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Punch Newspapers Sections Our Reporters There were strong indications on Monday that a disagreement among bandits in Niger State was delaying the release of 27 students and 15 workers of Government Science College, Kagara, who were abducted on Wednesday. A top government source, who confided in The PUNCH, said the bandits, who carried out the abduction, had not agreed with the warlord government negotiated with. There was controversy over the release of the abductees on Sunday. Earlier in the day, officials of the Niger State and security sources said the abductees had been released and were on their way to Minna, the state capital. ....
Punch Newspapers Sections Friday Olokor, Maiharaji Altine James Abraham and Godwin Isenyo The Middle Belt Forum on Sunday faulted a prominent Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, who asked the Federal Government to deploy budget for security in addressing the demands of bandits. The National Publicity Secretary of the MBF, Dr Isuwa Dogo, in an interview with one of our correspondents in Jos, stated that it was curious that Gumi could ask government to use taxpayers’ money to meet the demands of bandits, who had been killing Nigerians. But the Coalition of Northern Groups supported the cleric, saying government should set up a special intervention programme for pastoral communities. ....
Punch Newspapers Sections Friday Olokor, Abuja Threats by the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu to arrest Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Igboho over his alleged involvement in the violence that took place in Oyo State, received serious knocks from the Middle Belt Forum on Sunday. The organisation also supported the quit notice handed by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Fulani terrorists to leave the forest reserves in the state. The MBF specifically warned the Federal Government against any action that would escalate the ongoing tension as demonstrated by the arrest order on Igboho. The National President of MBF, DR. Pogu Bitrus, expressed these views in a statement in Abuja. ....
Rev Fr Matthew Hassan Kukah THE Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 northern states and Abuja on Monday warned the Presidency and the Muslim Rights Concern against twisting the homily delivered by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Mathew Kukah on Christmas day. This is also as the Catholic Church described those attacking the Bishop as agents of evil. Kukah had in the Christmas message titled, ‘A nation in search of vindication’, accused the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), of nepotism, noting that Buhari was deliberately sacrificing the dreams of Nigerians to institutionalise northern hegemony. The cleric’s statement attracted sharp criticisms and condemnations from the Presidency and MURIC. ....
Punch Newspapers Sections Friday Olokor and Godwin Isenyo THE Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 northern states and Abuja on Monday warned the Presidency and the Muslim Rights Concern against twisting the homily delivered by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Mathew Kukah on Christmas Day. This is also as the Catholic Church described those attacking the Bishop as agents of evil. Kukah had in the Christmas message titled, ‘A nation in search of vindication’, accused the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), of nepotism, noting that Buhari was deliberately sacrificing the dreams of Nigerians to institutionalise northern hegemony. ....