Some gunmen terrorising Nigeria’s Southeast have released a video warning federal government not to hold the 2023 general elections in the region Premium Times report.

This is the first time the terror group would release a video clip since they resumed hostilities in the Southeast and some parts of the Southsouth Nigeria.

In the video clip, the gunmen said their grievance was the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

In the two-minutes, fifty-four seconds clip, four masked gunmen were seen in a forest wielding rifles while one of them talked.

The gunmen claimed they have no sponsor and that they are not under the command of anybody.

The video was released on Thursday, April 21.

“We the unknown gunmen in Biafraland have come to make our position known to the public. We are here to protect our fatherland by all means. We don’t have any sponsor. And we are not planning to have one,” one of the gunmen said.

Continuing, he said, “We are not under the command of Simon Ekpa, DOS or Uwazuruike. Any government giving any of these people money is wasting their time.

“Only the release of Nnamdi Kanu can calm us down. Monday sit-at-home is sacrosanct. Nothing can stop it apart from the release of Kanu.

“There shall be no election (in the Southeast), and anybody that attempts any election matter will die.”

The gunmen also threatened to deal with any official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seen holding elections in the Southeast.

“No more political poster in Biafraland. If you try us, you campaigning, fire will burn you. Fake Biafran media, you think you can post any rubbish?

“We the unknown gunmen have endured enough from you. We shall no longer tolerate any rubbish from the media again”, the gunmen warned.

The gunmen alleged that some people betrayed them by collecting bribes from the government.

“Emma Powerful, Chinasa Nworu, Justice Udo, who we also call (our) enemies, and three other persons in U.S.A, who we are still trying to get their full identities, have been bribed by the government of Nigeria,” he said.

They accused the named persons of sending “men to harm Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe” but that the men rejected their directive.

The gunmen said the people sent the names of the “men” to the media when the men rejected their directive to harm the Abia senator.

The gunmen did not mention the names of the “men” allegedly instructed to attack Abaribe.

“From now henceforth, we declare you people wanted. Anywhere in the world, we shall haunt you people by all means,” the gunman said of the people.

The people who were accused of hatching the plan to attack the lawmaker are known members of the IPOB faction loyal to Nnamdi Kanu.

Abaribe: Connecting the dots Abaribe, the lawmaker representing Abia South in the Nigerian Senate, has been a vocal figure allegedly supporting Biafra agitation in the region. The senator was one of the sureties for Kanu when the IPOB leader was granted bail in April 2017.

The Abia South senator was arrested on June 22, 2018, by the Nigerian secret police, SSS, for his alleged links with the IPOB group. He was released about four days later.

What is known so far

The gunmen are believed to be behind the frequent attacks in the Southeast often targeting security agencies and government facilities in the region.

The gunmen, said to be part of the Biafra agitation, have repeatedly expressed distaste with election activities in the Southeast.

They have been attacking INEC officials in the region and often refer to Southeast and some parts of the South-south Nigeria as “Biafraland.”

Last week, the gunmen killed an official of INEC, Anthony Nwokorie, at a polling unit in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State, where the Continuous Voter Registration Exercise was being held.

The federal government has accused IPOB of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the Southeast. But the group has repeatedly denied their involvement in the attacks.

The separatist group is leading agitation for an independent state of Biafra to be carved out from the Southeast and some parts of the Southsouth Nigeria.

The leader of the secessionist group, Nnamdi Kanu, is currently detained in Abuja where he is facing trial for treason.

Imagine going from having nothing to your name to winning over a quarter of a million dollars only to be unable to claim it due to a lack of ID.

That’s exactly the problem an Algerian undocumented immigrant in Belgium is facing right now Oddity Central has reported.

A few days ago, the lottery winner, whose name has not been disclosed for obvious reasons, went into a shop in Zeebrugge, a Belgian port city and popular transit point for migrants and refugees, and bought a lottery scratchcard.

He paid 5 euros for it and ended up winning a whopping 250,000 euros ($270,000). He was so stunned that he had a friend verify the prize, and then they both double-checked with the shop owner. He had won 250,000 euros and his life was about to change for the better. Or so he thought…

The 28-year-old lottery winner is an undocumented immigrant in Belgium. He came to the European country from Algeria with nothing, no luggage, no money and no papers. That last one is actually the thing preventing him from claiming his life-changing prize, as he has no way to prove his identity, which is a mandatory step required by the Belgium National Lottery.

