Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Monday, 27th December, 2021

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Ezenwoko's Blog roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Monday, 27th December 2021

1. Buhari's Aides Contracted Covid-19 But President Is Okay – Femi Adesina

The Presidency on Sunday confirmed that some top aides of President Muhammadu Buhari have contracted the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, told Channels Television's Sunday Politics that Buhari's aides are humans and not immune to infection.

Ezenwoko's Blog reports that the Presidential Villa's permanent secretary, Tijani Umar; the President's Aide-de-camp (ADC), Yusuf Dodo; his chief security officer (CSO), Aliyu Musa, and his senior special assistant media and publicity, Garba Shehu had contracted COVID-19.

Commenting on the report, Adesina stated that the fact they are presidential aides does not make them immune to certain things.

He however added that Garba Shehu should have recovered from the virus as he tested positive last week Wednesday.

The Imo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of the son-in-law of the former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, Uche Nwosu.

The command in a statement released on Sunday disclosed that Nwosu was not kidnapped as widely reported but was arrested by the police.

According to the state police command, the former governorship candidate was arrested and is currently in police custody.

The Commissioner of Police in the state used the opportunity to assure the people of Imo State that the command is committed to ensuring the safety of life and property this yuletide season.

The spokesman of the command, Michael Abattam, in the statement advised the general public to always shun fake news.

Security operatives have arrested a leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) militia, Eastern Security Network (ESN), Godwin Nnamdi.

Ezenwoko's Blog reports that this was made known in a statement on Sunday by the Nigerian Army spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Onyeama Nwachukwu.

He stated that troops of the 82 Division led the operation to arrest the notorious Nnamdi in Nkanu East Local Government Area.

He disclosed that Nnamdi was caught when troops engaged the terrorists during the raid at a IPOB/ESN camp located at Akpowfu Forest in Nkanu East LGA.

According to the Army spokesperson, IPOB/ESN operatives took to their heels, leaving behind their wanted leader.

Fighters of the dreaded Boko Haram terrorist group on Sunday evening attacked Buni Yadi, a community in Yobe State.

It was gathered that the Boko Haram terrorists invaded the town on Sunday evening shooting indiscriminately.

According to Sahara Reporters, many residents had to flee into the forest for safety.

“There is confusion in the community now, sporadic shooting currently going on,” a security source was quoted as saying.

The source added that the terrorists also engaged the army formation in the community.

Gunmen have abducted Charles Mato Dakat, a traditional ruler in Mangu, Plateau State.

The monarch's palace was attacked in the wee hours of Sunday morning by gunmen.

Helen Bulus a resident in the community gave an account to The PUNCH on how the incident occurred.

She said: “The incident happened between 1am and 2am. The gunmen came in large numbers to his palace.

“He was in the palace alone because the wife had travelled to Jos and the children were also not around. All through the wee hours, there was heavy shooting by the bandits in his palace, and people in the community were running in different directions.

“So, this morning at daybreak, we went to the palace only to discover that the gunmen have taken the traditional ruler away.”

The Minister of Labour and Employment in Nigeria, Dr. Chris Ngige has submitted that it is totally wrong for Doctors to go on strike.
The Minister in his submission on Sunday in Abuja stated that human lives are at stake and it's also a disrepute to the profession when doctors go on strike.

Ngige made the submission at the induction of six University of Abuja (UniAbuja) medical graduates into the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

Ezenwoko's Blog gathered one of his sons, Andrew Ngige was among the graduates inducted on Sunday.

According to Ngige in a statement signed by the deputy director, press and public relations in his ministry, Charles Akpan, the primary duty of doctors is to save lives and any life lost due to strike action can never be brought back.

7. Hoodlums On Rampage As Fire Guts Next Supermarket In Abuja

Next Cash and Carry, a supermarket in the federal capital territory (FCT), has been gutted by fire.

The supermarket is located along Ahmadu Bello Way, Kado-Kuchi area of Jahi-Kado expressway.

According to witnesses, the fire started around 8am on Sunday.

According to the FCT police command, three suspects were arrested while in the process of looting.

Josephine Adeh, FCT police spokesperson, said: “The suspects who made attempts to cart away goods from the store and were promptly arrested include (1) Ali Audu aged 18 Years; (2) Yahaya Yunusa aged 20 Years; and (3) Sahabi Abubakar aged 20 Years.”

The lawmaker representing Imo West Senatorial district, Rochas Okorocha, on Sunday described the arrest of his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu as a frame-up by the state Governor, Hope Uzodinma.

The former Governor of Imo State while addressing newsmen said Nwosu was arrested without a warrant, during a church service, at St Peter's Anglican Church, Eziama Obieri in the Nkwerre Local Government Area of the state.

According to Okorocha, Governor Uzodinma gave the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, high-level misinformation to get Nwosu arrested.

President Muhammadu Buhari has distanced himself from any of the two factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State.

Ezenwoko's Blog reports that this was made known in a statement on Saturday by the president's spokesperson, Garba Shehu.

The presidential aide stated that the press release became necessary to clear the air on any purported endorsement of any faction.

Shehu said the statement was to counter a “public statement by one of the factions of the All Progressives Congress in Kano State, that they have received the endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari.

South Africa's anti-apartheid icon Archbishop Desmond Tutu, has died on Sunday at the age of 90.

Ezenwoko's Blog reports that his death was announced by the country's president, Cyril Ramaphosa, in a statement to newsmen.

“The passing of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is another chapter of bereavement in our nation's farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans who have bequeathed us a liberated South Africa,” he said in a statement.

Ramaphosa said the Nobel Peace Prize laureate had helped bequeath “a liberated South Africa”.

He described Tutu as “an iconic spiritual leader, anti-apartheid activist and global human rights campaigner”.

Those are the top Nigerian newspapers headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Ezenwoko's Blog. See you again tomorrow.

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