Author: Kwara Reporters

Nigerians paid N1.048 billion as ransom to kidnappers between July 2023 and June 2024, a report has shown.The report, released yesterday by the SBM Intelligence, showed that 7,568 people were kidnapped across the country within the period.SBM Intelligence is an Africa-focused market/security intel gathering consulting firm. Information from its website said it is Nigeria’s leading geopolitical research consultancy outfit, which is “particularly strong in the area of primary data gathering, and analyses of data that provides clarity relating to political, economic and social issues in Nigeria and West Africa”.According to the report released yesterday by the firm, though abductors demanded…

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has granted a one-month moratorium to traders and other market stakeholders involved in exploitative pricing, urging them to reduce the prices of goods.Mr. Tunji Bello, the newly appointed Executive Vice Chairman of the FCCPC, made this announcement during a one-day stakeholders’ engagement on exploitative pricing held on Thursday in Abuja.Bello stated that the Commission would begin enforcement actions once the moratorium period ends. He explained that the meeting was convened to address the increasing trend of unreasonable pricing of consumer goods and services, as well as the unethical practices by market associations.What the…

Police operatives in Lagos have arrested a nurse over the death of a 36-year-old woman simply identified as Abiola in the Lekki area of the state.She reportedly died after undergoing a botched buttocks enlargement procedure at a clinic in the Lekki-Phase 1.BBL is a popular enhancement surgery that sculpts the buttocks while removing excess fat from other body areas.The spokesman for the state police command, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident in a statement.He said the deceased’s driver reported the incident at the Maroko Police Division.“Upon their arrival, the clinic owner directed a nurse to administer the injection on Abiola. Moments…

•Laments frustration of its N3,500/ bag policyThe Chairman of BUA Cement, AbdulSamad Rabiu, yesterday, said cement dealers frustrated his company’s plan to sell cement at N3,500 per bag last year.Speaking at the 8th Annual General Meeting of the company in Abuja, Rabiu also said that while his company sold over a million tons of cement to dealers at N3, 500, per bag, with the intention that they would pass the benefits to end-users, the dealers sold a bag of cement to consumers at between N7000 and N8,000.He said the company had to abandon the policy as its intervention was not…

Joe Ajaero and NLC members at the Labour House in Abuja Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has returned to the Labour House in Abuja.On Thursday morning, Ajaero honoured the invitation of the police to appear at the force intelligence response team’s (IRT) office.BACKGROUNDOn August 19, the police invited Ajaero for questioning over “a case of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime”.The letter signed by Adamu Mu’azu, assistant commissioner of police, indicated that Ajaero was expected at the IRT complex on August 20.Mu’azu said an arrest warrant would be issued on Ajaero if he…

…Says Gov trying to Ambush LG financial Autonomy, attempt to cover up LG Fund Looted by his administrationThe Kwara State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, to immediately suspend the planned recruitment of 1600 primary school teachers for the LGAs. We view this move as a deliberate and calculated ambush on the newly granted local government financial autonomy by the Supreme Court.In a statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary of the Kwara PDP on Thursday, the Party said allowing the state government to proceed with this recruitment,…

How ASP, other suspects abet Boko Haram, bandits, ISWAP, by DIAThe Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday permitted the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) to detain an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) A. A. Babangida and 19 others for 30 days.It is over their alleged involvement in banditry, kidnapping and terrorism.Also detained are Usman Idris, Abu Safiyanu, Alhassan Idris, Sahada Ishaka, Abubakar Bello, Yahaya Abdullahi, Haruna Salisu and Mohammed Muazu.Others are Nura Idris, Alhaji Manu Mohammed, Umar Lamu, Abubakar Mandara, Suleiman Mohammed, Alhaji Madayi, Alhaji Amodu Oghewe and Uzoma Aghaoyibo.Justice Peter Lifu ruled on an ex-parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1146/2024 by the…

Nigeria’s Brass River, Bonny Light, and Qua Iboe have edged much higher than the current Brent contract amid supply concerns over Libya and a smaller-than-expected draw in U.S. crude oil inventories, which depleted demand expectations.Brass River and Qua Iboe traded at about $81.60 a barrel late Tuesday, while Brent Crude, the major oil benchmark, traded at around $78 per barrel at the time of this publication.Brent Crude lost more than 1% on Wednesday after data showed U.S. crude inventories dropped by 846,000 barrels to 425.2 million last week. Nigeria’s Oil Production Shows Signs of ImprovementThe Nigerian economy has recently been buoyed…

The Zamfara State Police Command has condemned the killing of one of its officers, Halliru Liman, who was shot and killed by military personnel.The command demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and ensure that those responsible were brought to book.In a statement issued to newsmen on Thursday, the command’s spokesperson, ASP Yazid Abubakar, said the command was deeply disturbed by the senseless killing of Liman, who was until his death, the DPO in charge of Wasagu Division in Kebbi state.Abubakar said the deceased police officer was on his way to Birnin Kebbi in Kebbi State to…

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Bode George, on Monday, said ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar must wait until 2031 if his desperate to run for President again.George, in a statement on Wednesday, said power would not return to the North, where Atiku is from, until 2031.But in a swift reaction, Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, knocked George, describing his comment as insensitive and premature.“We cannot afford to put the cart before the horse. At this point, Atiku Abubakar’s preoccupation is not 2027. His concern is about 2024.“It is about 2025 and 2026 and beyond. His concern…