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BREAKING: Many Nigerians Trapped As Volcano Hits Caribbean Island - SaharaReporters.com

“There are a lot of Nigerians on the Island, and this causes health challenges. Families are being moved to other countries. We will appreciate assistance from well-wishers and friends,” Dr Odoe appealed in a message.

Many Nigerians are currently trapped in the Caribbean Island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines due to a volcanic eruption. Dr Levi Odoe, the Consul-General of Nigeria on the Island, has appealed for support from the Nigerian government and other public-spirited entities around the world. SaharaReporters Media There are a lot of Nigerians on the Island, and this causes health challenges. Families are being moved to other countries. We will appreciate assistance from well-wishers and friends, Dr Odoe appealed in a message. Daily Trust gathered that there are no fewer than 230 Nigerian students studying medicine on the Island, and a host of tourists from the country were there when the tragedy occurred. So far, thousands of people have been evacuated to safer parts of the Island and neighbouring Island nations, using buses and cruise ships. Desperate citizens shared videos of the eruptions, which began on April 9 when black ash and smoke plumes overcast the air at about 6-kilometre range. Twitter user Rahym R. Augustin-Joseph tweeted under the handle, @RahymRJoseph: Lets remember to keep the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in our prayers during what is a very tough time. Also, Marcia Forbes, with the Twitter handle @marciaforbes, said, Prayers for our Caribbean brothers and sisters in #StVincent & Grenadines where #Soufriere Hills #volcano is rumbling & spewing. St. Vincent and the Grenadines has an active volcano at La Soufrière elevation, which peaks at 1,234 metres. This is the fourth volcanic eruption on the Island since 1979, which damaged properties worth $100m. The first recorded eruption occurred in 1718. The 1902 eruption led to the death of over 1000 persons.

Drop Your 2023 Ambition, Presidency Going South— APC Council Tells Yahaya Bello - SaharaReporters.com

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the APC council asked the governor to drop his ambition and rather pursue the chairmanship of the party which would be taken to the North Central geopolitical zone.

The North Central Council of the All Progressives Congress has asked the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to shelve his 2023 presidential ambition as the presidency will be going to the southern region of the country. Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the APC council asked the governor to drop his ambition and rather pursue the chairmanship of the party which would be taken to the North Central geopolitical zone. Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello. At a news conference Thursday at the APC National Secretariat of the party in Abuja, the APC Council Coordinator, Dr Kassim Muhammad, said, The North Central Council is equally appealing to the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello to have a rethink over his 2023 presidential ambition as it will be fair in the spirit of one Nigeria to allow the southern part of the country to produce the next president come 2023. We strongly believe that conceding the presidential ticket of our party, the APC to the southern part of the country would enhance equity and political justice. We believe that the Kogi State Governor is a true democrat who believes in one Nigeria." We are therefore appealing to HE Yahaya Bello to drop his presidential ambition, and join us in the campaign to ensure that the North Central produces the next APC National Chairman, the council added. It also appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and all the APC governors and other key stakeholders of the party to continue to support the Mai Mala Buni-led APC to succeed in his task of repositioning the party for future elections. However, as the party prepares for a convention that will usher in democratically elected national executives, we the North Central Council are appealing to our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC governors as well as key stakeholders of the party across the country to consider the North Central for the position of the National Chairman of the party. The reasons for this agitation stems from the fact that the North-West as presently constituted has a sitting President of the country who is still left with two years to complete his eight years tenure in office. The North-East is presently occupying the position of the Senate President, and the only geopolitical zone in the North left is the North Central and for fairness and equity, the national chairmanship of the party should be zoned to the North Central, the group added.

How We Regained Our Freedom From Bandits' Den, Freed Kaduna Student Narrates, Contradicting Army - SaharaReporters.com

The Nigerian Army had claimed that its troops “recovered five of the students”, who spent over three weeks in captivity.

An abducted student of Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Mando, Kaduna State, has narrated how they were released from captivity, Daily Trust reports. The Nigerian Army had claimed that its troops recovered five of the students, who spent over three weeks in captivity. Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, was the one who first announced the release of the students but he did not go into details. However, in a statement on Tuesday, Brig. Gen. Yerima Mohammed, Army Spokesman, unveiled the identities of the recovered students, and showered encomiums on the troops. The rescued students are currently receiving medical attention in a military facility in Kaduna. The GOC 1 Division, Maj Gen DH Ali-Keffi has commended the troops for their effort and charged them not to rest on their oars until all kidnap victims are rescued and returned to their families, he had said while giving the impression that the military rescued the students. But speaking shortly after the freed victims were reunited with their families on Wednesday, Francis Paul, a 200 level student of Agriculture Technology at the institution, said the bandits released them voluntarily. One afternoon, they (the bandits) came and started selecting us I was very ill that day. So, they asked me to sit aside and they added some girls and put us on motorbikes. They dropped us at a village close to the main road and said we should walk towards the road and we did, he said.

