Top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 26th July 2022
1. President Buhari Appoints Biu As Acting FRSC Corps Marshal
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday confirmed the appointment of the Deputy Corps Marshal, Finance and Accounts, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dauda Biu as the acting Corps Marshal.
Biu’s appointment became necessary following the retirement of Boboye Oyeyemi from service on July 24.
Oyeyemi who spoke at the handing-over held at the agency’s headquarters on Monday in Abuja received commendations for laying a good foundation and legacy in his tenure.
Confirming President Buhari’s consent to the latest appointment, Oyeyemi said the official was conferred with the position of the acting CM with effect from July 24.
In a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Bisi Kazeem, Oyeyemi wished Biu a successful tenure as he assumed office.
2. Terrorists Release Three Abuja-Kaduna Train Passengers
Terrorists have released three out of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack victims barely a day after they released a disturbing video, torturing some of them.
Reports reaching Naija News at the moment confirmed that a female and two males were released and reunited with their family members today.
It could not be ascertained yet if a ransom was paid before their release. However, Daily Trust quoted popular Kaduna-based Publisher, Tukur Mamu as saying that the three victims have regained their freedom.
“Yes three victims have been released one female and two male. But remember I’m not part of the negotiation that led to their freedom,” Mamu told the news platform.
3. Osinbajo Discharged After Successful Surgery
The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo on Monday was discharged from the Duchess International Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, after undergoing a successful surgical operation and rehabilitation.
Recall that Osinbajo underwent surgery at the hospital on the 16th of July, 2022.
The media aide to the Vice President, Laolu Akande in a statement released on Monday said his principal had corrective surgery without any complications.
Osinbajo in the statement expressed his appreciation to the clinical and ancillary staff of the Hospital led by its Chief Executive Officer, Dr Tokunbo Shitta-Bey and the Medical Director, Dr Adedoyin Dosunmu-Ogunbi for their professionalism and quality of care.
4. After Threat To Kidnap Buhari, Terrorists Attack Presidential Guards, Injure Three
Gunmen terrorists reportedly attacked and injured some soldiers of the Guards Brigade who have the mandate to protest President Muhammadu Buhari.
It was gathered that the soldiers of the 7 Guards Battalion were on routine patrol along Kubwa – Bwari road when they ran into the ambush by the suspected terrorists in the nation’s capital city.
The attack is coming barely twenty-four hours after terrorists threatened to kidnap President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Naija News reports.
The development is said to have caused panic among many residents of Abuja.
The terrorists were said to be headed to the Nigerian Law School in Bwari when they ran into the troops, leading to the exchange of gunfire in which three soldiers were injured.
According to one of the military sources quoted by The Nation, the three soldiers who were injured during the attack have been evacuated to the hospital for treatment.
5. Insecurity: No Government In Nigeria, People Around Buhari Are Criminals – Ortom
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Monday, said there was no government in place in Nigeria and people around president Muhammadu Buhari are criminals.
Ortom, who was reacting to a video trending on social media where bandits were flogging Kaduna-bound train attack victims and their threat to kidnap the president and the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, said Nigerians were now exposed to the Afghanistan treatment.
Gov. Ortom said the insecurity situation in the country has reached its peak with the threat by bandits to kidnap President Muhammadu Buhari adding that there was no government in the country and those surrounding the president were criminals.
Briefing journalists at the new banquet hall of the government house, Makurdi, the governor decried that the insecurity situation in the country in the Buhari government had left Nigerians digging their graves.
6. ‘Fake Bishops’: Alleged Clergymen At Shettima’s Unveiling Finally Reveal Where They Came From
The bishops and clerics present at the All Progressives Congress, APC, Party unveiling of its vice presidential candidate Kashim Shettima have finally spoken.
Recall that the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, had disowned the clergyman at the event, insisting that they had not sent any of their representatives.
It was also alleged that the bishops were fake and had been hired by the APC to show the Christians’ acceptance of the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
However, the bishops have finally cleared the air on their presence at the unveiling.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the clerics told journalists that they did not represent the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
The clerics under the auspices of the Muslim-Christian Love Foundation insisted that they never portrayed themselves as emissaries of CAN at the event.
7. Insecurity: Ministry Of Education Orders Closure Of All Federal Government Colleges In Abuja
The federal government has ordered the closure of all Federal Government Colleges (FGCs) in Abuja due to fears of insecurity.
The students of the affected schools have also been ordered to be evacuated.
The Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Ben Goong confirmed the directive to newsmen in Abuja on Monday.
He explained that the directive became necessary due to growing insecurity in the area which has become a threat to the well-being of the students.
Truetells Nigeria understands some of the FGCs had been asked to vacate the school premises on July 20, while others will close on July 26.
8. Families Of Kidnapped Train Passengers Protest At Transportation Ministry
The families of the victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack on Monday protested the continued stay of their loved ones in the den of terrorists.
Truetells Nigeria earlier reported that some of the relatives had accused the Federal Government and the Nigerian military of sabotaging their efforts to rescue their family members.
The relatives of the victims stated this in response to a video released by the terrorists over the weekend showing the male victims being mercilessly flogged.
Following the development, the families of the captives picketed the Ministry of Transportation on Monday to protest the failure of the government to rescue their loved ones.
The families, who have been at the ministry’s gate since 6 am, barred staff from entry and wielded placards, to drive home their demands.
According to the relatives of the victims, they were at the ministry supervising the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), to express their frustration over the continued stay of those in captivity.
9. 2023: Guru Maharaj ji States Position On APC’s Muslim-Muslim Ticket
The leader of One Love Family, Sat Guru Maharaj ji has stated that human capacity should be placed above religious sentiments for the 2023 presidential election.
Guru Maharaj Ji stated this on Monday while speaking his mind on the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which features Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima.
According to him, religion has not helped the country’s development and those expressing fear about the Muslim-Muslim ticket should calm down.
He argued further that what Nigeria needs is a leader that can make the institutions work so fears and suspicions about religion would be a thing of the past.
Truetells Nigeria understands he made his stand known at the Alarere residence of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, while fielding questions from the Personal Assistant (Media) to the Olubadan, Oladele Ogunsola.
10. 2023: Sowore Exposes Atiku, Garba Shehu, Accuses Them Of Leaking Official Documents
The Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has accused the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu, of leaking government documents.
Sowore stated this in a chat with Arise Television on Monday while responding to Atiku’s remark against him in an interview last Friday.
Recall that Atiku had on Wednesday complained about the frequent collapses of the electricity National grid.
In a swift response, Sowore alleged that Atiku and former President Olusegun Obasanjo caused the national electrical grid to collapse when they invested $16 billion to procure darkness for Nigeria.
Reacting to Sowore’s claim, Atiku during the Arise Tv interview claimed that the AAC presidential candidate lives outside Nigeria and comes only after four years to contest the election, adding that he knows nothing about the power sector.
However, responding to Atiku’s remarks on Monday, Sowore said when Garba Shehu was a Media aide to the ex-vice president, he used to receive documents to counter Atiku’s principal, Obasanjo.