“My client is in an illegal situation, he has no papers and no bank account,” Alexander Verstraete, a lawyer for the 28-year-old, told the AFP news agency.

“We are looking for those documents that can prove his identity. He will have to contact his family in Algeria.”

In order to make things easier for himself, the lucky winner sent some friends to claim the prize on his behalf.

He just gave them the scratchcard and sent them on their way, ignoring one minor detail – the Zeebrugge store he had bought the lottery ticket from had security cameras, and the man in the footage looked nothing like the claimants.

They ended up spending a night in jail until the actual winner showed up with his lawyer to explain the situation.

The lucky card is now being held by a court in the town of Bruges, and authorities have reportedly promised not to deport the Algerian man before he can claim his prize. If or when the 28-year-old man gets his identification papers in order, he first has to travel to the lottery authority headquarters to be verified.

He must also have a bank account opened in his name and a legal address.

The scratchcard expires in one year, so the winner only has 11 months left to claim it, but his lawyer claims that it’s doable. After all, it would be a shame to let such a life-changing opportunity pass him by.

“Maybe you have one chance in a million to win 250,000 euros,” Verstraete said. “So he has very much luck indeed.”

A recent study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition found that people who live to be 100 years old follow this eating regimen, according to Martha Stewart Living.

As you already know, lifestyle factors such as the amount of exercise you get every day, as well as how long you sleep at night, impact your health and may even influence your lifespan.

Now, there's evidence that those who eat dinner on the earlier side may even live longer, according to a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition.

This research zeroed in on L'Aquila, a province in Abruzzo, Italy, with a high population of nonagenarians (people between the ages of 90 and 99) and centenarians (people who are 100 years old). In surveying 68 nonagenarians and centenarians in the region, researchers discovered that on average most of them ate early dinners—usually around 7:13 p.m. each night.

After digging into their findings, the researchers also noted that the group followed a tight calorie regimen (they maintained low calorie intake for 17.5 hours from dinner to lunch the next day).

In general, the survey respondents consumed high amounts of cereals, vegetables, fruits, and legumes; low amounts of meat, processed meat, and eggs; and minor amounts of sweets.

They also kept physically active by doing their own upkeep on their land.

"Our results support the importance of a daily caloric restriction lapse, hampering nocturnal postprandial stress and optimising metabolic response, associated with high consumption of plant-based foods and physical activity for the longevity of centenarians from Abruzzo," the scientists added.

Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi, has passed on.

Adeyemi, the third from the Alowodu Ruling House, died in the late hours of Friday at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti.

The remains of the top Yoruba traditional ruler were brought to Oyo in the early hours of Saturday and traditional rites began, palace sources said. 

He was 83 years old and the longest reigning Alaafin ever, having ruled for 52 years.

Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, is expected to make an official announcement upon receiving the report of the monarch’s passing from the Bashorun of Oyo, Yusuf Akinade, the head of the ‘Oyo Mesi’, who will now lead Oyo before a new Alaafin is installed.

The monarch had been sick and a plan had been made to fly him abroad before he passed on late Friday night.

A source familiar with the medical travel plan said his tickets and those of a few wives were already procured.

His death came after the two other senior Oyo State monarchs – the Olubadan of Ibadan, Saliu Adetunji, and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Jimoh Oyewumi – died. All happened in less than five months.

A new Olubadan has been installed but the Soun remains vacant.

With the demise of Alaafin Adeyemi, it is now the turn of the Agunloye Ruling House to produce the next Oyo monarch. Adeyemi’s predecessor, Bello Ladigbolu, was from the Agunloye House.

Though there has been a release from the palace debunking the death of the prominent Yoruba traditional ruler, sources say this is to allow traditional rites before officially announcing the death. 

The released titled, "Alaafin Oyo   RUMOURED DEATH UNFOUNDED" and signed by Alaafin's Media and Publicity Director, Bode Durojaiye  reads "it has come to the notice of the Office of the Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin of Oyo about a fake report making the wave in the social media,  by a disgruntled group of bloggers, about the imaginary death of His Imperial Majesty, IKu Baba Yeye, Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, the Alaafin of Oyo.

Members of the public are hereby urged to disregard the unfounded report , as the Paramount Ruler is hale and hearty .

