Breaking News Today Wed 16 Dec 2020

Explosion Kills Exxon Mobil Staff In A’Ibom

At least one person has been killed by a fire explosion from gas flare at the Process Area of Qua Iboe Terminal facility of ExxonMobil in Ibeno local government of Akwa Ibom.

A second victim, though not dead was said to be severely injured and receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.


Sources told newsmen that the victim was a supervisor working in processing area even as our correspondent who visited the scene of the accident reports that the processing area of QIT has been condoned off.


It was gathered that the victims were about to light up the gas flaring when the flare exploded adding that from all indication, the victims who were to turn on the flare that was shut for maintenance purpose flouted all safety procedures that would haveavertedtheexplosion.

“Two supervisors went to on the gas flaring plant that was shut down for maintenance, the victims were told to light up the gas flare plant which is the excess gas from the flare,” the source said.

Wonder Banks: ‘Many Feared Dead From Shock, Plateau Lost N38bn’

The director general of Plateau State

Microfinance Development Agency, PLASMIDA, Haggai Haruna Gutap has disclosed that between 2001 and 2016 many died in the state as a result of the activities of unregulated financial institutions called “Wonder Banks” that defrauded depositors and investors.

According to the DG the state has lost not less than N38billion as a result of fraudulent activities of ‘Wonder Banks’ pointing out that this development had sent many of their victims to their early graves in the state as a result of shock.

The DG PLASMIDA stated this while speaking to LEADERSHIP in an interview in his office in Jos the Plateau State capital yesterday.

“One of the challenges of the agency is a major threat caused by unregulated agencies that are going about to defraud people, we call them ‘Wonder Banks’” he said.


“I want to tell the Youths of Plateau that for us to move forward we must consistently seek for solution rather than engaging ourselves in destructive activities. And those that have gotten skills they should apply those skills and go for constant improvement.

FG To Block SIM Cards Without NIN Registration

Sequel to the earlier directive

to ban registration of new SIM Cards, the federal government yesterday directed Mobile Network Oeprators to update their customers registrations with the National Identity Number (NIN), saying numbers without the update would be blocked by January 2021.

The minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) made this known during an urgent meeting of key stakeholders in the Communications industry in Abuja.

To this end, the following decisions were taken for immediate implementation by all Network Operators:

i.Affirmation of the earlier directive to totally suspend registration of NEW SIMs by all operators.

ii.Operators require ALL their subscribers to provide valid National Identification Number (NIN) to update SIM registration records.

iii.The submission of NIN by subscribers to take place within two weeks (from today December 16, 2020 and end by 30 December, 2020).

iv. After the deadline, ALL SIMs without NINs are to be blocked from the networks.

v.A Ministerial Task Force comprising the Minister and all the CEOs (among others) as members is to monitor compliance by all networks.

vi.Violations of this directive will be met by stiff sanctions, including the possibility of withdrawal of operating license.

A statement by the director of public affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, urged the general public to ensure that their NINs are captured in their SIM registration data, even as it regretted all inconveniences which might be occasioned by the new directive.

Police better poised to crush protests, says IGP


Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, yesterday stated that the Nigeria Police is now better poised to protect lives and property with greater vigour, especially after the #Endsars protests.

He spoke yesterday in Umuahia, Abia State, during his one day working visit that featured the unveiling of the State Homeland Security and commissioning of the new Police Zone 9 Headquarters in Umuahia built by the state government.

He interacted with officers and men of the state Police Command, urging them to continue to give quality service despite the impact of the #EndSARS protests on them.

The IGP also took delivery of 15 INNOSON Security Patrol Vans, procured by the state government from which 10 were given to the police and five given to the military in the state.


Two die, many injured in Rivers stampede

TWO persons died and many sustained injuries yesterday following the stampede at a Christmas palliative sharing centre in Rumudara, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Port Harcourt.

A source, who gave her name as Blessing, said owners of the warehouse invited everyone who registered with them in Obio/Akpor to come for their Christmas palliatives, but they did not control the crowd who struggled to gain access to the venue.

Police spokesman Nnamdi Omoni said the palliatives were being distributed by INKSNATION, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).

Omoni said two persons died while many others sustained injuries.

He said: “The stamped happened at an event centre along the Rumuodara axis of the East/West Road, Obio/Akpor council, where palliatives were being shared.

“The palliatives were being distributed by INKSNATION, a Non-Governmental Organisation to her registered members from Ikwerre, Emohua and Obio/Akpor councils. There was a stampede, two people died while some sustained injuries and are receiving treatment.

“The situation is under control and Commissioner of Police Joseph Mukan has instituted a probe. Further developments will be communicated accordingly.”

