Nigerian newspapers: 10 things you need to know this Monday morning

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:

1. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have begun mobilisation of her members against the threat by the Accountant General of the Federation to stop salaries of lecturers this January for failing to enrol into the Integrated Personnel and Payroll System (IPPIS). A circular from the office of the Accountant General of the Federation ( AGF) was sent to all public universities last week Thursday, with an order to with-hold January salary of lecturers who refused to enrol in the IPPIS platform. But ASUU in its reaction stated that her congress members have resolved to activate NO PAY NO WORK as soon as government stops her members’ salaries.

2. President Muhammadu Buhari has authorized the deployment of air power to support troops and policemen combating bandits, kidnappers, cattle rustlers in forest areas of Kaduna, Niger and Zamfara States. Buhari gave the directive while describing the repeated attacks leading the loss of several lives as national disaster. This was contained in a statement signed by Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu.

3. The Nigerian Army says its troops of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD), have announced the arrest of Zainab Usman, wife of a Boko Haram/ISWAP leader. The Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, in a statement on Sunday, disclosed that a Joint Tactical Team deployed to Borno and Yobe States apprehended Zainab, a Boko Haram female recruiter, “at Modu Sulemri area of Abujan Talakawa Ward of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council”.

4. Report has emerged that, a Christian girl, Leah Sharibu who was kidnapped from the Government Science Secondary School, Dapchi, in Yobe State, on February 19, 2018 has given birth to a baby boy. Report claims she was forcefully married to a top Boko Haram commander before giving birth a few weeks ago.

5. Kobe Bryant, a basketball legend, has died in a helicopter crash alongside her daughter, Gianna. The accident occurred in Calabasas on Sunday. Kobe was travelling with at least 3 other people in his private helicopter when it went down and fire broke out. Emergency personnel responded, but nobody on board survived. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

6. Four persons were reportedly killed during a suicide attack on a mosque in Gwoza, southern Borno State. It was learnt that the suicide bomber ran into a group of worshippers during an early morning prayer. The bomber was also killed while several others sustained injuries.

7. Beninese artist, Angelique Kidjo, Sunday night won the Best World Music Album at the 62nd Grammy Awards. She beat Nigeria’s Burna Boy and three other nominees to win the Grammy at the Staples Center, Los Angeles.

8. President Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has dismissed the claim by a former Minister of Defence, Gen. T.Y. Danjuma (retd.), that Nigeria under his watch is in total rot. Buhari in an interview he granted The Interview Magazine, said he does not care about Danjuma’s comment, arguing that the ex-ministers comment was a one-man opinion, compared to the majority of people who returned him as President for a second term in 2019.

9. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates as the winners of the re-run elections for Sokoto North/Sokoto South and Isa/Sabon-Birni Federal Constituencies of Sokoto State. INEC spokesman in Sokoto, Mr Musa Abubakar said on Sunday that the results were declared at the election collation centres, respectively.

10. The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has alleged that some political forces were already plotting to hijack the state during the 2023 elections. But the Governor vowed that the State would never be hijacked. Wike disclosed this at the funeral service of a PDP chieftain, Dr. Ferry Gberegbe, the Party’s agent in Khana Local Government area, who was allegedly killed during the 2019 governorship election by FSARS operatives at the Bori collation centre.

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