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Bishop Kukah’s Nephew, Driver, Kidnapped Just After Paying N30m Ransom For Priests

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Bishop Matthew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, has disclosed that he has paid almost N30m as ransom to secure the release of his abducted priests.

Kukah disclosed this while speaking at a one-day “High-level forum on political communication and issue-based campaign in the 2023 general elections” in Abuja.

The forum was organized by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in collaboration with The Kukah Centre ahead of the expected commencement of campaigns by political parties on September 28, 2022.

The clergy who was speaking on the message that politicians should focus on during their campaigns noted that Nigerians do not need anyone who projects himself as a messiah “as we no longer need a messiah” but someone who understands the situation of things, adding that many times people say what they do not mean during campaigns.

He insisted that campaigns must be identity-based, getting the right identity for the country and not emphasizing the things that do not matter.

Kukah said, “When we talk about 2023 elections, we need to talk about how we will get ourselves out of all of these.

“The questions that the ordinary Nigerians are asking are legitimate and it is the responsibility of those who govern to deal frontally with the issues.

“We need to re-image and re-imagine Nigeria because the Nigeria that we have today is not the Nigeria that many of us can recognize.

“Before coming here, I was speaking with my brother, because two days ago, my nephew, his mother, and the driver were on their way to Abuja when they ran into the hands of kidnappers.

“My brother’s wife had an amputation some three months ago and they were bringing her to Abuja, so when the kidnappers saw the stomp on her leg, they had mercy on her and let her go.

“Right now, as we speak, my nephew and the driver of the vehicle are currently in the hands of the kidnappers, how it’s going to end I don’t know.

“Then they said they wanted N50million, they then said they wanted N20million, now they are staying on N30million.”

Kukah added that he had paid about N30million to free some priests in his Diocese from the hands of their captors.

He added: “I am the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, I have spent about N30million of the money I don’t have because my priests were kidnapped and I have nowhere to turn to.

“I am not ashamed to say it because these are essential realities. Anyone who wants to become president of Nigeria cannot pretend to stand before me without giving me empirical evidence from his or her record about how they intend to deal with these issues because there is a collective feeling of alienation.

“Here in Abuja, just about a month or so ago, when the threats came that the bandits will enter into Abuja, everybody went undercover.”

BIG STORY

Delta Man Nabbed For Allegedly Defiling 13Yr-Old Girl

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The Delta State Police Command arrested Ezekiel Elijah for allegedly defiling a 13-year-old girl in Aviara, Isoko area of the state. Police Public Relations Officer Bright Edafe disclosed this on (link unavailable) on Sunday.

Edafe stated that Elijah lured the minor into his room and defiled her. He also accused Elijah of taking advantage of the victim, who has a “hearing impairment.”

Edafe wrote, “Rape is different from defilement. For defilement, the consent of the underage girl is immaterial (which means, you can’t say she is my girlfriend).” He added that the 13-year-old girl Elijah defiled is “physically impaired.” Edafe said, “He took advantage of this child, lured her to his room and defiled her. May God help us.”

In a video, Elijah said he met the victim on his street and invited her to his house. He stated, “I knew her on the street. She was going out with her friend when I called both of them. She was the one who later answered me, and I asked her to follow me to my house. That was when I requested sex from her.”

Elijah claimed he didn’t know the girl was 13 years old. Edafe insisted that Elijah took advantage of the girl’s vulnerability, saying, “The offence of defilement is a clear one. She has not got to the age where she can decide for herself whether she wants to sleep with a man or not.”

Edafe disclosed that Elijah would be arraigned in court.

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BIG STORY

Former US President Jimmy Carter Dies At 100

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Jimmy Carter, a former president of the United States, has died.

The Democrat, who served as president from 1977 to 1981, passed away at the age of 100.

The Carter Centre announced that the 39th president of the US died on Sunday afternoon at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his family.

He is survived by four children, 11 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

Carter became the first ex-US president to reach 100 years on October 1, 2024.

He lost his re-election bid to Ronald Reagan in 1981 and left the White House with low approval ratings amid economic turmoil.

Following his presidency, he dedicated himself to humanitarian work, which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

Rosalynn, Carter’s wife of 77 years, passed away in November 2023.

“My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love,” Chip Carter, his son, said in a statement after his passing.

“The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.”

Carter was the first US president to embark on a state visit to sub-Saharan Africa when he arrived in Lagos, Nigeria on March 31, 1978, with Olusegun Obasanjo, then military ruler, on hand to receive him.

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We Spend N204m Monthly To Keep Kaduna Clean — Environment Commissioner Buba

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Abubakar Buba, commissioner for environment in Kaduna, has stated that the state government spends N204 million monthly to maintain cleanliness in the state.

Buba made the comment in response to a recent report by State of the Nigerian Environment (STONE), which ranked Kaduna as the cleanest state in the north-west.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Buba explained that this investment is driven by Uba Sani, the state governor, who believes that “a clean environment is the foundation of a good healthcare system.”

The commissioner noted that the significant financial commitment is beginning to show results, describing the ranking as a true reflection of the sanitary condition of the state.

He further mentioned that the Sani administration has engaged 2,400 street sweepers who ensure that major cities are swept every day.

Buba clarified that the cost is shared by both the state and local governments.

“The Senator Uba Sani Government is doing a lot toward ensuring the recycling of waste to wealth. In the near future, Kaduna State government will be generating revenue from waste instead. We are currently working with investors in this area,” Buba added.

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