The Jigawa State and Local Government Contributory Pension Scheme Board has disbursed over N1.54 billion as terminal benefits to 609 retirees between August and December 2024.

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Bilyaminu Shitu Aminu, disclosed this during a ceremony held at the Board’s premises. He detailed the payments, which were categorised into four groups.

The largest disbursement, N1.17 billion, was paid to 465 retirees who left service upon reaching the retirement age of 60 or completing 35 years of service. Another N315.02 million went to the families of 103 staff who died in active service.

A third group of 39 retirees, who passed away after starting their pensions but before completing five years, received a total of N54.19 million. Additionally, two beneficiaries, who had contributed for less than five years as required by law, were paid N749,010 with 15% interest.

Mr Aminu urged pensioners to be vigilant against fraudsters, stressing that the Board’s services are free. “Never bribe any of our staff for your terminal benefits,” he warned.

He commended Governor Umar Namadi for prioritising pensioners’ welfare, highlighting the impact of prompt payments on retirees’ well-being. “This gesture enhances service delivery and ensures retirees enjoy a fulfilled life after service,” he said.

Beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the governor for his dedication to their welfare, calling the payments a significant step toward ensuring comfort and prosperity for pensioners in the state.

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The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) base in Borno State, northeast Nigeria.

In a statement released by the group, ISWAP said it raided the CJTF base, seizing weapons, including AK magazines and ammunition. The group also shared images purportedly showing its fighters firing at the base.

The attack on the CJTF base followed another assault on a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in the Damboa Local Government Area. Security sources told SaharaReporters that the incident, which occurred early on Saturday, January 4, lasted more than two hours.

“The terror group invaded the camp [at] FOB Sabon Gari around 4am on Saturday, using various weapons,” a source said, adding that over seven bodies had been recovered. The militants reportedly destroyed buildings and set military vehicles ablaze during the assault.

ISWAP claimed responsibility for the Damboa attack in a statement on Monday, alleging it had killed numerous soldiers and destroyed two armoured tanks and 10 military vehicles.

The full scale of casualties remains unclear, but some soldiers are reportedly missing. Security forces have yet to release an official statement on the incidents.

The attacks highlight ongoing security challenges in Nigeria’s northeast, where ISWAP and other militant groups continue to target military installations and civilians.

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The Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area in Kebbi State has earmarked over N144 million to compensate landowners for a proposed new cemetery site.

The council chairman, Alhaji Muhammad Dahiru-Nayaya, announced this during a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.

He revealed that Governor Nasir Idris approved the acquisition of 100 hectares of land near Unguwar Dembo, of which four hectares belong to the government.

“The current cemetery is almost full, and N144 million has been allocated to compensate the landowners,” Dahiru-Nayaya stated.

On local government autonomy, he expressed readiness to embrace financial and administrative independence but noted challenges in sustaining workers’ salaries without state support.

“Six local councils in Kebbi would struggle to pay salaries under full autonomy. This reality demands a cautious approach,” he said, highlighting similar challenges in Katsina State.

Dahiru-Nayaya also commended Governor Idris for funding secretariat reconstructions across all 21 local government areas in the state.

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The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) for Zone 2 Command, Lagos, AIG Adegoke Fayoade, has cautioned newly promoted officers against using their ranks to extort money from the public, urging them instead to focus on safeguarding lives and property.

Speaking during the decoration of 33 officers from Lagos and Ogun Commands, AIG Fayoade described their promotions as a call to duty, emphasising hard work and professionalism. The event saw officers elevated to ranks including Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP).

Among those promoted were Ejigbo DPO Veronica Ameh, now ACP, and Public Relations Officers Ummar Ayuba (Lagos) and Omolola Odutola (Ogun), both promoted to CSP.

“You must eschew corruption and work harder to secure the country,” Fayoade said, adding, “Do your job well, and Nigerians will appreciate you.”

He urged the officers to maintain a positive public image and improve their relationship with citizens, calling for integrity and professionalism in their duties.

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The Nigerian Navy has rescued eight police officers and a civilian following a boat accident near the Agbura community in Bayelsa State.

The incident occurred when a speedboat carrying the passengers to Yenagoa struck a submerged wreck and capsized, according to the Navy.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Navy’s spokesperson, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, confirmed that personnel swiftly responded to the emergency, recovering all nine individuals and three police rifles.

“On December 24, 2024, Nigerian Navy personnel deployed around Agbura community, Bayelsa State, successfully conducted a search and rescue operation. They rescued nine passengers—eight police officers and one civilian—along with three rifles belonging to the police officers,” Adams-Aliu said.

The passengers received first aid at the scene before being transferred to the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa for further treatment. The Navy also marked the submerged wreckage to prevent future accidents.

“The recovered weapons were documented and secured, awaiting proper handover to the Nigerian Police Force, Bayelsa State Command,” the statement added.

The operation highlights ongoing collaboration between the Navy and other security agencies, Adams-Aliu said, noting that the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, praised the professionalism of the personnel involved.

This rescue effort underscores the Navy’s commitment to supporting safety and security along Nigeria’s waterways.

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The Niger State Police Command has arrested 27-year-old Fatima Dzuma for allegedly killing her husband, Baba Aliyu, 25, during a domestic dispute in Katcha Local Government Area.

