Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Tuesday, 11th May, 2021

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Tuesday, 11th May 2021

1. Presidency Reacts To News Of Armed Robbers Attack On Aso Rock

The presidency has confirmed the attack on the residence of the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Professor Ibrahim Gambari.

Presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu confirmed the attack in a Twitter statement on Monday night.

It will be recalled as previously reported by Naija News that earlier reports had it that the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja was reportedly invaded by a gang of armed robbers who escaped with a lot of items.

It was reported that the residences of the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Professor Ibrahim Gambari as well as that of an admin officer Abubakar Maikano within the premises of the Villa were specific targets.

The robbers were said to have taken away many valuables from both residences during the attack which occurred on Sunday, May 9, 2021.

The report added that both Gambari and Maikano were forced to temporarily abandon their residences in the Villa due to the strange occurrence.

Reacting to the news, Shehu said the Chief of Staff has confirmed that there was an attempt to burgle his house around 3 am on Monday morning but added that the attempt was not successful.

He added that Gambari’s house is located on the next street to the Villa and there is nothing to worry about.

2. COVID-19: FG Returns Curfew, Restriction On Mass Gatherings

The Federal Government has re-introduced a nationwide curfew and restriction on mass gatherings in the country.

Speaking at a press briefing of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 in Abuja, the National Incident Manager, Mukhtar Mohammed, said the curfew starts from 12am to 4am on Monday, May 10.

Mohammed noted that the decision is part of efforts to curtail the further spread of COVID-19 in the country.

He said gatherings of religious groups and weddings among others have been reduced to 50 percent attendance, while official engagements, meetings, and conferences should continue to hold virtually.

3. Eid-ul-Fitr: FG Declares Wednesday, Thursday Public Holidays

The Federal Government has declared Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th May 2021 as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-ul-Fitr celebration.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, made the declaration on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

He congratulated the Muslim faithful on this occasion and called on all Nigerians, at home and abroad to use the period of this year’s Eidul-Fitr celebration to pray for peace, stability, and economic transformation in the land.

Aregbesola who said development cannot thrive in a rancorous atmosphere urged all Nigerians to be law-abiding and embrace the spirit of love, self-discipline, kindness, and tolerance, as taught by the Holy Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him).

4. Amaechi Inaugurates Panel To Investigate Suspended NPA Boss, Usman

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has inaugurated an investigative committee set up to investigate allegations against the suspended Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman.

The 11-man investigative panel was inaugurated on Monday by Amaechi to look into the details of alleged misappropriation of funds by the NPA management under the leadership of Bala-Usman.

Usman allegedly failed to remit N165 billion surplus revenue to the coffers of government but she has denied the allegations against her.

The 11-man committee is headed by Suleiman Auwalu, Director (Maritime Services) while Gabriel Fan, Deputy Director (Legal Services), Federal Ministry of Transportation, will act as secretary.

5. We Don’t Deploy Officers Based On Ethnic Or Religious Affiliation – Army

The Nigerian Army has stated that ethnic and religious backgrounds are not considered in the deployment of officers.

This is as it stated that competence and professionalism are the criteria used in deploying troops and officers to where they are needed.

This position was made known by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima in reaction to allegations in some sections of the media that the Army has shunned Southern Officers and deployed Northern Commanders to quell tension in South East.

An online news publication had accused the Army of religious and ethnic bias in the deployment of officers but the Army spokesperson has denied the allegation, describing the report as misleading.

Yerima in a press statement where he stated the official Army position on the allegation noted that: “the attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to the online publication but the NA being a national body does not promote or post its personnel along ethnic or religious lines. Postings in the NA are routine exercises and are based on professional competencies not as portrayed by the baseless publication.

6. COVID-19: FG Shuts Bars, Night Clubs, Indefinitely, Takes Fresh Decision On Travels

The Federal Government on Monday announced the shutting down of bars, night clubs and recreational centers indefinitely.

Naija News reports that this is in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country.

The Head of Technical Secretariat of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, Dr Mukhtar Mohammed, said the new directive takes effect by midnight of Tuesday.

He said the bars and nightclubs should remain closed until further notice.

While stating that there was no limitation to intra-state travel, he advised that only essential international travels should be embarked upon with all existing protocols strictly adhered to.

7. 30 Muslim Worshippers Kidnapped In Katsina Regain Freedom

Joint security operatives have rescued 30 Muslim worshippers out of the 40 that were kidnapped while praying inside a mosque in Jibiya town in Katsina State.

Naija News had earlier reported how the worshippers were kidnapped by suspected bandits while observing Tahajud, a midnight prayer during Ramadan.

Confirming the rescue of the worshippers on Monday, Spokesman of the Katsina State Police Command, SP Gambo Isa, said the victims were rescued by operatives comprising the Police, Army, and other security agencies.

According to Isa, the bandits in their numbers came from Zurumi border town in Zamfara state during Tahajjud prayers in the outskirt of Jibia forest.

8. Lagos Police Boss Speaks On Investigating IPOB, Oodua Threats

The Lagos Police Command has reacted to threats by Oodua Republic and the Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) agitators to disrupt law and order, and attack soft targets in the state.

Speaking on Monday at a stakeholders’ forum on security chaired by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the state secretariat, Alausa, the state Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, asked Lagosians not to panic over the threat.

Odumosu said security agencies in the state were on top of threats by the agitators to disrupt the peace of the state and the nation in general.

The commissioner noted that twenty-four Yoruba separatist groups have been identified and being closely monitored.

9. Rivers Attacks: Wike Extends Curfew In 23 Local Govts

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has extended the night curfew imposed on the 23 Local Government Areas of the state with effect from Tuesday.

Wike, in a statement on Monday by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said the night curfew starts from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., and it is aimed at curbing dastardly attacks on security formations in the state.

He said the decision was taken in the wake of multiple armed ambushes on police checkpoints along the East-West road which resulted in the cold-blooded murder of seven police officers over the weekend.

Wike said the State security council has reviewed the way and manner the recent attacks were executed and discovered that the perpetrators, who disguised themselves as security officers, moved in unhindered from Oyigbo to launch the attack.

The governor noted that the government and security agencies are determined to deploy everything at their disposal to advance the safety and security of lives and property in the state.

10. Insecurity: Northern Elders Back Impeachment Of Buhari

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has backed the calls for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari over Nigeria’s security challenges.

During an appearance on AIT’s ‘Kakaaki’ programme on Monday, spokesman of the forum, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said that the President should be removed if he cannot solve the insecurity ravaging the nation.

The spokesman of the forum asked the members of the National Assembly to begin the process of impeaching Buhari, adding that the federal lawmakers must realize that the country is in a dire state.

Baba-Ahmed also urged the federal lawmakers to do something other than just talking and making promises, noting that the nation cannot wait two more years for Buhari to address the issues of insecurity.

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