The Nigerian military had located and exchanged fire with gunmen who kidnapped scores of secondary school students in northwestern Katsina state, according to a statement from the president on Saturday.

The gang, armed with AK-47s, stormed the Government Science secondary school in Kankara district at about 9:40 p.m. on Friday, police and locals said. A parent and school employee told Reuters that roughly half of the school’s 800 students were missing.

President Muhammadu Buhari said in a statement that the military had located the kidnappers in a forest and was exchanging fire with them, aided by air support.

In the statement, Buhari condemned the attack in his home state. Police and the military were still working to determine how many were kidnapped and missing.

Police at the scene on Friday exchanged fire with the attackers, allowing some students to run for safety, police spokesman Gambo Isah said in a statement.

Police said they would deploy additional forces to support the search and rescue. One officer was shot and wounded in the exchange of fire with the gang, they said.

Katsina is plagued by violence the government attributes to bandits - a loose term for gangs of outlaws who attack locals and kidnap for ransom. Attacks by Islamist militants are common in northeastern parts of the country.

Violence and insecurity across Nigeria have enraged citizens, particularly after scores of farmers were killed, some beheaded, by Islamist militants in northeast Borno state late last month.

Buhari, who arrived on Friday for a week in his home village some 200 km (125 miles) from Kankara, was scheduled to brief the national assembly on the security situation last week, but cancelled the appearance without official explanation.

Reuters

Multiple sources, including residents and security operatives revealed on Saturday that the bandits who were said to be in hundreds and fully armed, stormed Kankara in Katsina state on foot a few minutes after 9pm having parked their motorcycles at a nearby village to avoid suspicion by residents and security operatives stationed in Kankara.

It was further learnt that while some of the bandits engaged policemen stationed at the main gate of the school in a shoot-out, some of the bandits scaled the school fence to gain entrance.

Some top officials of the school also revealed that the bandits first went to the staff quarters where they took the wife of a staff member who they later released. The bandits reportedly proceeded to the pupils’ hostel where they gathered the students together and marched them out of the school.

One of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “The pupils were being marched out of the school when troops of the Nigerian army arrived and engaged them in a fierce shoot-out. The development made some of the pupils to escape while the bandits left with some others. It was a very disturbing scenario.”

Parents who had their wards in the school continued to storm the school throughout Saturday to make enquiries about their children.

Punch

More than 300 students are still missing, following an attack by gunmen on Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina.

Security sources confirmed on Saturday evening that 345 students have not been accounted for.

The gunmen had invaded the school on Friday night, shooting into the air to scare away people in the area.

The school is said to have a population of around 800 students, and according to the police, when the gunmen attacked, some of the students scaled the fence to escape.

A security officer who was manning the school premises was also shot.

As of Saturday morning, the police said around 200 students had been found.

Isah Gambo, spokesman of the Katsina police command, had earlier said a search was ongoing for the missing students.

The Cable

Israel established relations on Saturday with Bhutan, a majority-Buddhist nation neighbouring India, as it looks to continue to expand its diplomatic links internationally.

Israel’s accord with the Himalayan country did not appear to be related to its budding ties under U.S.-sponsored accords with Arab and Muslim countries, though Israeli officials sought to portray it as evidence of its growing acceptance abroad.

The agreement follows several years of secret contacts between Israel and Bhutan with the aim of establishing relations, Israel’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

“Israel’s circle of recognition is growing and expanding,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said. “The establishment of relations between us and the Kingdom of Bhutan will serve as another milestone in deepening Israel’s ties in Asia.”

Bhutan relied on India for guidance on its foreign and defence policy until a friendship treaty was revised in 2007. It maintains diplomatic relations with around 53 countries.

A signing ceremony was held between the Israeli and Bhutanese ambassadors to India on Saturday at the Israeli embassy in New Delhi, a joint press release posted on the Bhutanese foreign ministry’s website said.

“The establishment of diplomatic relations (will) create new avenues for cooperation between the two countries in water management, technology, human resource development, agricultural sciences and other areas of mutual benefit,” it said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the agreement, adding there had been contacts with other countries which wanted to establish relations.

Israel and Morocco on Thursday agreed to normalise ties in a deal brokered with U.S. help, making it the fourth Arab country after the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan to set aside hostilities with Israel in the past four months.

Reuters

A committee to protect the welfare of children on the streets, Committee on Welfare of Street Children (CWSC) has been inaugurated by the Ogun state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

Members of the committee are Abiodun Jimoh, Idowu Hassan,  Tunde Jimoh, Olaseni Arowora; Moshood Gbadanosi, Jide Dahunsi, Hakeem Ishola and Tawakalitu Soneye.

The Commissioner in the ministry, Mrs Funmi Efuwape, represented by a Director, Mr Toyin Kayode while inaugurating the Committee at a developmental programme, organised by the Global Support for Kids (GSK) Initiatives, in Abeokuta, charged the committe to oversee and protect the welfare of children living on the streets. 

