A fatal road accident which occurred in Mairuwa village along the Funtua-Sokoto highway claimed the lives of 15 people on Saturday.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) attributed the accident to preventable causes, pointing to vehicle maintenance issues and driver negligence as key factors.

The accident occurred around 11 a.m. when a Toyota Hiace bus carrying passengers from Kano suffered a tyre burst, causing the driver to lose control.

The bus then collided head-on with a Sino truck belonging to the Dangote Group, leading to multiple fatalities, with most victims being passengers in the bus.

According to a statement by FRSC spokesperson Olusegun Ogungbemide, the crash involved 28 people: 23 male adults, 1 female adult, 1 male child, and 3 female children. Of those, 15 individuals—11 male adults, 1 female adult, and 3 female children—lost their lives. Thirteen others sustained injuries and were transported to Funtua General Hospital for treatment.

FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed expressed deep concern over the incident, emphasising the need for proper vehicle maintenance and adherence to traffic regulations to avoid such tragedies.

He urged transport unions, fleet operators, and individual vehicle owners to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy and highlighted the importance of routine checks, observing speed limits, and following traffic laws to prevent similar incidents.

The Nigerian Air Force Component from Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) conducted strategic airstrikes against ISWAP camps in southern Lake Chad, resulting in significant militant casualties.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama, a security expert that the targeted strikes on November 6, focused on camps led by notorious ISWAP commander Usman Russia, specifically hitting locations at Kwallaram and Arainna Ciki islands near Jibilarram in Marte Local Government Area.

Impeccable sources relayed the ground assessment report that the attack was highly successful, confirming that over 70 ISWAP fighters were neutralized at the Kwallaram camp.

He noted that while the exact number of casualties at Arainna Ciki remains uncertain, sources indicate that several terrorists were also killed in this coordinated assault.

“This successful Airstrikes could be described as arguably one of the most successful strikes undertaken by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai,” he said.

Meanwhile, following the strike, on November 7, reports emerged that ISWAP had mobilized additional fighters from its Sambisa wing, regrouping in Kusuma and Sigir in Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area.

The locations are within the territory under Usman Russia’s control, with mobilized fighters reportedly including elements from Sambisa Forest and northern border areas of Cameroon. The group’s intent remains unknown.

Nigerian troops have killed 169 terrorists and arrested 641 of them. Troops also arrested 40 oil thieves and rescued 181 kidnapped hostages.

Spokesman Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

Buba also noted that troops intensified their offensive against terrorists and insurgents across the country.

He hinted that synchronized air strikes by the air force as well as ground operations by ground forces have dislodged terrorist from their enclaves killing several of them.

“For instance, on November 6, 2024, the air component of Operation HADIN KAI, conducted targeted air strikes on terrorists located at KWALLARAM and ARAINNA CIKI islands in Borno State. The strikes resulted in the neutralisation of over 70 extremist members at KWALLARAM, with several more killed at ARAINNA CIKI,” he said.

“Meanwhile during the week under review, troops neutralised 169 and arrested 641 persons. Troops also arrested 40 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 181 kidnapped hostages. In the SS, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of One Billion Four Hundred and Two Million Nine Hundred and One Thousand Nine Hundred Naira (N1,402,001,900.00) only.

“Furthermore, troops recovered 192 assorted weapons and 2,970 assorted ammunition. The breakdown is as follows: 106 AK47 rifles, 38 fabricated rifles, 26 Dane guns, one FN rifle, 3 fabricated revolver pistols, 11 locally made pistols, 5 pump action guns, one dummy AK47 rifle, and one unexploded RPG bomb.

“Others are 1,410 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,074 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 67 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 130 rounds of 108mm, 101 rounds of 9mm ammo, 146 live cartridges, 2 baofeng radios, 7 vehicles, 29 motorcycles, 40 mobile phones and the sum of N729,000.00 only amongst other items.

“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 20 crude oil cooking ovens, two dugout pits, 42 boats, seven reservoirs, five drums, 50 storage tanks and 83 illegal refining sites. Other items recovered include three pumping machines, three outboard engines, one generator set, one speedboat, eight motorcycles, three mobile phones, and three vehicles among others.

“Troops recovered 914,445 litres of stolen crude oil, 537,325 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 1,285 litres of PMS.

“On the whole, troops operations have severely depleted the ranks and files. Consequently, the terrorists are forced into a desperate recruitment drive on social media, particularly the ISWAP terrorist group. Troops will sustain the offensives to eliminate all threats.”

The Nasarawa State Police Command has confirmed that its operatives rescued no fewer than 14 kidnapped victims and arrested five suspects.

The spokesman of the Nasarawa State Police Command, DSP Ramhan Nansel confirmed this on Tuesday after security operatives raided the hideout of the kidnappers.

