Connect with us

News

Osun State APC suspends 26 Aregbesola’s loyalists

Published

on

The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State has once again brought down the hammer on 26 members of the party.

It was earlier reported that the party expelled 84 of its members due to anti-party politics.

Out of the 84 expelled members, three were staunch loyalists of Rauf Aregbesola, former Osun State governor and Interior Minister in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet.

Part of the 26 suspended Osun APC members are also Rauf Aregbesola’s loyalists.

They include Noinclude Moshood Adeoti, a former Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Osun State chairman and former Secretary to the State Government.

He was also a two time gubernatorial aspirant under the party in the state.

Others include Najeem Salami, a two term Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adelowo Adebiyi, former Osun APC Chairman, Senator Mudashiru Hussein, former Osun West Senator, Adelani Baderinwa and Sikiru Ayedun, former commissioners in the cabinet of Rauf Aregbesola.

The APC, in a statement by its state Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal on Thursday said the suspension of the party members was as a result of anti-party politicking and in response to allegations of misconduct bordering on factionalisation and the formation of a parallel party organ in the State.

The statement also stated that the action was taken after the Disciplinary Committee set up by the party in the State undertook a thorough and impartial review of allegations and findings were carefully deliberated upon.

“Following complaints of anti-party activities, the State Executive Committee of the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) constituted a Disciplinary Committee to investigate the allegations against some of its members.

“This disciplinary measure came in response to the allegations of misconduct bordering on factionalization of the party and creating a parallel party organ.

“The Disciplinary Committee undertook a thorough and impartial review of the allegations and the findings were carefully deliberated upon by the State Executive Committee.

“After a comprehensive assessment of the evidence and consideration of the committee’s recommendations, the State Executive Committee has taken the difficult yet necessary step of suspending the following members indefinitely:

“Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, Hon. Najeem Salami, Senator Mudasiru Hussain, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi, Adelani Baderinwa, Sikiru Ayedun, Engr Kazeem Salami, Alhaji Adesiji Azeez, Barr. Gbenga Akano, Kunle Ige, Biodun Agboola, Barr. Gbenga Awosode, Rasheed Opatola, Gbenga Ogunkanmi.”

Others are, “Hon. Israel Oyekunle, Hon. MBO Ibraheem, Akeem Olaoye, Hon. Francis Famurewa, Hon. Tajudeen Famuyide, Hon. (Mrs.) Adenike Abioye, Hon. Wasiu Adebayo, Hon. Rasheed Afolabi, Segun Olanibi, Tunde Ajilore, Ganiyu Ismaila Opeyemi and Zakariah Khalid, Olaoluwa-South LCDA.”

Crime

JUST IN: Suspected herdsmen hijack fully loaded vehicle, kill driver, abduct passengers in Benue

Published

on

Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen on Sunday night hijacked a commercial vehicle along the Otukpo-Adoka road in Benue State, killing the driver and abducting all passengers on board.

The incident occurred around 11 p.m. as the vehicle was en route to Otukpo from Abuja.

Eyewitnesses said that the attackers opened fire as soon as they sighted the vehicle, causing the driver to lose control and veer off the road into nearby bushes after being hit by a bullet.

The assailants subsequently abducted all the passengers before abandoning the vehicle at the scene.

The body of the slain driver, identified as a native of Adoka, has been recovered and taken to his hometown.

Meanwhile, military personnel have arrived at the scene and launched a manhunt for the attackers.

Continue Reading

Crime

JUST IN: Defence Headquarters nab two security personnel aiding terrorists in North-East

Published

on

Two security personnel aiding terrorist operations in the North-East have been arrested, the Defence Headquarters has announced.

The Director, Media Operations at the Defence Headquarters, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, explained that the two personnel are from hybrid forces who had been working alongside troops to combat insurgency in the region.

He further explained that the men were arrested during operations from April 26 to 29 across Bama, Kukawa and Madagali LGAs.

According to him, the military personnel were among four terrorist logistics suppliers arrested by the troops.

