The Abia Police Command has confirmed the deaths of an Inspector of Police and five other individuals in Aba, Abia State, following a fatal attack on a police patrol team on Sunday. The incident occurred during a gunfight between unidentified gunmen and the patrol team.

According to SP Maureen Chinaka, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Abia, three civilians and Inspector Shehu Oyibo died in the gun duel, while two of the attackers were neutralised. The deceased civilians were identified as Chika Godliveth, Onyenaturuchi Jonah (32) from Item, Abia, and Eniobong Godsgift Clement (18) from Akwa Ibom. The assailants killed these civilians with stray bullets.

Chinaka reported that other members of the gang escaped with various bullet wounds. The attack took place at approximately 11:28 AM when armed men in an ash-colored Sienna vehicle opened fire on police personnel patrolling along Ngwa Road/Mosque Junction, Aba. The police managed to repel the attack, preventing a potentially deadlier outcome.

The bodies of the deceased have been moved to the mortuary, and an investigation into the incident is underway to apprehend the fleeing suspects. SP Chinaka assured the public of their safety, urging them to continue their daily activities without fear and to report any suspicious individuals, especially those with bullet injuries, to the nearest police station. Police operatives have been deployed to strategic locations across the state to ensure the protection of lives and property.

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Afam Osigwe, SAN, on his election as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). In a statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s spokesman, Tinubu also congratulated all newly elected officers of the NBA and commended the outgoing NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), for his leadership.

The President assured the new leadership of the NBA of his administration’s support in addressing challenges affecting the association and the legal profession in general.

Afam Osigwe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) with a 25-year legal career, won the presidential election of the NBA held on Saturday. He secured 20,435 votes, more than half of the total ballots cast, defeating his two rivals. Osigwe, a former General Secretary of the NBA from 2014 to 2016, is set to become the 32nd NBA president when Maikyau completes his two-year tenure in August.

Hilda Dokubo, the Labour Party Chairperson in Rivers State, has refuted claims of her suspension from the party. She clarified that the individuals spreading these allegations are affiliated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and have no connection to the Labour Party.

Reports had surfaced that Dokubo was suspended as a party member in her ward in the Asari Toru Local Government Area. The suspension was reportedly contained in a letter written to the Labour Party Chairman of the Asari Toru LGA, signed by Ward Chairman Ajalamonia Ibama, Secretary Lole Amacheer, Treasurer Emmanuel Ibamathe, Women’s Leader Osaki Dieypiriye, and Publicity Secretary Osaki Dokubo.

Debunking these assertions, Dokubo revealed that the rumor peddlers were not card-carrying members of the Labour Party but members of the PDP. She stated, “I ran as Labour Party’s candidate for Akuku Toru/Asari Toru federal constituency in 2023, and then the campaign started. I lived in my community for six months straight. The only time I came to Port Harcourt was to buy food. So I know these people. For instance, the guy who signed, Ajalamonia, is a PDP card-carrying boy who twice tried to disrupt my campaign until he was called to order and told not to try it again.”

Dokubo further explained, “Osaki Dokubo, a first cousin, who is the ward coordinator for PDP. He could not even campaign for me, even with the blood relationship, because, at the time, the governor had given all of them instructions on what to do to people who were from any other party campaigning in the communities.”

She emphasized that all the individuals who signed the alleged suspension letter had no credibility or affiliation with the Labour Party, asserting that the claims of her suspension were unfounded and politically motivated.

Tensions are mounting nationwide as Nigerians prepare for a mass protest over the economic hardships attributed to President Bola Tinubu’s policies. Since Tinubu became president, fuel prices have surged, and the costs of transportation, food, housing, and other essentials have skyrocketed by over 300%.

This situation has sparked campaigns for peaceful protests, increasing pressure on the federal government. However, civil society organizations, led by Rising Up for a United Nigeria (RUN) and the Coalition of Civil Society Groups for National Stability and Cohesion, are calling on Nigerians to reject the planned nationwide protest set for August 1.

During a media briefing in Abuja, Solomon Adodo, convener of RUN, along with Danesi Momoh of the Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative and Igwe Ude-umanta of Guardians of Democracy and Development, urged Nigerians not to be influenced by “unpatriotic” elements aiming to destabilize the country. They stressed the importance of exercising the right to peaceful protest while remaining cautious of those exploiting Nigeria’s challenges to incite unrest.

“While we respect the right to peaceful protest as a fundamental aspect of our democracy, it is crucial to remain vigilant and not be swayed by those who seek to destabilize our beloved country for their own gain,” Adodo stated.

The coalition highlighted the potential dangers, warning that the protest could be hijacked, similar to the EndSARS protests, leading to loss of lives and properties. They accused certain individuals of using the country’s initial challenges under Tinubu’s administration to incite Nigerians.

Despite the hardships caused by the fuel subsidy removal, they noted that Tinubu’s administration is addressing these issues through various initiatives. Among these are the approval of centers for converting petrol and diesel-powered vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) at no cost to vehicle owners under the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGi), efforts to enhance refinery performance, tackle farmers-herders clashes, implement a new minimum wage, and support farmers with inputs and distribution of grains.

The coalition urged Nigerians to support President Tinubu and resist attempts to create chaos, stating, “We must stand by him while offering fair and constructive criticisms where necessary.”

Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu and All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate Monday Okpebholo have been accused of contributing to the tragic murder of Inspector Akor Onu, a police orderly allegedly killed by political thugs last week. This accusation came shortly after Inspector Onu left the Benin airport, where he had accompanied Senator Okpebholo and Deputy Governor Shaibu from Abuja.

