Headlines
Declare State of Emergency on Security, Senate Tells Buhari
The senate has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency over the prevalent insecurity in the country.
The move is coming hours after the abduction of some secondary students in Kagara, Niger state.
The resolution of the senate followed a motion sponsored by Mohammed Sani Musa, senator representing Niger east.
While moving his motion on Wednesday, Musa said it was gathered that the gunmen stormed the school wearing military uniforms.
“The bandits were in military uniforms when they attacked the boarding school overpowered the security guards before whisking away the students, the numbers are yet to be confirmed,” the lawmaker said.
“Headcount is being conducted in the school as we speak to ascertain the number of students kidnapped.
“The constitution stipulates that the welfare of citizens is the primary responsibility of government, so governments at all levels owe it as a duty to provide adequate security.
“The abduction is coming on the heels of the yet to be unresolved abduction of 300 students from Kankara, Katsina state.”
The upper legislative chamber also asked Buhari to implement the recommendations of a report by its ad-hoc panel on security challenges in the country.
Gunmen stormed Government Science College, Kagara, in the wee hours of Wednesday and made away with some students.
Following the attack, the Niger state government ordered the immediate closure of all boarding schools in four local government areas.
The LGAs are Rafi, Munya, Shiroro, and Mariga.
President Buhari has also deployed the recently-appointed service chiefs to the state, mandating them “to ensure immediate and safe return of all the captives”.
He also asked the service chiefs to “coordinate the rescue operation and meet with state officials, community leaders, as well as parents and staff” of the school.
TheCable
The first hostages freed from Gaza under a long-awaited ceasefire agreement are back in Israel. The news sparked jubilant scenes in Tel Aviv where large crowds gathered ahead of their release.
The three freed Israeli hostages – the first of 33 to be released over the next six weeks – are Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari. They are said to be in good health and are receiving treatment at a medical center in Tel Aviv.
In exchange, 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are set to be released by Israel from Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli military withdrew from several locations in southern and northern Gaza after the truce began earlier on Sunday, an Israeli military official told CNN.
Displaced Gazans have started returning to their homes, while the aid trucks laden with much-needed supplies have crossed into Gaza. Here’s what we know about how the ceasefire deal will work.
Hamas, despite suffering devastating losses, is framing the Gaza ceasefire agreement as a victory for itself, and a failure for Israel.
One of Hamas’ main goals for taking some 250 people during its brazen October 7, 2023, attack on Israel was to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. As Israel pounded Gaza in response, Hamas vowed not to return the hostages until Israel withdrew its forces from the enclave, permanently ended the war, and allowed for rebuilding.
Source: CNN
The leader of UK’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has said she doesn’t want Britain to be like Nigeria that is plagued by “terrible governments.”
Speaking on Thursday at an event organised by Onward, a British think tank producing research on economic and social issues, Badenoch expressed fears that Britain may become like Nigeria if the system is not reformed.
“And why does this matter so much to me? It’s because I know what it is like to have something and then to lose it,” Badenoch told the audience.
“I don’t want Britain to lose what it has.
“I grew up in a poor country and watched my relatively wealthy family become poorer and poorer, despite working harder and harder as their money disappeared with inflation.
“I came back to the UK aged 16 with my father’s last £100 in the hope of a better life.
“So I have lived with the consequences of terrible governments that destroy lives, and I never, ever want it to happen here.”
Badenoch has been in the news of late after she dissociated herself from Nigeria, saying she has nothing to do with the Islamic northern region.
She also accused the Nigeria Police of robbing citizens instead of protecting them.
She said: “My experience with the Nigeria Police was very negative. Coming to the UK, my experience with the British Police was very positive.
“The police in Nigeria will rob us (laughter). When people say I have this bad experience with the police because I’m black, I say well…I remember the police stole my brother’s shoe and his watch.”
