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US strikes: Bandits that fled Sokoto have besieged Benue communities, former AGF Aondoakaa cries out
Michael Aondoakaa, a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has raised the alarm that bandits are relocating in large numbers from Sokoto State to Benue State following the Christmas Day airstrikes reportedly carried out with support from the United States.
Aondoakaa made the disclosure on Thursday during an interview on Arise Television, monitored in Abuja.
The former AGF said the displacement of the armed groups has led to widespread occupation of rural communities in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
“Following the Sokoto airstrikes, bandits have fled to the Benue region, overrunning villages. In Ukum LGA, 10 out of 13 wards have been overtaken by bandits,” Aondoakaa said.
He described the situation as alarming, particularly due to the strategic importance of the affected areas.
Aondoakaa warned that the bandits are now dangerously close to Zaki-Biam, home to one of Nigeria’s largest agricultural markets.
“The main market in Nkum, which is the Zaki-Biam main market that produces yams for the country, they have settled less than three kilometres away from the main market, and that is alarming,” he said.
The former justice minister urged the Federal Government to extend the same level of military collaboration with the United States that led to the Sokoto airstrikes to other locations where bandits are regrouping.
“There should be the same corroboration between the Nigerian government and the US government to flush them out anywhere they are trying to concentrate in a group,” Aondoakaa said.
He also linked recent attacks in Oyo State to the movement and concentration of bandits, stressing the need for swift aerial intervention.
“It extends up to the attack that happened in Oyo. Anywhere there is concentration, the bandits are concentrating, there’s need for either the Nigerian Air Force to move in, or if they do not have the capacity, then they should have the same corroboration that happened with the US government to flush them out to avoid them causing mayhem,” he added.
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Breaking: Court of Appeal rules in favour of Turaki -led PDP candidate for Osun governorship election
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Thursday, ruled that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Gubernatorial Candidate in Osun State was validly nominated by the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee.
The court also ordered INEC to list the PDP logo on the ballot ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial election.
The Court held that access code is neither a creation of the Constitution nor the Electoral Act; rather, a creation of INEC’s guidelines and cannot, in any way, override the provisions of the Constitution.
Section 288 of the Constitution does not specify the method for nominating candidates; it only states that the names of candidates should be forwarded to the Commission.
The court further held that the defendant (INEC) should take steps to include the name of the appellant on the ballot paper.
Additionally, the court ruled that the primary election conducted by the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP was a valid primary election in law.
The three-man panel of justices—Justice Mahmud, Justice Jaro, and Justice Ankawere, was unanimous in its judgment.
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Breaking: NHRC sets up situation room to monitor and document hate speech, intimidation, threat to life ahead 2027
The national Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has set up a situation room to monitor and document all incidences of hate speech, intimidation and threat to life by politicians and other actors ahead of the 2027 general election.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed concerns over rising incidences of hate speech, intimidation and outright threat to life by highly placed individuals, especially politicians and religious leaders.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chef Tony Ojukwu, SAN, revealed this on Thursday in Abuja at a press conference.
He said the situation room would enable the Commission harvest data, analysis and document persons, agencies and others involved in the negative statements in order to ensure they are properly tracked and brought to book by relevant agencies.
Ojukwu also took journalists on a tour of the newly set up situation room.
Details later…..
News
Breaking: NHRC expresses concern over rising incidences of hate speech, threat to life ahead 2027 elections
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed concerns over rising incidences of hate speech, intimidation and outright threat to life by highly placed individuals, especially politicians and religious leaders.
At a press conference in Abuja Thursday, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chef Tony Ojukwu, SAN, recalled statements credited to Senator Francis Fadahunsi and Sheikh Yahya Jingir and described the das dangerous with capacity to set the nation ablaze.
He called on politicians, religious and traditional rulers, among other stakeholders to call their supporters and faithful to orders.
He urged government to act before rhetorics turn to violence, saying the forthcoming election in Osun State should serve as example of Nigeria’s capacity to conduct political contest in compliance with international best practices.
Details later…..
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