News

Clerics To Muslim Faithful: Return Looted Goods In Your Possession For Eid -El – Maulud Celebration Sake

Published

5 years ago

October 29, 2020

Muslim Ummahs who partook in the looting of government and individuals’ properties during the #EndSARS protest have been urged to return all the goods in their possession in the spirit of the Eid – El- Maulud celebration.

Eid – El- Maulud is a celebration by Muslims to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad.

Muslim clerics, Ibrahim Oyarekhua, chairman, Edo State Muslim Pilgrims Board, and Nurudeen Asunogie, while making the calls in a telephone interview, said those who participated in the looting could only get the rewards of the celebration if only they return the looted goods in their possessions.

The duo who enjoined Muslim faithful to emulate the virtues of integrity, honesty and piety, as epitomized by the Prophet, further urged non-Muslim involved in the act to also do the same by returning goods in their possessions.

The clerics, while condemning the attack, destruction of public and private institutions’ properties in the country, however called on the government to put in place policies to entrench good governance in the country.

Speaking Ibrahim Oyarekhua, who said the #EndSARS protest started peacefully in the country, condemned the way and manner hoodlums hijacked it.

Oyarekhua, opined that many Nigerians believe that the protest would have been able to unite the country against bad leadership.

“We don’t believe that Muslims would have participated in this unwholesome act, and, if they were, and for some of them to have looted whatever they have looted either small or big, the earlier they return the goods to where they looted them, the better for them.

“If they think nobody, saw them when they looted the goods, it will be a burden on them on the day of judgment.

“Whatever they have looted and if they refused to return them now, God the Almighty will surely request for those things from them on the last day, to account for it and if not, they will be punished.

“Muslims do not take what does not rightly belong to them. If you take what does not belong to you, you must return before you seek for repentance,” he stated.

On his part, Nurudeen Asunogie, said government needs to address the imbalance between the have and the have not in the society.

“I want to remind the Muslim Ummahs that there is absolutely nothing unique about celebrating the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PUBH) if we are not going to adorn ourselves on the virtues of integrity, honesty and sacrifice which the prophet epitomizes.

“I think, generally, we need to address the imbalance in the society because the divides is rather too wide between the have and the have not.

“Those who do not have constitute a very terrible and frightening majority. So, they will also drown those who have caused the state resources to coagulate around themselves.

“I also think government should bring about fair distribution of wealth in the country,” he added.

While urging all those involved in the wanton destruction, looting of public and private institutions’ properties in the country to seek for sincere repentance from Allah, he noted that destruction and stealing of other people’s property are aliens to Islam.

Asunogie noted that once a Muslim deviated from the commands of Allah, he or she becomes irrelevant in the scheme of things in this world and in the hereafter.

“Society is created along two lines. These are the evil and good. If you are not a thief there is no way in the first place you would have destroyed and looted government and private property.

“It is crime. If they escape punishment in this world, they will not in the hereafter, except they sincerely repent and return whatever is in their possessions.

“If there is nothing with them, they should seek forgiveness from those who have suffered in the cause of their actions.

“If they do not, on the last day, they will be carrying the burden for which they will regret endlessly because it has no justification under any guise,” he added.

News

UK High Commissioner Concludes Anambra Visit, Urges Transparent Election

Published

2 hours ago

October 17, 2025

Editor

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, has completed a two-day visit to Anambra State, meeting with political and security leaders to discuss preparations for the upcoming gubernatorial election.

The visit comes just weeks before the election, scheduled for 8 November.

During his stay, Montgomery held talks with Governor Charles Soludo, gubernatorial candidates, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the state Commissioner of Police, and representatives from civil society organizations.

According to a statement from the British High Commission in Abuja on Thursday, the discussions centered around the technical and logistical preparations needed to ensure a smooth election.

Among the key topics were securing the 5,720 polling units across Anambra, addressing voter turnout concerns, and managing the security situation across the state’s 21 local government areas, the statement noted.

Speaking at the end of his visit, Montgomery emphasized the importance of a transparent and peaceful electoral process.

“Our focus is solely on the electoral process itself – that it should be transparent, peaceful, inclusive, and enjoy the confidence of the Anambra people.

“We do not endorse any particular candidate or political party. I encourage all eligible voters to exercise their democratic rights and to engage peacefully in the election,” he said.

