SR SahelReporters

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the posting of DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo to Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) as the new Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Department. This is contained in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi in abuja said that, the DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, was appointed to the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1988. The statement added that DIG Babatunde Kokumo, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Maiduguri, Borno State, and a Master’s Degree in Sociology with a specialty in Criminology from the University of Lagos.  It disclosed that he has attended several specialized and strategic courses within and outside Nigeria including the Forensic Science and Application of Forensic and DNA Skills Course at the University of Benin. "He was equally a member o...

By Our Reporter The Chairman, Benue Support Initiative (BSI), Mr Emmanuel Ikyoga, has advocated for a power shift to the South particularly to the South Eastern part of Nigeria. Ikyoga made his feelings known during a press conference held on Thursday in Makurdi. The chairman said that, the BSI was a political movement of like minds who were interested in advancing the cause and welfare of Nigerians.  "We believe in the Nigeria cause and the fight for National rebirth as a result, it is our solemn belief that the presidency of this country be shifted to the south but particularly the south east.  "This is because the other geo-political zones of the South West and South South have already had their fair share of the presidency since the return of democracy in 1999. "The south west had her share in former President Olusegun Obasanjo while south south had hers in former president Goodluck Jonathan," Ikyoga stressed. He also pointed out that they believed t...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Tactical Air Command of Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Makurdi, AVM Abraham Adole on Tuesday inaugurated the NAF Telehealth Clinic. The inauguration was done at the NAF Base in Makurdi. The AOC who was the Guest of Honour at the event said that the establishment of the facility was part of the efforts of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao, to boost personnel welfare. “The burden of providing quality and accessible round-the-clock health care services for the personnel of NAF has been on the front burner of this current administration. “The goal of establishing this telehealth clinic is to bridge the gap between the available and required medical expertise as well as experiences at NAF health care establishments. “This is because some ailments may require expertise and experience of a specialist doctor which may not be available in a medical facility,” Adole said. He further stated that the fa...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Newly elected National Youth Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr. Abdullahi Dayo has reiterated his resolved in addressing the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike that has lasted for months Dayo, who gave the assurance while addressing journalists at the APC headquarters in Abuja said, education is a leveler an a vital instrument that brings the child of a poor man to the same level of a child of a rich man. He stated that as part of the commitment as a Council of youth leaders, is to be able to sit down and begin to identify who are the stakeholders and also need to engage with so to be able to put the issue to an end “We are going to make an attempt by the grace of God to speak to the minister of education and lend our voice to the issues and also to sit down with other stakeholders for example, we will lend our voice to the labour. We are not part of the main stakeholders but we can only go, advocate and lobby in o...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Inspector-General, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has lauded the achievements of investigation units and tactical squads of the Nigeria Police Force for various convictions that have been recorded in cases investigated and charged to Courts of competent jurisdiction across the country.  Prominent amongst the cases is the investigation, prosecution, and conclusion of a case of criminal conspiracy and armed robbery by the Intelligence Response Team of the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB-IRT), Abuja held at the Zuba High Court currently sitting at the Gwagwalada High Court Division, Abuja on 6th January, 2022.  This is contained in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said that, the particular case in point began on the night of 23rd August, 2016, when the four suspects Tochukwu Uwalaka, Gideon Igbabo, Miracle Amaechi, and Jamil Abdulsalam – lured the 10-year-old daughter of their victim at gun point to get...

  ..... Encourages Nigerians to Take Advantage of its Crime Reportage Feature By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has confirmed an upgrade of the Nigeria Police Force crime reporting mobile application known as ‘NPF Rescue Me’ application which is valuable to effectively report emergencies, criminal activities, and professional misconducts of police officers, for rapid and immediate reaction by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force. The IGP emphasizes that the NPF Rescue Me App, which is a great improvement, redefines security and personalizes policing, enabling android and ios users to download the app from the various app stores, registering with their details and having access to a variety of features including emergency services, crime reporting, navigation, ambulances services, amongst others. In a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Saturday in abuja said that, the applicatio...

