Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Thursday morning

‎‎Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:
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‎1. As the Christian faithful mark the birth of Jesus Christ today, President Bola Tinubu and state governors have admonished Nigerians to embrace peace. The President reaffirmed his commitment to religious tolerance, declaring that no Nigerian would be made to suffer or die because of their religious beliefs, just as the Nigeria Labour Congress demanded tax justice.

2. Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote must appear personally to adopt his corruption allegation petition, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has indicated. The business mogul filed a petition before the agency against former Chief Executive of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority Alhaji Farouk Ahmed, alleging fraud.

3. Many worshippers have been reported killed as suicide bombers detonated explosives at Gambarou Jumu’at mosque in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. Some of the worshippers, who escaped the attack, said the assailants sneaked into the mosque and detonated the bomb during the Maghrib congregational prayer.

4. The House of Representatives Adhoc Committee investigating alleged discrepancies in the gazetted Tax Reform Acts has resolved to conclude its assignment and submit its report to the House within the shortest possible time. After their first meeting on the matter, the lawmakers resolved to conclude the investigation and report back to the House within the shortest time for legislative integrity, due process, and public confidence in the lawmaking process.

5. Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have foiled a kidnapping attempt on the Otukpo–Enugu expressway in Benue State, rescuing 24 passengers and forcing the assailants to flee. The acting Media Information Officer of OPWS, Lt. Ahmad Zubairu, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

6. No fewer than five people were feared dead following a fresh attack by suspected armed herders on Ortese community along the Igyungu Aze-Yogbo road in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. The attack also left several residents injured, while many others were reportedly abducted and taken to undisclosed locations by the assailants.

7. Tragedy struck the Kano State House of Assembly, on Wednesday, with the sudden death of two lawmakers: Aminu Sa’ad, representing Ungogo Constituency, and Sarki Aliyu Daneji, representing Kano Municipal Constituency, within an hour of each other.

8. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, in collaboration with security agencies, on Wednesday, uncovered a large-scale operation selling fake, banned, and expired drugs in Ojo, Lagos and arrested two suspects. The four-storey building, comprising 15 flats, was used to revalidate and redistribute expired pharmaceutical products.

9. A 29-year-old Nigerian woman, Olajide Iyanuoluwa, has been arrested in India with 121 grams of cocaine valued at about Rs 1.20 crore (approximately N195m), which she allegedly concealed inside bread loaves. It was learnt that Indian authorities have remanded Iyanuoluwa in judicial custody and initiated procedures to deport her to Nigeria.

10. A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party has reaffirmed the legitimacy of the Tanimu Turaki (SAN)-led National Working Committee, insisting that its leadership remains genuine and fully recognised within the party. The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, on Tuesday, also accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of showing bias in its recent refusal to recognise or update the list of elected National Officers from the Ibadan convention.