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“MY REFERENCE TO POPE, A MARK OF REVERENCE NOT RIDICULE” – GOVERNOR LALONG
“MY REFERENCE TO POPE, A MARK OF REVERENCE NOT RIDICULE” – GOVERNOR LALONG
Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has said that contrary to insinuations and misconceptions being imputed into his interview granted to State House Correspondents at the Presidential Villa where he explained that as a Catholic and a Papal Knight, the Pope has not told him that accepting the position of Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council was wrong, the statement was out of reverence and not disregard for the Holy Father, Catholic Church or Christianity.
Lalong said it was unfortunate that part of the interview has been excised and used by politicians for propaganda and misinformation about his personality, faith and political persuasion. He said, “My reference to the Holy Father the Pope was to emphasise that as a Christian born and raised in the Catholic faith, accepting the assignment given to me by my party the APC of which I am a founding member does not in any way remove my faith in Jesus Christ or my commitment to the Church in Nigeria and universally. Those who know me can attest to my respect for the Church, Christianity and Spiritual Fathers of all denominations. They know my modest contribution to the growth of the Church in Plateau State, Northern Nigerian and Nigeria at large and can testify to it”.
He therefore reiterated that he has the highest regard for Christians and Church Authority and will continue to work hard in promoting the interests of Christians and adherents of other religions based on love, justice, equity and fairness which are encouraged in the Holy Bible and the Constitution of Nigeria.
Governor Lalong further emphasized that although he understands and appreciates the concerns of Christians over the emergence of Muslim, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as APC Presidential candidate and choice the of Vice Presidential nominee Senator Kashim Shettima also a Muslim, the situation does not warrant Christians within the party leaving the party or refusing to accept responsibilities because being within a system makes it easy to address grievances than being outside. Besides, he said the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was not on religious basis as even Christians voted for him during the APC Primaries.
He also appealed to Nigerians irrespective of religious persuasions to unite and work towards addressing the major challenges of the nation by actively participating in the political process and ensuring they push forward their interests rather than allowing religious sentiments to override their desire to assess issues from a wholistic perspective.
The APC Presidential Campaign DG assured that series of consultations with religious, traditional, professional, youth, women and other groups are being fashioned out to deepen engagement and remove misconceptions about the candidature of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima whom he said have a track record of treating people fairly and justly irrespective of ethno-religious differences.
“MY REFERENCE TO POPE, A MARK OF REVERENCE NOT RIDICULE” – GOVERNOR LALONG
Bandits Kill Father and Son, Abduct CPG Member in Zamfara
By: Zagazola Makama
On April 4, 2025, a tragic incident occurred along the Bungudu-Duhuwa Road in Zamfara State, where a father and son, Garbati (Fnu) and his son Abubakar Babuga Garbati, were attacked and hacked to death by unknown assailants.
The attackers also stole their motorcycle. The police were promptly alerted, and the bodies were transported to the General Hospital Bungudu for autopsy before being released to their family for burial.
Later that same evening, around 1830hrs, a group of approximately 20 armed bandits ambushed members of the Community Police Guards (CPG) stationed at a checkpoint between Sauna and Gidan Kano along the Sokoto-Gusau highway.
The bandits overpowered the CPG, abducting one of their members, Asiru Dawa, and taking him to an undisclosed location.
The military forces have since launched an operation to track down the bandits and rescue the abducted CPG member.
Bandits Kill Father and Son, Abduct CPG Member in Zamfara
Police Officer, Chinese Nationals Killed in Attack on Quarry Workers in Uturu, Abia
By: Zagazola Makama
A tragic attack took place on April 4, 2025, when armed assailants ambushed a convoy of Chinese expatriates and their police security guards on their way to the Huan Cheng Mining Quarry Site at Agukwu Amaya, Ndundu Community, Isuikwuato LGA, in Abia State.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that during the attack, Mr. Quan, a Chinese manager, his colleague Mr. Cai, and Inspector Audu Saidu of the 32 PMF Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, were killed. The assailants also seized the Inspector’s AK-47 rifle.
Security forces, responded swiftly. They rescued three other Chinese nationals Mr. Roger Tan (60), Mr. Yu Shangyu (56), and Mr. Zhan Weibin (59) without injury. Two other victims, Inspector Uba Ahmed and Mr. Huang Lijun, were also rescued, though both had sustained gunshot and machete injuries, respectively. They are currently receiving treatment at Master Energy Hospital Uturu.
Unfortunately, one police officer, Inspector Igagwu, remains missing, and efforts to track the assailants and recover the stolen rifle are ongoing. The bodies of the deceased have been transferred to Marist Cottage Mortuary in Hopeville Uturu.
The police are intensifying their investigation and search efforts to locate the missing officer and apprehend the perpetrators.
Police Officer, Chinese Nationals Killed in Attack on Quarry Workers in Uturu, Abia
Two Killed in Suspected Militia Attack on Farmland in Taraba
By: Zagazola Makama
The Taraba State Police Command has confirmed the killing of two young men in a suspected militia attack on a farmland in Wukari Local Government Area of the state.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred on Friday morning at about 7:30 a.m. at Mecapacynth area of Wukari, according to a report received from the Wukari Divisional Police Officer.
The sources said that the incident at about 8:30 a.m., stating that four attackers, one of them armed with an AK-47 rifle and suspected to be members of a Tiv militia group, opened fire on the victims while they were working on the farm.
The victims, identified as Masandi Moses Bulus, 21, and Mikhima Moses Basungyu, 19 – both of Jukun ethnic group – sustained fatal gunshot wounds.
Security forces swiftly moved to the scene, took photographs, and evacuated the victims to the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari, where they were confirmed dead by medical personnel.
Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators of the attack.
Meanwhile, security operatives have been deployed in the area and are working with community leaders and relevant stakeholders to calm tensions and prevent further escalation.
Two Killed in Suspected Militia Attack on Farmland in Taraba
Bandits Kill Father and Son, Abduct CPG Member in Zamfara
Police Officer, Chinese Nationals Killed in Attack on Quarry Workers in Uturu, Abia
Two Killed in Suspected Militia Attack on Farmland in Taraba
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