Despite Outrage, NNPC Signs N570 Billion Contract To Repair Port Harcourt Refinery - SaharaReporters.com

The Federal Executive Council had earlier approved the sum of $1.5 billion (about N570 billion) for the project which has a completion timeline of between 18 and 44 months under a three-phase arrangement.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has signed a contract with a Milan-based company, Tecnimont SpA, for the rehabilitation of Port Harcourt Refinery Company in Alesa-Eleme, Rivers state. The Federal Executive Council had earlier approved the sum of $1.5 billion (about N570 billion) for the project which has a completion timeline of between 18 and 44 months under a three-phase arrangement. Speaking during the Engineering, Procurement and Construction contract signing ceremony on Tuesday, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari said, Mr President promised Nigerians he will fix the refineries. Kyari also assured that the same transparent process has been put in place for the rehabilitation of the Warri and Kaduna Refineries whose EPCIC contracts would be awarded in June 2021. He said: We are happy to deliver on this presidential mandate. Well continue this process to also deliver on both Warri and Kaduna Refineries. I can confirm to you that nobody has been delegated by anybody in this company to work for (the interest of) anyone other than the mandate of delivering on this rehabilitation project." The Managing Director of PHRC, Ahmed Dikko, signed the contract paper for his company while the Vice President, Sub-Saharan Africa, Davide Pellizola, signed on behalf of Tecnimont SpA. Dikko explained that Phases 1 and 2 of the project would get the refinery ready to receive hydrocarbons, while Phase 3 will focus on the start-up of the refinery for operation, stressing that the entire work shall be delivered in 44 months from today. Pelizzola pledged the readiness of his company to work assiduously with the NNPC to comply with the terms and obligations of the contract. In its first-ever audited accounts and financial statements released in 2020, NNPC said three of Nigerias four refineries gulped N1.64 trillion in cumulative losses recorded in their operations since 2014. The refineries have a combined production capacity of 445,000 barrels per day (BPD). PHRC alone, which is set for repairs, has a capacity of 210,000bpd; Kaduna Refinery has 10,000bpd capacity, and Warri Refinery has 125,000bpd. The repair of the refinery had earlier sparked outrage, with critics stating that such would only amount to waste of resources amid the country's struggling economy.

IPOB Calls Igbo Governors Puppets, Mocks Them Over Attacks, Killings - SaharaReporters.com

IPOB criticised the governors for conniving with the Nigerian government to get rid of the group that should be protecting their territories.

The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra has blamed the South-East governors for the recent worsening security challenges in the region. There have been attacks on security agents and killings by unknown gunmen in the South-East recently. There were also deadly attacks on communities in Ebonyi and Enugu states last week by suspected Fulani herdsmen. And on Monday, a correctional facility and police headquarters in Imo State were attacked and inmates freed. While reacting to the sad occurrences, the IPOB criticised the governors for conniving with the Nigerian government to get rid of the group that should be protecting their territories, and sabotaging the efforts of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. The group stated this through a press release by its media and publicity secretary, Emma Powerful, made available to SaharaReporters on Tuesday. The group asked the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma and his counterparts to stop shedding crocodile tears in the statement titled IPOB To S'East Governors: Stop Lamenting, We Warned You But You Asked For Our Heads. We the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, read with great amusement, the lamentation and crocodile tears by South-East Governors particularly Hope Uzodinma over the attack in Imo State and last week's massacre of innocent people in Ebonyi and Enugu communities. How come Hope Uzodinma and his cowardly fellow South-East governors are waking from sleep? Our message is simple: Good morning to you all! On Sunday, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who came on a condolence visit to Ebonyi State said the governors of the region were currently hiding their faces in shame. This was lamentation: Even when the killings happened; very unprovoked killings, some people said they gave the Governor of Ebonyi State 21 days to resign. We have been called all kinds of names and we feel ashamed that the same people we fight for day and night as governors and leaders of South-East to ensure the oneness of this country would know about attacks on Ebonyi State and they were asked to leave and they left, and we were slaughtered and killed. What face do we have then to face our people? We feel so ashamed to face our people, the statement said. The group further condemned the governors for supporting the proscription  of the IPOB and their failure to support the Eastern Security Network. When our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was warning you people and your fellow saboteurs, you called him a miscreant. You and your fellow treacherous self-acclaimed Igbo leaders hurriedly outlawed IPOB, a peaceful movement and prepared the ground for the Federal Government to tag us, terrorists. You puppet Igbo Leaders, in your bid to please your slavemasters approved Operation Python Dance that claimed many innocent Igbo youths. Thank God for the miraculous escape of our Leader, otherwise, the vampires would have drunk with his skull. When our leader set up Eastern Security Network, ESN, following the failure of the weak South-East governors to protect the people, instead of supporting him, you connived with the federal government to hunt down our men staking their lives to protect our ancestral land. Now the Fulani you hated your brothers to protect have risen to kill your subjects in return. Why shed crocodile tears? They are your friends and One Nigeria brothers! Why haven't you ordered for their arrest the same way you governors approved of the onslaught against our men at Orlu? You hate your own and protect your enemy. Clean your tears and live with your One Nigeria brothers. Stop lamenting. We warned you but you took us for fools because of your worthless selfish political ambition, the statement added.

