Two Northern groups, Arewa Youths Coalition for Peace and Political Development and Northern Elders Progressive Group have condemned Niger Republic’s allegations against Nigeria, demanding an immediate apology.

This was contained in a communique jointly signed by Alhaji Yasir Ramadan-Kano and Mustapha Dutsin-ma, representing the two groups..

Highlighting the communique while addressing a press briefing yesterday in Kaduna, Convener of the groups, Yusuf Abubakar, said they collectively took the stand at the end of their eighth joint meeting on Wednesday.

Abubakar said Niger Republic’s President, General Abdourahamane Tchiani’s claims against President Bola Tinubu were unsubstantiated and lacked any iota of truth, describing the allegations as irresponsible and unpresidential.

“We reject in totality, the recent allegations made by General Tchiani against President Tinubu of conniving with France to destabilise his country.

“We see such unguarded utterances as irresponsible, lacking decorum and unpresidential. These are baseless allegations capable of overheating the polity.

“Our stance on this saga is total support and endorsement of President Tinubu, especially with his giant strides of positive development, ensuring political unity, security and restoration of peace in our troubled north,” he said.

Abubakar, therefore, called on Tchiani to stop creating disunity between the two brotherly nations that have common historical understanding, unity and regard for each other for decades.

He also cautioned some groups hiding under ulterior motives to refrain from fanning embers of hatred, considering its consequences for Nigeria’s collective survival as a people and nation in general.

“We must be patriotic and responsible on issues affecting our national growth, unity and respect,” he said.

Abubakar emphasised that it is time for political leaders, elites and those in authority who are of northern extraction to come together and find lasting solutions to the numerous challenges facing the region.

He stressed that unity, peace and development of the north are sacrosanct to ensure cohesion and political understanding amongst all Nigerians.

Abubakar said: ”There must be a way to bring all our political leaders together, united and committed to development in the best possible way.”

He commended Tinubu’s efforts towards sustaining the fight against insecurity bedevilling some parts of the northern region, particularly the North-West zone.

Abubakar also commended  the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu for his ceaseless efforts towards ensuring security and peace across the country, particularly in the northern region, through kinetic and non-kinetic approaches.

“These have led to improved stability and security in some of the deserted areas bedeviled by constant attacks and security challenges,” he said.

He, however, urged Ribadu to use his office to bring an end, bandits’ kingpin, Bello Turji’s nefarious reign of terror in Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina States. NAN

Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a couple for allegedly raping and beating a 13-year-old girl in their residence in Port Harcourt.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed the development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Thursday in Port Harcourt.

NAN reports that the wife was said to have stripped the teenager and inserted pepper into her private part after accusing her of having sexual intercourse with her husband.

Iringe-Koko stated that the suspects had been arrested and transferred to the State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department, SCIID, for investigation and possible prosecution.

Goodness, the mother of the teenager, whose full name was withheld to avoid stigmatisation, recounted the incident to NAN.

A resident of Rupokwu town in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Goodness revealed that the assault on her daughter occurred on the evening of December 29, 2024.

She explained that when she was alerted by neighbours about the attack on her daughter, she immediately closed her shop and rushed home.

“Before I got home, neighbours had already rescued my daughter from the wife’s assault.

“My daughter was still writhing in pain from the beating and the pepper applied to her body and private area,” she said.

Goodness said after her daughter felt relieved, she revealed that on December 25, 2024, a female neighbour, who is a friend to the wife, took her to the house.

She noted that on that fateful day, the man sent his wife and her friend on an errand, leaving the teenager alone with him in the house.

The distraught mother reported that after the two women had left the apartment, the man attacked her daughter and allegedly raped her multiple times, threatening her to remain silent.

“After he raped her, he told my daughter to leave his house.

“My daughter returned home afterwards but did not report what had transpired, probably due to the threat from the man,” she added.

Goodnews  stated that on December 29, 2024, the wife visited her shop and asked the teenager to follow her to her apartment and assist her with house chores.

“It was on getting there that she accused my daughter of sleeping with her husband, stripped her naked, poured pepper on her and inserted same in her vagina.

“She then dragged my daughter outside and flogged her mercilessly with a machete, while neighbours recorded the attack,” she said.

The teary mother demanded justice for her traumatised daughter.

NAN reports the couple spent the new year in custody, while their children, aged four and two, had been placed in the care of relatives.

Meanwhile, Prince Wiro, the National Coordinator of the Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, has condemned the alleged torture of the minor, calling it inhumane and barbaric.

“We have spoken with the teenager and observed the bruises and wounds on her body. We demand a thorough investigation by the Police.

“The man must be held accountable for the allegations while anyone else found responsible should be prosecuted,” Wiro said. (NAN)

From Damola Adeloye, Ibadan 

Chairman of Bullion Go-Neat Global Limited, Ambassador Olufemi  Oguntoyinbo has called on the federal and state governments to make citizens welfare their priority in the new year. 

He also  urged wealthy Nigerians to give back to the society and imbibe the spirit of helping the needy.

Oguntoyinbo, who is also a renowned philanthropist, said making the welfare of citizens a priority has promoted many countries  and brought them to the limelight.

He gave the advice while speaking with  journalists on the sideline of a new year party organised by Bullion Go-Neat Global in Ibafo, Ogun State, where Taye Currency, 9ice, Femi Lancaster entertained guests.

“I want to call on President Bola  Tinubu and  governors to put citizens’ welfare in the front burner.

“My advice for  the federal and  state governments is that they should take citizens’ welfare as number one priority. 

“When you make your citizens number one on your agenda, they will add value to the nation and the country will be ranked high. 

“There is no way your country will be doing well that the world will not give you recognition. If you travel from here to other countries, you will realise that countries that put the welfare of their citizens as priorities are enjoying the fruitfulness of that now.

“So in this new year, my advice is that government should make sure that as they formulate policies, they should create those that will enhance the living conditions of the people. They should formulate policies that will benefit Nigerians, so that we will not continue facing setbacks. You can see how we lost a  number of people recently,” he said. 

Oguntoyinbo also called on well-to-do Nigerians to assist the less privileged, saying this is important, as government alone cannot provide the needs of the less privileged people alone. 

He also vowed that he will continue to empower youths despite the harsh economy because, according to him, they are the future of the country.