Today's Headlines: Fresh Cult Attack Hits Rivers State, Bishop Kukah Breaks Silence, Okonjo-Iweala Reacts

1) Fresh Cult Attack Hits Rivers State.

At least five persons were feared dead when unidentified gunmen suspected to be cultists invaded Zor-Sogho Community, in the Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

It was not clear if the attacks were between rival groups, but it was gathered that the gunmen stormed the community in a commando-style, shot indiscriminately and reportedly killed three men.

A community leader, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity for fear of his life, said the hoodlums struck around 10pm on Thursday, forcing many residents to flee.

Meanwhile, a group, Ogoni Youth Development Initiative, has condemned the killings, describing it as barbaric.

The National Coordinator of OYDI, Imeabe Oscar, attributed the killings to activities of cult groups and expressed surprise that some Ogoni youths were still indulging in such a shameful act.

2) Bishop Kukah Breaks Silence.

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Most Revd. Matthew Kukah has asked church leaders to go beyond delivering sermons and issuing multiple statements in their fight for justice, peace, and reconciliation in the nation.

Kukah explained that no nation has ever progressed in its quest for justice and peace without good leaders representing the people in every arm of government.

Nigeria, he said, could not be an exception, hence the need for church leaders at all levels to guide their followers in active politics.

The Bishop said this while delivering the keynote address during a virtual conference organised by the Justice and Peace Commission of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC), yesterday.

3) 500 Beggars Arrested In Kano.

The Kano State government says it has arrested 500 beggars for allegedly violating the law that bans street begging in the state.

The State’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Zahra’u Muhammad-Umar, made the disclosure while repatriating the beggars in Kano on Friday.

Muhammad-Umar said that the beggars were arrested in Kano metropolis with 70 per cent being women and children, and 30 per cent men.

4) Okonjo-Iweala Reacts

Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has reacted to United States’ support for her candidacy for the World Trade Organisation’s job.

The US on Friday backed the Nigerian for the Director General position at WTO after it blocked her from being appointed in October 2020.

Following Yoo Myung-hee’s withdrawal from the race on Friday, that made Okonjo-Iweala the sole candidate for the job.

A statement from the Office of the US Trade Representative on Friday said “The United States takes note of today’s decision by the Republic of Korea’s Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee to withdraw her candidacy for Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).”

5) Ogun Customs Makes Big Announcement.

The Ogun 1 Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service, said it seized 47,601 bags of parboiled rice and other prohibited items valued at N2,383,401,660 in the last thirteen months, with the duty paid.

The Controller, Peter Chado Kolo, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the scorecard of the Command for the year 2020 and January 2021, held at the Sentry, Idi Iroko Border Post, said the seizure included foreign parboiled rice, petroleum products, poultry products, used tyres, second-hand clothing, dangerous drugs (tramadol and cannabis sativa), palm oil, assorted soap, and body cream.

Kolo said that 512 vehicles and other means of conveyance were also confiscated in the period under review.

On the revenue generated by the Command within the period, Kolo said N65,770million was raked in through fees collected from the auction sales of seized petroleum products.

He explained that the major source of revenue of the Command from import and export has not been in operation since the closure of the Land Borders as directed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, noting “the only source of revenue for the Command as of today are fees collected from the auction sales of seized petroleum products and other perishable items”.

What do you have to say about the rampant cult activities in the country?

Should the Government really put more measures to checkmate this before it escalates into a terrorist group?

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