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Liberian Elections: Weah Promises to Make Violent free, Credible, Transparent and Inclusive

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Liberian Elections: Weah Promises to Make Violent free, Credible, Transparent and Inclusive

By: Michael Mike

Liberia’s President, George Weah has promised to ensure a violent free, credible, transparent and inclusive polls during the forthcoming general elections in the country scheduled for October.

Weah, gave the promised on Wednesday in Monrovia during the celebration of the country’s 176th Independence with the theme “Giving our People Hope for a Violence Free, Fair, Transparent, Inclusive and credible elections.”

Weah said that the theme for this year’s celebration was of special significance as it comes on the heels of the nation’s preparations for elections, reiterating his commitments to uphold and preserve the peaceful democracy of Liberia.

He said: “Today, we have a collective duty to uphold and defend our constitution and I pledge to do that with all my ability.

“The theme of this year’s celebration is also a reminder to do our duty to country and to God.

“And I reiterate my commitments to preserving the peace of the country which has been sustained since the singing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) on Aug. 18, 2003 in Accra, Ghana.

“The presidential and general elections will be credible, reflect the voice of the people of Liberia, and will meet international and national standards.”

Weah also admonished politicians contesting for various positions to follow suit in ensuring peaceful polls in their various counties, putting the interest of the people first before theirs.

He thanked Liberian citizens for their resilience and commitment to the sustained peace in the country.

“We have proven that what unites us is bigger than what divides us and we are grateful to the people of Liberia for their tenacity and commitment to preserving the peace of the country since the end of the civil war.

“We should know the value of peace now and must do all we can to sustain it,” Weah added.

President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, who was a special guest of the Liberian President and honoured with a Liberian National Award, congratulated the government and people of Liberia on the occasion of their independence and their adherence to the Accra commitment.

Akufo-Addo said that it gives him great excitement to see the fruition of the Accra Agreement which was a commitment to the peace in Liberia by all factions after the brutal civil war.

He urged Liberians to hold on to the tenets of the agreement and again, preserve its democracy to a peaceful transition.

“The successful implementation of the Accra agreement twenty years after has seen to peaceful transition of power and this must be maintained.

“As you go to the polls, look beyond where you come from, deepen cohesion for peace and prosperity.

“You are Liberians first and foremost. If there must be a flight, it must be a fight to work together for the advancement of the country, political and economic gain,” Akufo-Addo said.

Akufo-Addo pledged the commitment of ECOWAS to supporting Liberia in achieving peaceful, credible and transparent elections.

President Adama Barrow of The Gambia, who also bagged a Liberian National Award, greeted the country on their independence celebration, urging them to remain united as it remains essential to recording another peaceful democratic transition.

Also present at the event was the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Sidie Tunis, representative of the ECOWAS Commission President, Omar Touray, the Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmtyro Kuleba among other dignitaries.

Liberian Elections: Weah Promises to Make Violent free, Credible, Transparent and Inclusive

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Nigeria Commiserates with Catholic Church Over Demise of Pope Francis

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Nigeria Commiserates with Catholic Church Over Demise of Pope Francis

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Government has expressed profound sorrow at the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, who died on Monday, 21 April 2025, at the age of 88 years.

The departed Holy Father, the political head of Vatican City and the head of the Catholic Church, was described in the statement as a global moral leader whose papacy was marked by humility, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to peace, social justice, and the dignity of all people.

The statement read: “Nigeria commiserates with the teaming population of the catholic church in the country and joins the international community, particularly the Catholic faithful worldwide, in mourning this immense loss. Pope Francis’ deep concern for the marginalized; including refugees, the poor, and victims of conflict, resonated strongly in Nigeria, where his calls for interreligious harmony and solidarity were a beacon of hope amid challenges.

“His historic 2022 apology for the Church’s role in colonial injustices, including the suffering of Indigenous peoples, indeed set a powerful example of reconciliation. Also worthy of commendation is his advocacy for peace in Africa, and other conflict areas in the world, reflecting his universal pastoral mission.”

The statement further read that: “In this moment of grief, therefore, Nigeria extends heartfelt condolences to the Vatican, the Catholic Church, and the Argentine people, who gifted the world this extraordinary pontiff.

“We pray for the repose of his soul and trust that his legacy of mercy, dialogue, and care for our common home will endure.”