Army, civilian killed as gunmen abduct another foreigner in Ibadan

Men of the Oyo State Police Command have recovered the corpses of one soldier and a civilian from a forest in Ibadan while searching for a foreigner kidnapped in the city on Wednesday.







The Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, Olugbenga Fadeyi, made the disclosure on Monday.


He added that an Army Lieutenant and an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps also sustained gunshot wounds during an exchange of gunfire between the kidnappers and security operatives.

According to him, one Hassan Mills of Panorama farm, Mekun, Oke Alaro area of Ibadan was abducted at the entrance of his farm by unknown gunmen who shot sporadically before taking him away into the forest.

He added that the Divisional Police Officer in Oke Alaro and his men combed the forest with a view to rescue the victim from his captors and also arrest the culprits.


Fadeyi revealed that a team of Operation Burst which was invited by the company arrived the area and proceeded to the forest during which one Army Lieutenant sustained gunshot injury on his right lap, and immediately taking to the hospital.

The Police image maker said the Personal Assistant to the victim who was also abducted escaped during an exchange of gunfire.

Negotiation with the captors according to him is being concealed from the Police while efforts have been intensified to arrest the hoodlums and also rescue the victim.

He urged well-meaning and good people of Oyo State with useful and credible information as to the whereabouts of the kidnappers and victim to furnish the Police in the state for rescue operation to be carried out immediately.

Fadeyi said “On 12/12/2020 at about 1723 hrs, one Hassan Mills ‘m’ of Panorama farm Mekun, Oke Alaro area of Ibadan was abducted at the entrance of his farm by unknown gunmen who shot sporadically before taking him away into the forest.

“In a swift response, the DPO Oke Alaro, combed the forest with a view to rescue the abductor from his captors and also arrest the culprits.

“Consequent upon this, a team of Operation Burst which was invited by the company arrived the area and proceeded to the forest.

“Not too long, one Army Lieutenant sustained gunshot injury on his right lap, and immediately taking to the hospital while the Personal assistant to the abductor who was also abducted escaped during an exchange of gunfire.

“On 13/12/2020, two corpses of one soldier and a civilian were discovered from the forest while a Civil Defence personnel also sustained gunshot injury after a search in the forest.

“It is worthy of note that the movement of these foreign nationals most of the time are not known to the Police authority in the State to enable professional advice to be given appropriately.

“Also, negotiations with the captors are also concealed from the Police. Meanwhile, effort intensified to arrest the hoodlums and also rescue the abductor.

“Well-meaning and good people of Oyo state with useful and credible information as to the whereabouts of the captors/abductor should furnish the Police in Oyo State for a rescue operation to be carried out immediately, please.”

The incident is coming barely three days after two foreigners were earlier kidnapped in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital city.

The foreigners were kidnapped around 4:00 pm Wednesday evening at a pharmaceutical firm near Toll Gate on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, according to sources.

They were said to be driving out of the company’s premises when the kidnappers, who were trailing them, opened fire on their vehicle’s tyres which forced the vehicles to a halt.

Sources said the two foreigners were first robbed of their cash and other possessions before they were whisked away by their abductors.

The Police spokesperson in confirming the incident said the security operatives are on the trail of the criminals.

#EndSARS: How police claimed we are gay, extorted us ― Victims

Three persons namely Johnson Eze a tailor, Hyacinth Inhanrebhor and Pascal Omozee on Monday told the Edo State Judicial Panel of Inquiry for victims of SARS and related abuses of how the police arrested them over an allegation that they were gay, tortured and forcefully extorted N100, 000, N50,000 and N60,000 from them respectively.






Eze, who said he was detained at the Iyekogba Police Station in Benin City on the orders of the Area Commander for three days, alleged that he was abused and coerced to sign a statement already prepared by the Police.

Narrating his ordeal, Mr Eze said he was arrested on June 15, 2020, by the Area Commander, Johnson Acha, and his team and was detained till June 18 after he was forcefully made to pay N100, 000.

He said, “I was arrested along Textile Mill Road in Benin on June 15, 2020, by the Area Commander and his team. They seized my sewing materials and my phones after arresting me. They took me to the police station and forced me to agree that I was homosexual. They used a stick to beat me to say the truth and after then they detained me.

“I sustained an injury in my forehead and my leg during the beating. They molested and detained me based on accusations that I was gay. I was molested and humiliated for three days from June 15 to 18 after which I was forced to pay N100, 000.

“After the frustration, I was made to pay N50,000 cash and another N50, 00 through PoS machine using my ATM card. They called a girl to bring the PoS machine to me. They threatened to trace and kill me if I told anyone that I paid money to them.”

