News

Tight security mounted to prevent attack on railways

Published

2 years ago

August 17, 2023

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Security agents have been deployed in bushes and train stations on the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor, it was learnt yesterday.

The deployment of soldiers and other security agents is one of the security measures initiated by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) management to thwart alleged plot to attack trains plying the route.

The Nation also gathered from a top official of the NRC that each train will now have, at least,15 riot policemen on board. This is apart from a close circuit camera and Thuraya phone in each coach.

The official, who declined to be named, explained that the security measures were in line with the content of a letter to the NRC by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) command of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The NRC top shot said: “I spoke with the security team today and they confirmed to me that soldiers have already been deployed in the forests. The men deployed include personnel from the Air Force and Army.

“I can confirm that to you because some of the staff who were on escort operation with the train from Abuja-Kaduna saw some of the soldiers in each of the stations and even in the bushes.

“From the information available to me, the Chief of Defence Staff, in collaboration with the Chief of Army Staff, instructed that the bushes in Rigasa, Jere and Asham be combed thoroughly to fish out the bad elements.

“The number of security personnel on the train has not increased, but on each trip from Abuja to Kaduna, not less than 15 Mobile Police Officers join the train and they are fully armed.

“We also have surveillance camera installed on each of the locomotives, which is monitored from the Idu Station. So, the operators can see what is going in and around the train.

“The stations have also been equipped with Thuraya phone and calls from it can be monitored from the NRC headquarters in Lagos and also by the Force Headquarters in Abuja.”

News

Tanker crushes Akpabio’s dispatch rider to death

We went to Oyo State for the installation of our colleague, but the vehicles that came to pick me up at the Ibadan airport, unfortunately, my dispatch rider was run over by a tanker driver, and his head was shattered.

Published

13 minutes ago

December 23, 2025

OCHEFA

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Ibrahim Hussaini, a dispatch rider attached to the convoy of Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, has been killed after a petrol tanker rammed into the motorcade.

Although the Senate President did not state the precise location of the crash, he said that it happened in Ibadan, Oyo State, shortly after members of his convoy picked him up from the Ibadan Airport.

Akpabio announced the death during the plenary on Tuesday; he extended condolences to the family of the deceased.

Dispatch riders, who are police officers, form part of the security detail of top government officials and typically escort convoys on motorcycles.

“We went to Oyo State for the installation of our colleague, but the vehicles that came to pick me up at the Ibadan airport, unfortunately, my dispatch rider was run over by a tanker driver, and his head was shattered.

“We just buried him 15 minutes ago in Kogi State. He left two wives and four children,” the Senate President told lawmakers

News

Public holidays: FG declares December 25, 26, and January 1

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the public holidays on behalf of the Federal Government.

Published

11 hours ago

December 23, 2025

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22 Views

The Federal Government has declared Thursday, December 25, and Friday, December 26, as well as Thursday, January 1, 2026, as public holidays to mark the Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year celebrations.

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the public holidays on behalf of the Federal Government.

In a statement by the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Interior, Dr Magdalene Ajani, the minister extended warm Christmas and New Year felicitations to Christians in Nigeria and across the world.

He extended the same gestures “to all Nigerians as they celebrate the end of the year and the beginning of a new one”.

Tunji-Ojo urged Christians to reflect on the virtues of love, peace, humility, and sacrifice as exemplified by the birth of Jesus Christ, noting that these values are critical to promoting unity, tolerance, and harmony in the nation.

News

KWAM1 loses bid to block Awujale selection process

KWAM1 had declared his interest in the vacant Awujale stool, claiming lineage from the Jadiara Royal House of the wider Fusengbuwa Ruling House.

Published

12 hours ago

December 23, 2025

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37 Views

• KWAM1

The Ogun State High Court sitting in Ijebu-Ode has refused to grant popular Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, alias KWAM1, an interim injunction aimed at restraining Governor Dapo Abiodun and five others from proceeding with the selection and installation of the next Awujale of Ijebuland.

Ayinde, represented in court by Wahab Shittu (SAN), had on Monday, sought the injunction pending the hearing of his substantive suit challenging the selection process.

But Justice A. A. Omoniyi dismissed the application, holding that the interim injunction lacked merit and that there were no strong grounds to justify its grant.

He subsequently ordered the expedited hearing of the substantive matter, fixing 14 January 2026 for proceedings.

KWAM1 had declared his interest in the vacant Awujale stool, claiming lineage from the Jadiara Royal House of the wider Fusengbuwa Ruling House.

However, the Fusengbuwa ruling house rejected his claim, stating that he is not from the royal house.

To challenge what he perceived as injustice, Ayinde filed a suit against the Fusengbuwa ruling house, Governor Abiodun, the Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Dare Alebiosu, and three others