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Ilaje ex-militants call for immediate decentralization of pipeline surveillance contracts to avert crisis

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Ilaje ex-militants call for immediate decentralization of pipeline surveillance contracts to avert crisis

By: Michael Mike

Ilaje ex- militant group, the Niger Delta Coastline Vanguard (NDCV) on Thursday demanded immediate decentralization of the pipeline surveillance contracts by President Bola Tinubu to ensure total peace and security in the Niger Delta region.

The group while expressing that it would be unfair for other ex-militant group from another state and ethnic nationals to be given the contact of surveillance of pipelines in their area, said the review of the contracts had become imperative for ex-militants to perform their surveillance and monitoring duties in areas they are familiar with the culture, traditions and topology of the people and their terrains.

The NDCV said they would resist attempts to foist ex-militants from South East or South South on the South West axis of the coastline which comprises mainly of Ilaje and Ese-Odo local government areas of Ondo state.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, the President of the Niger Delta Coastline Vanguard, Job Omotunwa (alias General Job) urged President Tinubu to immediately review the contracts for the surveillance of pipelines and decentralised the works for inclusion, capacity, justice and fairness for all stakeholders.

Omotunwa who spoke through the legal adviser of the group, Joseph Olamide, explained that the Ilaje areas cover 120 kilometres coastline and 80 percent of waterways with oil production capacity of 80,000 barrels per day and 15 major oil companies operating in the areas.

He was flanked at the briefing by other Executive members of the group such as the secretary General, Joseph Olamide Elias, Chief Ajiroba Lucky, Assistant Secretary and Public Relations Officer, Ariyo Adeolu.

He said that it would be unfair to keep ex-militants in Ilaje idle, while those in Bayelsa and Rivers were imposed on them, emphasising that it would not be in the interest of the Amnesty Programme which was launched to accommodate all stakeholders.

Omotunwa equally urged President Tinubu to allow Ilaje ex-militants to handle the contracts surveillance and monitoring to cover Ondo, Ogun and Lagos states littoral corridors.

He claimed that the NDCV has the capability, capacity, the required intelligence and human resources to work with Federal government security agencies in the surveillance systems, stressing that illegal oil bunkering, vandalism and sabotage would be a thing of the past.

Omotunwa, who is the Akogun I of the Etikan Kingdom, decried that imposing ex-militants from other parts of the country on their Kingdom would expose their people to external aggressors, insisting that it would be far better for government to give the opportunity to people familiar with the terrain.

He said his group had been actively involved in rescue of kidnapped victims, while it had also carried out arrest of oil bunkering suspects in conjunction with operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Ilaje ex-militants call for immediate decentralization of pipeline surveillance contracts to avert crisis

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Unidentified visitor dies suddenly at Niger Government House Lodge

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Unidentified visitor dies suddenly at Niger Government House Lodge

By: Zagazola Makama

The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the sudden death of an unidentified man who collapsed and died at Government House Lodge, Minna. Zagazola learnt that the incident occurred on Friday, Aug. 2, 2025.

Sources said that the deceased had visited House No. 8, Government House Lodge, in an attempt to see Mr. Sammy, Chairman of Niger Foods. However, upon meeting his host’s absence, the man suddenly took ill.

Medical doctors were reportedly contacted from the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna, for urgent attention. Unfortunately, by the time the doctor arrived, the man had already passed away.

Following the report, a team of police operatives from GRA Division visited the scene. The body was photographed and evacuated to the IBB Specialist Hospital Mortuary for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Unidentified visitor dies suddenly at Niger Government House Lodge

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Bauchi Guber: Sen Buba accepts calls by Bauchi North APC members to contest in 2027

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Bauchi Guber: Sen Buba accepts calls by Bauchi North APC members to contest in 2027

By Amina Ahmed Dankawuwa

The Senator representing Bauchi South at the national assembly, Senator Shehu Buba Umar has accepted the calls by the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bauchi North Senatorial District to contest for Governorship come 2027.

The Director General of the campaign for the actualisation of Sen Buba’s Gubernatorial ambition, Alhaji Muhammad Sade (Usman) accepted the calls on behalf of the Senator during a town hall meeting held on Saturday by the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bauchi North Senatorial in Azare.

