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Bandits Release 75 Abducted Zamfara Pupils

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The 75 pupils of Government Day Secondary School, Kaya, in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State who were abducted on September 1, 2021, have regained their freedom.

The Nigerian Television Authority broke the news via its verified Facebook page overnight.

Nigerian Police had reported that gunmen abducted more than 70 students in the country’s northwest state of Zamfara.

Zamfara State Police spokesman, Mohammed Shehu, had said in a statement that a large group of attackers stormed the Government Day Secondary School in the remote village of Kaya that Wednesday morning, seizing the pupils. He had given the number of seized children as 73.

“The abduction followed the invasion of the school by large numbers of armed bandits,” he had stated.

Shehu said that Police rescue teams were working with the military to secure the release of the pupils.

The bandits later returned five of the pupils within 24 hours.

A former councilor of Kaya ward, Yahaya Kaya, said that his niece was among those released by the bandits; adding that the five freed pupils had been returned to their hometown of Kaya.

It is not yet clear if any ransom was paid before the pupils were released.

In reaction to the abduction, UNICEF, on September 3, said it was horrified by yet another attack on an educational institution in Nigeria. Following the abduction, the Zamfara State Government had ordered the immediate de-boarding of boarding facilities in 30 schools.

The UN agency, in a Press release distributed by the APO Group, stated, “Of the abducted students, 23 students escaped and returned home – two of them with bullet wounds. The abducted students are aged between 14 and 19.”

“We strongly condemn this attack, which has happened just a few days after kidnapped students of a school in Niger State, north-central Nigeria, were freed,” said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria. “We call on the authorities to take expedited action to rescue these students and reunite them with their families.”

“We reiterate that attacks on schools and abduction of learners are a gross violation of children’s rights, and a horrific experience for children to go through – one which could have long-lasting effects on their mental health and overall well-being,” said Peter Hawkins.

“Schools must be safe; no child should experience any harm because they went to school, and no parent should come to grief for sending their children to learn,” said Hawkins.

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I’ll Soon Die, 40-Year-Old Odumeje Claims

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Controversial Anambra-born pastor, Chukwuemeka Ohanere, popularly known as Odumeje, has said he will die soon, having completed his work on earth.

The pastor came into limelight with his weird pattern of spiritual deliverance, where he carries miracle seeking members of his church in a manner akin to the WWE wrestlers, and smashes them on the floor.

He was in the news last year after he confronted officials of the Anambra State Government, who had come to demolish his church. He was beaten during the encounter.

During Sunday service, Odumeje, in a video circulating online, was heard telling his church members that it was time for him to go.

He said: “I have called my little son, KingDavid, and I told him that very soon, I your father will leave. You must take care of your brothers and your mother.

“I came to this world for a purpose, and that purpose has been fulfilled. I have finished my earthly ministry, and I will leave soon,” he told the congregation.

Odumeje has fought several battles, and has challenged many native doctors to open contests on their ability to perform miracles. He is 40 years old.

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Woman Sets Son, Wife, Two Grandchildren Ablaze in Ondo

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A grandmother, identified as lforiti, has allegedly set her son, wife and two grandchildren ablaze in Apomu community, Akure, the Ondo state capital.

Sources said that the grandmother, who resides with his son in the same house complained that they starved her of food.

She reportedly set the house ablaze while the family members were asleep, killing three of them including her son, Victor; wife Racheal and one of the grandchildren while the other child is in critical condition at the Federal Medical Centre FMC, Owo.

Narrating the sad incident to newsmen, in Akure, an eyewitness, Korede Michael, said “we saw the house on fire around 2:00 am at the weekend and had to break the window to rescue everyone in the house.

“The woman, her son, Victor Oloro; wife, Rachael; and children, Toluwani and Blessing, were all in the house when the woman set it on fire. She got some dry palm fronds and the little petrol her son kept in a gallon (for generator), spread it around the house and then put fire to it.”

“I was the first person to notice the fire and jumped into the house before other members of the community joined me in rescuing them.

“We got a vehicle immediately to transport them to the government hospital in Akure.

“When we got to Akure (UNIMED annex), the doctors and nurses rejected the patients, saying they cannot take care of them due to the degree of the burn and advised that we take them to the Federal Medical Center in Owo.

“Unfortunately, we lost the last grandchild, who was just two and a half years old, immediately we got to Owo.

“The son and his wife, also, gave up the ghost while the only grandchild left is in a critical condition.”

Korede said that the suspect was not in any way affected by the fire.

”The children could not send the woman out of the house when she started behaving strangely because it was built by her late husband”.

Police sources said that the suspect confessed that she burnt her son and his family because they were starving her of food.

The state police spokesperson , Funmi Odunlami couldn’t be immediately reached for comments.

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Sanwo-Olu Approves 20% Salary Increment for Lagos Civil Servants

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Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has increased the salaries of workers in the State by 20 per cent, barely days after winning re-election for a second term in office.

In a circular by the Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, the governor reiterated his administration’s determination to improve the welfare and well-being of public servants in Lagos State.

Those affected by the increment are officers in the mainstream public service, local governments and local council development areas, and the State Universal Basic Education Board by 20 percent with effect from January 1, 2023.

“Furthermore, kindly note that the arrears for the month of January 2023 will be paid along with salaries for the month of March 2023, while the arrears for the month of February 2023 will be paid together with the salaries of April 2023,” the statement read.

“This action further demonstrates this Administration’s commitment to Staff welfare. Public Servants are thus enjoined to show more commitment and dedication in the delivery of qualitative service to the citizens of the state.

“Accordingly, all Accounting Officers are to note the contents of this circular and give it the service-wide publicity it deserves.”

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