A pro-democracy group, Movement for Democracy, conveyed its condolences to the Nigeria Police Force, Edo State Command, and the deceased officer’s family. In a statement signed by its convener Osaze Samuel, the group condemned the actions of the APC candidate, attributing the loss to political misconduct.

“This loss, a direct consequence of the political misconduct of APC candidate Monday Okpebholo, is a testament to the grave consequences of political recklessness introduced by the senator,” the statement read. The group emphasized the disheartening nature of the incident, criticizing the political recklessness and ignorance that led to the innocent officer’s death.

The Movement for Democracy further criticized the public demonstration at the airport, noting that the court’s judgment in favor of the former deputy governor should have remained a legal matter, not a political spectacle. “Rather than respecting the security advice provided by the Commissioner of Police, Edo State, and opting for a more discreet approach, the APC candidate chose to lead a public procession,” the group noted.

The statement also highlighted the collaboration between Okpebholo and Shaibu, accusing both politicians of prioritizing personal and political gain over public safety. “This act of defiance, in collaboration with Phillip Shaibu—known for his violent tendencies and disregard for authority—demonstrates a reckless pursuit of personal and political gain at the expense of public safety.”

The Movement for Democracy praised the Nigerian Bar Association and Edo State citizens for condemning the behavior and called for accountability. “It is imperative that the APC candidate be held accountable for the actions that led to this officer’s death. He must be called upon to explain his role in this tragic incident and to account for his blatant disregard for security protocols.”

In conclusion, the group urged Edo State citizens to reject the APC and its candidate, asserting that their actions were intended to exploit the situation for political gain. “The people of Edo State have shown through their reactions that they will not be swayed by such deceitful tactics,” the group said.

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Prof. John Obafunwa as the new Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), effective from July 24, following the expiration of Prof. Babatunde Salako’s tenure on July 23. The announcement was made through a statement by the President’s spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, who expressed gratitude to Prof. Salako for his service.

President Tinubu expects Prof. Obafunwa to leverage his extensive experience to advance NIMR’s mission of spearheading research on diseases of public health significance in Nigeria. The President also anticipates that Prof. Obafunwa will develop effective structures for disseminating research findings and provide a conducive environment and facilities for health research and training, in collaboration with federal and state health ministries.

Prof. Obafunwa’s qualifications include a medical degree from the University of Lagos (1980) and specialisation in Anatomic Pathology (1987). He further sub-specialised in Forensic Pathology in Scotland (1991) and obtained a law degree from England (2004). His extensive professional experience includes work in the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, and the UK before his return to Nigeria in 2004 to become a Professor of Forensic Pathology at the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM). He is also a member of various professional bodies in the UK, USA, and Nigeria.

The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), combating insurgency in the Lake Chad region, reported that 263 Boko Haram terrorists and their families have surrendered to troops. This announcement was made by Lt.-Col. Abubakar Abdullahi, the Chief Military Public Information Officer of MNJTF in N’djamena, Chad. The surrenders occurred between July 11 and July 17, 2024, as part of the ongoing Operation Lake Sanity II.

**Wave of Surrenders:**
– **July 1:** The wave began with five terrorists surrendering to MNJTF troops in Wulgo, on the Nigeria-Cameroon border. Preliminary information indicated these individuals hailed from Tumbuma and Kutumgulla in Marte Local Government Area (LGA), Nigeria. On the same day, Malum Kori Bukar, a 50-year-old, escaped from the Jibilaram hideout and surrendered to the troops.
– **July 11:** 19 terrorists surrendered in the village of Madaya, in extreme North Cameroon, and another 11 surrendered in Wulgo from the Tumbuma hideout in two waves.
– **July 12:** 64 individuals surrendered in Bonderi, Cameroon, including 6 adult males, 20 women, and 38 children.
– **July 13:** 27 terrorists surrendered.

Preliminary investigations revealed that all the surrendered individuals belonged to Nigerian communities. They were handed over to the troops of Operation HADIN KAI for further action.

In the heart of Sokoto, where the relentless sun bakes the earth, Waliyat Suleiman stands as a beacon of resilience amidst adversity. As the principal of Iqra’a Academy, she nurtures the minds of tomorrow despite the harsh economic climate under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

On Thursday, July 18, 2024, the Federal Government agreed with labor unions to set the new national minimum wage at ₦70,000. Suleiman, however, shares her struggle of surviving on the current minimum wage of less than ₦30,000.

Living on Minimum Wage

Suleiman describes living on the minimum wage as challenging, with 70% of her salary going toward feeding, transportation, rent, and school fees, leaving only 30% for savings. The rising cost of living has made basic necessities such as food, housing, and healthcare increasingly unaffordable.

Coping Strategies

To cope with economic hardships, Suleiman lives within her means, prioritizes necessities, and cuts costs wherever possible. Despite her efforts, she has no regular financial support, as she is the first child who lost her father at nine years old and cannot rely on others who are also struggling.

Necessary Changes

Suleiman believes that an even distribution of wealth, deflation, democratic participation, and support for local businesses are essential to improve living conditions. She supports the organized labor’s proposal of a ₦250,000 minimum wage, expressing optimism for better times ahead.

Waliyat Suleiman’s story is a testament to the resilience and hope of many Nigerians facing similar challenges, striving for a better future despite the odds.