Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

The Defence Headquarters has confirmed the emergence of a new terror group known as ‘Lukarawas’ in the Northwestern states of Sokoto and Kebbi. Addressing a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, said the new terror group is exacerbating insecurity in the North-West region but the Armed Forces of Nigeria are already containing them. “Troops are confronted with a new terrorist sect in the North-West. This sect is known as Lukawaras, the Lukawaras are affiliated to terrorists in the Sahel particularly from Mali and Niger Republic. “They began incursion into Northern part…

Read More

A former governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha who is rumoured to have kicked the bucket is rather hale and hearty, says his publicist, Samuel Onwuemeodo. Onwuemeodo in a statement on Thursday November 7, 2024 disclosed that the erstwhile governor was not even sick talk less of joining his ancestors. The publicist wondered why a group of people would contrive such a damning and damaging story about Owelle Okorocha who represented Imo West Senatorial District at the National Assembly between 2019 and 2023. He explained that the Chairman of Rochas Foundation Colleges has not had simple headache since vacating…

Read More

Coalition of Civil Society Organizations numbering over 35, have come out to criticize the just concluded Local Government Area election in Abia state, saying the process was marred by Irregularities and violations of democratic principles. The groups who spoke under the umbrella body of Coalition of Civil Society Organizations, said the Local Government election which happens to be the first election the Governor of the State would conduct, was characterized by democratic backsliding and constitutional abuse. In a Press Conference in Umuahia, the Leader of the Coalition group, Engr Simon Diogu, alleged that election did not take place as scheduled…

Read More

The Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Austin Meregini, has moved a matter of Urgent Public Importance, calling for a palliative work to be done on the Umuahia-Ikot-Ekpene road. In an interaction with our Correspondent, the Deputy Speaker said the House during its plenary session on Tuesday, resolved to call the attention of the executive arm of government, through the Ministry of Works for a palliative work to be done along the Umuahia -Ikot-Ekpene road to ease movement of road users in the yuletide season. He said the proactive approach would also help to boost…

Read More

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday conducted a mock accreditation exercise ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State. The Chairman of the commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu; state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola and other officials of the commission monitored the exercise at some local government areas in the state. Some of the areas covered by the chairman and his team included polling units in Akure South, Akure North and Idanre Local Government Areas of the state. The INEC boss stressed that the mock accreditation exercise was to further test the functionality of its system. He…

Read More

The Yoruba Nation agitators who invaded the Oyo State Government Secretariat at Agodi in Ibadan, the state capital, have pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them before an Oyo State High Court. On Wednesday, the agitators were all paraded before Justice K. B. Olawoyin. The offence was committed on April 13, 2024, in Ibadan, in the Ibadan Judicial Division, an offence contrary to and punishable under section 37(2) of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vo. II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000. The case, with suit number I/51c/2024, which involves the State vs Adeyemo Peter & 26 others,…

Read More

Enugu State has withdrawn from the suit filed by some states in the federation, contesting the laws that established the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, as well as the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit guidelines, which is before the Supreme Court. The Kogi State Government initially filed the suit against the EFCC in 2023, with 18 other states, including Enugu, later joining the suit. The state, which is the sixth plaintiff in the suit, became the sixth state to withdraw from the suit, the first three states being Anambra (ninth plaintiff), Adamawa (16th plaintiff) and Ebonyi (18th plaintiff). The three states…

Read More

No fewer than 30 top officials will be retiring alongside the Clerk to the National Assembly, Magaji Tambawal. Based on parliamentary practices, Tambawal began his pre-retirement leave on November 1, 2024, having handed over to his deputy, Kamouroudeen Ogundele. Tambawal, who was first appointed acting Clerk to the National Assembly in November 2022 and later confirmed in March 2023, will turn 60 in February 2025. Although he officially retires in February, he will not be actively involved in any assignment or tasks from the commencement of his pre-retirement leave till when he officially vacates the office. According to an official…

Read More

President Bola Tinubu has extended his heartfelt congratulations to President Donald Trump on his re-election as the 47th President of the United States of America. A statement by Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga on Wednesday, said President Tinubu looks forward to strengthening the relations between Nigeria and the United States amid the complex challenges and opportunities of the contemporary world. Donald Trump claimed victory on Wednesday and pledged to “heal” the country on Wednesday as results put him on the verge of beating Kamala Harris in a stunning White House comeback. According to President Tinubu,…

Read More

Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has called on the federal government to proffer lasting solutions to the power crisis in the country. Obi made the call on his X handle while raising concerns about the ongoing power crisis following another collapse of the national grid. The call came after Nigerians were plunged into a fresh round of darkness following another collapse of the national power grid. Since January 2024 till date, the grid has collapsed 10 times, and three times in October alone. Speaking on the issue via a statement on Wednesday via X, Obi contrasted Nigeria’s struggles with power…

Read More