Two Reverend Fathers abducted by suspected gunmen CP reacts, vows swift action

The kidnapping of Reverend Father Abraham Samman from the Jalingo Diocese and Reverend Father Mathew David Dusami from the Yola Catholic Diocese has been harshly denounced by CP Dankombo Morris, the Commissioner of Police in Adamawa.

The two pastors were kidnapped early on February 22, according to a statement issued on Saturday by SP Suleiman Nguroje, the Command’s spokesperson.

The public was reassured by CP Morris that security personnel had been called in to guarantee the safe return of the priests who had been abducted and to prosecute those responsible.

“The unfortunate incident occurred at the priest’s residence situated at Gwaida Malam, in Numan local government of Adamawa State.

“The kidnappers, armed with offensive weapons, arrived at the victim’s house around 4:00 a.m and whisked them away.

“The CP in concerted effort to rescue the victims, has deployed the command’s operational and manpower assets to give a hot chase to the kidnappers, rescue the victims unhurt, apprehend the perpetrators and their collaborators if any,” he said.

He stated that the command’s ongoing efforts will undoubtedly ensure that the perpetrators, along with anyone involved, are held accountable and face the full force of the law.

He further highlighted the command’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and combating all forms of violent crime in the state.

“This unprovoked kidnapping of religious leaders is totally unacceptable as they are not only stakeholders but also people who are actively working to promote peace in the society.

“The command, while appealing for calm, therefore, seeks the support and cooperation of the general public to give useful and timely information that will aid its quest to rescue the victims and apprehend the criminals,” he stated.

REVEALED; Why ex–President Buhari stayed away from Babangida’s book launch in Abuja

Jonathan Vatsa, the former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in Niger State and a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has expressed little surprise at former President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to skip the public presentation of General Ibrahim Babangida’s autobiography, ‘The Journey of Service’, in Abuja on Thursday.

Vatsa suggested that Buhari’s absence was rooted in lingering resentment over the 1985 coup that ousted him from power.

Speaking to reporters in Minna on Saturday, Vatsa emphasized that he would not rush to comment on the book, as he had already read it. He quipped that it would have been a world-changing event if Buhari had attended the launch.

Vatsa went on to allege that the memory of what he called the “mother of all betrayals” — referring to his detention by Babangida after the coup, which prevented him from bidding farewell to his late mother — still haunts Buhari.

The event, which took place in Abuja, was attended by a host of distinguished personalities, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, military heads of state Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalami Abubakar, as well as leaders from other African nations such as Ghana’s Akufo-Ado and Sierra Leone’s Ernest Koroma. Prominent Nigerian figures such as former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar, Yemi Osinbajo, Namadi Sambo, traditional rulers, and state governors were also in attendance.

Vatsa further reflected on his previous statements about Buhari’s disregard for Niger State during his two terms in office, reiterating that he had been vindicated by Buhari’s absence, despite the state’s overwhelming support for him in both of his presidential campaigns.

According to him, “the whole world knows that Niger State was made a scapegoat by former President Buhari because of IBB. For eight years he did not pay any serious official visit to the state, and no single federal project was executed in the state. The Baro port project, which recently generated some political heat in the state, was abandoned by Buhari, including all the federal road projects across the state.

“The people of the state were made to pay for sin they know nothing about. It was the case that when two elephants fight, the grass suffered. He sidelined the state just because of the sin of one person.”

When asked to comment on the book that has continued to generate reactions across the country, the former publicity secretary of the APC in the state said that he will comment on the book after digesting all the contents, stressing that “there are things that I am expecting from the book, so you people should wait until I read it, I will invite all of you when I am ready to comment on the book”, he added

Twelve persons confirmed dead in ghastly road accident between bus and Trailer

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Niger Command has confirmed the death of 12 persons and multiple injuries in an accident on the Agaie-Lapai Highway.

The state FRSC Sector Commander, Kumar Tsukwam, confirmed this to newsmen in Minna on Saturday.

He said personnel of the corps were still at the scene to collect accurate details of the accident as at press time.

He assured that the FRSC would conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident and provide updates as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, eyewitnesses reported that the accident occurred when a bus traveling from Minna to Katcha Local Government Area of Niger collided head-on with a trailer at Jippo Village, near Mashina Community.

According to the witnesses, three of the deceased women were from the same family.

Three other passengers, including two women and the driver, sustained varying degrees of injuries and were currently receiving treatment at Lapai General Hospital.

Speaking from his hospital bed, the driver of the passenger bus, Mohammed Baba, explained that the accident happened when the trailer driver attempted to overtake another vehicle, resulting in the head-on collision.(NAN)