Kangye described the action of the arrested men as “betrayal”, warning commanders to sensitise their personnel against acts that could sabotage ongoing military efforts.

“In a well-coordinated operation conducted from 26–29 April 2025 in Bama, Kukawa, and Madagali LGAs of Borno and Adamawa states, troops intercepted four terrorists’ logistics suppliers.

“Sadly, two of them were confirmed to be members of the hybrid forces,” the Defence Headquarters spokesman said.

“Commanders are therefore to sensitise hybrid forces personnel to desist from colluding with or encouraging terrorist acts capable of sabotaging our operations,” he added.

Kangye added that in another development, troops, in conjunction with hybrid forces, carried out offensive operations including fighting patrols, raids and clearance missions in Gwoza, Dikwa, Bama, Chibok, Gujba, Geidam, and Yunusari LGAs of Borno State.

According to him, several terrorists were killed during the operations, six kidnap victims were rescued and caches of arms, ammunition, motorcycles and bicycles were recovered.

Kangye further explained that in the South-South, troops also achieved significant success in curbing oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta, saying that they recovered over 86,000 litres of stolen crude oil, 72,000 litres of illegally refined diesel, and over 2,600 litres of petrol.

He stated that troops destroyed dozens of illegal refining sites and seized boats, storage tanks, tricycles, mobile phones and seven vehicles.

Continue Reading

News

2025 World Press Freedon Day: NHRC seeks AI alignment with human rights principles

Published

on

As Nigeria joins the rest of the global community to commemorate the 2025 World Press Freedom Day, the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has advocated for the establishment of ethical and legal frameworks to address the myriad of challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence, AI.

Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr Tony Ojukwu, who stated this in Abuja on the 2025 commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day, highlighted the need for regulations that ensure AI development aligns with human rights principles, preventing potential abuses and safeguarding fundamental freedoms.

Accordingly, the Commission proposed issuing an advisory on the use and deployment of Artificial Intelligence in Nigeria very soon.

The senior lawyer observed that while AI could be deployed to enhance journalistic activities such as content development, investigative reporting, research and fact-checking, it could also be a source of worry when it is manipulated for misinformation, cyber bullying, emotional abuse and inciting comments.

The Chief Human Rights Officer of Nigeria noted that the theme of 2025 commemoration, “Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media” is apt given the exponential growth of digital communications and utilization of AI in virtually all aspects of life.

According to him, AI tools have greatly impacted on the enjoyment of the Right to Freedom of Expression and the Media by eliminating barriers to timely and effective communication.

AI tools, he said, have at the same time aided the breach of the Right to Freedom of Expression and the Media when applied unprofessionally without deference to ethical regulations.

The NHRC boss urged the Citizens including journalists to take advantage of AI in the most positive and responsible manner to deepen the realisation of the Right to Freedom of Expression and the Media while at the same time avoiding inciting statements against constituted authorities and other members of the public.

In the same vein, the Executive Secretary enjoined those in authority to cooperate with the journalists in the course of discharging their constitutional responsibility, which among others includes holding the government accountable to the people.

He therefore urged all stakeholders to always recognize the press as a critical partner in the democratic process and desist from any form of confrontation and interference with the lawful duties of journalists and other media workers, otherwise they will be found on the wrong side of the law.

The legal luminary commended journalists for courageously discharging their constitutional responsibility despite occasional harassment, intimidation, and seizure/destruction of their working tools by some overzealous security agents.

The observance of the World Press Freedom Day, the Executive Secretary stated, is not an opportunity to apportion blame to any individual, Institution or group of persons but it is a time to reminisce the fundamental principles of press freedom, ponder on the state of press freedom globally, defend the Media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in their line of duty.

The World Press Freedom Day was first celebrated in 1993 on the 3rd of May to remind governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and to remind journalists of their obligation to professional ethics in the course of their duties.

The statement was issued on Saturday by Hajia Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, Director Corporate Affairs and External Linkages at the NHRC.

Continue Reading

Trending