Hello and welcome! In today’s trending news stories;
1. The Defence Headquarters released the names of 17 military personnel killed in an attack in Delta State’s Okuama community during a peace mission. Among the victims were the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion, two majors, a captain, and 12 battalion personnel. The Nigerian Army expressed condolences and assured no reprisal attacks while intensifying efforts to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice. President Bola Tinubu condemned the attack and ordered security agencies to apprehend the culprits. However, human rights lawyer Femi Falana criticized the community’s razing, highlighting the importance of not targeting innocent civilians under domestic and international laws.
2. Troops from the Nigerian Army’s 1 Division in Kaduna State successfully rescued 16 abducted victims from violent extremists and terrorists in Tantatu Community, Kajuru Local Government Area. Acting on intelligence, the troops swiftly tracked the insurgents who had previously attacked the community and abducted villagers. Engaging in a fierce firefight upon arrival, the troops rescued the hostages. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with the Chief of Army Staff commending the troops and urging continued vigilance in counterinsurgency efforts across the country.
3. The Kaduna State police command confirmed the abduction of 86 persons from the Kajuru-Station community by bandits on Sunday. This follows a fresh attack on the Kajuru Local Government Area. Harisu Dari, a member of the Kajuru-Station Youths, reported that the terrorists also looted shops and stole food items and valuables during the invasion around 10 pm. This incident occurred just days after 15 women and a man were abducted in a nearby community. The area has witnessed increased kidnapping incidents in recent weeks, causing tension among residents. As of now, no contact has been established with the abducted individuals.
4. The Kaduna State Government allocated N11.4 Billion for the distribution of the second batch of palliatives to citizens. Governor Uba Sani announced plans to implement the 3rd Phase of the palliatives program in the next two months. A significant portion of the fund, N3.3 Billion, was released for pension, gratuities, and death benefits to civil servants and their families. Additionally, a revolving loan scheme of N500 Million was initiated for civil servants. The distribution included 128 trucks of rice and maize worth N3.4 Billion, targeting approximately 200,000 households or one million individuals. The government earmarked N4.2 Billion for various intervention programs, including cash distribution, grants, fertilizer, and farm inputs for vulnerable households, smallholder farmers, MSMEs, persons with disabilities, IDPs, orphans, market women, and youths. Over 9,800 households and 7,500 MSMEs have already received assistance, while fertilizer and farm inputs were distributed to 5,091 farmers.
5. The foreign exchange market saw a positive start on Monday as the naira appreciated to N1,572.86 per dollar on the official market and closed at N1,590 per dollar on the parallel market. Analysts anticipate further stabilization of the naira following policy measures introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Last week ended positively for the FX market as the naira strengthened against the dollar, and the supply of dollars by FX market players decreased. Governor Dikko Radda commended the troops for rescuing 10 women and 6 minors held captive by bandits in Katsina State. Analysts highlight the CBN’s efforts to incentivize investors to hold onto the naira, aiming to stabilize the FX market. However, Muda Yusuf suggests cautious optimism, stating the need for sustained improvement over a longer period. Data from the CBN shows an increase in foreign currency reserves, indicating positive trends in the FX market.
6. Former Chelsea player Eden Hazard has announced his participation in this year’s Soccer Aid charity match at Stamford Bridge, marking his return to the stadium. Managed by Mauricio Pochettino, Hazard will play for the Rest of the World team against England, led by former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard. Lampard, now managing the England team alongside Harry Redknapp, expressed his excitement for the event, highlighting the importance of raising funds for UNICEF. Hazard, expressing his joy at returning to Stamford Bridge, reminisced about his time with Chelsea and urged fans to join in supporting the charitable cause.
