By Ezinwanne Onwuka
● U.S. travel advisory only creates “needless panic”: Abuja Minister
Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, has tackled the United States for its latest travel advisory, saying the advisory undermines the efforts of the Nigerian government to boost investments.
On the November 6 edition of WHAT’S NEWS?, TruthNigeria reported that the U.S. Department of State warned American nationals to be on alert when lodging or visiting major hotels in Nigeria’s big cities. The State Department said there were “elevated threats” targeted at these hotels.
At a press briefing on Monday, Minister Idris said the advisory could trigger unnecessary panic and affect the country’s economy. “Such advisories do not achieve anything other than needless panic, and they can have a severe adverse economic impact, not to talk of what they do to undermine the government’s efforts to attract investment,” he said.
The Minister noted that the Nigerian government prioritizes the security of citizens and foreigners. “We have implemented comprehensive security measures, both at the federal and state levels, to ensure the safety of tourists and international guests,” he added.
Read more: https://punchng.com/us-security-advisory-needless-discourages-investors-fg/
● Samsung office in Abuja razed by fire
A late-night blazing inferno has razed the Samsung office located at the popular Banex plaza at Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2 in Nigeria’s capital city Abuja to the ground, hours after a fire explosion was reported at the Canadian Embassy.
The fire which started around 7:00 p.m. Monday, authorities said, was caused by an artisan’s welding activities near a pile of empty, combustible cartons.
Only the carcass of the two-storey building remained after a team of emergency fire services put out the fire after battling for hours. Goods worth billions of naira were destroyed in the unfortunate fire incident. No lives were lost.
Read more: https://gazettengr.com/careless-welder-caused-samsung-headquarters-fire-outbreak-official/
● 9 killed as bandits attack Muslims celebrating Prophet Muhammed’s birth anniversary
Bandits attacked Muslim faithful at Rugar Kusa village in Musawa County of Katsina state celebrating the Mawlid Sunday [Nov. 5] night, police said on Monday. The bandits invaded the village, shooting indiscriminately to disrupt the Mawlid procession.
Police arrived late to repel the attack. Upon the arrival of authorities, seven locals were lying in a pool of their own blood. Eighteen persons hit by bullets were writhing in pain. “However, two people out of the injured were confirmed dead by the doctor while receiving treatment,” police spokesperson Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu told the News Agency of Nigeria. Sadiq-Aliyu said the police have intensified efforts to arrest the attackers.
Read more: https://gazettengr.com/nine-killed-by-bandits-at-maulud-procession-in-katsina-police/
● Police rescue kidnapped cleric in Kaduna
A joint police and local citizen guards team have rescued a kidnapped Catholic priest, Rev. Fr Andrew Anana of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Godo-godo in Kaduna State. The security team reportedly trailed the bandits to their hideout in a forest where the priest was rescued unhurt, and two members of the kidnap gang apprehended.
“The gunmen were four in number thus, two are still at large, though strongly suspected to be nursing gunshot wounds from the violent combat,” Mansur Hassan, police spokesperson in Kaduna, said on Monday.
Fr Anana was abducted at about 1:05 a.m. local time on November 4, 2023, from his parish rectory. The bandits had already contacted the family and demanded N4 million for his release, and the family was on the verge of making the payment when the police struck.
● Nigerian Army arrests 19 bandits, kill four in Kaduna and Plateau
The Nigerian Army on Tuesday said a total of 19 suspects were arrested in connection with various crimes, including kidnapping, criminal attacks, cattle rustling, armed robbery, farm destruction and theft in Kaduna and Plateau states.
The army said three persons were arrested for kidnapping while four others were arrested for murder. In addition, four suspects were arrested in connection with attacks on villages and two for illicit drug peddling. Four bandits were killed, and four kidnapped victims were rescued by the troops during the operation between October 29 and November 5.
Among those arrested was Sarajo Adam, a notorious armed robber who has been on the wanted list of security agencies for several robbery activities in Barkin Ladi general area of Plateau State and environs. All arrested suspects in custody would be charged to court accordingly once investigations are duly concluded, the military said in a statement on X.
Read more: https://twitter.com/HQNigerianArmy/status/1721800593298121088?t=umeShpapN92bZVNW9EO_xg&s=19
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Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
