Governor Eno meets with Army Chief, requests extra battalion in Akwa Ibom.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has called for the establishment of an additional Army battalion around the coastal communities of the southern part of the State. 

Governor Umo Eno made the call while playing host to the Chief of the Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, who paid a courtesy visit on him in Uyo, on Monday. 

General Lagbaja is the State for the combined 2nd and 3rd quarters edition of the 2024 Chief of Army Staff Conference holding from August 26 to August 30, 2024.

With strategic role played by the State as a leading oil producer in the country, the Governor, reiterated the need for a new battalion, preferably in the Oron federal constituency of the State.

The Governor who had previously donated gunboats and patrol vehicles among other security measures, said the new battalion would reinforce the security architecture of the State. 

Acknowledging the reflection of federal character in the hierarchy of the Nigerian Army, Governor Eno lauded their commitment to preserving the nation's democracy and security, and  expressed hope that normalcy will soon be restored in troubled areas in the country.

He commended the synergy between the Army formations in the State and other security agencies, saying it is a major boost to the security of the state,  assuring of the State Government’s readiness to lend all necessary support to enable the establishment of the proposed army base.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. T. Lagbaja, speaking earlier, said the courtesy call on the Governor was traditional, to register the presence of the Nigerian Army in the host state for the week-long conference.

He commended the peaceful and hospitable ambience of the state, which, he affirmed, informed the choice of the state for the conference.

Lagbaja noted that the conference is usually hosted in Abuja, stressing that when taken outside Abuja, it is always to troubled spots, as a show of force.

The Nigerian Army Chief, however, said the case in Akwa Ibom was different as they were in the State to relax and discuss serious national security concerns.

He expressed the appreciation of the Nigerian Army to the Government and people of Akwa Ibom State for the infrastructural and logistic support extended to the 2 Brigade headquarters in the State, as well as the warm reception of his team to the State, assuring of the continuous commitment of the Army to exert itself in ensuring security and safety of citizens.

Germany's Bruno Labbadia appointed as new coach of the Super Eagles by NFF.

German tactician, Bruno Labbadia has been appointed the new head coach of the Nigerian men’s national team, the Super Eagles.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced the appointment of Labbadia on Tuesday following months of searching for a new handler for the former African champions.

In a statement released on their official X(formerly Twitter) handle, the NFF confirmed that the German gaffer has agreed to take charge of the Super Eagles with immediate effect.

“German, Bruno Labbadia, becomes 37th Head Coach of the @NGSuperEagles

“The Nigeria Football Federation has announced that it has reached an agreement with German tactician, Bruno Labbadia, to become the Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles.

— The NFF 🇳🇬 (@thenff) August 27, 2024

The statement reads: ‘The Nigeria Football Federation has announced that it has reached an agreement with German tactician, Bruno Labbadia, to become the Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles.

‘NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said in the early hours of Tuesday: “The NFF Executive Committee has approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee to appoint Mr. Bruno Labbadia as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles.

“The appointment is with immediate effect.”‘

The Super Eagles had been without a coach since former Ajax winger Finidi George vacated the role following a brief spell in charge.

Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, Detained in France

Russian-French billionaire founder and CEO of the Telegram messaging app, Pavel Durov, was reportedly arrested at Bourget airport outside Paris on Saturday evening, August 24.

TF1 TV reports that the 39-year-old was travelling aboard his private jet, when he was arrested at about 8pm local time (6pm GMT)l

According to the report posted on their website, Durov had been targeted by an arrest warrant in France as part of a preliminary police investigation. He is expected to appear in court on Sunday.

TF1 said the investigation was focused on a lack of moderators on Telegram, and that police considered that this situation allowed criminal activity to go on undeterred on the messaging app.

The encrypted Telegram, with close to one billion users, is particularly influential in Russia, Ukraine and the republics of the former Soviet Union. It is ranked as one of the major social media platforms after Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok and Wechat.

The Russia-born entrepreneur lives in Dubai, where Telegram is based, and holds dual citizenship of France and the United Arab Emirates.

Durov, who is estimated by Forbes to have a fortune of $15.5bn (£12bn), left Russia in 2014 after he refused to comply with demands to shut down opposition communities on his VK social media platform, which he sold.