Precisely on Monday and Tuesday this week, Oba Adeyemi, accompanied by  some of his wives (Ayabas), children, aides and well wishers was at the Durbar Stadium ,Oyo, for physical fitness exercises as usual.

He has neither fallen sick nor rushed to the hospital for any serious ailment, hence he and  his family remain agile and active .

The general public should not entertain any fear at all, as IKu Baba Yeye is healthy, physically fit and mentally stable. 

President Mohammadu Buhari on Friday ordered the immediate re-opening of four borders in the country.

The directive was contained in a letter dated 22of April, 2022 and signed by E.I Edorhe, Deputy Comptroller of Customs.

"The letter read, "sequel to  the Presidential directive dated 16th of December 2020, granting approval of phased reopening of land borders namely; Seme, Mfum, Ilela, Maigatari borders, I am directed to inform you that four additional borders listed below have been approved for reopening".

"They are Idiroko border post, Ogun State (Southwest), Jibiya border post, Kastina (Northwest), Kamba border post, Kebbi (Northwest) and Ikom border post, Cross River (South South)".

"Consequently, all Customs formations and JBPTs are to take note and ensure that proper manning takes place in compliance with extant operational guidelines".

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, ordered former Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, to vacate his seat as a member representing Dass, Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Federal Constituency of Bauchi State.

Delivering judgment, Justice Donatus Okorowo, declared that having defected from Peoples Democratic Party to All Progressives Congress, Dogara was no longer qualified to occupy the seat by virtue of Section 68(1)(g) of the constitution.

Justice Okorowo aligned with the argument of the PDP that by defecting from the party that sponsored him to the ninth National Assembly before the expiration of his tenure, Dogara ought to vacate the seat as he was no longer qualified to partake in the activities of the lower house.

The judge, who held that the action of the lawmaker is prohibited by law, agreed that the aim of Section 68(1)(g) was to check political prostitution among the legislators.

“The judgment is therefore given in favour of the plaintiffs I hereby granted the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs,” he declared.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the PDP and one of its members in Bauchi State had, in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1060/20, sued Dogara, the speaker of the House of Representatives.

Other defendants are the Attorney General of the Federation, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

In a related development, Okorowo had, earlier in a judgment, dismissed the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/883/30 and filed by Incorporated Trustees of United Global Resources for Peace Organisation against Dogara and five others on the grounds that the group lacked locus standi to institute the matter.

NAN on April 11, reported that the judgments, in the two separate suits filed against Dogara, were stalled due to the FHC’s Easter vacation.

But one of the court workers informed NAN that the judgments might be delivered if the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, gave a fiat to the effect.

The court began the vacation on April 8 and will end April 25.

The PDP and the group had asked the court to remove the former speaker of the lower house as a member representing Dass, Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, over his defection to APC.

Dogara had, on July 24, 2020, defected from the PDP to the APC when he submitted a resignation letter to the chairman of the Bogoro ‘C’ Ward in the state.

The plaintiff, through their counsel, Jubrin Jubrin, said by virtue of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution, Dogara by defecting from the party that sponsored him to the ninth National Assembly before the expiration of his tenure, ought to vacate the seat as he was no longer qualified to partake in the activities of the lower house.

NAN reports that Justice Inyang Ekwo, a sister judge, had, on March 8, sacked Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, alongside other lawmakers who dumped the PDP for APC, describing their action as unlawful.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo, another judge in the Abuja division, had also, on March 21,, ordered the 20 lawmakers from Cross River to vacate their seats following their defection from the PDP to APC.

The lawmakers comprise two House of Representatives members and 18 state House of Assembly members.

National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Betta Edu, said on Thursday that any youth aspiring to become the president of Nigeria in 2023 should have access to at least N50 million according to a vanguard report.

The ruling party had on Wednesday, announced prices of the nomination forms for various political positions. While the party’s presidential hopefuls are expected to pay N100 million to buy the nomination forms, governorship hopefuls will pay N50 million.

It would be recalled that APC had announced a 50 per cent reduction in the price of nomination forms for individuals under 40 years of age. However, in an interview with Arise TV, yesterday, Edu defended the nomination forms’ price tag, adding that there were many ways young people could generate funding for elections.

She said: “If you want to be able to cater for Nigerians, you should have gone above the point where you have to look for N50 million.” Wondering how anyone who cannot access such an amount can be able to manage so much funds, if given the opportunity, the APC women leader said: “When you make up your mind that you want to run, you should be able to prepare adequately for that race.