“Police operatives attached to Toto Division in collaboration with community youths on November 4, 2024 burst kidnappers’ hideout located at Achido village, a deeply forested terrain bordering the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Kogi state where they rescued 14 kidnapped victims namely: Adamu Abdullahi, Musa Ahmed and Auwal Adamu of Kuje FCT – Abuja,” Nansel said.

Other rescued kidnapped victims, according to the statement on X, are Hussaini Yakubu, Haruna Usman, Jibrin Bature, Isyaka Yakubu, Sule Bello and Yusuf Yusuf all males of Lapai, Niger state.

Others include Yusuf Tashai, Kabiru Iliya both of Rubuchi area of FCT, Sabo Yakubu, Sagir Iliya and Yunusa Danladi of Tanshi village, Kuje Area council, FCT-Abuja.

“Consequently, the operatives arrested five suspects in connection to the crime namely Shuaibu Garba, Umar Mohammed, Yakubu Kasim. Mustapha Adamu and Abdul Mohammed,” he added.

Nansel said that they have all confessed to be responsible for the supply of food to the kidnappers in the forest.

He stated that the Nasarawa Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Shehu Nadada has restated the command’s commitment to continuously partner with members of the community to rid the state of crime and urged the public at all times to say something when they see something.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has signed into law the supplementary budget for the year 2024 in Ondo State.

According to a statement posted on the official X account of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ondo chapter on Tuesday, the supplementary budget captures the payment of the N73,000 new minimum wage for the state workers.

The APC added that Aiyedatiwa did this so as to meet up with the new financial commitments of the Ondo State Government.

“This brings the total budget for 2024 to a total of N492,045,100, 000 (Four hundred and ninety-two billion, forty-five million, one hundred thousand naira). This is made up of recurrent expenditure of N246, 727, 852, 786 and capital expenditure of N245, 317, 247, 214,” the APC stated.

It added that the supplementary budget also captures the salaries of newly recruited workers across various sectors.

Governor Aiyedatiwa said the supplementary budget reflects the determination of his administration to cater for the welfare of workers and the overall development of the state.

Meanwhile, the governor on Monday assured civil servants in the state that he will not downsize the workforce no matter the level of recruitment to fill vacant positions.

While emphasising that he is not contemplating such thought, Aiyedatiwa said that the steady defrayment of inherited gratuities will continue, as well as his administration’s support for the healthcare contributory scheme.

The governor disclosed this on Monday in Akure, Ondo State capital, during the Ondo State Public Service Week Celebration Lecture with the theme ‘Creating and Managing a Future-Ready Public Service: A Pathway to Sustainable Development.’

He said: “The gradual recruitment into critical sectors of the service to address acute personnel gaps will also continue as much as practicable. I want to assure you that even with the financial burden that all of these may attract, our administration will never ever contemplate downsizing the workforce.

“In all honesty, the public service requires to be rejigged and equipped to upscale its roles and processes to meet the trends of best world practices in public administration.

“The time has come, therefore, for the service to be more proactive, innovative, dynamic, and tech-driven. The capacity of the institutions and their operators must be enhanced for effective and efficient service delivery to justify the huge resources invested in it and to serve society better.

“I have no doubt in my mind, therefore, that this forum will come with great impartation for our public servants.”

Aiyedatiwa further assured the workers of the payment of the new minimum wage, starting in November.

On his part, the Head of Service, Bayo Philip, appreciated the governor for his moral and physical support towards the welfare of public servants in the state as well as key appointments and the promotion of over five thousand and forty civil servants in the state.

Philip stressed the role of the public service in fostering forward-thinking governance and highlighted the administration’s commitment to regular salary payments, pensions, and the provision of 2024 leave bonuses.

The event featured awards of excellence to the University of Medical Science, Ondo, the State Civil Service Commission, and the state Contributory Health Insurance Scheme for outstanding performance.

Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) on Tuesday announced a special edition of its Undergraduate Scholarship Scheme (UGSS) to commemorate its 35th/25th anniversary.

“NLNG wishes to announce a special edition of the NLNG Undergraduate Scholarship Scheme—UGSS Special Edition—for its host communities,” the joint venture disclosed on X.

NLNG said the UGSS Special Edition is designed to empower exceptional students from the company’s host communities by providing the financial support necessary to complete their undergraduate studies at Nigerian public universities.

Interested candidates can apply online through http://dragnet.ng/nlngscholarship until December 2, 2024.

To apply, candidates must register on the website using a personal email address, activate their account via the email link, log in and complete the online form, upload required documents, including a passport photo, review and submit their application.

How to apply

Interested candidates should visit www.dragnet.ng/ningscholarship to apply

Click “Register” to create an account using personal email, then activate it via the email link.

Log in and complete the online form with your personal, educational and other requirements.

Upload clear scans of all documents, ensuring names match those on your application and include a passport photo with a white background.

Review your application before clicking “Apply Now” to submit it. If your application is successfully submitted, you will receive a confirmation email.