GOV ENO CELEBRATES FRANK ARCHIBONG AT 49

GOV ENO CELEBRATES FRANK ARCHIBONG AT 49 

Akwa Ibom State Governor has has offered his hearty congratulations to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Frank Archibong on the occasion of his 49th Birthday.

In a message of felicitation released by his Chief Press Secretary, Ekerete Udoh, Governor Eno, enjoined Hon. Archibong to continue to hold dear the ideals of “humility, service and faith in God”.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Akwa Ibom State, I join your family, friends, associates and  well- wishers to wish you a Happy 49th Birthday!

“God has been kind to you, given all that you have achieved in just 49 years.

“As you turn a year older today, my prayer for you, is that you remain true to the values you hold dear: humility, service and faith in God.

“ Happy Birthday once again, my dear Brother”!

Suspect Evading Capture for Two Decades Discovered Employed as Law Enforcement Officer in Hometown.

A 72-year-old Ohio man has been taken into custody twenty years after he was charged in a 2004 shooting death, and allegedly fled the country.

Antonio Riano, 72, has been on Ohio's "Most Wanted" list for 20 years now, since the 2004 shooting death of Benjamin Becarra, 25.

Riano's story was told on TV's America's Most Wanted in 2005 but he continued to evade law enforcement for nearly two more decades, even as he worked as one of them.

On August 1, 2024, Riano was finally arrested and taken in after US Marshals reported finding him working as a police officer in his hometown of Zapotitlán Palmas, State of Oaxaca, Mexico.

Riano was wanted for homicide by the Butler County Sheriff's Office after the December 2004 shooting, but allegedly fled to Mexico to avoid prosecution.

According to the US Marshals Service, the sheriff's office partnered with the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of International Affairs, who then worked with law enforcement in Mexico to arrest and extradite Riano.

He is now being held Butler County Jail without bond pending additional court proceedings. 

 

"The United States Marshal Service, through our violent fugitive task forces, assists our state and local law enforcement partners to apprehend the area’s most dangerous fugitives," said US Marshal Michael D. Black in the statement.

"This arrest is the result of the ongoing sharing of information between the agencies and the determination of the investigators who refused to give up on this case."

Dubbed "The Devil" as his story was featured on AMW, Riano's trail went cold after US Marshals attempted to capture him with a 2006 warrant.

They'd tracked him to his mother's house in Mexico, but by the time Marshals arrived, Riano was no longer there.

The cold case picked up heat in January 2024 when the Butler County Prosecutor's Office received its reapplication for the provisional warrant.

At that time, Chief Investigator Paul Newton and his team used social media, including Facebook, to track Riano down. While purportedly working as a police officer in Mexico, according to the US Marshals' release, Riano had left behind a wife and three kids in Hamilton, Ohio.

Newton said Riano "has been the most challenging just in the simple fact that he really dug in then and went underground."

After the 2006 attempt failed, Newton said Riano moved again.

"We really didn’t see any evidence of him until 2023," he said. "I think he thought he was home free."

Now that he's captured, Riano is facing two counts of murder and felony assault charges for the December 19, 2004 shooting of Becarra outside the Roadhouse Bar.

Police say they found the gun used in the shooting in a hidden compartment under the kitchen floor of Riano's apartment in Hamilton with bullets beside it.

Riano reportedly tried to step in to help a bartender after Becarra was asked to leave the premises since he'd been part of a fight there a few weeks back. As Riano and Becarra allegedly began to argue, the bartender purportedly asked them to take the dispute outside.

Shortly after, gunshots were heard and Becarra was found lying face down on the sidewalk. Surveillance footage at the time showed Riano leaving the scene, but authorities were unable to locate him.

PRESIDENT TINUBU TRAVELS TO FRANCE ON MONDAY

PRESIDENT TINUBU TRAVELS TO FRANCE ON MONDAY 

President Bola Tinubu will embark on a trip to France on Monday, August 19, departing from Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The President will return to the country after his brief work stay in France.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

August 18, 2024

"What God cannot do not exist is not the truth, people think I am jealous of Jerry Eze. it is not about sentiment, is about knowing what the truth is."