The commissioner urged the committee members to see themselves as agents of progress and not agents of destruction. 

She advised them to be good ambassadors in ensuring that, the rights and welfare of children on the streets are well protected.

Mrs Efuwape urged the committee not to cover up for the children, whenever they are involved in any wrong inimical to the society, saying, "covering up for them without seeking ways of correcting them, would be endangering the lives of people in their community".

She said the ministry cannot do it alone but needs the support and collaboration of Non governmental organizations, NGOs,  CSOs and private organizations, adding that children not attended to would become vulnerable to the society.

The Commissioner assured that the ministry would give adequate support to members of the committee to ensure that little children are taken off the streets.

Earlier in his welcome address, Director of GSK, Mr Opeyemi Olowookere admitted that building a child is building a nation, thus keeping children off the street would definitely lead to community safety, and make everyone to come together as a family.

According to him "Police, trade unions, motor unions, security agencies, community leaders and many others have roles to play. Children seen as problems today can become great persons in the society tomorrow if well taken care of."

"Parental care must be improved upon, as some parents and guardians are fond of training children with cruelty, transfer of aggression, unnecessary beatings, raining curses and unholy abuses, which hitherto leads to children running away from home.

"When the home is not conducive for them, they eventually get acceptability outside their home, they get freedom to do whatever they like. So, I urge total cooperation from all to take these children out of the streets. Let's give them fatherly and motherly love and relate with them well."

Other speakers including the former state Coordinator of Child Protection Network (CPN), Mrs. Peju Osoba , 

National Secretary of CPN, Mr Olakunle Sanni and the Coordinator of CPN in Ogun State, Mr Soleye Akingbade unanimously stressed the need for protecting all children who according to them, are the future of the Nation.

Others present at the ocassion include Officers of the Nigeria Police; Community leaders; Youths Leaders; Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations among others.

Egba indigenes home and abroad, have been advised to continue to support the Paramount Ruler and Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo as well as the New Lisa Aje Egba, Chief Oladipupo Adebutu towards improving the economy and infrastructure of Egbaland.

The Leragun Igbehin and the Okanlomo of Ijeun Land, Chief Toyin Amuzu, TA, gave this advice, while congratulating Chief Oladipupo Adebutu and his wife Yeye Adenike Adebutu on their new Chieftaincy Titles as the Lisa Aje Egba and the Erelu Lisa Aje Egba, by Oba Aremu Adedotun Gbadebo.

Chief Amuzu who described the new Lisa Aje Egba as an astute politician, a hard-working business minded leader and manager of men said his economic activities traverse various boundaries.

He said, "Chief Ladi Adebutu's hotel business , piggery and other economic concerns have provided jobs for the people and revenue for the State Government.

According to him, "his philanthropic gestures and selfless services cut across Ogun State, as he had impacted greatly by donating transformers, managing roads, supporting education, providing drainages and supporting communities as well as individuals.

Chief Amuzu, advised the new Lisa Aje Egba to see the title as a fresh call to service and ensure he improves on the socio-economic status of Abeokuta.

The community leader who commended the Alake for his roles in bringing Egba people together to foster peace and unity, said "this is the only way by which the development of the ancient town can be ensured".

He urged Egba people at home and in diaspora never to forget their root saying, "we all must strive to ensure our homestead, Egbaland, remains a pride of place, because ,Ile labo sinmi oko" (home is where you go after your labour).

In a bid to safeguard the health of its people and fully sanitise all Poultry markets in Ogun State, Live Birds Market (LBM) Operators and Poultry Value Chain actors have been trained on the promotion of Biosecurity and Disease Reporting by the State Ministry of Agriculture through its Veterinary Services Department.

Flagging off the training with the theme "Promoting Biosecurity, Disease Reporting In The Value Chain" at the Veterinary Services Department Ita-Eko, Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina noted that the training became imperative in order to ensure that bird marketers carry out their trade in the most healthy manner. 

He stated that, as a border State, there was the need for stakeholders to guide against dumping of unhieginic animal.

"I want to assure you that the government will continue to do the needful in ensuring that Diseases animals especially those that have the potential to infect humans are nip in the bud. And because we share boundaries with neighbouring West African countries, it is important that we carry stakeholders along in this renewed drive.

"Our regular engagement with Live Bird Market disinfection and decontamination activities especially during festive periods has helped in no small major in checking the spread of Avian Influenza which has become a standard for effective control and eradication of the disease as recognised by the Food and Agricultural Organisation", Odedina said.

He added that the Ministry was committed to working with the Poultry sector operators to promote effective standards of Biosecurity, create a network for Disease Reporting and Surveillance to further build healthy poultry population as well as ensure profitability in poultry value chain.

