The Nigerian Army has promised to clampdown on armed bandits terrorizing residents of Plateau State and stop the incessant killings in state following the killing of three army officers by gunmen in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state.

A Major General and commandant of the unit, AUGUSTINE AGUNDU, confirmed the killings to journalists at the unit’s headquarters in Jos saying the soldiers were attached to Operation Safe Haven, a multi-security taskforce maintaining peace in the state.

Pained by the killing of some troops in Plateau state, the Nigerian army has vowed to lock down Barkin Ladi completely.

The army said that no human being is going to cause further havoc in that local government.

Agundu while reacting to the killing of the soldiers said “The peace on the Plateau has been disrupted to a situation that is no longer acceptable.’’

“I have declared enough is enough. What happened in Barkin Ladi will never repeat itself again.

“Whatever is going on in Barkin Ladi local government, Riyom Local Government, Bassa Local Government, Bokkos Local Government, that is enough. My troops are resolved to bring the situation decisively under control.”

He described the recent killings in the state as precarious and an act of lawlessness and vowed that the troops is set to deal with the situation decisively.

He urged leaders of Plateau communities to get their youths to decorum so that residents of the communities can go about their business peacefully and without fear.

A former Vice President, ATIKU ABUBAKAR has been grilled by the leaders of thought under the aegis of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum to unfold his agenda for the country if he is elected.

ATIKU ABUBAKAR was invited to a meeting yesterday in Abuja to enable the elders and leaders ask him questions on his plans for Nigeria, if elected President and determine whether such plans would go in line with the aspirations of the regions.

At the meeting which took place at Asokoro residence of South-South leader, Chief EDWIN CLARK, were the leaders of Pan-Niger Delta Forum, Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the Middle Belt Forum.

The leaders, who disclosed that they were apolitical, said President MUHAMMADU BUHARI of All Progressives Congress would also be invited to intimate them on his plans for Nigeria as well as other presidential aspirants from all the registered political parties in the country.

Prior to the closed door session between the leaders and ATIKU ABUBAKAR, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief JOHN NWODO said the invitation was necessary, given the nature of the current problems facing the country.

Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, KINGSLEY MOGHALU has emerged the presidential candidate of the Young Progressive Party, YPP.

MOGHALU, who was a former UN officer, emerged through delegate’s election at the party’s first National Convention and Presidential Primaries held over the weekend in Abuja.

MOGHALU scored 243 votes out of 253 accredited delegates, after his only opponent, DONALD IGWEGBU later stepped down for him.

While announcing his decision to step down, DONALD IGWEGBU said he took the decision not because he was not qualified to contest in 2019 but because MOGHALU shared the same vision with him.

He called on party members and his supporters to support MOGHALU, while urging other politicians to emulate his spirit of sportsmanship.

In his acceptance speech, KINGSLEY MOGHALU said Nigeria needed a leader of international repute, not politicians that had failed the country.

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission has visited some places of worship to sensitize the people of Osun State who have not collected their permanent voter cards to do so and to tell them about the evils of vote-buying.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State, OLUSEGUN AGBAJE, led other officials of the commission to the Winners’ Chapel and NASFAT in Osogbo to address congregants on the readiness of the electoral umpire to conduct a credible poll on September 22.

While addressing the congregation at Winners’ Chapel, AGBAJE urged the people of the state to shun any form of inducement saying anyone arrested for electoral offence during the exercise would be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.

Reacting on the move by INEC to stop vote buying, a member of the Social Democratic Party, YEMI AKINBODE believes the body is not proactive.