Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Truetells Nigeria roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Monday, 10th May 2021
1. Buhari To Celebrate Sallah In Aso Villa, Bans Homage Again
President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that he would not be receiving any Sallah homage to mark the end of Ramadan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Recall that Buhari had last year also banned visitors from paying him homage due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement on Sunday titled ‘President Buhari to mark Eid in the Villa, plans modest celebration at home,’ by his Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the president asked that religious, community and political leaders be content with modest celebrations at home.
2. Army Confirms Arrest Of Boko Haram Terrorists In Kano
The Nigerian Army has confirmed that some persons suspected to be members of the Boko Haram terrorist group have been arrested in Kano State.
The arrest of the suspected terrorists was confirmed in a statement on Sunday by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Mohammed Yerima.
According to the statement, the suspects were arrested in the Hotoro axis of Kano State on Saturday, 8th May, 2021.
This confirms an earlier report by Naija News that the Nigerian Army on Saturday evening stormed a newly moved-in house located at Filin Lazio of the area and arrested some people, suspected to be terrorists.
Yerima explained that the arrest is part of ongoing efforts to flush out all forms of criminality and also enjoined residents of the area not to panic but to go about their legitimate businesses without fear.
3. Panic In Onitsha As Truckload Of Live Bullets Fall On The Road
Residents of the commercial city of Onitsha in Anambra State were thrown into panic on Sunday morning after a truck loaded with live ammunition fell down in the area.
It was gathered that the truck fell in the early hours of Sunday just as residents were making their way to church for worship.
The incident generated tension among the residents who raised an alarm before security operatives arrived on the scene to cordon off the area.
The incident however caused panic and apprehension among the residents after the Mercedes Benz 911 truck fell along Awka road in the city exposing cartons of bullets that spilled into the drainage when the truck skidded off the road.
Different eyewitness accounts said the development put everyone in the area on high alert particularly with the recent spate of gunmen attacks in the southeast.
It was gathered when the truck skidded off the road and fell into a ditch, the driver and his mate attempted to quickly conceal the contents but “they could not do much before daybreak when some police operatives arrived at the accident scene only to discover the truck was laden with a consignment of live bullets,” a source said.
4. Sunday Igboho Warns Buhari, Reveals What He Plans To Do To Herdsmen
Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho has vowed to storm the forests in a renewal of his activity of chasing killer herdsmen out of the Southwest region as from Monday.
This is as Igboho also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the herdsmen to stop their criminal activities and vacate the southwest region.
He accused the herdsmen of killing innocent people from the southwest, kidnapping them, and demanding ransom for their release.
Igboho in a video that has gone viral on the internet warned that as from Monday, he and his men would go into the forests in the Southwest regions and hunt down the killer herdsmen as it is increasingly becoming clearer that no one is safe again.
5. Pat Utomi Reveals Only Way Nigerians Can Make Buhari Sack Pantami
Former presidential candidate, Professor Pat Utomi, has mocked President Muhammadu Buhari over his refusal to sack the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami.
Truetells Nigeria reports that Nigerians had called on Buhari to sack Pantami over past views backing terrorism and the late Al-Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden.
Speaking in an interview with The Punch on Sunday, Utomi said the federal government is “almost offensively intolerant” to what Nigerians think.
According to the professor, if Nigerians want Pantami sacked they should demand he stays.
He added that Nigeria needs a government of national unity to restore the confidence of the people.
6. Look For Shawwal Moon Tuesday, Sultan Of Sokoto Tells Muslims
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged Muslims across the country to look for the new moon of Shawwal on Tuesday.
He made this known in a statement issued on Saturday by the Deputy Secretary-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Prof. Salisu Shehu.
Abubakar said following the advice of the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC), the crescent of Shawwal should be searched for on Tuesday, 11 May 2021 equivalent to 29 Ramadan, 1442 AH.
7. Leah Sharibu Still In Boko Haram Captivity Because She’s A Christian – Mother
The mother of Leah Sharibu, Rebecca Sharibu has alleged that her daughter has not been rescued from Boko Haram captivity because she is a Christian.
Truetells Nigeria reports Leah is one of the 110 Dapchi schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in February 2018 but while other girls have been released by their abductors, she is still with the insurgents three years after the incident.
On Friday, May 14, 2021, Leah will turn 18 years old and except anything changes before then, she would be celebrating her birthday in the den of her kidnappers.
Asked during an interview with Punch correspondent on why she believes her daughter is yet to be rescued by the government, Mrs Sharibu said it is because Leah has refused to denounce her Christian faith.
8. Many Police Officers Killed, Vehicles Destroyed As Gunmen Attack Akwa Ibom Police Stations Again
Unknown gunmen have attacked the Divisional Police Headquarters in Odoro Ikpe, Ini Local Government Area of Akwa-Ibom State.
Not less than five police officers as well as the wife of an officer were reportedly killed during the fresh attack.
It was also gathered that vehicles and other valuables were also destroyed by the gunmen.
Gunmen also attacked and razed Mkpatak police station in Essien Udim Local Government Area (LGA) of Akwa Ibom state, killing two police officers and 12 cows.
A source who spoke on the condition of anonymity explained that the officers were killed in Ukana Ikot Ntuen while the cows were killed at Afaha Ikot Ebak in the same LGA
The hoodlums burnt one of the officers inside his car while the other officer on a motorcycle was shot dead.
The state Police PRO said official details of the incidents will be made public later.
9. Don’t Sell Weapons To Nigeria – IPOB Urges US President Biden
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, has been charged by the Indigenous People of Biafra, not to honour the request of President Muhammadu Buhari to assist Nigeria with its military and weapons.
In a letter titled, “Re: request for United States military assistance by President Mohammadu Buhari of Nigeria”, signed by the IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB claimed Buhari had made Nigeria the most dangerous country, especially those of the former Republic of Biafra.
The letter read, “We, the Indigenous People of Biafra applaud your election as President of the United States, the most powerful office in the history of the world. We salute your adept and muscular discharge of presidential duties during your tenure in the White House.
10. Buhari’s Failing Govt Can’t Unite Nigeria – Soyinka
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Saturday noted that the unity of Nigeria might not be attainable under President Muhammadu Buhari-led government due to its systemic failure.
Soyinka said this in Abuja on Saturday at the book reading and signing of two of his books titled ‘Trumpism in Academe’ and ‘Chronicles of the Happiest People on Earth’.
The lawmaker representing Imo West Senatorial district, Rochas Okorocha, had asked Soyinka if he could write a Nigerian story that would evoke patriotism and inspire unity among the various tribes in the country.
The playwright in his statement said no narrative would unite the people of Nigeria without restitution and justice.
Soyinka further stated that people in Internally Displaced Persons’ camps, who had lost relatives and loved ones due to violence, would not believe in unity, unless they get justice.
The Nobel laureate said Nigeria had lost a key opportunity to unite, adding that he does believe Buhari government can unite Nigeria because it suffered from systemic failure.