By Aviashima Toom, They Chairman National Convention Media and Publicity Sub-Committee of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Sule, has disclosed that the unity list for Saturday's party convention will be ready today. Sule confirmed that some geopolitical zones have already agreed on the list which will be put together today.   The chairman who spoke journalists during a pre-convention conference on Friday in Abuja, also confirmed that the Consensus arrangement remains the first and beat option to elect the new leaders of the party. He however explained that, a former president and senators who holds political appointments are already automatic Delegates. "let's not confuse the two because being an appointee doesn't necessarily take you out of being a delegate, because our delegates are classified, clearly. Former president on our party, former elected this, elected that, party officials and the rest of that. I don't think anybody who hold any pol...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the immediate distribution of additional batches of uniforms, kits, accoutrements and body armours for police personnel especially Inspectors and other ranks with effect from today 24th March, 2022.  He further directed the allocation of Two Hundred and Fifty-Three (253) newly procured operational and emergency vehicles for police formations across Zonal and State Commands nationwide. In a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi in abuja said that, the IGP also directed that the distributed items must get to every member of the Inspectorate cadre and other ranks of the Force in furtherance of the Force Management’s zeal to boost the welfare of police personnel and improve their condition of service. According to the IGP, the vehicles, which are to be allocated to commands and formations, include 110 Land Cruiser Buffal...

By Salisu Na'inna Ɗambatta The much-awaited National Convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), is irrevocably set to hold as scheduled on Saturday, March 26, 2022. It is an epoch-making event that will usher in a new set of leaders that would lead the party to success  in the 2023 general elections. In the backdrop to the Convention, which had to be postponed due to so many political headwinds, there were speculations that it may be dragged to  June 2022 to be conducted jointly with primary elections for candidates in the 2023 general elections. That rumour  turned out to be what it was, a ruse,  created by  distractive minds that wished to see Nigeria's largest political party in disarray. Unknown to the distractors, the APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC),  led by the amiable Governor of Yobe State, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, had operated as a single team. It shrewdly lined up activities which paved way...

.... ...As Team Arrests 42 Suspects, Impounds 41 Trucks, Illegal Petroleum Products By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to maintain a sustained fight against illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism, economic saboteurs, and other criminal elements in the country. This was contained in a statement on Wednesday made available to Sahel Reporters by the Force Public Relations Officer CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi in abuja said the promise came on the heels of the achievements recorded by the Inspector-General of Police Special Task Force on Petroleum/Illegal Bunkering (IGP-STFPIB). According to the statement, the operation which successfully impounded 41 trucks, 13 other vehicles; arrested 42 suspects out of whom 21 have been charged to court with 17 still under investigations while 4 convictions have been secured in court; pending and final forfeiture of 14 Tankers and 4 Car...

By Our Reporter Former Chief of Staff to the Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue, Arc. Terwase Orbunde, on Tueday scored 58 votes out of 109 to emerge first governorship aspirant in a mock election conducted by stakeholders in Kwande local government area of the state. It was gathered that the mock election was to enable Kwande to prune down the number of governership aspirants with a view to fielding only one aspirant for the Peoples 's Party (PDP) Primary Election. Engr Tertsea Gbiseh, Member, Benue State House of Assembly, came second with 27 votes, while Dr Paul Ubwa, Managing Director of Pleasure Travels, came third with 20 votes with Mr Isaiah Ipevnor came fourth with three votes.  Other aspirants, Dr Tavershima Anumve, scored one vote to be fifth, Mr Christopher Afaor, Mr Asen Sambe and Mr John Tyonongo got no vote.  The Chairman of the exercise, Mrs Mimi Adzape-Orubibi, who is the Chairman, Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) announced the result. Other members of...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja As the National convention of the  of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, draws near, former governor of Zamfara state, Abdulaziz Yari, ruled out the zoning formula for the chairmanship position. Yari, noted that he is not aware that there is a specific zoning within the geopolitical zones of either the president or the national chairman of the party. Yari despite zoning the chairmanship position of the party to the north central, defies the party’s instruction and purchased the chairmanship form. Sen. Tijjani Kaura ofwhile addressing journalists after returning the expression of interest form said, they are aware that the party has zoned national Chairmanship to the North and presidency to the South but they are not aware that there is a specific zoning within the geopolitical zones of either the president or the national chairman of the party. “Nobody indicated whether it is South west, South East or South South. The party acting Chairm...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Former Governor of Nasarawa state and All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship aspirant, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, has kicked against the consensus option in choosing the next leader of the ruling party. Addressing journalists at the party secretariat after submission of his nomination forms, Al-Makura noted that, he is a democrat and a believer in inclusive politics which allows people to exercise their franchise by voting the candidates of their choice. “I’m a democrat. Our party constitution has given three procedures for emergence of leadership, direct, indirect, and consensus. But I can tell you, the best option is that which allows franchise and permission for everyone to participate in the exercise. I will support an open-door policy, internal party democracy with full participation of members so that they will have a sense of belonging and determine the fate and direction of the party. “My experience in the field of politics, which I beli...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja A leading Chairmanship aspirants for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Saliu Mustapha, has said his focus would be on women and youth empowerment. The aspirant stated this recently while submitting his nomination forms at the party's Secretariat on Friday in Abuja Mustapha who is also called Turaki Kwara stressed the need to entrench discipline in the party, saying it will enable offices function effectively without any interference. According to him “Saliu Mustapha’s aspiration in this contest is to serve. This is not about title, but it is coming to add value, serving the party, and moving the party forward. To meet up with the millennium and global challenges of advanced politics. That is why for us in this team, we want to come and do progressive and smart politics and proactive politics. We want to add value in many areas. “First we want to ensure as leaders of this party we carry everyone along, we want to also make sure we guarantee le...