Mob Beat Man To Death For Killing Betting Shop Manager, One Other Over N50 In Imo - SaharaReporters.com

The incident occurred on Friday evening at Aba branch satellite market near the Ehime Mbano council headquarters.

Three young men have been reported killed in Umuezeala community in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, following a disagreement over N50 bet. The incident occurred on Friday evening at Aba branch satellite market near the Ehime Mbano council headquarters. According to a statement released by the spokesperson for the state police, Orlando Ikeokwu, one Chidubem Mbamara walked into a betting shop, played his bet worth N600 but unfortunately wasn't with enough money to pay. He was said to have paid only N150 and deposited his phone to get the balance. But on return, he reportedly paid additional N400, making it a total deposit of N550 while promising to pay a balance of N50 at a later date. The statement read, He paid one hundred and fifty naira (N150) and deposited his phone, went home to get some money. On his return, he paid four hundred naira, making it a total of five hundred and fifty naira (N550), and promised to pay the balance of fifty naira (N50) at a later date. This led to serious altercation between him and one Henry Obi (manager of the bet shop). Sequel to the altercation, the said Chidubem Mbamara left, only to return some minutes later with a locally made pistol. He then shot at the said Henry Obi. As a result, three persons were hit by the bullet, Henry Obi, Chibuike Iwunze and Ebuka, whose surname is unknown. The police spokesperson added that the gunshots attracted a mob, which pounced on Mbamara and beat him to death. While Obi and Ebuka were confirmed dead in the hospital on Saturday morning, Iwunze was said to be in critical condition.

REVEALED: Boko Haram Doctored Video To Claim Responsibility For Missing Nigerian Fighter Jet —Security Analyst - SaharaReporters.com

The jet had on Wednesday evening lost contact with radar in Borno state.

