The Kaduna State Government said troops of Operation Thunder Strike (OPTS) have killed four bandits and recovered three rifles in Chikun Local Government Area of the state.


The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan confirmed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Kaduna.


Aruwan said: “Four bandits have been killed and several others injured in an ambush operation conducted by troops around Gwagwada, Chikun local government area.


“According to operational feedback from troops of Operation Thunder Strike (OPTS), intelligence was received on bandits movement from Katika village towards Antenna in Chikun LGA and in response to this, the troops laid an opportunity ambush at Antenna village.


“The bandits approached the location and eventually sprang the ambush. The troops opened fire as they entered the killing range.


“After the engagement, four of the bandits were confirmed dead, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds.


“Three rifles and one axe were recovered from the scene,” he added.


The commissioner said Gov. Nasir El-Rufai commended the troops for swift action which led to the successful exercise and the elimination of the four bandits.


“Residents in the area are urged to report individuals seeking treatment for suspicious injuries by calling the Kaduna State Security Operations Room on 09034000060 or 08170189999,” Aruwan said. Theguardianng

  


Around midnight on Sunday, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum showed up at Mohammed Goni College of Islamic Legal Studies (MOGOCOLIS), in Maiduguri, where some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Abadam Local Government Area of Borno were being camped.


Upon arrival, Zulum immediately sealed the entrance and supervised a headcount to identify actual IDPs, in order to put a stop to rampant cases of dubious residents pretending to be displaced.


These shady individuals spend their day time at IDP camps to share food meant for IDPs, and towards the night, they return to their homes to sleep, with some of them benefiting from other means through which the state distributes food to vulnerable non IDPs in communities.


Governor Zulum’s mission at the camp which ended at about past 1am, led to the discovery that out of 1,000 households in the records of humanitarian officials, 650 households were ghosts (non-existent).


About 450 households were found to be real IDPs after Zulum’s midnight headcount which was conducted by the governor alongside an official of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Air Commodore M. T. Abdullahi, and two commissioners (Agriculture, and Local Government and Emirate Affairs).


In the humanitarian system, a household normally consists of at least six persons who are either related through families or chosen to stay together for the purpose of receiving household aids.


Officials who were part of the midnight headcount said Governor Zulum was not aversed to approving support for any citizen who may be vulnerably in need of food since there is a committee doing that, however, the governor is vehemently opposed to some residents making dubious claims in other to take what is meant for IDPs while also benefiting from other existing welfare activities that target non IDPs. ChannelsTv

  


The Oluwo of Iwo town in Osun State, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi, has advised Fulani people not to live inside bushes but rather stay in the town, so that all of them could be known.


Akanbi urged Fulani settlers to fish out the criminals among them in the interest of peaceful co-existence.


The monarch, in a statement he posted on his Facebook page, on Sunday, alleged that all the hues and cries on the security challenge in the South-West region was about the 2023 presidential election.


He said, “This thing is not about Fulani or Yoruba. It is political. Some people are sponsoring crimes to destroy Nigeria. Crime doesn’t have a tribe. Prosecute criminals and try them in court, not a tribe.


“We want the Fulani also to fish out the criminals among them. You Fulani people should also come and live in the town, don’t live in the bush again. Let us know all of you.


“The Fulani community should talk more to the government to teach you modern ways of ranching. Open grazing is no longer fashionable in the 21st century. We know you are used to it but you have to change to the modern ways.


“There must be an intervention programme from the government to educate Fulani on modern way of ranching. Some of you should engage in pastoral business for herders to buy feeds from you. This is how you will not be having problems with farmers.”


Oluwo said the Yoruba leaders sponsoring crisis in the region will not end well.


According to him, “Those who are singing discordant tunes are doing so because of personal aggrandisement. We know some Yoruba leaders who are calling for war for political reason. It is all about 2023 presidency. Because they feel someone wants to become (the) President and they don’t want him.


“It is because they know that the next president of this country will be Yoruba and they don’t want that to happen. The person they are accusing has not even come out to say that he wants to be President so why all hatred?”


The monarch warned the Yoruba leaders fanning the embers of discord to desist in the interest of national unity. (saharareporters)

  


Paul Pogba may hold the key for Manchester United's slim Premier League title hopes, Gary Neville insists in his latest podcast.


Despite sitting top of the Premier League in a bizarre season, Manchester United are currently third favourites with the bookies to win their first title since 2013


Pogba has been given a run in the side by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and after hitting the winner at Burnley in midweek, the Frenchman again had the chance to be the matchwinner at Liverpool on Super Sunday, seeing a late effort saved by Alisson in the goalless draw.


Neville, speaking in his latest podcast, says title winners need the belief and positive arrogance that Pogba possesses, and insists if United are to win it, it will be down to a run of special form from the midfielder, if he can find it.


"I think Manchester United's chances of winning this league are slim - Liverpool and Man City are still the best two teams in this league.


"But the slim chance they have to win this league will depend on something like Paul Pogba delivering a cameo of two or three months of brilliance, which he is capable of.


"He's got confidence, he's got arrogance - good arrogance, in a sense that he believes in himself. He thinks he should be playing in the biggest games in the world, and winning titles, and thinking positive thoughts, thinking you're the best is a big thing when you're looking to win.


"Just in that last 20 minutes, I felt United just had that little bit of missing belief. It's not a long way away, but that's the bit that will stop them winning the title.


"I thought it was tough for him on Sunday. I've seen it over the years, where Sir Alex Ferguson had to put Wayne Rooney or Danny Welbeck out on that right-hand side, and it's not easy when you don't play there, to play there. It's easier to come off the left onto your right and slip inside, but it's not natural for them on that right wing, so I thought he was given a tough gig on Sunday in terms of his natural position.


"If you asked Paul Pogba: you can play any position in midfield or any up front, that's the one he wouldn't pick, right of midfield. I didn't criticise his performance at Anfield because I thought it was a tough gig - the same with Rashford, who prefers to play on the left - but I do think he can have a big influence on United." (Skysport)

 



Following the defeat of Bobi Wine in the just-concluded Uganda’s presidential election, Commissioner for Youth Political Participation, Pan-African Youth Union (PYU), Ambassador Oladele Nihi, has described the outcome of the election as a slap on the faces of African youths and a clarion call on Nigerian youths. 


Ambassador Nihi, in a statement on Sunday, called on African youths to fight against what he described as “recycled leadership and analogue democracy”.


He said: “History was made in Uganda on January 14, as the world watched the outcome of the country’s presidential and parliamentary elections. 


“And as predicted by majority of election observers, the voices of the people were submerged in a total eclipse of political hazard, in which the country’s preferable candidate, Bobi Wine, became a victim.


“African Youths should come awake and take their destinies in their hands, by putting an end to recycled leadership, and analogue democracy.”


The youth Commissioner further stated that this should serve as a lesson for Nigerian Youths; as the country approaches another general elections come 2023. 


“The agitation of the People Power, Our Power Movement in Uganda is synonymous to what GYB2PYB Youth Support Group stands for, which is why we are urging Governor Yahaya Bello to contest for President, and lead the youths from the front as we take back what is rightfully ours,” Mr. Nihi said. 


In the election, the incumbent President, Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled the country since 1986, was re-elected with 5,851,037 (58.64%), as against his opponent, Bobi Wine, who scored 3,475,298 (34.83%). 


Bobi Wine is a politician, singer, actor and businessman, who currently serves as Member of Parliament for Kyadondo County East constituency in Wakiso District, in Uganda’s Central Region.


He is also the leader of People Power, Our Power Movement in opposition to President Yoweri Museveni. Vanguardngr