The High Commissioner reaffirmed the UK’s continued support for Nigeria in strengthening its democratic institutions and promoting good governance, stressing that the UK would remain a committed partner in the lead-up to the election and beyond.

News

PSC Promotes Over 400 Officers, Appoints New DIG For North-East

Published

2 hours ago

October 17, 2025

Editor

The Police Service Commission has approved the appointment of Assistant Inspector General of Police, Dankwara Mohammed, as a Deputy Inspector General of Police to represent the North-East geopolitical zone.

Mohammed replaces DIG Sahabu Abubakar Yahaya, who recently retired from service.

In a statement by the PSC’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, on Friday, the Commission also approved the promotion of Commissioner of Police, Abibo Deinma Reuben, to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police.

Eleven Deputy Commissioners were also elevated to substantive Commissioners.

The statement partly read, “The Commission also approved the promotion of CP Abibo Deinma Reuben from the rank of Commissioner to the next rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police.

“The Commission further approved the promotion of eleven Deputy Commissioners of Police to the next rank of Substantive Commissioners. They are Naziru Bello Kankarofi; Nendel Joseph Gomwalk; Tijani Olaiwola Fatai; Wilson Aniefiok Akpan; Morkwap Dongshal, and Abdullateef Ajape Yusuf. Others are Cletus Nwadiogbu, Deputy Commissioner, Finance and Administration, Taraba State; Ahmed Mohammed Bello; Abdulraheem Nurudeen; Patrick Daaor and Umar Mohammed Hadejia.”

Thirteen Assistant Commissioners were promoted to Deputy Commissioners, while 44 Chief Superintendents advanced to Assistant Commissioners.

Similarly, 412 Superintendents rose to the rank of Chief Superintendents, with several Deputy Superintendents confirmed as substantive Superintendents.

The PSC chairman, DIG Hashimu Argungu (retd) congratulated the newly promoted officers and urged them to rededicate themselves to the service of the nation, stressing that promotion in the police comes with higher responsibilities and expectations.

The promotions come amid a series of recent promotions in the Nigeria Police Force.

News

PHOTOS: Obi Meets Commonwealth Chief In London, Urges Youth Empowerment

Published

3 hours ago

October 17, 2025

Editor

A former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has called for deeper investment in education, innovation, and youth empowerment.

This is as he noted that they are foundation for strengthening democracy and driving development across Commonwealth nations.

Obi made the call after meeting with the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Botchwey, at the organisation’s headquarters in London on Thursday, October 16.

Writing on X on Friday, Obi said the meeting — which he attended with his wife — focused on “promoting democracy, deepening the rule of law, expanding access to education, and empowering young people across Commonwealth nations.”

“With over 2.5 billion of the Commonwealth’s population under the age of 30, young people remain the organisation’s greatest asset and hope for the future,” Obi said.

He stressed that for Nigeria, “a nation richly endowed with human and natural resources, meaningful investment in education, innovation, and entrepreneurship is key to unlocking the vast potential of our youth.”

“When properly equipped, our young people will not only drive national development but also contribute significantly to global progress,” he added.

Obi described youth unemployment as “one of the most pressing challenges of our time,” noting that solving it requires “intentional and practical action — through skills development, access to quality education, and the creation of an enabling environment for small and medium-scale enterprises to thrive.”

The Commonwealth Secretary-General who recently became the first African woman to lead the 56-member organisation, reaffirmed that her top priorities include “education, youth engagement, and employment creation.”

According to Obi, Botchwey “spoke passionately about the need to build inclusive societies that promote democracy, good governance, justice, and equal opportunity for all.”

“Her visionary, reform-minded leadership continues to amplify the voices of developing nations within the Commonwealth and inspire greater cooperation among member states,” Obi wrote.

He quoted the Secretary-General as stressing that “empowering young people is not only vital to sustaining democracy but also indispensable to shaping a stable, peaceful, and prosperous future for all Commonwealth citizens.”

Obi described Botchwey as “a trailblazer whose dedication to education, youth empowerment, and democratic ideals strengthens the global Commonwealth community.”

“I remain confident that with leaders like her, the Commonwealth will continue to serve as a beacon of unity, hope, and shared progress for its member nations,” he said.

Meanwhile, checks by The PUNCH shows that the body is yet to issue an official statement on the meeting or related developments.