A video released by the Abubakar Shekau-led faction of Boko Haram, Jamaatu Ahlussunnah Liddaawati Wal Jihad, claiming to have brought down the missing Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet Aircraft was superimposed, Hugo Kaaman, a Sweden based security analyst has exposed. The jet had on Wednesday evening lost contact with radar in Borno state.  Twitter/HumAngle On Thursday, the Air Force said the jet might have crashed but the cause of the crash had yet to be ascertained. It also named the two pilots in the jet who were still missing. However, on Friday, Boko Haram released a video showing what appeared to be the downing of an aircraft. The group also showed a militant standing on what it claims was the wreckage of the jet. Boko Haram Claims Responsibility For Missing Nigerian Fighter Jet, Releases Video Of Dead Pilot | Sahara Reporters The jet had on Wednesday evening lost contact with radar in Borno state. @NigAirForceREAD MORE: https://t.co/BCFurufoYwpic.twitter.com/dVVRbYkpdx — Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) April 2, 2021 Nigeria Air Force jet fighter was sent to Sambisa to fight the Mujahideen, the militant said. The insurgents were also seen moving towards the debris of the aircraft to remove components of the aircraft and personal effects of the pilots. Commenting on the video, Kaaman in a tweet on Saturday said the supposed explosion of the Nigerian fighter jet was that of SyAAF helicopter exploding mid-air in 2012. Boko Haram just released a video claiming it shows a NAF jet shot down by the group. Looking at the video, it appears as if the jet explodes mid-air. However, this is not true. BH took a 2012 video showing a SyAAF helicopter exploding mid-air over Idlib and superimposed it. Weak Just to be clear, the jet really crashed. It's unclear whether this was due to hostile fire or technical issues. The wreckage can be seen in the same Boko Haram video. This video merely highlights Boko Haram's fake footage of the shootdown itself, he said while comparing both videos. NAF spokesperson Edward Gabkwet had in a statement on Friday said the video was a mere propaganda. The statement read, The attention of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been drawn to some videos being circulated on social media, as well as media reports drawn therefrom, alleging that the NAF Alpha Jet aircraft, which was reported missing in Borno State on 31 March 2021 after losing radar contact, was shot down by terrorists. One of such videos, in particular, began with sporadic shooting by several terrorists, including underage children on motorcycles and vehicles. It later skipped abruptly to a scene depicting an aircraft exploding mid-air, supposedly as a result of enemy action. Another part of the video showed a terrorist, who, while standing by the wreckage, claimed that they had shot down the NAF aircraft. Although the video is still being thoroughly analysed, it is evident that most parts of the video were deliberately doctored to give the false impression that the aircraft was shot down. For instance, the video clip failed to show the correlation between the sporadic shooting, which even from casual observation was obviously aimed at ground targets, and the sudden mid-air aircraft explosion. In addition, it is almost impossible for an aircraft to have exploded mid-air, in the manner depicted in the video, and still have a good part of its fuselage, including its tail, intact. Indeed, an explosive impact of that nature would have scattered the debris of the aircraft across several miles. It is obvious that the Boko Haram Sect, in its characteristic manner of employing false propaganda, is seeking to claim credit for what was obviously an air accident that could have been caused by several other reasons; particularly at a time when the capability of the group to inflict mayhem has been significantly degraded by the Armed Forces of Nigeria. Consequently, Nigerians are please advised to ignore the contents of the videos making the rounds until all investigations as to how the aircraft crashed are completed. The NAF, on its part, remains resolute and will continue to work assiduously, in synergy with sister services and other security agencies, to rid the North-East of all terrorist elements.

Code of Conduct Tribunal Chairman Liable To Five-Year Jail Term Over 'Biafran Boys' Comment — Falana - SaharaReporters.com

Umar was caught on video punching a security guard following a disagreement on the plaza's parking space.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has said the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Chairman, Danladi Umar, risk a five-year jail term for using "Biafran boys" to describe the traders he had an altercation with when he assaulted a security guard at Banex Plaza in Abuja. Umar was caught on video punching a security guard following a disagreement on the plaza's parking space.Femi Falana (SAN) The CCT Spokesperson, Ibraheem Al-Hassan, had in a statement said the guard threatened Umar, while some "Biafran boys" also harassed him. Hassan later said it was Umar who asked him to use "Biafran boys" in the statement. See Also NewsCCT Chairman, Danladi Threatened To Jail Man For 50 Years, Boasted Even God Wont Save Him Eyewitness0 Comments1 Day Ago In a statement on Saturday, Falana said the phrase amounted to xenophobia which contravened the cybercrime law. Falana said section 26 of the Cybercrimes Act 2015, prohibits the use of "racist or xenophobic material" in any written or printed material. He added that such a person was liable to be prosecuted for the serious offence and penalty for the offence is five year's imprisonment and a minimum N10 million fine." The statement read, "The use of the words "Biafra Boys" in the statement (produced through a computer system or network) on the instructions of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal and distributed to the media last week constitutes a contravention of section 26 of the Cybercrimes Act 2015."The Act prohibits the use of "racist or xenophobic material" in any written or printed material which advocates, promotes or incites hatred, discrimination or violence, against any individual group of individuals, based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, as well as a religion if used as a pretext for any of these factors. "The person alleged to have suggested the use of the xenophobic words is liable to be prosecuted for the serious offence. The penalty for the offence is five year's imprisonment and a minimum N10 million fine."

Eight Killed, Many Injured As Boko Haram Terrorists Ambush Borno Government Officials - SaharaReporters.com

SaharaReporters gathered that some policemen and soldiers in the convoy however sustained injuries during the attack along Monguno- Nganzai Road.

At least, eight Boko Haram insurgents were killed on Friday when the group ambushed a convoy of Borno State Resettlement and Relief Committee officials. SaharaReporters gathered that some policemen and soldiers in the convoy however sustained injuries during the attack along Monguno- Nganzai Road. Boko Haram Google Some top government officials in the convoy include Kakashehu Lawal, State Attorney General; Mustapha Gubio, Commissioner for Rehabilitation Reconstruction and Resettlement; and that of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Mai-Mele. They were said to be returning from Monguno, where they went to distribute relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), when their convoy came under heavy attack by the terrorists. A source said about eight of the terrorists were killed by soldiers with support from men of the Anti-Robbery Squad and Civilian Joint Task Force. Governor Babagana Zulums convoy was attacked twice along the Baga Highway in September in 2020.

