Author: CoreNews Africa

Bandits intercepted a pickup truck and stole food, drinks, and bottled water in Akoti village, located in the Kagarko local government area of Kaduna State. This event occurred just 48 hours after another group of bandits took food and drinks from a motorcyclist. A local source reported that the truck’s owner, who was transporting bags of rice, a jerrycan of vegetable oil, energy drinks, and bottled water from Jere to Akoti village, was approached by the bandits. He stated that the assailants, armed with AK-47 rifles, appeared from the forest, flagged down the van, deflated its tires, and drove it into the forest. After stealing the food items, the bandits released both the driver and his assistant. As of the time of this report, the spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Hassan Mansur, had not confirmed the incident.

Prof. Ifeanyichukwu Abada, a senior lecturer at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), has addressed the controversies surrounding the recent election of the University’s Governing Council members. Reports from DAILY POST indicate that the election has faced protests and petitions, with some members of the Alumni Association questioning its legitimacy. Recently, alumni held a protest demanding the election be annulled. However, in a statement to journalists, Abada, a former chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for the UNN chapter, defended the election process, stating it was credible. He highlighted that the Governing Council elections were successfully conducted under the leadership of Pro-Chancellor General Ike Nwachukwu (rtd.) and Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu. Abada noted that their efforts resulted in a process that was widely viewed as free, fair, and credible. Stakeholders—including academic staff, non-teaching staff, alumni, and the broader university community—praised the administration for its commitment to inclusivity and fairness in selecting representatives for the Governing Council. He specifically mentioned the role of digital innovation in enhancing alumni engagement, noting that Engr. Emeka Udoh was elected as the Convocation Representative for the Governing Council. According to Abada, this election marked a significant advancement in the university’s use of technology. For the first time, UNN alumni from around the world participated in the voting process, overcoming geographical barriers and promoting unprecedented inclusivity. Alumni from all continents engaged in the election, highlighting their strong connection to their alma mater. The digital voting platform was user-friendly and accessible, alleviating logistical issues that often hinder participation. The secure and verifiable nature of the system ensured credible results, establishing a new standard for future elections. Others chosen included: Senate Representatives – Professor Ejim Emmanuel Chukwudi, Professor Idika Kalu Idika, Professor Attamah Anthony, and Professor Agwu Ekwe Agwu, along with Congregation Representatives – Mr. Temple Onwukwe for Non-Teaching Staff, and Professor Onyishi Ike as the Congregation Representative for Teaching Staff.

Former Minister of Women Affairs, Uju-Kennedy Ohanenye, stated that she is still managing the cases she was involved with, even after being dismissed by President Bola Tinubu. In an interview on Channels TV on Wednesday, she emphasized that her visions were “not dismissed.” She said, “I was let go, but my visions remain intact; they were not dismissed.” She continued, “I have been carrying on with the work I did as minister for women’s affairs. I still attend court to support those who can’t defend themselves and who lack the financial means to hire a lawyer. I am still working on all the sensitive cases I had before my departure, so I couldn’t simply leave them behind.” Uju-Kennedy was let go by Tinubu during a cabinet reshuffle in October of this year. She was one of five ministers removed from Tinubu’s cabinet.

Local hunters and vigilantes have saved five wedding guests who were abducted while traveling to Odo-Owa community in Kwara State from Kogi State. The victims were taken last Saturday around 4 pm by armed men in Obbo-Ayegunle, located in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, and were rescued on Tuesday. All of the victims belong to the same family from Odo-Owa community, and the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of N100 million for their release. Reports to DAILY POST in Ilorin on Wednesday indicated that the Chairman of Oke-Ero Local Government Area visited the victims in the hospital where they are receiving medical care. Additionally, unconfirmed reports suggest that hunters and vigilantes also rescued eight other captives. Efforts to contact the state police spokesperson, DSP Ejire Adeyemi Toun, for comments on the incident were unsuccessful.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecasted dust haze across Nigeria from Thursday to Saturday. In a weather outlook released on Wednesday in Abuja, NiMet predicted a slight dust haze on Thursday with good visibility in the northern region throughout the forecast period. The agency mentioned that North Central states would also experience slight dust haze and good visibility during this time. In the southern parts of the country, moderate dust haze with visibility ranging from 2km to 5km is expected throughout the forecast. Additionally, early morning fog or mist is anticipated over the coastal areas. For Thursday, slight dust haze is expected in the northern region, and the North Central region will similarly experience this haze during the forecast. In the South, moderate dust haze with a visibility range of 2km to 5km is also anticipated. On Friday, NiMet predicts moderate dust haze in the northern region with the same visibility range, while the North Central should experience moderate dust haze as well. Early morning fog or mist is expected along the coast, with patches of slight dust haze in the afternoon and evening. NiMet advises the public to take precautions due to suspended dust particles and recommends that airline operators obtain airport-specific weather reports for effective flight planning.