WEEK BRIEF: Over 50 killed, students abducted, APC ‘mole’ sacking spree, Interim govt ploys… other top news

NIGERIANS over the week witnessed a series of events that shook the country. TRIBUNE ONLINE gives you top news this week.

In what may be described as the result of the security collapse in some parts of the Northern part of Nigeria; deteriorating and free rein of terrorists, bandits have again been brewing attacks.

Armed gangs last week again sacked many communities, and homes in Benue, Edo, Plateau, Kogi and other parts of the country, killing many and abducting several persons including eight secondary school students in Kaduna. Three policemen, pastor and politicians were reportedly killed.

In what was described as the worst incident last week, on Wednesday, suspected herders attacked eight Umogidi Entekpa communities in Adoka district of Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State and killed 46 people.

The herders had on Tuesday attacked the community and killed three persons. These were confirmed by Special Adviser on Security to the Governor, Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Hemba (retd), in a telephone chat with newsmen on Thursday.

Gunmen in Nigeria’s northern Kaduna state kidnapped eight secondary school students coming from school along with an unknown number of others, authorities said on Tuesday, the latest in a wave of such abductions.

Armed gangs operating mostly in remote parts of northwest Nigeria have carried out violent attacks against villagers, schools and motorists, abducting hundreds for ransom.

 

Sacking Spree: Enugu APC expels ex-governor Chime, VON DG, others, suspends Buhari’s minister, Ken Nnamani over alleged ‘mole’

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Enugu state chapter last week announced the expulsion of a former Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Sullivan Chime and the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, Mr Osita Okechukwu.

The party also expelled former Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Eugene Odo, an aide to the minister of foreign affairs, Mr Flavour Eze, Mr Joe Mmamel and Mr Maduka Arum.

The APC, similarly, suspended former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani and the minister of foreign affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama.

The State’s party Secretary, Mr Robert Ngwu made the announcement on Thursday saying that the expelled and suspended members were accused of anti-party activities.

According to the party: “These men had actually had the history of instigating crisis in the party. Their expulsion and suspension signal the end to crisis in the party.

“The party suffered a rare case of moles who were here to disable and undermine this party. I can assure you that this decision was unanimous and I’m happy that the party leadership has done the needful.

“We’re going to rebuild this party to make it a credible alternative and platform for change in Enugu State”.

Interim govt ploys

There are allegations and counter allegations surroundings the controversy over alleged plot to install an interim government in the country has continued unabated as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described it as a covert plan by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) to subvert the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.

Two weeks ago, the Department of State Services (DSS) confirmed plots by some unnamed key political actors to install an interim government in Nigeria, describing the plan as an aberration on the nation’s constitution.

According to the main opposition party, the APC is working covertly to suggest that the opposition parties are clamouring for an interim government, knowing full well that both the President-elect, Bola Tinubu and the party cannot survive the outcome of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.“The entire idea of an interim government is a plot by the APC and the DSS to subvert the outcome of the presidential election tribunal. Why should the PDP be part of it? We know the PDP won the presidential election. We are at the presidential tribunal to prove we won; so, why must we follow all illegal routes?“As a party of due process and a party that believes in the Constitution of Nigeria, we are in the presidential election tribunal challenging the illegalities that took place on February 25.

Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters on Thursday described as unconstitutional calls for an interim government after the emergence of the president-elect.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami, condemned the clamour for an interim government by those unhappy with the outcome of the presidential election, stating that the ING was illegal and unconstitutional.

The Peoples Democratic Party, the All Progressives Congress and the New Nigeria Peoples Party supported the military’s pledge to defend the constitution.

 

Owo Church reopens 10 months after Gunmen attack

About 10 months after the attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo, by some gunmen, the church reopened activities for worshippers on Easter Sunday.

The church has been locked after the gory incident where 41 worshippers were killed by suspected terrorists in an attack on June 5, 2022.

The church has been closed down for security reasons and as a mark of respect for our fallen worshippers.