Nigeria Commiserates with Catholic Church Over Demise of Pope Francis

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Chinese National Abducted in Durumi Abuja, as Kidnappers demand N300million ransom

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Chinese National Abducted in Durumi Abuja, as Kidnappers demand N300million ransom

By: Zagazola Makama

A suspected abduction occurred on April 18, 2025, when Mr. Yangi Ming, a Chinese national working at Panda Supermarket in Jabi, was reportedly abducted by unknown individuals.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that Mr Yangi Ming left his residence at Stargate Apartment in Durumi around 1700hrs and was last seen wearing brown shorts and a black polo shirt.

His sister, Aisha Pan, residing in Sharanda, Kano State, later received a ransom demand of ₦300 million, made from Yangi Ming’s mobile phone number.

Chinese National Abducted in Durumi Abuja, as Kidnappers demand N300million ransom

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India-bound Siblings Arrested with Cocaine at Lagos Airport

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India-bound Siblings Arrested with Cocaine at Lagos Airport

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested two siblings at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos during a planned travel to India with 5 kilogrammes of cocaine.

The spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday said: “Operatives of a Special Operations Unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested two brothers: John Abugu, 43, and Kenneth Abugu, 31, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja, Lagos with 5 kilogrammes cocaine concealed in walls of their suitcases while attempting to board a flight to India.”

He said the two brothers were arrested at the Lagos airport last Thursday following proactive processing of credible intelligence. He said they claimed they were travelling to India for medical treatment but when their suitcases were thoroughly searched by NDLEA officers, whitish powdery substances later confirmed to be cocaine were discovered on the walls of their bags.

Babafemi said in a similar development, NDLEA officers of the MMIA Strategic Command same day, Thursday intercepted a 20-year-old Ghanaian – British man, Parker Osei with 36 parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 19.4 kilogrammes packed in a giant travelling bag. The suspect who claims he is a student of Computer Science at East London University, UK, was arrested during the inward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Bangkok, Thailand, at the E-arrival hall of the Lagos airport.

In his statement, the techie claims he lives with his parents in the UK but left London about a week ago for Bangkok where he picked up the illicit drug consignment to deliver in Nigeria.

NDLEA operatives in Kogi state have arrested a 33-year-old woman, Ngozi Ogili while moving 3 kilogrammes of methamphetamine from Lagos to Abuja. She was nabbed in a commercial transport bus along Okene-Lokoja highway last Monday. Babafemi said a follow up operation at her point of delivery in Apo mechanic area of Abuja led to the seizure of quantities of Loud and Colorado, both synthetic strains of cannabis.

In Abia state, NDLEA officers on Saturday arrested a 75-year-old grandpa, Nnanna Felix with 1.6 kilogrammes skunk, a strain of cannabis during a raid at Umunteke Asa, Ukwa West local government area, while another suspect David Chinemerem, 21, was nabbed with 2,050 ampoules of pentazocine at 7 Nnajiego Lane, Umuode road, Aba last Tuesday.

No fewer than 381 bottles of codeine syrup and 108 tablets of tramadol were seized from a suspect, Abdullahi Adamu along Potiskum-Damaturu road, Yobe state by NDLEA operatives on Saturday, just as raid operations at Osogbo motor park, Onitsha and a house at Oba in Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra state led to the arrest of Obinna Sunday and the seizure of 195,000 pills of tramadol. Also arrested during the raid at the motor park was Ugochukwu Ojalanonye with 4.2 kilogrammes codeine syrup and 5.4kg pentazocine.

In the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, NDLEA operatives last Thursday arrested 51-year-old Sunday Ayogu with 25 kilogrammes skunk and 90.4 grammes of methamphetamine during a raid operation at Wuse market Abuja, while two women: Faith Etim, 64, and Victoria Etim, 40, were nabbed lasr Friday when NDLEA operatives supported by men of the Nigerian Army raided cannabis plantations in Esuk-Odot community, Odukpani local government area of Cross River State where 250,000 kilogrammes of the psychoactive plant were destroyed on over 100 hectares of farm land.

Babafemi said with the same vigour, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

Meanwhile, while commending the officers and men of MMIA, SOU, Yobe, Abia, Kogi, Anambra, Cross River and FCT commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.

India-bound Siblings Arrested with Cocaine at Lagos Airport

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