Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Friday, 26th February, 2021

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Friday, 26th February 2021

1. President Buhari Promises To Deal With Bandits In Nigeria Without Mercy

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said bandits must be treated as criminals without adding any ethnic colouration to it.

This is as he made a revelation that he has directed the new security chiefs and other heads of security agencies in Nigeria to go all out in dealing with criminals terrorizing the country regardless of the name by which they are called.

Buhari made the declaration in Kaduna State when he declared open the joint security meeting of Northern State Governors’ Forum, Northern Traditional Rulers Council, and a federal government delegation.

Represented by his chief of staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the President promised that criminals will be treated as criminals without any exception.

2. Boko Haram Gives Govt One Week To Pay Ransom Or They Kill Kidnapped Pastor

The Boko Haram terrorist group has issued a 7-day ultimatum for the government to meet its demands or kill a pastor, Bulus Yakuru whom they abducted in December 2020.

The pastor was said to have been abducted when the insurgents attacked Pemi village, close to Chibok on the eve of Christmas in 2020.

He has since being in their custody despite earlier appeals from him through videos released by the group in December 2020 and again in January 2021 for the government and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to come to his rescue.

His abduction has now taken a new turn with the ultimatum issued by the Boko Haram terrorists in a new video as contained in a report monitored by Naija News on HumAngle.

According to the report, the pastor appeared in the new video with a Boko Haram soldier holding a knife to his head as he begged President Muhammadu Buhari, the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, his Local Government Chairman, and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to urgently come to his rescue before he is killed.

It is understood that the deadline given by the terrorists will expire on Wednesday, 3rd March 2021.

3. Court Rules On Abdulrasheed Maina Bail Application

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, rejected the bail application of the former Chairman, defunct Pension Reformed Taskforce Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina.

Delivering judgement, Justice Okon Abang stated that Maina bail application lacked merit, adding that though it was at the court discretion to grant bail, the ex-pension reformed boss did not deserve a bail after jumping the first bail.

He said that Maina did not place sufficient materials before the court to convince the court that he deserves the second bail.

Justice Okon said the medical report brought from the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital showed that Maina was not under any medical emergency.

4. President Buhari Meets New EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday hosted the new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa at the State House in Abuja.

The meeting is the first between the two after Bawa was officially confirmed as the EFCC boss by the Nigerian Senate on Wednesday.

Naija News understands the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the federation, Abubakar Malami also joined them in the meeting.

5. Not All Fulani Herdsmen Are Bandits, Insurgents – Sultan

Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has said that not all Fulani herdsmen are bandits and Boko Haram insurgents.

He made this known when he visited the headquarters of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in Abuja on Wednesday, February 24, 2021.

The monarch asked Nigerians to stop profiling a particular ethnic group, adding that the insecurity in the country should not be restricted to the Fulani group.

The Sultan asserted that bandits live among Nigerians, but it does not make Islam or Muslims terrorists.

He, however, advised Muslims to always behave according to the teaching of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad.

6. NAF Air Crash: Tears As Funeral For Personnel Holds In Abuja

The burial ceremony of seven Nigerian Air Force personnel who died in the Sunday air crash held at the National Military Cemetery Lugbe, Airport Road, Abuja on Thursday.

Recall that six air force officers and an onboard technician died in the Beechcraft King Air B350i which crashed a short distance from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after reporting engine failure.

The deceased include the Captain, Fl Lt. Haruna Gadzama; Fl. Lt. Henry Piyo (Co-Pilot); Flying Officer Micheal Okpara (Airborne Tactical Observation System Specialist); Warrant Officer Bassey Etim (ATOS Specialist); Fl. Sgt. Olasunkanmi Olawunmi (ATOS Specialist); Sgt. Ugochukwu Oluka (ATOS Specialist) and Aircraftman Adewale Johnson (Onboard Technician).

7. Gumi Reveals One Thing Nigerians Must Do To Make Bandits Surrender

Popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has appealed to Nigerians to stop addressing armed bandits as criminals if they want them to surrender.

The cleric also blamed newsmen for constantly labelling and reporting the activities of the herdsmen as criminals.

Speaking when he appeared as a guest on an interview programme monitored by Naija News on Arise TV, Gumi said the bandits are ready to lay down their weapons and surrender but need assurance that they won’t be hurt physically or emotionally.

8. EFCC: Why Malami Won’t Let Bawa Succeed – Sagay

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Itse Sagay has revealed why the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), will not allow the new EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, to succeed.

In an interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday, Sagay said the reason is that the minister nominated the new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for the position and would interfere in his duties.

The Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption alleged that Malami has been derailing the anti-corruption war of the Federal Government since he took over the position.

Sagay added that Malami had become too powerful and must not be allowed to directly control the activities of the EFCC and ICPC.

He maintained that Malami had never been inclined to support the independence of all anti-graft agencies in the country.

9. Court Orders Interim Forfeiture Of Okorocha’s Properties

Justice Fred Njemanze of the Imo State High Court, on Thursday ordered an interim forfeiture of all the properties illegally acquired by the lawmaker representing Imo West Senatorial district, Rochas Okorocha, when he was governor of the state between 2011 to 2019.

The order was sequel to an ex-parte application brought by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Louis Alozie.

The suit with case No. HOW/191/2021 had Okorocha’s wife, Nkechi Okorocha, Incorporated Trustees of Rochas Foundation and Okorocha as the first, second and third respondents respectively, against the Attorney-General of the State.

10. Varsity Workers Suspend Nationwide Strike

The National Leadership of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian (SSANU) have suspended its strike.

Naija News recalls that the university workers had embarked on a nationwide strike on the midnight of Friday, February 5, 2021.

But in a circular signed by General Secretary, NASU, Peters Adeyemi, and National President, SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim, announced the suspension of their strike on Thursday.

“After the review of the strike action at the meeting held with the Branch Chairmen of NASU and SSANU on 12th February, 2021/ at Chida International Hotel, Abuja. Branch Chairmen were directed to go back to their respective branches and hold congress to take decisions on the strike,” the circular read in part.

That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.

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