 By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Coalition of Concern APC Foundation Stakeholders (CCFS), have expressed their support to the Yobe state Governor Mai Mala Buni led CECPC. The group also state categorically that, they are fully behind the decision of President Mohammadu Buhari who states that Governor Buni should continue as the Chairman of the CECPC while the decision made by him regarding the national convention must stand for the peace and progress of our party. In a statement signed on Saturday by its Coordinator, Abdullahi Ibrahim Bello in Abuja, implore all ranks and files of the party to give Governor Buni, the much support needed to deliver on the mandate given to him. The statement reads in part; "The recent events in the All Progressives Congress as the National Convention draw closer with the high level of unhealthy political scheming and manipulation ongoing at the detriment of the peaceful cohesion and survival of the party has indeed opened our eyes to the ne...

By Our Reporter A prominent governorship aspirant on the platform of the All  Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue, Arc. Bernard Yisa, has promised to convert waste products in the state into wealth. Yisa made the promise  while consulting the MINDA Intermediate area of the state on Saturday in Makurdi. MINDA comprise four local government areas of the state, namely Guma, Makurdi, Gwer and Gwer West. He lamented that waste products were the ugly things that usually welcome people into Makurdi, the Benue capital.  "The waste products are eyesores. They should not be things that will be welcoming people into the state particularly the state capital but should be used to create wealth. "I will make adequate use of the Environmental Protection Act and turn the waste into wealth. "I will establish a beach at the River Benue. I will turn it into a tourist site," Yisa said. He further said that he would stop the deforestation that was currently goin...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Coordinator, Progressives Youth movement, (PYM) Prince Mustapha Audu, has said that, the youth movement of the party has thrown it’s weight behind the Governor Mai Mala Buni led Caretaker Committee. Comrade Audu who made the declaration at the party Secretariat in Abuja said the movement is in support of the recent decision of President Muhammad Buhari. “We are the Progressives Youth movement, the largest youth support group of the All Progressives Congress. “We are here because there has been various media report regarding the purported sack of the secretary of the party, Sen. James John Akpanudohede. We are here to say that the purported sack can not stand and we are in support of our chairman, his exellency Mai Mala Buni, we are in support of the secretary, Senator James John Akpanudohede and we are in support of Mr President 1000%. Anyone bringing any issue at this critical point is clearly an enemy of the APC, is trying to create confusion”...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The management of Neptune Network Nigeria Limited, publishers of Neptune Prime online newspaper, yesterday presented awards of Excellence to Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state and also the Yobe state Governor, Mai bala Buni in Abuja The Neptune prime also awarded a posthumous honoured to the founding chairman of LEADERSHIP Group, Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah, for using journalism to promote democratic ideals in the nation. Late Sam Nda-Isaiah bagged the Neptune Network’s “Posthumous Award of Excellence for Journalism Development” alongside the Hajia Bilikisu Yusuf. It was double honours for the media outlet as LEADERSHIP Newspaper bagged an Award of Excellence for Newspaper of the Year. The award was received by LEADERSHIP’s director, Abraham Nda-Isaiah. The publisher, Neptune Network Nigeria Limited, Hassan Gimba, said the event sought to award people who had excelled in various fields of endeavour amid the ravaging issue of cervical cancer, not just in N...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Governor Mai Mala Buni-led All Progressives Congress (APC) has cancelled the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting slated for Thursday. Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, Secretary of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, announced this in a statement issued on Wednesday night. The statement reads in part; “As directed by the National Chairman of the APC, Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning (CECPC) and Governor of Yobe State, H.E. Mai Mala Buni, a purported emergency meeting of the  Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) slated for Thursday, March 17, 2022 is hereby cancelled.” The development comes hours after President Muhammadu Buhari declared support for Buni, directing APC governors to work hand in hand with him for a successful convention. In a letter personally signed by Akpandoedehe addressed to Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State who is also the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Buha...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja As the All Progressives Congress (APC), National Convention draws near, campaign groups have continue to stormed the party Secretariat in a bid to obtain expression of interest forms. To these end, former Governors of Zamfara state, Abdul'Aziz Yari and that of Nasarawa state Sen. Abdulahi Adamu has on Wednesday picked their nominations forms respectfully to contest for the national chairmanship position of the party. The Director General of Abdulahi Adamu campaign organisation, Hon. Lawrence Unuchukwu who led the Campaign Organization, told newsmen shortly after he picked the form that his principal poses the capacity and capability to pilot the affairs of the APC. He said: “If you have been following the antecedents of Abdullahi Adamu, you will know and agree with me that he is the man who has the capacity and the capability to pilot the affairs of this great party. ” You will also agree with me if you are a member of this party that he was the...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Less than 10 days to the National convention, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has commenced sale of forms to aspirants contesting for various offices in its National Working Committee (NWC). Spokesman of the party’s Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC, Barr. Ismaeel Ahmed disclosed this on Tuesday at a news conference in Abuja. Fees for various positions were also rolled out by interim leadership of the party According to Bar. Ahmed the ruling party pegged the cost of form for its chairmanship seat at N20 million while aspirants vying for deputy chairmanship seats are expected to obtain their form with N10 million each. As it is in the document signed by the party’s Director of Organisation, Al-Mustapha Medaner, the aspirants have between March 14 and 18 to obtain the forms. With the recent approval of zoning the APC chairmanship seat to the North-central, only five out of the 13 known aspirants may end up testing their ...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Kano State Governor, Abdulahi Ganduje has expressed optimistic that the All Progressives Congress (APC) National convention will be held on March 26. Ganduje, who is also the chairman protocol sub committee of the convention made the declaration at the party headquarters on Tuesday in Abuja said the date remain sacrosanct. The governor insist that he has no fears that the National convention will hold, nothing that  APC as a big party in Africa, has experience hands capable of organizing a successful convention. He said reconciliations and consensus are taking place, believing that the best would be produced. Ganduje also informed that about 250 protocol officers and ushers have been selected and trained by protocol sub committee so as to know what they are expected to do during the convention 

