PRESIDENT BUHARI RETURNS FROM LONDON VACATION

President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to the country from his 10-day vacation in London.

The presidential aircraft arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, the nation’s capital on Saturday evening.

President Buhari was received at the airport by some of his supporters, as well as top government officials and the nation’s service chiefs.

Shortly after his arrival, the President inspected a Guard of Honor mounted as part of activities to welcome him.

There was also a cultural display at the airport after which President Buhari left for the Presidential Villa amid tight security.

The President, who departed Nigeria for the United Kingdom on August 3, is expected to preside over a meeting with the security chiefs on Monday.

Prior to his trip, President Buhari had handed over power to the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, in acting capacity while he was away.

Before taking off in London, President Buhari had put a call through to President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, to sympathise with him on the death of former Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), Kofi Annan.

He noted the strategic influence of the diplomat in global affairs and his vision for the repositioning of the West Coast and Africa.

President Buhari also said that the exceptional leadership roles, humanitarian spirit, and contributions of the former UN chief to global peace and development would remain permanent in global history, especially his commitments to combating HIV/AIDS in Africa and launch of the UN Global Compact.

Mr Annan died on Saturday morning at the age of 80 in Switzerland after a brief illness.

Credit: Channels Television 

BREAKING: HEAVY SHOOTING REPORTED IN PARTS OF PORT HARCOURT AS BY-ELECTION EXERCISE TURNS VIOLENT

Some Residents of Port Harcout, the Rivers state capital, are reporting heavy shooting in the mile three (3) area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State as the Port Harcourt Constituency III by-election for a seat in the state House of Assembly is taking place.

Some residents say the gun shots are from thugs led by a former member of the Rivers state House of Assembly, who is now the Port Harcourt City local government chairman, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). We could not verify the veracity this information as at the time of filing this report. 

Some All Progressives Congress (APC) agents also claimed PDP thugs are intimidating them at Ward 10, Unit 11 during the exercise.

In Ward 18, Unit 6, an APC member, John Orjiafor said the PDP guy hijacked the ballot box in the area, accusing the police on ground of aiding and abetting them.

He, however, called for the deployment of the SARS unit of the police to provide adequate security. The Rivers state police command had earlier announced a restriction of movement in some parts of the state for the election.

The state commissioner of police, Zaki Ahmed, said this directive will take effect from 6am to 6pm only in areas where voting is to take place. He also assured that adequate deployments of security personnel have been made to ensure a free, fair, credible and violence free election. 

This incidence is coming barely a week after the House of Representatives by-election in Lokoja/Kotonkarfe federal constituency in Kogi state on Saturday, August 11, was marred by violence as a supporter of the APC was stabbed to death.

The deceased, Yahaya Umoru, was stabbed to death by a supporter of rival political party, after he resisted attempts by thugs to cart away a ballot box. The thugs reportedly stormed a polling unit in Lokoja, the state capital, and attempted to forcefully take away the ballot box at the unit.

BREAKING: DETAILS OF VP OSINBAJO'S MEETING WITH GOVERNORS, SECURITY CHIEFS EMERGE

The National Economic Council (NEC) says the security situation in Benue Sate has improved.

Benue State Deputy Governor, Benson Abounu, briefed State House correspondents after NEC meeting presided over by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday.

Abounu said that the National Security Adviser, Babagana Mongunu, briefed the council on behalf of the various security agencies on the critical security issues nationwide.

“This ranges from kidnapping, gun-running, cattle rustling, tension between pastoralists and farmers, pipeline vandalism and communal clashes that exist nationwide.

“There is a synergy between the security agencies in tackling the menace of security issues in the county.

“NEC noticed of course, that there is lot of improvement in handling the insecurity situation in the country.

“A particular example that was given is the issue of pastoralists and farmers crisis in some parts of the country especially, North-Central, the North-West and other parts.

“For instance, the deployment of Operation Whirlstroke in Benue, has brought about improvement and especially put a near end to the killings that was very rampant in the area,” he said.

The deputy governor said that the state had started enjoying relative peace.

He said that the council decided that the military personnel in ‘Operation Whirlstroke’ should not be withdrawn in a hurry because their presence will bring about the needed stability.

According to him, such stability is needed to enable the internally displaced persons to return to their various localities.

Abounu said that troops had been deployed to the various flashpoints and a lot of improvements had been recorded.

He added that there were plans regarding the handling of other security problems especially pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta

CHELSEA'S WINGER VICTOR MOSES ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM NIGERIA'S INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Victor Moses

Chelsea winger Victor Moses has announced his international retirement from Nigeria.

The 27-year-old steps down after playing all three matches for Nigeria at World Cup 2018 in Russia, with the Super Eagles eliminated in the group stage.

Moses ends his international career with 37 caps and 12 goals. He played in two World Cups, and also helped the Super Eagles lift the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Chelsea man announced his international retirement with a post using his Twitter handle.

“I have experienced some of the best moments of my life wearing the Super Eagles shirt and have memories with me that will last a lifetime,” Moses said.

PRESIDENCY DEBUNKS BUHARI'S EXTENSION OF HIS D10-DAY VACATION IN LONDON

The Presidency has debunked the rumoured extension of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 10-day vacation in London.

On Tuesday night, stories emerged on social media that Buhari was planning to stay beyond his scheduled time.

But in reaction, the presidency via its verified Twitter handle, @NGRPresident, noted that a story published by Tribune Online, on February 5, 2017 “is currently being mischievously circulated on social media platforms, to create the impression that it’s related to the President’s current vacation.”

It warned the public to “kindly take note of the date, 2017.

“The President has NOT extended his ongoing 10-Working-Days vacation,” the Presidency maintained.

Recall that president Muhammadu Buhari left the country on August 3.