Paul Okah

The Management of Kano Zoological Garden said the escaped lion in its custody has finally been captured and returned to its cage. The Managing Director of the Zoo, Alhaji Saidu Gwadabe, confirmed the capture of the lion in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Monday. He said the animal was captured around 7:00 a.m. on Monday by the staff of the Zoo that used to feed it on daily basis. “The operation was to be conducted after the arrival of some experts from the National Park, Abuja but luckly around 7:00 a.m. today our staff were able to use their expertise to put into it back to its cage. “Iam happy to tell you that the escaped lion has finally been captured and taken back to its cage this morning,” he said. NAN reports that the reinforcement from the National Park, Abuja arrived Kano around 6:00 p.m. on Sunday for the operation. The escaped lion was said to have killed three goats and an ostrich before moving into the bush within the premises of the ...

As bizarre as it may sound, an SS1 student of Ishieke secondary school in Ebonyi state has been hospitalised at  FETHA 1 in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital, after  surviving 41 days and 41 nights dry fasting. According to a facebook post by a Mr Felix Nonso on Friday, the boy, Master Ikechukwu Okeh, from Ebiaji in Ezza North LGA of Ebonyi state, decided to embark on the fasting "due to the family problems, including constant spiritual attacks, family afflictions and other academic and financial problems." He said that, apart from seeking assistance from both the government and private individuals, the mother told interested journalists that what the boy ever wanted in life was to become a Reverend Father, "but there was no one to assist him since he was a boy." He said: "Fasting has been his part of life, though he has never embarked on dry fasting. He was still reading his Bible while being administered to by the doctors Engr Peter Edeh c...

The Ebonyi Government has advertised the vacancy for Information Commissioner position following the sack of its former occupier, Mr Ken Uhuo. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Uhuo was recently sacked by the state government for observed lack of confidence and lack of direction in the performance of his official duties. Mr Emmanuel Uzor, Chief Press Secretary to the state Governor made the disclosure on Monday in Abakaliki. He, however, said that the vacancy was limited to Ezza South Local Government Area (LGA) the former commissioner’s home council. “Interested candidates with much emphasis on females who are from this LGA, must have the requisite knowledge in Information management with bias in Information Communication Technology (ICT). “Such candidates are required to apply for the position through the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). “The shortlisted candidates shall face thorough screening and interview by the state Executive Council...

The Ebonyi Government has offered amnesty to ghost workers discovered during series of verification in the state, negotiation opportunities to refund money they illegally collected as salaries. The offer which was contained in a statement signed on Saturday by Mr Emmanuel Uzor, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, further said that the amnesty period would last from Aug.30 to Sept.10. “We are giving the amnesty to all ghost workers within the stipulated period to surrender and negotiate the repayment of all illegally collected funds to the state and Local Government Areas (LGA),” the statement said. It said that those who embraced the offer would not face prosecution but those who declined the amnesty opportunities would face the law and all monies they took from government would be recovered from them. “The state government is happy to announce that it has made significant progress as the verification has saved it and the LGA about N60 million for one month. “This exercis...

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged government officials travelling abroad to inform the ministry and Nigerian missions in destination countries of their travel schedules to ensure of their security and safety. Mr Ferdinard Nwonye, Spokesperson for the Ministry, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the advice followed the attack on former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Aug. 17 in Nuremberg, Germany. Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB leader, has also threatened attack on government officials especially those from the Southeast visiting any country abroad, placing a N1 million Naira reward on credible information on their travel itinerary. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned in the strongest terms the attack on former Deputy Senate President, Dr Ike Ekweremadu, who was attending the 2nd Annual Igbo Cultural Festival organised by the Ndi-Igbo Community in Nuremb...

The Federal Government has said that Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), who was taken to India for medical treatment, was frustrating the Indian hospital instead of subject himself to medical treatment. The cleric, who was arrested in 2015 following a clash between his members and military personnel in Zaria, was granted bail on medical grounds, following a Kaduna High Court order on Aug. 5, 2019. El-Zakzaky, along with wife, subsequently traveled to India, via Dubai, for medical treatment on Sunday, Aug. 12, after government and relevant agencies took steps to comply with the order. But the Federal Government, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, said that the religious leader was frustrating the authorities of the Indian hospital where he was to be treated. In a statement titled “The true story on El-Zakzaky in India”, the government said that the cleric, who particularly chose Medanta Hospital, India for the treatment, had begu...

Former governor of Imo state, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has said that  "many Nigerians are  committing suicide because they are not happy." He stated this Tuesday following a motion sponsored by Senator Theodore Orji (PDP-Abia) and 15 others on the  rising incidence of suicide among Nigerians, which urged the federal government to ban the production, importation or circulation of "Sniper", an insecticide product currently used to commit suicide. As panacea, Okorocha, therefore, advocated for the creation of a government Department or Ministry of Happiness, even as he implored government to rather dedicate time to investigate reasons for the rising suicide cases across the country. While making his presentation, Senator Orji earlier noted the rising cases of suicide, particularly among young Nigerians, saying it would be prevented when family, friends and close relatives of the person contemplating suicide provide support, eithe...