.... Says party is resilience, remain stronger. By Aviashima Toom Abuja The secretary, Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC)  Sen. John James  Akpandoedehe says our Party is resilience, Stronger and there is no trouble any where in our Party". The secretary stated this on Tuesday while addressing newsmen after Seven days of  composary absence from the party Secretariat in Abuja, said  that the Governing Party is crisis-free, strong and remains united in giving the country the transformative leadership and good governance which she promised them.  According to Akpandoedehe, "CECPC was appointed, and has always done it's best, to steer the affairs of the APC in line with the mandate invested in her at inauguration by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress.  "That on the 28th day of February, 2022 the CECPC Chairman took a long-delayed trip abroad on healt...

...... Assures Personels of Reinvigorated Commitment to Effectively Securing Nigeria By Aviashima Toom Abuja The Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman has described alleged police Strike action in some social media as fake News and a mischievous attempt to smare the police force  This is contained is a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi in abuja said that the IGP also assured Personels of Reinvigorated Commitment to Effectively Securing Nigeria. According to him the Nigeria Police Force is a regimented and disciplined organization with laid down rules and guidelines for addressing grievances and in no circumstance is a strike action one of such means.  The statement reads thus; "The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a news making the rounds on social media alleging that some members of the Force will be embarking on a strike action with effect from March 26, 2022.  "The Nigeria Police For...

By Salihu Moh. Lukman The emergence of APC in 2013 presented new ray of hope and opportunity to address problems of political leadership recruitment in Nigeria, especially the big issue of producing successors to President and Governors. Experiences during the sixteen years of PDP were cases of last minute and impulsive decisions influenced by considerations of factors of loyalties to current leaders. Arbitrary decisions influenced choices of leaders, often creating big gaps leading to the emergence of leaders who have little or no capacity to meet public expectations. This reality further entrenches problems of accountability, with many leaders flagrantly converting public resources to personal wealth. Mainly because leadership recruitment based mainly on consideration of loyalty is not a function of commitment to principles or values, even where so-called loyalists succeed current leaders, problems of political disagreements between past and current leaders continue. Cons...