The incident was confirmed on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, in Minna. Abiodun stated that Dzuma was taken into custody after investigations conducted between December 24, 2024, and January 4, 2025, revealed she had struck her husband on the head with a pestle, resulting in his death.

In a separate case, the police apprehended a 45-year-old man, Aminu Amale, for allegedly attempting to extort N9.5 million from a farmer in Mariga Local Government Area.

Meanwhile, three suspected armed robbers—Jibrin Ndako, 19, Haruna Abubakar, 20, and Aliyu Abdullahi, 18—were arrested in Minna while reportedly planning to burgle a provision store. The suspects were found in possession of three cutlasses and an industrial iron cutter, which they allegedly intended to use in the operation.

In another incident, Abubakar Sadiq was arrested for allegedly killing a motorcyclist, Abdulrahman Isah, 20, and stealing his motorcycle. Two individuals, Ibrahim Garba and Bala Usman, were also detained for allegedly purchasing the stolen motorcycle.

All suspects are to be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Minna for further investigation and prosecution.

SP Abiodun reiterated the police command’s commitment to reducing crime and ensuring public safety. “The Niger State Police Command remains resolute in its mission to curtail criminal activities and ensure the safety of lives and property,” he said.

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A powerful earthquake struck China’s remote Tibet region on Tuesday, killing at least 53 people and collapsing numerous buildings, state media reported. The tremor, which also shook neighbouring Nepal’s capital Kathmandu and parts of India, left significant destruction in its wake.

Footage from state broadcaster CCTV showed extensive damage, with walls torn apart and houses destroyed. Rescue workers were seen navigating rubble-strewn streets, providing blankets to keep survivors warm amidst freezing temperatures.

Surveillance video captured the chaos as shelves in a store shook violently, sending items tumbling to the floor. In the town of Lhatse, images geolocated by AFP revealed debris scattered outside eateries.

The earthquake, recorded at a magnitude of 6.8 by the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) and 7.1 by the US Geological Survey, struck Dingri county near the Nepal border at 9:05 am (0105 GMT). Over 1,000 houses sustained varying levels of damage, according to state media.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an all-out rescue effort, urging authorities to minimise casualties, resettle affected residents, and ensure their safety through the harsh winter. Temperatures in Dingri have plunged to minus 8 degrees Celsius, with further drops expected overnight.

Disaster relief, including tents and cold-weather supplies, has been dispatched to the affected areas. Local authorities are assessing the full extent of the damage, Xinhua reported.

Dingri county, located on the Chinese side of Mount Everest, is home to around 62,000 people. While earthquakes are common in the region, this was the most powerful quake within a 200-kilometre radius in five years, according to the CENC.

The tremors were felt as far as Lobuche in Nepal, a high-altitude area near Everest, but Nepalese officials reported no casualties or damage. Security forces have been deployed as a precaution.

Nepal, situated on a major fault line where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, frequently experiences seismic activity. In 2015, a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed nearly 9,000 people and left more than 22,000 injured.

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The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding airline operators to ensure the sustainability and global competitiveness of the aviation industry.

In a statement posted on X by Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection, the regulator emphasized the importance of protecting all stakeholders in the aviation ecosystem.

“Air passengers are the kings of the industry. They are the reason the entire ecosystem is sustainable. They must be protected at all costs,” Achimugu said. “Operators (airlines) are the drivers of the industry. They are the reason passengers can travel safely. They must be protected at all costs.”

He highlighted the critical role of the NCAA as the “glue” holding the industry together and acknowledged the challenges faced by Nigerian airlines, commending their resilience in a harsh operating environment.

The aviation sector continues to grapple with significant challenges, including foreign exchange shortages and high fuel costs. Toni Ukachukwu, Convener of the Nigeria-South Africa Aviation Forum, previously noted that jet A-1 fuel accounts for nearly 60% of airline operating costs, further straining the industry.

The NCAA remains focused on balancing the interests of passengers, operators, and stakeholders to ensure the aviation sector’s growth and stability.

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Fisayo Oladipo, a former youth leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Owo, Ondo State, was killed by suspected cultists in the early hours of Monday, January 6.

The 52-year-old, a prominent figure in the community and a former local government chairmanship aspirant during the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s administration, was attacked in the Owo local government area.

While details of the incident remain unclear, Oladipo’s body has been moved to a morgue. Security agencies have since deployed personnel to restore order and prevent further violence in the area.

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) confirmed the deployment. “Our men are on the ground with heavy deployment to assist other security agencies,” said an NSCDC commander, urging the public to await further official updates.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

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A suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated at an Islamiyyah school in the Kuchibiyu community, Bwari Area Council, Abuja, on January 3, killing one student and injuring four others.

The incident, which occurred around noon, caused panic in the school and its environs. Reports indicate that the deceased student was carrying the explosive device when it detonated.

Earlier in the day, the school had held a resumption assembly to welcome new students. Emergency responders, including a police bomb disposal unit, arrived promptly, and the injured students were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Authorities are investigating how the student came into possession of the explosive device and the events leading to the explosion.

The tragedy has sparked renewed concerns about school security and the dangers posed by minors handling explosive materials.

As of now, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command has not released an official statement, and attempts to reach spokesperson Josephine Adeh have been unsuccessful.

Investigations are ongoing, and updates will follow.

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