The belief that what God cannot do does not exist is not accurate. Some may perceive my feelings towards Jerry Eze as jealousy, but it is essential to differentiate between emotions and recognizing the truth based on facts.

Pastor Abel Damina, the founder of Power City International Ministry, has said he does not agree with his colleague, Pastor Jerry Eze of Streams of Joy International’s popular slogan ‘What God Cannot Do Doesn’t Exist’.

According to him, the slogan is “not the truth.”

Speaking in the teaser of the upcoming episode of ‘The Honest Bunch’ podcast co-hosted by actor Chinedu Ani Emmanuel aka Nedu, Pastor Damina said contrary to the impression of some people that he’s “jealous” of Pastor Eze, he can’t be jealous of him because he’s his junior in the ministry.

“‘What God Cannot Do Doesn’t Exist’ is not the truth… People think I am jealous of Jerry Eze. Jerry Eze is by far my junior in the ministry,” he said.

Pastor Damina also claimed that a lot of his colleagues are staging miracles.

“I believe in miracles, I believe in healings, but not all these arranged miracles we are seeing today,” he said.

The co-host, Nedu asked, “Are you saying that the miracles are staged?”

Damina replied, “Can’t you see most of those crutches are all the same colours and all brand new? In what world will people come for a crusade and have the same brand of crutches and also the same colour?”

Female Suspect Found With AK-47 Concealed Inside Bag of Garri

Operatives of the Special Tactical Squad have arrested a 30-year-old woman identified as Hauwa Yusuf for hiding one AK47 and four AK magazines inside a sack of garri.

While parading the suspect before newsmen in Abuja on Friday, August 16, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said Yusuf was arrested along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway during a stop-and-search operation. He said that Yusuf confessed that a notorious Bandit terrorising Katsina State, Aminu Basullube, sent her to take delivery of the arms in the Danum Madam Camp, area of the state.

“On August 14, 2024, just recently, acting on intelligence, operatives of STS intercepted one Hauwa Yusuf ‘F’ 30 years of Dutsin-Ma LGA of Katsina state. The suspect was arrested while in transit from Lafia Nasarawa State to Katsina State, inside a Sienna Bus along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.

A search was conducted and One AK-47 Rifle without breach Number and Four AK magazines concealed inside a white Sack of Garri were recovered from the suspect. “During the interrogation, the Suspect confessed that it was One Aminu Basullube, a notorious Bandit terrorizing Katsina State general axis who sent her to take delivery of the arms in Danum Madam Camp, Katsina State.”

When interrogated by newsmen, the suspect feigned ignorance of the gun in the sack. 

“I never knew that it was an arm that was inside. They asked me to go and bring millet. And unfortunately, they did not bring Gari for me. Even when I saw the thing, I was apprehensive. I was given 130,000 to take the garri to Katsina. My transport fare is ₦15,000. I made a mistake by not asking questions.”

Adejobi also said a team of operatives attached to the FID-STS left for Igbowo in Oyo state to investigate the activities of Musa Saidu on April 29. He said investigations revealed that the suspect had left his community for 5 years. Upon his return back to his community in Kigakwu, Kaduna state after his disappearance.

“He started spending money extravagantly, buying different brands of new motorcycles (BAJAJ) and twelve (12) cows in a day amounting to the sum of N5,000,000.00.

Upon interrogation, he confessed to the above-mentioned crimes, he further confessed that he is operating under the leadership of one Haruna ‘m’ in Birnin Gwari forest of Kaduna State. Throughout his operations under the gang Commander Haruna ‘m’ he was using AK 47 rifles.

That twenty-five (25) cows were given to him as his proceed of his above-mentioned criminal activities, and he sold the cows in Kaduna State, all at the rate of N4,700,000.00, that’s the money he used in purchasing the Bajaj motorcycles and twelve cows, ten female, two male in Igboho Oyo State,” Adejobi said. 

He explained that he became a cattle rustler after he fell victim. The suspect added that he was arrested after he travelled back home to enjoy the proceeds of his crime.

“I went to Oyo because there were too many problems in Kaduna. I had my cattle but they were rustled. I know cattle rustling is a crime but I did it because of what was done to me. After I made money, I stopped and went back to the village to spend my money,” he said.