The Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offenses (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye on Tuesday, said corruption is the greatest obstacle to development and an existential threat to unity.
Dozens of people were murdered by gunmen who invaded some communities in Katsina-Ala Local Government areas of Benue State at the weekend. The Chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA, Alfred Atera, who confirmed the attack by suspected herdsmen and collaboration with bandits said over 100 people have been killed in four wards including Yoyo, Utange, Mbatura/Mberev and Mbayongo. “More than 100 people at different places have been killed since the attack on Saturday. The Gana remnants are conniving with them (suspected herdsmen) to cause havoc and unrest in our area,” Atera said.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday expressed a strong resolve to address the conflicts of herders and farmers for a permanent solution. Buhari also ordered that the associated problem of the gun-wielding “killer herdsmen” be tackled.
Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, in a statement recalled Buhari approved measures to bring an end to the skirmishes as recommended by Sabo Nanono, the Minister of Agriculture, in April. The presidency insisted that Buhari’s action was before the ban on open grazing by the Southern Governors Forum.
There is intense tension at Gauraka Community, Tafa LGA, Niger State, following another late-night abduction of 15 persons and the killing of three others by unknown gunmen who invaded the community around 1:17 on Monday. This has resulted in the complete blocking of the Abuja-kaduna highway by irate youths who are protesting the deterioration of security in the community. The protesters halted the movement of traffic on the Abuja-Kaduna highway which runs across the Gauraka community while burning tyres to create a scene. The irate youths in their numbers went on rampage as early as 6:00 am on Monday.
The Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria (AIB-N), said it has been mandated by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to be the lead investigator into the ill-fated crash of a military aircraft that happened on Friday in Kaduna, in which the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 others died.
An air crash on Friday evening near the Kaduna International Airport, Kaduna State, has reportedly claimed the life of Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru. The Ill-fated Nigerian Airforce aircraft fergie001 was said to have crash-landed due to weather conditions and heavy rain while approaching the airport’s runway. The incident, which was said to have occurred about 6 pm also claimed the lives of eight other persons onboard.
