area of ​​Katsina State, killing a yet-to-be ascertained number of villagers.

Though details of the incident were still sketchy, it was learnt that the pilots of the military jet “accidentally” hit the wrong coordinates while targeting a camp belonging to bandits in the area.

“A military jet earlier today dropped airstrikes on Kunkuna Village in Safana Local Government Area of ​​Katsina State. We cannot confirm the number of casualties now,” a source had said.

SaharaReporters called Edward Gabkwet, Air Force spokesman but the calls were not answered nor returned.

Confirming the incidents, a lawmaker representing Safana in the Katsina State House of Assembly, Abduljalal Haruna Runka, said a military fighter jet mistakenly dropped a bomb on Kunkunna village, where 14 people were injured.

 

“Yes, it was the Airforce fighter jet that dropped the bomb, and 14 people were injured. Eight were referred to the Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina due to their critical condition but a woman has died among them, while the remaining six are still at the general hospital, Dutsinma,” he added.

 

The lawmaker said the bandits were in Kwanar Dutse for two days and it was the same group that attacked the presidential advance team.

 

He added that at least 12 persons were killed in different villages during the bandits’ rampage in the area.

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