Day: August 2, 2022

Train Attack: Gunmen release five additional hostages

Emporium Reporters

The gunmen who attacked a Kaduna-bound train in March and abducted several passengers released five more hostages on Tuesday.   The release of the hostages comes after the terrorists released four of the victims last week Monday.   A newspaper publisher, Tukur Mamu, who had previously negotiated the release of some of the captives, confirmed the release of the five hostages to PREMIUM TIMES.   Mr Mamu identified the released hostages as Mustapha Imam, a professor from Usman Danfodio University Sokoto, Akibu Lawal; Abubakar Rufai; Mukthar Shu’aibu; and Sidi Sharif.…

Inside Omatseye’s Heathen Heart By Emmanuel Ogbeche

Emporium Reporters

Sam Omatseye, the Delta state-born chairman of the Nation Newspaper, ignited a firestorm with his graceless piece, Obi-tuary, in the August 1, 2022 edition of the paper. There has been an avalanche of cringing over the article steeped in half-truths and absolute falsehoods.   It is an article that is filled with bile as it is vile; tasteless, gangster-like, and morbid. Reading the1,329 worded write-up is like wading through a field of putrid. It ranks foul as it is revolting.   The piece, as in Omatseye’s style, is couched in…

Unauthorized Journey attracts sanctions, DG warns Corps Members

Emporium Reporters

The Director General of NYSC, Brig.General Muhammad Kaku Fadah has warned Corps Members not to embark on any unauthorized journey during their service year.   He said they must get approval from the NYSC if it becomes necessary to travel.   Fadah stated this today while addressing Corps Members at NYSC Zamfara, Kebbi and Sokoto State Orientation Camps.   He stated further that if they are traveling a long distance, they should break their journey when it is 6:00pm and pass the night in safe places like military barracks, NYSC…

Nigerian Robotics Engineer Develops CET Drone to Detect Kidnappers, Terrorists’ Hideouts

Emporium Reporters

A Nigerian Robotic Engineer, Dr. Olusola Ayoola has developed Carbon Emission Tracker (CET) Drone for aerial surveillance in detecting hideouts of criminals within caves and forest areas. Dr. Ayoola is the founder of Robotic and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria (RAIN), an indigenous AI firm based in Ibadan, Oyo State. In an interview with TechDigest.ng, Ayoola revealed that criminal elements hiding in caves and forested areas cannot escape the innovative capability of drone surveillance offered by the Carbon Emission Tracker Drone (CETD). He explained that the CEDT also utilized the geo-spatial intelligence…

Insecurity: Gov Yahaya Bello shuts down Brothels, Shanties, bans wearing of facemasks In Public Places

Emporium Reporters

The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has ordered the immediate closure of all brothels harbouring criminals and also banned the wearing of facemasks in public places for proper identification in the state.   The Governor said his action was to curb criminal activities in the state and to ensure that Kogi remain the safest State in the country.   He gave the order on Tuesday in Lokoja during a meeting with all first and second-class traditional leaders including Local Government Council Chairmen from the 21 LGA in the state.  …

Towards greater equity: The case of menstrual hygiene needs, By Arit Oku

Emporium Reporters

Like the tick-tock of your inauspicious alarm clock, a woman or girl you know experiences her monthly menstruation, for the most part, unfailingly. For most females, this is a 28-day cycle, give or take a few days. The bleeding usually occurs on average for about five days, that she must bear quietly, without throwing tantrums, while struggling to ensure she goes through her day without visible blood stains drawing attention to her quiet, veiled travail.   Most females are acculturated to view menstrual blood stains as akin to committing a…

Nigeria: More universities where?, By Reuben Abati

Emporium Reporters

Given these circumstances, the proposed recklessness of breathing more tertiary institutions into existence through legislation is annoying. Nigeria does not need more tertiary institutions. This is one of the major arguments of ASUU and other unions. I think they are right. Even with the Nimi-Briggs proposition, nothing will change. Has anyone even seen the Briggs paper? What the university teachers want is a quality education system. They do not want the proliferation of mushroom universities that spring up at every corner without the wherewithal to keep them going.   I…

Rejoinder: Obi-tuary by Sam Omatseye By Tony Nwosu

Emporium Reporters

I read Sam Omatseye’s piece titled OBI-TUARY with a lot of disgust, pity, and disappointment. For the record, Sam is supposed to be a seasoned journalist who should know the negative implications of junk journalism.   I used to respect him in those days as a fearless, incisive, and cerebral columnist. However, I later observed that Sam is anything but altruistic because his writeups started wearing unrepentant ethnocentric and parochial garbs which gave him away as a divisive ethnic bigot and a man that lacks integrity.   In life, one…

2023: Gov Sani Bello urges APC members to work for party’s candidates at all levels

Emporium Reporters

Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello has enjoined all members and stakeholders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to put aside their differences and support the party’s candidates at all levels.   Speaking at an interactive meeting with political appointees, at Government House, Minna, the Governor emphasized that the ruling party must realign, restrategize and work for all its flag bearers in the overall interest of the party.   He said the meeting was apt and will further serve as veritable platform to reconcile all aggrieved party loyalist stressing that…

Gov Sani Bello flags off NISTMA, commissions 21 Operational vehicles

Emporium Reporters

As part of efforts to build aTraffic Database that would help identify traffic offenders and keep adequate data of road users for revenue profiling and planning in the state, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has officially flagged off the Niger State Traffic Management Agency (NISTMA) and commissioned 21 vehicles for its operation. The ceremony took place at the Idris Legbo Kutigi International Centre, Minna. Governor Sani Bello observed that all modes of transportation system were present in the state hence the need to develop the intra-transport management system in the state…