CCT Chairman, Danladi Threatened To Jail Man For 50 Years, Boasted 'Even God' Won't Save Him— Eyewitness - SaharaReporters.com

Umar was recently caught on video physically assaulting a security guard who had told him his vehicle was parked in the wrong space at Banex Plaza, Wuse 2, Abuja.

The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar has allegedly threatened to jail a yet-to-be identified man who gave him (Umar) back his phone after the assault saga between him and a security guard. Umar was recently caught on video physically assaulting a security guard who had told him his vehicle was parked in the wrong space at Banex Plaza, Wuse 2, Abuja. In a five-minute video exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters, the CCT chairman was seen kicking the guard identified as Clement Sargwak, before he was restrained and led into his car by police officers. According to a video released by Roots TV, an eyewitnesse who saw the incident said it was Umar who assaulted the security guard and not the other way round as released in a statement by his spokesperson. According to him, Umar came back after the saga with State Security Service Operatives and arrested an innocent boy who returned his phone that fell down during the incident. He was said to have also threatened to jail the boy for 50 years and boasted that even God would not be able to save the boy If you see his driver, his tongue was showing blue, that was to show you he was high on drug. Even the way he was talking, I said no wonder, so it was drug that made you people to be driving any how and Danladi was saying where is my phone? I will close down this place, he said. (He was) saying all sorts of things. He told the boy that returned his phone that he will jail him for 50 years, even God will not release him, only death can save him, I said which kind of heartless man is this?

Nigerians Yet To Register For National ID Number Risk 14 Years Imprisonment –Minister - SaharaReporters.com

Pantami said while owning a SIM card is optional, the NIN is mandatory as a lot of transactions are not supposed to be carried out without NIN.

Ali Isa Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, says Nigerians yet to obtain their National Identification Number (NIN) risk up to 14 years imprisonment as stipulated by the Nigerian constitution. Pantami said while owning a SIM card is optional, the NIN is mandatory as a lot of transactions are not supposed to be carried out without NIN. The minister disclosed this at a State House press briefing on Thursday. He added that 51 million Nigerians had registered for their NIN as of March 31, 2021. According to Pantami, there are 189 million registered subscriber identification module (SIM) cards in the country. Of this figure, he said 150 million have complete registrations while the remainder have problems of improper registration. The minister explained that NIN will determine the total number of Nigerians that have registered. Based on the requirement by law, each and every citizen and legal resident must obtain his/her National Identification Number (NIN), which is being coordinated by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), he said. Its a requirement by law but many citizens ignore it. No country will be successful in education, health, budget planning or national planning without a database of its citizens in place. What I inherited in the database was less than 20 percent of our population. But we want to ensure that before we leave office, we would look at the database and be proud of our country.

Those Praying For Nigeria's Break-up Won't Succeed, Osinbajo Says - SaharaReporters.com

He explained that those praying for the country's success and growth are far more in number than those praying for the break up of Nigeria.

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, says expectations of those wishing Nigeria well outnumber those wishing for the country's break-up. Osinbajo made this disclosure on Tuesday, at the Palace of the Emir of Gombe Alhaji Shehu Abubakar, during his official visit for the 27th edition of the Micro Small Medium Enterprise Clinic held in Gombe.Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo. He explained that those praying for the country's success and growth are far more in number than those praying for the break up of Nigeria. Osinbajo said, "This country will remain one. Those praying for Nigeria's break up will not succeed because those praying against such are much in number." He commended the Muhammadu Yahaya administration for the transformation brought to the state in road construction, agriculture, and the health sector. On his part, Governor Muhammadu Yahaya said the Vice President's visit was a special one because when he visited the state during campaign days in 2019, so much has taken place that has transformed the state due to his administration. In a report by Punch, he said, "Gombe State is the centre for commercial activities in the North-East, which is the reason why it has gained a cosmopolitan status. The state would give the Federal Government all the necessary support to fulfil their programmes." Responding, Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar, commended the vice president for encouraging and uplifting SMSE's not only in Gombe State but throughout the entire states of the federation. "I wish to commend the Federal Government for the establishment of one of the largest livestock reserves in Wawa-Zange, Gombe State," Abubakar added.