He appealed to members of APC to maintain peace with all other aspirants within the party.

“Let’s respect other aspirants, such that anybody who win the primary election can have will be assisted by others, so we must value and respect each other”, he reasoned.

Muhammad Sade also called on party members to commence looking for delegates for ahead of the party primaries.

“It is now that we have to look for those that have votes. I call on our esteemed supporters to start mobilizing for delegate”, he emphasized.

He also advised social media handlers (citizens journalist) to avoid creating problems for personal gain, adding that social media some times create a lot of problem within and out side the party endorsed Senator representing Bauchi South, Senator Shehu Buba Umar for Bauchi Governor come 2027.

Baushe Daily Times reports that members of the APC gathered in thousands during the meeting in Azare during which they unanimously agreed to support Senator Shehu Buba for Governor come 2027.

Earlier in a welcoming address, former majority leader in the Bauchi state house of assembly, Hon Tijjani Mohammed Aliyu, the choice to support Sen Shehu buba Umar’s Governorship ambition was due to his concern and care he has for the people of Bauchi state.

“He respects us, he values our people politically and he also call on party members to respect each other because politics shouldn’t be considered as a do or die affair”, he said.

Also speaking, Alhaji Bashir Bukar Rimin Zayam charged the youth to cast their votes for the youth only and avoid voting older politicians who will always be going abroad for medical attention.

He therefore, appealed to members of APC to mobilised people to support Sen Shehu Buba for Governor.

Among those who attended the town hall meeting include state assembly member Azare/Madangala Hon Zakariyya sale maigero, comr sabo Mohammed S A to Sen Shehu Buba on media and communication, Hon kasuwa Shehu Damana, Hon Adamu Fanta Misau, Hon maiwada Misau,Hon Mohammed Hassan, Barr Muktar Umar, Alhaji Nura Adamu among others.

Bauchi Guber: Sen Buba accepts calls by Bauchi North APC members to contest in 2027

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NHRC: Closure of Badeggi Radio, A Suppression of Press Freedom, Affront to Democracy

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NHRC: Closure of Badeggi Radio, A Suppression of Press Freedom, Affront to Democracy

By: Michael Mike

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned in strong terms the closure of Badeggi Radio in Niger State by the State Governor Mohammed Bago, discribing it as not only a suppression of press freedom but an affront to democracy.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission Dr Tony Ojukwu, condemned the action while reacting to the ugly incident. He said the governor’s decision to shut down the radio station without following due process is disappointing and a clear violation of the right to freedom of expression, as guaranteed by Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Ojukwu noted that the consequences of suppressing press freedom are far-reaching and can lead to increased government opacity, reduced citizen participation, creat obstacles to accountability, and weakening of democratic institutions.

He said: “The arbitrary shutdown of media outlets undermines the checks and balances essential to a functioning democracy.”

He called on Governor Bago to immediately unseal the Radio Station and allow it to resume full operations, asking him to channel issues concerning any alleged unconstitutional operations of the Radio Station to the appropriate authority and not act with impunity.

He said: “This is both a moral imperative and a democratic requirement.”

Ojukwu who is also the president of the Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa ( NNHRI-WA) urged the governments to protect journalists and media freedom, foster a culture of tolerance, and support independent media. “Journalists must be able to operate without fear of harassment, intimidation, or violence,” He emphasized.

He lamented that the media has severally come under attack in various forms, a situation he termed as unacceptable in a civilized society.

He called on the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to be firm in carrying out its Statutory mandate which must not be abused at any slight opportunity.

He used the opportunity to ask media practitioners to be professional at all times in order to prevent needless censorship by political office holders.

He also called on Nigerian Guild of Editors to provide professional guidance at regular intervals as this will curb the use of hate speech, fake news and other unprofessional conducts capable of adversely affecting the media houses.

He insisted that the Commission remains committed to promoting and protecting human rights in Nigeria and would continue to monitor the situation closely.

NHRC: Closure of Badeggi Radio, A Suppression of Press Freedom, Affront to Democracy

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