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JUST IN: Kukah Suspends Catholic Masses In Sokoto

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The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan-Kukah, has suspended all Masses in Sokoto metropolis, The PUNCH reports.

This was contained in a statement on Saturday signed by the Director, Social Communications of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Rev. Fr Christopher Omotosho.

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Omotosho noted that Kukah’s residence was not attacked though rampaging hoodlums vandalised and torched two of the parishes presided over by the fiery preacher.

The statement obtained by The PUNCH was titled, ‘Current Development In Sokoto’.

It read, “The Sokoto State Government has declared 24-hour curfew to help stem the ongoing protests embarked upon by Muslim youth in the state capital today.

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READ ALSO: ‘Blasphemy’: Bishop Kukah Fumes Over Murder Of Female Student In Sokoto

“During the protest, groups of youths led by some adults in the background attacked the Holy Family Catholic Cathedral at Bello Way, destroying church glass windows, those of the Bishop Lawton Secretariat were also attacked and a community bus parked within the premises vandalised.

“St. Kevin’s Catholic Church Gidan Dere, Eastern By-pass, was also attacked and partly burnt; windows of the new hospital complex under construction, in the same premises were shattered.

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“They were promptly dispersed by a team of Mobile policemen before they could do further damage.

“The hoodlums also attacked the Bakhita Centre located along Aliyu Jodi Road and burnt down a bus within the premises.”

On Thursday, Kukah described as criminal, the gruesome murder of Deborah Yakubu, a 200-level Home Economics student of Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, North-West Nigeria.

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He had also called on the authorities to ensure “those who are guilty of this inhuman act, no matter their motivation, are punished according to the extant laws of our land.”

The police said two suspects had been arrested in connection with the killing of Deborah, who was mauled and burnt to death on the school premises for alleged blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Hundreds of placard-carrying Muslim youths began a protest in Sokoto on Saturday morning and demanded the release of the two suspects.

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The Muslim protesters clashed with security operatives who fired shots to disperse the surging demonstrators.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal subsequently imposed a curfew on the state amid rising tension.

Kukah commended Tambuwal “for acting promptly by declaring the 24-hour curfew to stem the protests”.

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He also commended the security forces for promptly rising to the occasion to prevent further damage at our facilities.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Tension In Sokoto As Protesters Demand Release Of Suspected Killers Of Deborah

The Bishop said no life was lost in the attacks and noted, “Contrary to information in circulation, we wish to disclaim that there was an attack of any sort on the residence of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah.

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Kukah appealed to Christians to remain law-abiding and pray for the return of normalcy.

“All Masses in Sokoto metropolis have been suspended until the curfew is lifted,” the statement added.

Following Tambuwal’s directive, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, banned religious protests in Kaduna, saying some “unpatriotic elements” planned to organise a “series of for-and-against protests” related to the unfolding event in Sokoto.

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Sowore Regains Freedom, Says Detention ‘Illegal

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Human rights activist and 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has been released from police custody.

Sowore had been detained at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory since Wednesday when he honoured an invitation from the Inspector General of Police Monitoring Unit.

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The activist confirmed his release in a Facebook post.

He described his detention as “illegal and unjust.”

READ ALSO:Why Sowore Is Being Detained – Police

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The Nigeria Police Force has capitulated to the demands of the revolutionary movement. I have been released from unjust, illegal and unwarranted detention.

“However, it is nothing to celebrate, but thank you for not giving up!” he wrote.

His release comes hours after his supporters had staged protests in about five different states on Friday.

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WAEC Releases Revised 2025 WASSCE Results, Apologises For Grading Error

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The West African Examinations Council, Nigeria, has released reviewed results for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, for school candidates, following the discovery of grading discrepancies that significantly affected candidates’ performance statistics.

In a press briefing on Friday, at the council’s national office in Yaba, Lagos, the Head of WAEC Nigeria, Dr. Amos Dangut, admitted to a serious error in the marking of serialised papers, which led to a misrepresentation of candidates’ performance.

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With deep sorrow and regret, I, on behalf of the Registrar to Council, Management and Staff of WAEC Nigeria, apologise for the discrepancies discovered in the grading of serialised papers.

“This is very difficult for us to say, but we have to admit that it is very embarrassing,” Dangut said.

According to him, the council had implemented a new security innovation known as paper serialisation, already in use by another national examination body.