Odedina disclosed that the state engage stakeholders through an all- inclusive Agricultural opportunity with a new focus to benefit all, "we have a new focus on Poultry in Ogun State. There is the Anchor Borrowers Programme for graduate and unemployed youths, Noiler programme for small holder farmers where we will support farmers with 50 birds and with inputs and the Mother hen project".

In his lecture tittled: "Biosecurity Guidelines for Live Bird Marketers", Deputy Director, Veterinary Services Department, Dr. Tade Olanrewaju enlightened the trainees that birds markets should be at least, 200 metres away from residential areas, advising them to ensure cleanliness and regular  disinfection of the market as well as cages.

He enjoined them to see that their markets are of strong Biosecurity standards to be certified by Veterinary Doctors or Public Health Operators.

He counselled them to understand the value chains related to their markets saying restrictions must be placed on entry of poultry where diseases like zoonotic influenza viruses are on rampage, warning that dead birds must be properly disposed.

In their remarks,the duo of Ejide Balogun and Olaonipekun Ayodele appreciated the Government for the training saying, it has further exposed them to see themselves as Agricultural stakeholders, pledging to advice their members to imbibe hygienic poultry practice.

An unarmed black man was shot in the back seven times by a white police officer in the presence of his three children in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

The Police officers were called to the scene of the incident because of a domestic dispute in the neighbourhood. They responded but it ended with one of them shooting the black father on Sunday, August 23rd around 5pm.

The man identified as 29 year-old Jacob Blake, was airlifted to a Milwaukee hospital, where he is currently in a critical condition.

The shooting in Kenosha caused residents to gather and confront the officer at the scene on Sunday night.

The video of the shooting quickly went viral, which instigated riots and protest.

To manage the situation, the County of Kenosha declared a state of emergency and enforced a curfew until 7am on Monday Morning.

A video posted on social media shows a large group of protesters gathered outside a police station in Kenosha chanting “Black Lives Matter” and other slogans condemning the police.

Some protesters smashed the windows of several police squad vehicles.

Several videos of protesters’ actions have been posted on social media. A video shows a Kenosha police officer falling to the ground after eye witnesses say that he was struck with a brick.

In another video, a row of protestors are seen matching towards a line of officers clad in riot gear.

A dump truck that was parked at an intersection to prevent vehicles from driving towards the police station was set on fire.

In the viral video, Jacob Blake is seen walking around his car parked on the street and three police officers walking behind him in a form of confrontation.

While he was attempting to enter his car, a police officer grabbed his shirt and fired into the car seven times.

Eye witnesses reported that blake’s three children were inside the car.

Benjamin Crump, a civil rights attorney who represents George Floyd’s family, posted the video of the shooting on his twitter account and noted that the shooting took place right in front of Blake’s three children.

His tweet reads,

“They saw a cop shoot their father,

“They will be traumatized forever. We cannot let officers violate their duty to PROTECT us. Our kids deserve better!!”

Several witnesses said that Blake tried to break up a fight between two women outside a nearby home, according to Kenosha News.

See the video of the shooting below;

In a video that is slowly becoming viral, a crowd is gathered around the lady and she is seen giving unintelligible responses to the questions from people gathered around her.

She mentioned in a dramatic way that she is from Ogbomoso and currently a student of LAUTECH.

The lady seemed disoriented as she was looking around like she was looking for something or someone.

At one point, she went and knelt before a man who grabbed her head, as though he wanted to cast out a demon.

The lady also mentioned something about being raped.

There are speculations that the lady was under the influence of drugs, not mentally unstable.

See the video below,

TB Joshua, founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), has sparked a plethora of reactions on social media following his visit to a mountain to pray against the COVID-19 crisis.

The clergyman took to his Twitter page on Tuesday to share video of himself asking God to forgive the sins of the world and heal it from the pandemic.

“In the name of Jesus, we present the nations of the world to you, lord. Forgive their iniquities. Forgive them their wrongs. There is a cure in the blood of Jesus,” he can be heard praying.

“Heal the world, heal them of the fear of COVID-19. You’re the great help, the very help in times of trouble. Now is the time.

Joshua’s actions have provoked different reactions on social media platforms especially Twitter where users are registering their differing opinions.

“To be honest, TB Joshua has been the most concerned pastor during this pandemic. He might be getting it all wrong but I still appreciate the effort. He first made an effort at predicting the end. Now he has made an effort to seek divine help through indefinite fasting,” a user wrote.

“Maybe TB Joshua is lying or not is not my business my own problem is why did he now did a photoshoot to upload on social media,” another user said.

Nigerians have taken to Twitter to react to the photos with some of them claiming the man of God is stylishly self isolating. 

Watch video below...

"We ask for fresh anointing to fill every minister of the Gospel. Fill them, LORD! Fill them for the journey! Without anointing, no one can do Your work. Without anointing, our challenges will overwhelm us, overpower us." - TB Joshua pic.twitter.com/PpeCxStTfM

— TB Joshua (@SCOANTBJoshua) April 28, 2020