Metro

Protesters Storm APC Secretariat, Demand Two Ministerial Nominees For Kaduna

Published

2 years ago

August 14, 2023

Scores of demonstrators from Kaduna State stormed the national headquarters of the All Progressives Congress on Monday to demand that President Bola Tinubu should add an additional ministerial nominee to the slot of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

Chanting solidarity songs and displaying several banners that read, “Mr President, please respect other APC families in Kaduna State” and “Mr President, give Kaduna people their democratic dividends,” the protesters insisted on having the National Chairman of APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, address them.

Addressing journalists at the secretariat, coordinator of Kaduna APC Patriots, Prof Gandu Yusuf, said aside from repaying the votes from the state with two ministerial nominees, the president must also endeavour that only those who genuinely worked for the success of the party should be considered.

This was even as Yusuf stressed the 40 per cent votes the president garnered from Kaduna were from a combined effort of party loyalists and certain chieftains from some opposition parties.

He said, “The selection of former Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai for ministerial position in the state was incontestable due to his performance evaluation. It is however going to be catastrophic for the party to maintain only one family for state and federal appointments, more so without considering major contributors in the political success. All the APC members in the state can testify to the major contributors to the success of the party in the state as it is widely acknowledged.

“This group is therefore objecting any new ministerial nomination outside those that have contributed immensely and glaringly to the success of the party in Kaduna State especially during the presidential and governorship elections. Now that Malam Nasir El-Rufai could not make the ministerial list, we urge you and the Governor of Kaduna State to consider advising Mr President to consider the state for a second ministerial position for a balanced proportion status.

“We are all aware that our party could not secure any of the three senatorial seats in the state and could only win four out of the 16 National Assembly positions in the last elections for obvious reasons. But for alliances and genuine cooperation between Senator Uba Sani, co-contestants during the primary elections and some members of other political parties, we were able to secure up to 40 per cent votes for the president as well as securing the governorship ticket and also getting 22 number of seats out of the total of 34 seats for the state assembly.”

While receiving the demonstrators, Ganduje reassured them that their demand will be conveyed to the president.

“We thank you for coming and appreciate you were very orderly. I listened to your speech with keen interest trying to find out where you are heading to. But throughout your speech, I observed you harped on capacity. You were requesting Mr President to also nominate one of you from Kaduna and did not mention any geographical region from your state.

“And you remember Mr President said his cabinet will be a government of national competence, not a cabinet of geographical location. Thank you. We will convey your request to Mr President,” he stated.

Related Topics:Kaduna Ministerial Nominees

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Metro

Four Killed, Homes Destroyed As Gunmen Attack Osun Community

Published

5 hours ago

June 21, 2025

Editor

Four people were confirmed dead on Friday as suspected gunmen attacked Ido Ayegunle, a settlement near Esa Oke town in Osun State.

The assailants also razed buildings in the community and destroyed residents’ properties during the attack.

It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack, but the Obanla of Ido Ayegunle, Ibironke Adebusuyi, alleged in an interview with The PUNCH that the assailants came from Esa Oke.

The people of Esa Oke and Ido Ayegunle have been at loggerheads since January, following the appointment of Prince Oluwatimileyin Oluyemi Ajayi as the Olojudo of Ido Ayegunle by the Osun State Government.

Commenting on the latest attack, Adebusuyi said the attackers covered their faces.

He further said, “Our people were in the community yesterday, going about their normal activities when hoodlums numbering about 100 invaded our community. They started shooting. They covered their faces but we could recognise some of them.

“They came from the Esa Oke axis, arriving on motorcycles around 10 am They surrounded our community and killed four people in a brutal manner. They cut the head off one of them and the wrist of another.

“After killing them, they threw their bodies inside a well and used big stones and slabs to cover them. All those killed were from Ido Ayegunle. We are still looking for two people, but four have been confirmed dead. Their remains are at Wesley Guild Hospital morgue in Ilesa.”

He urged the state government to ensure those responsible for the attack are brought to justice.

The Owamiran of Esa Oke, Oba Adeyemi Adediran, when contacted, dismissed the allegations, saying those accusing his community should provide proof.

“I know nothing about the incident,” Oba Adediran said.

Meanwhile, Oba Adediran was sighted at the premises of the Osun Command headquarters of the Nigeria Police in Osogbo on Friday.

Sources said that during the visit to the command headquarters, the royal father met the State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Gotan, to discuss issues relating to the crises in the area.

Giving an update on the security situation in Ido Ayegunle, Abiodun Ojelabi, the police spokesperson in the state, said the crisis was caused by a disagreement over boundaries.

He confirmed the death of four people.

“It is a continuation of the previous clash; the people have not relented. As of yesterday (Thursday), when it happened, the police swung into action. Our men went to the scene, but the perpetrators fled when they saw the police.

