News
FCT Minister suspends Area Council Chairmen, Councillors’ inauguration
FCT Minister suspends Area Council Chairmen, Councillors’ inauguration
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello has suspended the planned inauguration of the Six Area Council Chairmen and Councillors scheduled for Friday.
This is contained in a statement on Thursday, due to the communication of a judgment by a court in the Federal Capital Territory directing the suspension of the inauguration.
The current chairmen’s tenure will end on Thursday.
The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, made the disclosure in a statement personally signed by him, on Thursday in Abuja.
” As you are all aware, in March of 2019, we held the Area Council elections in the FCT, whereby six Council Chairmen and their Councillors were elected after a very competitive and rigorous process.
The minister explained that the judgment, based on the recently signed Electoral Act of 2022, which stipulates that the tenure of office of the Chairmen of the Area Councils in FCT would now be four years instead of three years.
” The existing Chairmen whose tenures were meant to expire or end today, have another one year to continue, based on the new law.
” So, as a law-abiding government, the FCT Administration has no option but to suspend the planned inauguration of the Six Area Council Chairmen of the FCT who were duly elected some weeks ago as a result of this injunction of the court.
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” Also, as an administration that is very conscious of the need to abide by the rule of law, even though we are not satisfied with the judgment of the court, we have no option but to comply. ”
Bello said while complying with the judgment, the FCTA was also making efforts to vacate the judgment, saying ” if the need arises, to appeal the judgment, so that the correct position of the law will be determined by the legal processes.”
” In the interim, therefore, we are very conscious of the fact that the stand of the court has raised a lot of concerns within certain sections of the Federal Capital Territory residents.
” I wish to appeal to everyone to be calm, to be law-abiding and to await the outcome of the legal processes.
FCT is a creation of law.”
The minister said that the FCT has always been known to be a place of unity, peace, and good governance and populated by law-abiding residents.
” Please let us continue the way we are and await the court processes. At the end of the court processes, the clear direction of what needs to be done would be clearly stated and then as an administrator, we will do the needful.”
Crime
BREAKING NEWS: 3 killed And 3,000 displaced as Devastating Fire Sweeps Through Kalari Settlement in Konduga, Borno State
BREAKING NEWS: 3 killed And 3,000 displaced as Devastating Fire Sweeps Through Kalari Settlement in Konduga, Borno State
By: Zagazola Makama
A catastrophic fire has torn through the Kalari settlement in Konduga Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State, claiming three lives and displacing over 3,000 people. The blaze, which erupted at approximately 1:00 PM, engulfed three villages, reducing more than 1,500 thatched houses to ashes.
Zagazola Makama gathered that In response to the disaster, the military, along with the Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF), mobilized swiftly to provide emergency assistance. Personnel from the 222 Battalion rendered first aid to the wounded and transported the injured to Maiduguri Specialist Hospital via Army ambulances.
The timely intervention of key local officials, including the Chairman of Konduga LGA, a Member of the House of Assembly, and the Commissioner for Environment, ensured immediate relief efforts for the affected families.
This incident comes on the heels of severe flooding that devastated Konduga LGA in September 2024, following the collapse of the Alau Dam. The flash floods from the dam’s collapse also affected Maiduguri and Jere LGAs, displacing an estimated 240,000 people. Many residents are still recovering from that catastrophe, and the latest fire disaster has further intensified the region’s humanitarian crisis.
An Official of SEMA, said the Borno State Government has made an urgent appeal for humanitarian aid to support the thousands affected by both the recent fire and previous flood disasters. Efforts are underway to provide shelter, food, and medical care to those impacted by these successive calamities.
BREAKING NEWS: 3 killed And 3,000 displaced as Devastating Fire Sweeps Through Kalari Settlement in Konduga, Borno State
Six Die in Taraba Boat Mishap, Nine Rescued
By: Zagazola Makama
A boat accident on the Jole River in Lau Local Government Area of Taraba State has claimed six lives, while nine other passengers were rescued alive, the Taraba State Police Command has confirmed.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
According to police sources, the boat was conveying 15 people when it capsized midstream. Rescue efforts led to the recovery of nine survivors, while the bodies of six passengers were later pulled from the river.
The deceased have been identified as Dadi Mallam Dotti (30), Mubarak Abdu (21), Bappa Mallam Dotti (20), Adamu Yayagardi (30), and one Madugu (22), all from Badabdi, Funakaye LGA of Gombe State, of the Terawa ethnic group. The sixth victim was Umar Gambo (34), of Zaura Ward, Damban LGA, Bauchi State, of the Karakare ethnic group.
The boat driver is currently at large, and efforts are ongoing to locate him.
The police sources said that search and recovery operations were conducted in collaboration with local divers and community volunteers.
Six Die in Taraba Boat Mishap, Nine Rescued
Teenager Dies After Ritual Experiment by Native Doctor in Edo
By: Zagazola Makama
The Edo State Police Command has arrested two men in connection with the death of a 14-year-old boy, Okonkwo Obina Emmanuel, following a failed ritual performance in Iyamon Village, Illushi, Ubiaja.
Police sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident was reported on April 2, 2025, by the deceased’s elder brother, Okonkwo Onyenbushi. According to the report, a self-acclaimed native doctor, Amechi Edozunor, in collaboration with one Kelvin Ugru, allegedly performed a charm ritual on the victim to make him “invulnerable to bottles.”
During the ritual, the suspects reportedly struck the boy’s head with a bottle in an attempt to prove the charm’s effectiveness, leading to a fatal head injury.
The victim was rushed to Wisdom Hospital and later referred to Ogbeide Hospital, where he died on April 5, 2025.
The sources said his remains have been deposited at the hospital mortuary for autopsy, while both suspects are currently in police custody pending further investigation.
Teenager Dies After Ritual Experiment by Native Doctor in Edo
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BREAKING NEWS: 3 killed And 3,000 displaced as Devastating Fire Sweeps Through Kalari Settlement in Konduga, Borno State
Six Die in Taraba Boat Mishap, Nine Rescued
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