Top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 19th October 2021
1. Goronyo Killings: Bandits Living In Fool’s Paradise – Buhari Talks Tough
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday sent a tough warning to bandits, stressing that they “are living in the fool’s paradise of invincibility, but reality will soon dawn on them harder than ever before”.
Reacting to the killing of over 30 people in Goronyo market in Goronyo LGA of Sokoto State on Sunday, Buhari told the killer-bandits that “the clock of your ultimate destruction is ticking as you will no longer have a place to hide”.
He maintained that “the days of the bandits are indeed numbered because the military capabilities of our forces are being boosted by the acquisition and deployment of advanced equipment.”
The President, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, said, “the bandits are currently under desperate pressures because of the intense and sustained air and ground operations against them in their hideouts by our security forces.
2. Biafra: FG Slams Amended Charges Against Nnamdi Kanu
The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has on behalf of the federal government, filed a seven-count amended charge against the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Truetells Nigeria understands the charges are based on treasonable felony and acts of terrorism.
The amended charges against the embattled IPOB leader come a few days before the re-commencement of Kanu’s trial on Thursday before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
As earlier reported by Truetells Nigeria , a trial notice has been issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja on the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu in the treasonable felony charges filed by the Federal Government.
3. Security Agencies Effectively Responding To Insecurity – Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that security agencies are effectively responding to the security challenges across the country.
Buhari, in a message on Monday to mark the Eid-ul-Maulud celebration by its spokesman, Garba Shehu, said his government will continue to ensure that Nigerians are safe and protected.
The President, however, admonished the media to “revise” their reporting on insecurity in the country, adding that the security challenges in the country are now “declining”.
4. Pandora Papers: I Am Yet To Receive EFCC Invite, Read About It On Social Media – Peter Obi
A former Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Peter Obi has denied receiving any invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Obi, in a statement signed by his media aide, Barr Valentine Obienyem, said he only heard about the invitation on different media platforms.
The former Anambra governor also denied asking the EFCC to make their investigations public.
5. Insecurity: I Will Not Keep Quiet Says Gov Ortom, Tells FG What To Do
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom on Monday reiterated that the people of his state are suffering from security challenges.
Particularly, the Governor lamented the activities of criminal herdsmen whom he said are rendering many residents homeless and turning them into Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in their own state of origin.
While calling on the federal government to do more in tackling the security challenges, he went further to specifically tell the government to declare the herdsmen as terrorists.
Ortom made the call in Gbajimba, Guma Local Government Area, LGA, during the virtual handing over and commissioning of the Government Science Secondary School built by a consortium of oil companies.
While commending security agencies for their concerted efforts in tackling the menace of insecurity across the country, the Benue Governor said he won’t keep quiet because justice needs to be served and the people need to be saved from the worsening security challenges.
6. FG Speaks On Paying Bandits ₦20 Million Not To Shoot Down Buhari’s Plane
The Federal Government has rubbished a report alleging that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) paid bandits N20 million in other to recover an anti-aircraft gun.
Truetells Nigeria had earlier reports that the Wall Street Journal had claimed NAF paid bandits the huge sum to reclaim the gun in other to prevent the terrorists from using it to attack President Muhammadu Buhari’s Plane.
The report added that the anti-aircraft gun was stolen by the bandits after a clash with a military unit in Rugu Forest, Katsina state.
The Nigerian Airforce has also denied allegations that it paid ₦20million to bandits operating in Jibia, Katsina State in exchange for the anti-aircraft gun.
During an appearance on a TV Continental programme, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, berated the authors of the report, describing the allegation as “senseless and illogical.”
7. 30 Killed In Bandit Attack On Sokoto Market – Tambuwal Reveals
Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has revealed that about 30 people were killed during an attack on Goronyo market in Goronyo Local Government Area of the state.
Truetells Nigeria earlier reported that the insecurity in the North West region of the country took a new twist on Sunday as bandits invaded the weekly market, shooting sporadically and killing several persons during the attack.
Speaking on Monday when the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya paid him a courtesy visit, Tambuwal described the attack as unfortunate.
8. 2023: Why APC, PDP, Cannot Do Without Crisis – PGF DG, Lukman
The Director-General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Salihu Lukman, says major political parties in the country cannot escape being embroiled in crisis.
He stated that most of the parties are dominated by wealthy politicians who aspire to contest elections for political offices and want to have their ways.
In a statement on Sunday, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain noted that these moneybags also finance the parties and direct their affairs, which leads to crisis and factionalization.
The PGF boss added that the politicians then proceed to appoint loyalists and put them in strategic positions in the parties.
He said the loyalists who emerge as party officials, in turn, become delegates during party primary for the selection of candidates for election, who then confirm the aspiring political leader as the party’s candidate for election.
9. Nnamdi Kanu: Dialogue With IPOB Like You Did With Militants, Herdsmen – Ohanaeze Tells FG
The Federal Government has been asked to dialogue with the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, to stop the killings and violence taking place in the South East.
According to the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the only way to stop the insecurity in the region is for the government to sit down with the pro-Biafra agitators.
In a statement on Monday by its spokesman, Alex Ogbonnia, Ohanaeze Ndigbo asked President Muhammadu Buhari to negotiate with IPOB just as his administration and his predecessors did with herdsmen and Niger Delta militants.
The group added that all South-East leaders are set to meet with the federal government to discuss the numerous challenges confronting Ndigbo and Nigeria in general, adding that dialogue is a panacea to peace.
It urged the government to stop the “jackboot approach” to the IPOB agitation, saying that the military approach would rather aggravate the precarious situation.
Ohanaeze, however, urged President Buhari to ensure that the Department of State Service (DSS) produce Kanu in court on Thursday, October 21, 2021, during his ongoing trial.
10. Gunmen Attack Police Station In Ebonyi, Release Detainees
A police station located in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has been attacked by gunmen who released those detained at the station.
According to Daily Trust, the incident happened in the early hours of Monday.
The development was confirmed by the spokesperson of the state police command, Loveth Odah.
It was gathered that the gunmen during the attack on the police station burnt patrol vans found at the station.
Security properties have been damaged in recent times over the call for secession by some people in the southeast.