Good Evening. Here is today’s News Brief from The Matrix:
1. Man Arrested for Alleged Child Abuse In Ekiti
The Ekiti State Police Command has apprehended a man identified as Kunle Ogunnusi for allegedly assaulting his four-year-old son.
Ogunnusi, a resident of Oke-Ila in Ado-Ekiti, is accused of inflicting injuries on the child while attempting to discipline him.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Sunday Abutu, the arrest followed a tip-off from concerned members of the Oke-Ila community.
2. Makinde Donates 50 Vehicles To Security Agencies
Oyo State Government has donated additional 50 operational vehicles to security agencies in the state.
Gov. Seyi Makinde-led administration had, since its inception in 2019, donated no fewer than 200 operational vehicles to the security agencies to strengthen the state security architecture.
3. Helpster Charity Connects 614 Children With Healthcare Sponsors
Helpster Charity has successfully linked 614 children in need of medical care with generous sponsors, a crucial step towards improving their well-being and saving lives.
Kate Lysykh, the organization’s CEO, announced this milestone on Thursday, emphasizing Helpster’s dedication to ensuring that no child’s life is jeopardized due to a lack of funds for healthcare.
4. First Lady To Empower 37,000 Women
Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has announced that 37,000 women will benefit from the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) recapitalization grant.
She made the announcement on Thursday in Makurdi during the symbolic presentation of food items to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable people in the state.
According to reports the distribution was carried out under the “Food Outreach Scheme,” a Social Investment Programme of the RHI.
5. Wike Cautions Newly Appointed PS Against Excuses
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has cautioned the newly appointed Mandate Secretary of the Youth Development Secretariat and Permanent Secretaries against making excuses for failures.
During the inauguration of the appointees in Abuja on Thursday, Wike advised them that anyone lacking the capacity to deliver should resign.
According to report, Mr. Abdullahi Ango was inaugurated as the pioneer Mandate Secretary of the Youth Development Secretariat of the FCT Administration.
6. Two Arrested For Alleged Attempted Murder In Kaduna
The Kaduna State Police Command has apprehended two individuals in connection with a horrifying incident where a man was allegedly buried alive in Zaria.
According to a statement by the command’s spokesperson, ASP Mansir Hassan, the arrests followed the circulation of a disturbing video showing a person buried up to their neck.
Acting swiftly on the information, the police launched an investigation to locate the victim and apprehend the suspects.
The victim, a 20-year-old resident of Gauraki village in Zaria, was eventually found and rescued. The two suspects are currently in custody as investigations continue.
The police have urged the public to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
7. NEMA Warns Of Imminent Flood Threat To Hundreds Of Kano Communities
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has issued a grave warning about the impending flood risk facing 362 vulnerable communities across 14 local government areas in Kano State.
NEMA Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, delivered this cautionary message during a one-day stakeholders meeting focused on solid waste management and flood preparedness in Kano on Thursday.
The gathering aimed to strategize grassroots actions based on the 2024 flood early warning system.
Citing data from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Umar, represented by Dr. Nuraddeen Abdullahi, NEMA’s Kano Territorial Coordinator, revealed that a staggering 3.7 million people are at risk of being affected by floods in the state.
She emphasized the urgent need for coordinated efforts to mitigate the disaster, especially given Kano’s history of severe flooding.
The meeting’s theme, “Enhancing Community Resilience through Effective Solid Waste Management and Proactive Flood Preparedness,” underscored the critical role of waste management in flood prevention.
8. NDLEA Confiscates Over 6 Tonnes Of Drugs In Plateau, Arrests Hundreds
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has reported a significant haul of illicit drugs in Plateau State over the past two years.
According to the agency’s Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), a total of 6,975.6 kilograms of drugs, including cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, were seized during this period.
Marwa made the disclosure during a visit by Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang to the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
He added that the agency’s operations in the state led to the arrest of 1,720 suspects, with 156 convictions secured so far.
9. GTB Customers In FCT Dismiss Online Transaction Rumours
Customers of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) in Abuja have dismissed rumours of difficulties with online transactions.
Despite reports of widespread issues, some customers say they have been able to conduct their online banking seamlessly.
10. Edo Task Force Nabs 11 Suspected Cultists In Two Months
The Edo State Special Task Force on Anti-Cultism has made significant strides in its fight against cultism, arresting 11 suspected cult members in a series of raids conducted across the state over the past two months.
State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, who is also a member of the task force, disclosed this to journalists on Thursday in Benin City. He emphasized the government’s unwavering commitment to eradicating cultism and restoring peace in the state.
