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Northern Groups Trade Words Over Tompolo’s Pipeline Surveillance Contract

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Two Northern groups, Coalition of Arewa Civil Society Groups and the Amalgamated Arewa Youth Groups, on Tuesday traded words over the N4bn worth of pipeline surveillance contract awarded to ex-Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo otherwise known as ‘Tompolo’, by the Nigerian National Petroleum Limited.

While one group was in full support of the award of the contract to the Niger Delta ex-war-lord, the other called for revocation.

The Amalgamated Arewa Youth Groups kicked against the award of the N4bn contract and gave the Federal Government and the NNPC ultimatum to revoke the contract or be forced to either protest or risk legal action.

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The group also urged the President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, and Director, Upstream of the NNPC LTD, Mr. Adokiye Tombomelye, for “promoting ethnic and regional interest as well as the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mele Kyari, for using his office to allegedly reward criminality.”

READ ALSO: Oil Contract: IYC Blasts Arewa Youths Over Attack On Tompolo

However, addressing journalists in Kaduna on Tuesday, Spokesperson of the Coalition of Arewa Civil Society Groups, Mallam Aminu Abbas, described the call for the revocation of the contract and the sack of the minister, other NNPC executives as “baseless” while distancing the region from the pronouncement of the “faceless Arewa Group.”

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According to him, the Federal Government/NNPC contracting the pipeline surveillance to the Niger Delta ex-war-lord is a step in the right direction.

He added that apart from the pipeline surveillance, the Federal Government should equally award the contract securing rail lines from terrorists in the north to Tompolo.

According to The PUNCH, Abbas lauded the efforts of the president for engaging host communities from the Niger Delta region to protect facilities that would boost the country’s economy.

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He noted that what should bother any Arewa group now was how to join hands with other stakeholders to address regional insecurity and not who should get a “pipeline surveillance contract.”

The CACS group’s Spokesperson said, “our attention has been drawn to the unpatriotic call made by a faceless Arewa Group on the crude oil surveillance contract awarded by the federal government through NNPC Limited to a respected Nationalist of repute, Government Ekpemupolo better known as ‘Tompolo.’

“The condemnation call is baseless; hence we distance the good people of northern Nigeria to such a myopic action of some faceless group camouflaging in the name of AREWA.

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READ ALSO: Pipeline Surveillance: Tompolo Meets Ex-militant Leaders, Others, Seeks End To Oil Theft

“It’s important to note that the era of shadow chasing is over. What is expected of any concern Arewa Group at this critical material time is to engage all concerned stakeholders from within and outside our region on how best to address the lingering problem of insecurity and bring it to a logical end.

“We want to use this medium to thank Mr President for making the right decision because our National asset will be secured even more by engaging the host communities to join hands with our security agencies in protecting these facilities and, in return, would boost the Nigerian economy.”

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Migration Agency Warns Migrants Against Irregular Travel Routes

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The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with Giving is Healing Foundation, has sensitised residents of Ayobo in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on the dangers of irregular migration and the need to embrace legal travel procedures.

Speaking during a sensitisation programme held at Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association in Ayobo, the founder of Giving is Healing Foundation, Mr. Gbolahan Ayediran, warned intending migrants against using illegal travel routes.

Ayediran said many Nigerians desire to migrate abroad in search of better opportunities but often ignore proper procedures, thereby exposing themselves to several dangers.

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“Lots of people want to migrate and most of them do it in the wrong direction. The reason for the programme is for us to advise people on how they can migrate in the right way. As much as migration is their right, they should do it correctly,” he said.

READ ALSO:How Wike Rescued Me From Political Oblivion — Oshiomhole

He advised intending travellers to obtain the necessary travel documents before embarking on any journey, noting that such documents include international passports, visas, flight tickets and yellow cards, depending on the destination country.

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According to him, migrants should also gather adequate information about their destination countries to enable them make informed decisions before travelling.

Ayediran further highlighted some of the dangers associated with irregular migration, including abuse, exploitation, discrimination and forced labour.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association, Elder Mathews Amusan, commended the organisers for enlightening members of the community on safe migration practices.

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READ ALSO: He Can’t Fix His Party Let Alone Nigeria – Oshiomhole Blasts Atiku

He urged residents planning to travel abroad to always follow legal migration procedures to avoid falling victim to human trafficking and other migration-related challenges.

One of the participants, Mr. Kolawole Adenoko, said the programme enlightened him on the dangers of irregular migration and the importance of travelling through the proper channels.

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He added that he would also educate his relatives and friends on the risks associated with illegal migration.

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Shatta Wale Bailed Burna Boy From Ghana Prison After Arrest For Smoking Weed – Captan

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Ghanian singer, Captan, has claimed that his former record label boss, Shatta Wale, once bailed Nigerian singer Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana after he was allegedly arrested for smoking weed.

Speaking in a recent podcast interview, Captan claimed that Shatta Wale sent him and others to free Burna Boy from police custody.

He also claimed that Shatta Wale and his group once accommodated Burna Boy when he was being hunted by some dangerous men.

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READ ALSO: Wale Edun Opens Up After Sack

Captan said, “I once bailed Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana when he was arrested for smoking weed. Shatta Wale sent me and some guys to go and free him from police custody.

“There was a time we also accommodated him when some people were after his life. We helped him settle the case.”

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He added that he and Burna Boy are no longer in good terms after the Nigerian artist’s fallout with his mentor, Shatta Wale.

He, however, said he and Shatta Wale are open to reconciling with Burna Boy if he asks for it.

Watch the video here

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Children’s Day: Chaos At Ogbe Stadium As Dozens Faint

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Chaos erupted on Wednesday during the Children’s Day celebration as dozens of students reportedly collapsed following a stampede triggered by the use of pepper spray.

The event,
organised by the Edo State Ministry of Education at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was disrupted after some male students of Ihogbe College allegedly made uncompromising advances towards female students at the venue.

‎ A parent who identified himself as Oboh Emmanuel said, “the behaviour of those uncultured students attracted the attention of bouncers stationed at the stadium as they rebuked the male students.”

‎Oboh said the affected students later regrouped and attacked the bouncers, leading to a confrontation within the crowded arena.

READ ALSO:Children’s Day: Edo Commits To Child Protection

It was gathered that in the ensuing confusion, the bouncers were reported to have deployed pepper spray in an area occupied by a large number of students.

‎Several students, particularly female students, reportedly fainted after inhaling the substance, while others sustained injuries after being stepped on during the ensuing melee.

‎The panic was said to have spread across the stadium as students, teachers and parents scampered for safety.

‎Many of the affected students were reportedly rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for medical attention.

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READ ALSO: Egor LG Chair, Ogbemudia, Vice, Osawe Impeached

Reacting to the incident, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr Patrick Ebojele, said the security personnel that fired the tear gas had been detained.

He said all the students, except two, that were rushed to the hospital have been discharged.

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Ebojele stated that doctors wanted to observe the students till tomorrow before allowing them to go home.

The two students are not seriously injured. Doctors want to observe them overnight. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education is still at the hospital. The man who used pepper spray has been detained.

“The incident did not happen the way it is being exaggerated. All modalities were put in place to ensure the children enjoyed their day.”

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