Under cross-examination by counsel to the Police, Polycarp Odion, the victim, however, said he did not obtain a medical report from the hospital to substantiate his claims of being beaten and injured.

Mr Odion told the Panel that the victim was only blackmailing the police after he had been caught in the act of homosexuality.

But counsel to the victim, Innocent Ukpai, alleged that it was the pattern of the Area Commander and his cohorts to invade the privacy of Benin residents, arrest, detain, molest and extort money from them for no justifiable and unsubstantiated reasons.

Ukpai, who is also the counsel to the two other victims, Inhanrebhor and Omozee, said in all the arrests, the police ensured that the family and relatives of the victims did not communicate with them or knew where they were until the victims agreed to pay the sum of money demanded by the police officers.

“Our clients are law-abiding residents in Benin City, Edo State who have been variously and unconscionably exploited, beaten, molested, and detained by the Area Commander, Iyekogba Police Station, Benin City, unconstitutionally, illegally and utter abuse of office,” Mr Ukpai added.

Mr Ukpai, therefore, demanded N10 million compensation to be paid to each of the three victims.

After listening to the arguments, Ada Ehigiamusoe, Chairperson of the panel, adjourned to Tuesday for further hearing on the matter.

Osinbajo advocates enterprise-friendly regulations for businesses

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says there is a need to review the mode of regulation of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across the country.





He said that this would provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

Osinbajo stated this while inaugurating the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) Convention Centre on Monday.

He said that the Federal Government had incentivised small businesses by reducing taxes.

“But I think that one of the drawbacks that we have had in improving the business environment is really with respect to how we regulate small businesses.

“For example, in Abuja, I hear very frequently, small businesses which talk about the kinds of problems they experience -either with fumigation licences or one licence or the other— all manner of constraints which ideally should not occur.

“I know that the Minister of FCT is actively working with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) and that the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment have been concerned about making this work.

“But Abuja is just one example of how generally speaking, all over the country, we need to take a second look at how we regulate small businesses; we just need to take a second look.’’

The Vice President said that as part of the government’s policy, most of the major taxes had been removed.

According to him, corporation tax, if turnover is under N25 million, is zero.

“If you look at all the proposed Finance Bill, there are several incentives for small businesses and I think this is where the private sector must work very actively with us in ensuring that we are self-regulators and policemen and women of the regulations.

“I think the time has come for us to have a chamber of commerce paying very active attention to all that is going on in the MSMEs space especially with respect to regulation,’’ he said.

The Vice President urged business operators to expose government officials who were making it difficult for people to do business.

Osinbajo applauded ACCI for erecting such an impressive complex with purely voluntary private-sector effort.

He added that the gesture underscored the strength and dynamism of the private sector as a crucial component of economic development.

Earlier, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, the outgoing President of ACCI, said that the project was started three years ago with a view to promoting trade, business, and economy of Nigeria and creating opportunities for young people.

He commended the Vice President for being MSMEs friendly and urged him to use his position as chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC) to mobilise further support for the MSMEs.

ACCI, established in 1986, is a non-partisan, non-sectarian, member-funded organisation solely representing the common interests of the business community in the FCT.

ASUU didn’t go on strike over IPPIS, says UNN-ASUU Chairman

Dr Christian Opata, a chieftain of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said the union’s rejection of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information Management System (IPPIS) has nothing to do with its current strike.






Opata, who is the Chairman of ASUU, University of Nigeria, Nsukka chapter, said this on Monday while briefing newsmen on the protracted nationwide action.

He said the briefing was to correct the “misinformation” in a national daily, where it was alleged that the union embarked on its action because of IPPIS.

According to him, ASUU went on strike because Federal Government failed to honour the 2009 agreement and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it entered with ASUU.

“ASUU didn’t go on strike because of a misunderstanding with government on IPPIS as platform for payment of salary.

“IPPIS issue started in 2018, before then, ASUU has been calling on government to honour the 2009 agreement and various MoUs it entered with government.

“In the 2009 agreement and MoUs, government agreed, among other things, to release money to revitalise the decaying infrastructure in public universities and set up visitation panels to know the condition of the universities,” Opata said.

He said that it was mischievous for anybody to accuse ASUU of insensitivity over the plight of students and parents, when government was guilty of reneging on its 2009 agreement and MoUs.

Opata said the ongoing strike could have been averted, “if government honoured and implemented its 2009 agreement and MoUs with ASUU.

He said the union took strong exception to the feature story in the national daily.

“The writer is not fair to ASUU, which has been fighting to ensure the revitalisation of public universities to ensure that students compete with their counterparts globally,” he said. (NAN)

IPOB floats eastern security network, says it’s not Biafran army

Following the inability of South-East governors, to float a security outfit like the Amotekun of the South-West, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, weekend, floated a security outfit named Eastern Security Network, ESN.

