News
TACKLING INSECURITY IN ENUGU: Stakeholders Accuses Mbah Of Illegitimacy
The Enugu State Stakeholders Forum (ESSF) has ascribed the failure of the state government’s cancellation of the Monday sit-at-home order to the lack of legitimacy by the new Peter Mbah government that came into being last May 29.
In a statement in Enugu today signed by the ESSF’s leader, Professor Joseph Aneke, and the secretary, Dr Ifeanyi Agbo, the stakeholders said that what would have been a good government initiative failed spectacularly because Mbah did not think through it before announcing it.
“Mbah has been desperate to do something popular to get accepted by the Enugu people because he and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government did not win the March 18 gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections”, declared the stakeholders.
“He merely hit upon the idea of ending the illegal sit-at-home declared by nonstate actors; it is a brainwave rather than a sound government policy”.
The ESSF observed that if the government had thought through it, the administration would have first called a meeting of stakeholders to discuss the government’s new step to end insecurity and provide honest suggestions on the way forward which all groups would accept to implement from an agreed day.
The ESSG regretted that with “the government order failing as most Enugu people last Monday observed sit-at-home as usual, out of fear of vicious attacks by nonstate actors, the state government took a panic measure by calling for a meeting of all kinds of stakeholders yesterday (Saturday) at the Old Governor’s Lodge in GRA, Enugu.
“The meeting should have been called before announcing the cancellation as no right-thinking person puts the cart before the horse.
“The central issue in ending the destructive sit-at-home order is deploying security forces everywhere, from markets to government offices to motor parks to major and minor roads, and all other public places.
“The people will defy IPOB and its agents once there is a fair assurance of security”.
The group also faulted the government for implementing the cancellation before the appointment of key government officials.
“It is top government officials like the Commissioner for Security and the Special Adviser on Security who will drive the implementation of this security step and take responsibility for it, not just the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, a fellow Nkanu person who is the only person appointed by Mbah since assumption of office”.
The ESSF criticised the meeting at the Old Governor’s Lodge “for having only one item on the agenda: endorsement of the anti-sit-at-home order, which looks pretty sycophantic.
“It should have discussed in a serious manner modalities for the success of the government’s cancellation of the order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) that has been taking a tremendous toll on the entire people of the Southeast.
“The government’s resounding failure or inability to think correctly before taking action is what normally obtains when the people did not choose a government, and so does all manner of things to gain acceptance.
“Security is not provided through populism and all such acts of playing to the gallery”.
News
JUST IN: One Killed, Two Injured in Tragic Truck Collision on Jimgbe–Ajaokuta–Lokoja Road
A devastating road accident on the busy Jimgbe–Ajaokuta–Lokoja highway claimed the life of a middle-aged mechanic on Sunday afternoon, while two other individuals sustained serious injuries.
The crash occurred around 1:30 p.m when a truck loaded with stones suffered a sudden mechanical failure and veered off course, slamming into another truck parked by the roadside.
The deceased, identified simply as Ayuba, was a mechanic actively repairing the parked truck at the time of the impact. Eyewitnesses described how the moving truck rammed directly into the stationary vehicle, trapping victims in the wreckage.
FRSC officers, assisted by good Samaritan motorists, worked frantically to extricate those trapped and provide immediate assistance at the scene.
The two injured victims were promptly evacuated to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment.
Traffic along the critical route was temporarily disrupted but has since returned to normal following the removal of the wreckage.
The incident serves as yet another stark reminder of the persistent road safety challenges on Nigerian highways, including mechanical failures, improper parking, and the risks faced by roadside workers.
Authorities continue to urge drivers to ensure regular vehicle maintenance and adherence to safety protocols to prevent such tragedies.
Investigations into the exact cause of the mechanical fault are ongoing.
News
Army says 80 Cross River militants surrender arms
Sokoya said that the militants were handed to the Rapid Response team of the Cross River State government after the exercise, and are currently undergoing profiling by the Department of State Services (DSS) at Muka Sam Hotel, Ikot Ansa, Calabar.
Photo: Cross River militants surrender arms | Photo: @HQNigerianArmy on X
80 militants voluntarily emerged from the creeks in Akpabuyo LGA of Cross River State and surrendered their arms to the Nigerian Army under the state government’s amnesty programme.
This was disclosed on Friday by Yemi Sokoya, assistant director, army public relations, Headquarters 13 Brigade.
Sokoya said that the surrender took place at Atimbo rear area, Operation Okwok, adding that the militants sprung from two separate camps.
He said that the first camp, led by ThankGod Ebikontei, also known as Ayibanuagha, presented 39 fighters, while the second camp, headed by John Isaac, also known as Akpokolo, surrendered 41 fighters.
The second group is popularly known as the Akpokolo Marine Forces or Border Boys, according to the army.
Sokoya said the militants also surrendered a cache of arms, ammunition, and other items during the exercise.
“These included three AK-47 rifles, two pump action guns, one Mark 4 rifle, one G3 rifle, twelve single-barrel guns, ten AK-47 magazines, three speed boats, four boat house power engines, one C4 charge explosive, nineteen rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, and eighty-four DENGUN cartridges, as well as other assorted military kits, tools, locally fabricated weapons, and accessories,” he said.
Sokoya said that the militants were handed to the Rapid Response team of the Cross River State government after the exercise, and are currently undergoing profiling by the Department of State Services (DSS) at Muka Sam Hotel, Ikot Ansa, Calabar.
News
2Baba’s son, Zion, matriculates at Pan-Atlantic University
Adeoye wrote, “Today, my second son begins his journey in finance… Admitted, you earned it, son. Congratulations on your matriculation.
Zion Idibia, the second son of Nigerian music icon Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, has matriculated at Pan-Atlantic University.
Sumbo Adeoye, his mother, disclosed this on her Instagram page on Saturday.
Adeoye wrote, “Today, my second son begins his journey in finance… Admitted, you earned it, son. Congratulations on your matriculation. Greater works ahead in Jesus’ name.”
Zion is one of the two sons Adeoye shares with the singer. The other is Nino.
Adeoye is known as 2Baba’s first baby mama, with whom he had the two children before their relationship ended around 2009 following revelations of his involvement with other women.

•2Baba’s baby mama, Sumbo Adeoye and son, Zion. Photo credit: Adeoye/Instagram
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