”Beyond that, there are many ways that young people can generate funding for elections. It mustn’t be your money.

The African Independent Television (AIT) has lost Malam Muhammad Ibrahim, its Correspondent in Minna, Niger, in a ghastly motor accident.

Mr Daniel Atori, Secretary of the Correspondent Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state, confirmed the death.

Atori said that the incident occurred within the Minna metropolis on Thursday.

He said: “With total submission to the will of Almighty Allah, we received with shock the sudden death of a dedicated, hardworking, and gentle colleague, Muhammad Ibrahim who passed away after a ghastly motor accident on Thursday in Minna, the Niger state capital.”

He said the late Ibrahim was a dedicated and pious Muslim who stood for what he believed in.

He added that the Correspondents’ Chapel and the state council of NUJ would miss the deceased, especially for his dedication to duty and contributions to the development of the union.

The late Ibrahim was in his early 50s.

He was survived by a wife, four children, and an aged mother.

He was buried on Thursday according to Islamic rites at Fadipe, Dutsen Kura Gwari, Minna.

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has insisted that he will not step down from the 2023 presidential race, the Punch has reported. 

Wike, who is a presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP said this during an interview with BBC Pigin.

The PUNCH had reported that some chieftains of the PDP had demanded that the presidential candidate of the party should be picked through consensus.

But Wike said only death would make him step down for another PDP candidate in the 2023 presidential election.

When asked if he would step down for another candidate, Wike said, “Why will I step down for anybody? If you want to do consensus, there must be equity and fairness. Are the hands of those demanding consensus clean? People talking about consensus are the ones running the election. Is it the party’s decision?

“It is not the party that is talking. In politics, there is something called shine shine bobo. The more you look, the less you see. Some people think they can deceive me with consensus. It’s a scam. I don’t like being deceived in my life.

What can make me step down for another PDP candidate, he replied, “The only thing that can make me step down is death. if I am alive, we will run this thing, we will hold the primary on May 28/29.” Wike had on Tuesday warned PDP leaders against appointing delegates who have taken sides with some aspirants on the Primary Election Committee.

During his visit to Benin, Wike said he would never settle for the vice-president position as the contest for the plum job hots up, ahead of the presidential election next year. “I’m not coming out to negotiate to be vice to anyone, I’m coming out to contest for the number one position in the country,” he had said.

Wike noted that the first criteria for any president to be successful in Nigeria was the ability of such a president to secure the nation and protect the lives and properties of citizens.

He said that if given the mandate by the PDP in the party’s presidential primaries next month, he would end up winning the presidential election.

“We must have a candidate who listens to the grassroots. I have the capacity to face the All Progressives Congress in 2023.

“Give me the ticket and have your confidence that we will take over power in May 2023. Don’t allow anybody to disabuse your mind from voting for Wike. “We cannot continue to give excuses why we are losing elections.”

Former President Goodluck Jonathan says he can’t tell if he will be contesting the 2023 presidential election.

He said this while replying supporters who protested at his Abuja Office on Friday, demanding that he should declare for the 2023 presidential election.

Jonathan, however, told the supporters to “just watch out”.

Before coming out to speak, the supporters had chanted and screamed the President’s name for minutes.

The former President acknowledged that the youths want him to contest, but gave reasons why he had not made any comment on demands for him to contest the 2023 presidential election.

He added, “I cannot declare because some processes are still ongoing.

“Yes, you are calling on me to come and declare for the next election. I cannot tell you I’m declaring. The political process is ongoing; just watch out. The key role you must play is that Nigeria must get somebody that will carry young people along.”

A spokesman for the group, Mayor Samuel, who is also the convener of the Youth Compatriots of Nigeria, had said, “We were deceived and brainwashed by those who claimed they could do it in 2015.

“Now, we know better, under Jonathan, the minimum wage could buy one or two bags of rice. What do we have today? We are begging President Jonathan to forgive us; we have realised our mistakes; we want him back to complete what he started.”

The supporters, comprising a group of women and youths, had demanded the return of the former President in 2023.

They arrived in four buses and carried placards at Jonathan’s Taraba Close, Maitama office, according to reports.

Some of the placards read, “Goodluck declare now”; “We are sorry, Goodluck, don’t abandon us, come back”; “Goodluck please come”; and “Goodluck we love you” among others.