IPOB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said that the security outfit is not Biafran Army neither is it for forceful declaration of Biafran Republic, but rather to guard the whole of south-east against the menace of killer herdsmen and other criminal groups.

IPOB added that the aim and objective of the new security outfit is to halt criminal activity and terrorists attack in Biafraland.

IPOB’s statement read, “We the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, under the command and leadership of our great leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to announce with delight, that IPOB has floated a special security network to guard and protect the whole of Biafraland from the rampaging killer herdsmen terrorists activities and other criminal groups in our land.”






“The sole aim and objective of this newly formed Security outfit known as Eastern Security Network,ESN, is to halt every criminal activity and terrorists attack in Biafraland.

“This outfit which is a vigilante group like the Amotekun in the South West and the Miyetti Allah security outfit in North will ensure the safety of our homes, forests and farm lands which terrorists have converted into slaughter grounds and raping fields.






Since the South East and South South governors have failed to float a regional security outfit unlike their counterparts in the South West despite the worsening insecurity in the country, we have decided not to wait endlessly while our mothers and sisters are continually raped and slaughtered like fowls by terrorists in our land.

“We can’t watch helplessly while those we are agitating to liberate from bondage are gradually being eliminated by terrorists.

“We therefore, advise every robber, kidnapper and other criminals to steer clear from Biafra land or brace up for the worst. We must defend Biafra land no matter the price.

“Biafra Security Network personnel will release special phone numbers for people to call whenever there is any case of criminality including kidnapping and robbery activities in the whole of Biafraland. Every resident in Biafraland should use the numbers to report any criminal activity anywhere in Biafraland for prompt response.

“Killer herdsmen attack on our mothers and sisters must stop in our land with immediate effect. Unnecessary police brutality on innocent citizens also must stop. Police and Army check points which have since been converted to extortion points should be dismantled.

“Security agencies should stop milking our people of their hard-earned resources. Let the check points be set up in the North East where criminal and kidnapping activities are in high demand.”

Police rescue kidnapped Cardiologist in Calabar after gun battle

A kidnapped consultant cardiologist working in the Internal Medicine in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Dr Vincent Uhuegbu has been rescued






Dr Uhuegbu was kidnapped by four unknown gunmen on December 9th 2020 at about 9.30pm in front of his resident along Akaifa in Calabar Municipal Government Area of Cross River

It was gathered that the rescue occurred in the early hours of Monday and witnessed an exchange of gunfire, resulting in the death of some suspects and the arrest of others.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo confirmed the rescue of the Medical Doctor, Dr Vincent explaining that investigations on the matter have commenced.

At the time of filing this report, the Chairman of NMA Innocent Abang and other Executive members were holding a meeting to call off the indefinite strike action embarked upon by the association following the kidnapped of Dr Vincent.

Ondo Assembly lifts suspension on deputy speaker, three other lawmakers

Following a court order that invalidated the suspension of four lawmakers of the Ondo State House of Assembly, the assembly on Monday lifted the suspension order on the four lawmakers.






The four suspended lawmakers were former Deputy Speaker, Iroju Ogundeji; Honourables Favour Tomomewo, Adewinle Adewale Williams and Akinrinbido Tomide.

Speaking on their reinstatement during the plenary, the Speaker of the House, Honourable Bamidele Oleyelogun, said the four lawmakers were suspended in line with the provisions of the rules and standing orders of the House at parliamentary which was ratified at plenary.

He disclosed that one of the lawmakers, Akinrinbido, was suspended after the House at plenary adopted the recommendation of the ad-hoc committee set up to investigate allegation of misconduct against him over the use of unparliamentary language.

He however said their reistatement became necessary following a court order delivered in favour of the four suspended lawmakers but maintained that the House was not served with the court judgment until recently.

“Surprisingly, the House was not served with these judgments until recently. But because their suspension was done at plenary, the House based on its regulatory proceedings had to consider the judgment at its parliamentary where a resolution to seek the advice of the Judiciary and Legal Committee on the court judgment was reached.

“The House Committee on Judiciary and the Legal Department advised that the House should obey the judgment for peaceful coexistence and harmonious relationship between the judiciary and the legislature,” he said.

Oleyelogun said the legislative arm of government being a law-making organ would stand firm in support of the rule of law saying this necessitated the House compliance with the court order on the reinstatement of the suspended lawmakers.

He however, ruled that indefinite suspension order placed on the four lawmakers should be lifted to allow them perform their legislative functions as members of the Ondo State House of Assembly.

While reacting, one of the lawmakers, Akinribido, representing Ondo West constituency I, described the reversal of the suspension order as a welcome development