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READ ALSO:WAEC Under Fire As Results Portal Goes Down

However, during post-examination reviews, it was discovered that the English Language Objective Test (Paper 3) was scored using incorrect keys due to a wrongly assigned serialised code file.

Other serialised subjects included Mathematics, Biology, and Economics.

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We investigated and discovered that a serialised code file was wrongly used in the printing of the English Language Objective paper.

“This resulted in them being marked with incorrect answer keys. It is important to note that candidates who wrote the exams using the computer-based mode were not affected,” Dangut explained.

With the error corrected, 1,794,821 candidates — representing 91.14 per cent— obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects (with or without English and Mathematics).

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READ ALSO:JUST IN: WAEC Shuts Down Result Portal Over Technical Issues

Notably, 1,239,884 candidates or 62.96 per cent, obtained five credits, including English and Mathematics, a significant improvement from the previously reported 38.32 per cent.

Of this number, 657,819 (53.05 per cent) were female, while 582,065 (46.95 per cent) were male candidates.

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However, this still reflects a 9.16 per cent drop from the 72.12 per cent performance recorded in 2024.

WAEC reported that a total of 1,969,313 candidates sat for the examination, including candidates from schools in Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, and Equatorial Guinea, which operate the Nigerian curriculum.

The council also catered to 12,178 special needs candidates, including the visually impaired (112), hearing impaired (615), physically challenged (37), and spastic/mentally challenged (52). These candidates’ results have also been processed and released.

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READ ALSO:VeryDarkMan Mocks Okpebholo Over Alleged Poor WAEC Results, Drags Portable, Fufeyin [VIDEO]

All these candidates were adequately provided for in the administration of the examination,” said Dangut.

While 1,763,470 candidates (89.55 per cent) have had their results fully processed, 205,916 (10.45 per cent) still have one or more subjects pending due to technical issues.

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WAEC assured all that efforts are ongoing to conclude processing and release outstanding results shortly.

Meanwhile, results of 191,053 candidates (9.7 per cent) have been withheld over allegations of examination malpractice.

This is lower than the 11.92 per cent recorded in 2024.

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READ ALSO:WAEC Speaks On Rumoured Cancellation Of 2025 WASSCE Exams

Investigations are ongoing, and affected candidates can seek redress via waecinternational.org/complaints.

WAEC will continue to sanction all cases of examination malpractice. All hands must be on deck to sanitise the system,” Dangut emphasised.

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WAEC encouraged candidates to access their results via the official portal www.waecdirect.org and apply for their digital certificates, which will be available within 48 hours after result verification. Hard copy certificates will be ready within 90 days.

Dangut reminded all that candidates sponsored by indebted state governments would not have access to their results until the council receives payment.

READ ALSO:JUST IN: WAEC Shuts Down Result Portal Over Technical Issues

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We appeal to the concerned authorities to do the needful to enable affected schools and candidates to access their results,” he urged.

Dangut offered an unreserved apology to stakeholders.

We acknowledge the emotional ordeal that candidates, parents, teachers, school administrators, Ministries of Education, and the media must have endured.

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“This is a trying time for us at WAEC. We are doing everything we can to ensure this dismal situation does not recur,” he said.

WAEC also thanked the Federal Government, the Minister of Education, and state education bodies for their support during the review and resolution process.
(PUNCH)

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Fuel Pump Fraud: NNPC Fires Attendant In Viral Video, Suspends Manager

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Retail Ltd has announced the sack of a pump attendant and suspension of a Station Manager for attempting to swindle a customer at its station in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

A statement by the NNPC Ltd. on Friday said its attention was drawn to a recent video circulating on social media platforms depicting a pump attendant at a filling station attempting to swindle a customer.

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It said following a thorough investigation, the incident was traced to a station in Ikorodu, Lagos.

READ ALSO:PDP Announces National Convention Zoning Committee Inauguration Date

The NNPC Retail Limited wishes to state categorically that such behaviour is unacceptable and does not reflect the company’s commitment to integrity, transparency, and exceptional customer service.

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“In response to this incident, NNPC Retail Limited has taken the following decisive actions in line with its sanction grid:

“The pump attendant involved has been disengaged. The Station Manager has been suspended.

READ ALSO:NNPCL Increases Fuel Price

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“A formal warning letter has been issued to the dealer,” the company said.

The company, while thanking the public for being vigilant, encouraged the reporting of any incidents through the appropriate channels (customer service numbers and email displayed at all stations) for immediate action.

It also assured all customers of its continued strict enforcement of compliance with its operational standards across its network of filling stations.

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