“The CP visited the place today; we have just returned. Four people were killed in the clash. Those deaths were probably caused by the delay before they were taken to the hospital.

“Some houses were burnt, and properties including bikes, generators, and streetlights were damaged. Nobody has been arrested yet, but we have recovered some items that could help in our investigation. We are on it, and by God’s grace, those responsible will face the full wrath of the law. Our men are on the ground; the DPO, Area Commander, and tactical team are present,” Ojelabi said.
(PUNCH)

Metro

JUST IN: Police Arrest Wanted Lagos Assassin In Ogun, Recover Weapons

Published

6 hours ago

June 20, 2025

Editor

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested Wasiu Akinwande, popularly known as Olori Eso, and described as the “most wanted vicious and notorious hired killer” in Lagos in recent years.

The 44-year-old man was apprehended during a coordinated tactical operation code-named ‘Silence, Speed and Surprise’ carried out by the Command’s Tactical Squad in his hideout in the Agbado area of Ogun State.

In a statement issued on Friday, Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson of the state command, said Akinwande who is known for terrorising Mushin and surrounding areas was trailed to Ogun after efforts to nab him were unsuccessful.

“Arrest of most wanted vicious and notorious hired killer and head of killers gang in the history of Lagos State in recent time, Wasiu Akinwade a.k.a. Olori Eso, and recovery of nine (9) sophisticated firearms, ammunition, magazines, dagger, walkie-talkies and international passports,” the statement partly read.

The suspect is accused of leading several deadly gangs responsible for over a decade of violent crimes including armed robbery, murder, cult-related killings, and kidnappings.

Hundeyin disclosed, “This serial killer suspect is the most wanted suspect in Lagos history in recent time.

“His arrest marks a huge success in the ongoing fight against violent crimes that are threats to security and safety of residents in Mushin and some other parts of Lagos State.”

According to the statement, the police recovered a large cache of weapons and incriminating items from Akinwande’s residence, which the suspect “freely admitted he was using for his killing operations with his gang.”

“The recovered items include: Two (2) AK-47 rifles, one (1) K2 assault rifle, one (1) Red Ryder rifle, three (3) pump action rifles, two (2) locally made single-barrel pistols, five (5) magazines, fifty-seven (57) live cartridges, seventy (70) 5.56 live ammunition, twenty-seven (27) 9mm ammunition, one (1) expended 5.56 ammunition, one (1) dagger, three (3) walkie-talkies, nine (9) international passports belonging to different individuals,” Hundeyin stated.

The Command also said Akinwande’s crimes left deep scars on victims’ families and the public.

“Akinwande’s criminal activities have left trauma, horror, agony and pains in the families of victims of his numerous high-profile crimes under investigation by the Lagos State Police Command.”

It was revealed that the Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh has ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police at the State Criminal Investigation Department to lead an expanded investigation and arrest other suspects linked to the killings.

“The Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has been directed by the Commissioner of Police to lead other specially selected crack detectives to broaden the investigation of the cases and round up all other suspects linked to Wasiu Akinwande and bring them to justice.”

Hundeyin said four families have come forward to identify Akinwande as the person behind the killings of their relatives.

He said Akinwande is currently in custody under heavy security and he will “face the full weight of the law for all his crimes.”

Metro

Two Passengers Arraigned For Stealing Abuja Driver’s Phone, N20,000

Published

11 hours ago

June 20, 2025

Editor

Two passengers were on Friday arraigned before Magistrates’ Court, Karu, Abuja, for allegedly stealing driver’s cell phone and cash of N20,000.

The defendants James Ayuba, 31 and Sophia Suleiman, 34 were arraigned on a three-count charge of joint acts, theft and belonging to gang of thieves.

They however, denied committing the offence.

The prosecutor Olarewaju Osho had told the court that the complainant, Mr Joseph Gbenda of Kubwa, Abuja reported the matter at the Karu Police Station on June 18.

Osho alleged that on June 17, the complainant carried the defendants in his car from Area 1, Garki, Abuja to Nyanya, Abuja, where they alighted.

However, upon dropping the defendants, he discovered that they had jointly conspired and stole his Infinix Smart 3 cell phone and cash of N20,000.

“The complainant reported the matter at Karu police station, and they later traced the defendants to their hideouts behind Karu cemetery and recovered the stolen phone without the cash of N20,000,” he said.

The prosecutor stated that upon investigation, it was further discovered that the defendants belonged to a gang of thieves specialised in committing crimes.

Osho equally informed the court that the defendants had just been released three days ago on administrative bail by a magistrate court, for committing similar offence.

The prosecutor claimed that the offence contravened sections 79, 288 and 306 of the Penal Code and punishable under the same law.

After listening to the charge, Senior Magistrate, Ngozi Okonkwo adjourned the matter until June 24.