BREAKING: EFCC declares Yahaya Bello wanted
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, wanted for offences relating to economic and financial crimes.
This was contained in a notice posted on the commission’s official Facebook page on Thursday.
“Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is wanted by the EFCC for offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2 bn.
“Anybody with information as to his whereabouts should report immediately to the commission or the nearest police station,” the notice read.
16 feared killed by terrorist bomb in Borno
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No fewer than 16 persons were feared dead and 20 others injured when a commercial vehicle plying the Baga -Kukawa Road in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State drove over an Improvised Explosive Device suspected to have been planted by ISWAP terrorist group.
Credible military intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region, that the incident occurred on Wednesday, April 17.
Although Makama reported 10 feared dead, credible sources told The PUNCH they were no fewer than 16.
7Div spokesman, Lt Col Ajemusu Jingina, said, “I will not comment on the incident, as the location falls under the jurisdiction of the Multi-National Joint Task Force, which is headquartered in Ndjamena, Chad Republic.”
However, a resident of Baga, Bukar Wakil, told The PUNCH on the phone, “We heard that the IED was planted with the intent of killing troops, but the unfortunate commercial vehicle drove over it before any military vehicle did, killing about 16 people and injuring about 20, mainly passers-by.”
A Maiduguri-based security expert, Abdullahi Abubakar, raised concern over the resurgence of sporadic attacks by ISWAP across the Lake Chad basin.
“You should look at the current resurgence of attacks from three angles,” he told The PUNCH
He explained, “One, troops have claimed degrading Boko Haram to virtual non-existence; two, ISWAP, a rival of Boko Haram, have invaded the Chad basin, not only unleashing terror but attempting to crush Boko Haram in incessant battles for supremacy; and three, ISWAP wants to show the Nigerian military that they are very much around and are very much uncrushable.”
He remarked, “Until troops completely crush ISWAP, the terrorist group will never, in my view, allow Chad Basin to rest.
“This explains the sporadic attacks, especially in Northern Borno.”
Adamawa plans N55.5bn supplementary budget
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THE Adamawa State Government has proposed N55.5bn as supplementary budget for the 2024 financial year.
The State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Neido Kofulto, said this while briefing newsmen in Yola on Tuesday evening, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
She said the supplementary budget was part of the agenda of the emergency executive council meeting presided over by the Deputy Governor, Prof. Kaletapwa Farauta.
According to her, the supplementary budget was necessitated by the need to capture and finance projects that were not initially captured in the main budget.
“The council resolution on the supplementary estimate will soon be presented to the State House of Assembly for ratification and approval,” she said.
The Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr Emmanuel Piridimso, said the supplementary budget was initiated to finance additional projects, as the state finances had reasonably increased.
According to him, the ministries captured in the supplementary budget were Education, Women’s Affairs, Commerce and Industries and Works and Energy Development, among others.
Two arrested in Germany for allegedly spying for Russia
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Two German-Russian men were arrested in Bavaria on suspicion of spying for Russia and planning blasts and arson attacks to undermine Berlin’s military support for Ukraine, German prosecutors said Thursday.
The pair, identified only as Dieter S. and Alexander J., were arrested in the city of Bayreuth in southeastern Germany on Wednesday, federal prosecutors said in a statement.
The main accused, Dieter S., is alleged to have scouted potential targets for attacks, “including facilities of the US armed forces” stationed in Germany.
Police officers also searched both men’s residences and workplaces on Wednesday.
They are suspected of “having been active for a foreign intelligence service” in what prosecutors described as a “particularly serious case” of espionage.
According to prosecutors, Dieter S. had been exchanging information with a person linked to Russian intelligence services since October 2023, discussing possible sabotage acts.
“The actions were intended, in particular, to undermine the military support provided from Germany to Ukraine against the Russian aggression,” prosecutors said.
The accused allegedly expressed readiness to “commit explosive and arson attacks mainly on military infrastructure and industrial sites in Germany”.
To this end, Dieter S. collected information about potential targets, “including facilities of the US armed forces”.
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