20 Couples Billed for Kano Mass Wedding Test HIV Positive

 Commander General of the Hisbah Board, Sheik Aminu Daurawa

But for the vigilance of the Hisbah Board of Kano State, the state’s assisted marriage scheme, would have inadvertently led to the spread of HIV/AIDS infections in the state. Its approach paid off as 20 prospective couples under the scheme were stopped from consummating their intending marriage because of their health status.

The Commander General of the Hisbah Board, Sheik Aminu Daurawa, while briefing reporters  Thursday in Kano, said a total of 20 prospective couples were found to be HIV positive when they underwent the mandatory medical check-ups required for the mass wedding of 1,000 widows and divorcees. The ceremony is the third batch in the state.

Kidnappers Abduct Nigerian Press Council Director, Demands N6M

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

The increasing spate of kidnapping in Lagos was again brought to the fore with the recent abduction of the Acting Director/Liaison Officer of the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), Chief Agbebaku Izobo, at the Amuwo Odofin area of the state.

The victim was intercepted in his car and abducted on March 26, at Apple Junction by four armed men on his way home from work.

Kaduna Attacks: Death Toll Hits 28, Communities Live in Fear

Governor Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State

The death toll from last Saturday's attack on some villages  in Atakad Chiefdom of Kaura Local Government area  of Kaduna State has risen to 28 while the refugee camp in the area has swollen with about 10,000 displaced villages whose houses and food stuff were burnt during the attacks.

Chief of Atakad Chiefdom, Mr. Tobias Nkom Wada disclosed this Wednesday when  members of the House of Representatives from the Southern part of the state visited the affected communities.

Lagos Airport Robbery: Police Arrest Seven, Recover Weapons, Charms

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

Barely a month after some dare-devil armed robbery group carted away over N600million at the Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos and killed two policemen, the Lagos State Command yesterday paraded seven suspects in connection with the operation.

The police also recovered five AK47 rifles, four dynamites, two locally made pistols , 64 AK47 rifle magazines all loaded with 30 rounds totaling 1920 live ammunition, charms and a Toyota Sienna bus with registration number BDG918AG.

Navy Repositions Strategies to Tackle Contemporary Security Challenges

By Chiemelie Ezeobi 

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Admiral Azubuike Ajuonu, has reiterated the Nigerian Navy's (NN) commitment to repositioning its strategies to tackle contemporary security challenges. 

The FOC made this disclosure at NAVTRAC base in Apapa, Lagos, during the recent parade held to mark the end of the command's first bi-annual inspection for the year.

He said, "As part of the Nigerian Navy (NN) forecast of events 2013, my first bi-annual inspection commenced a month ago and the essence was to enable me assess the state of training facilities and infrastructure including welfare issues of units under the command.

Malian Rebels Fund, Train and Equip Boko Haram-Ihejirika

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

The continuous threat of terrorism hovering over the country has been attributed amongst other things to the affiliation of the Boko Haram sect to Mali rebels, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Al Shabab, adding an international dimension to the challenge.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Azuibuke Ihejirika, made this disclosure yesterday during the interactive session on Military-Media Relations in Nigeria, held in 81 Division Auditorium, Marina, Lagos.

Nigerian Prisons: Death Traps or Reform Centres?

Comptroller General of Prisons, Zakari Ibrahim

Prisons in Nigeria are dehumanising. Olaolu Olusina, with additional reports from Davidson Iriekpen and Chiemelie Ezeobi, examine the state of the nation’s prisons as well as the various attempts at reforms, concluding that a massive overhaul is required to transform the prisons in the country to correctional facilities which they are really meant to be

Former Minister for Interior, Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho, is undoubtedly a tough merchant marine professional who still cherishes his training, although he is now retired. But Iheanacho who had been trained not to succumb to his emotions was to buckle while on a visit to Kuje Prison, Abuja, sometime last year, as he expressed shock at what he saw.

Confronted by one of the inmates who had summoned courage and told him that some of his colleagues had been awaiting trial for over 10 years, blaming their woes on the country’s judicial system and the tough conditions required for bail, Iheanacho, who was touched by the plight of the prisoners, was left with no choice than to apologise to them on behalf of the federal government.

Task Force Arrests Five Suspected Pipeline Vandals

Alike Ejiofor and Chiemelie Ezeobi with agency report

Notwithstanding the frequent arrests of pipeline vandals, oil thieves and seizures of petroleum products, the illicit trade has continued to boom, not only in the Niger Delta, but also in several other parts of the country. But the unwavering determination of the operatives of the Special Task Force on Anti-pipeline Vandalism, instituted by the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Abubakar, to check the menace yesterday led to the arrest of five suspected pipeline vandals in Lagos.

The suspects identified as Eugene Stanley, Kunle Ogushe, Oluwafemi Bamidele, Komuko Ayekede and James Awolowo, were arrested at 7th Avenue, FESTAC Town, one of the notorious spots for pipeline vandalism in the state.

Annie Pregnant with Tuface's 7th Child?

So there are rumors both from confirmed and unconfirmed sources
that Annie idibia is 4months pregnant for her newly wedded husband,
Tuface Idibia. Although people have sworn that she is pregnant as
buttressed by her looks during her trad and white wedding. Well,
we'll keep our fingers crossed till the nine months course is over. Abi?
By the way, Annie already has a 4year-old child; Isabella for her man.

First Lady Feared Ill Again, Off to Germany

First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan

First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan is again off to a German hospital for medical checkup a source close to her office, who craved anonymity, in the Presidential Villa confirmed Sunday in the wake of fresh speculation concerning her health.

According to the source, the First Lady, unlike what has been reported by some online platforms, is not ill but has simply taken the opportunity of her children’s vacation abroad to check on an aunt, with whom she has close affinity, hospitalised in an undisclosed hospital abroad, to also check her own health.