Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Editor roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Monday, 26th June, 2023.
1. The Sokoto State Police Command has launched an investigation into the killing of a butcher, Usman Buda, by extremist Muslims over an alleged blasphemous comment against an Islamic prophet. It was gathered that the butcher made the comment during an argument with another trader on Sunday at the Sokoto Main Abattoir.
2. President Bola Tinubu has revealed that a naval officer once slapped him for overcharging him unintentionally when he was a taxi driver in the United States. This was revealed as he shared his humble beginning in a biography published on the back page of a national daily.
3. No fewer than 50 people have been killed and over 170 houses burnt in renewed onslaught on residents of Izombe in Oguta, Imo State, in the last two weeks. Factional National President, Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), Igboayaka O Igboayaka, disclosed this at a press briefing in Owerri, the state capital, this weekend.
4. Nigeria’s total public debt as of March 31, 2023, has grown to N49.95 trillion ($108.30 billion). The country’s public debt added another N3 trillion between December 2022 and March 2023. The Debt Management Office (DMO) in its quarterly assessment of the country’s debt profile said the new figure of N49.95 trillion does not include the N22.719 trillion Ways and Means facility from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
5. Three medical students, two from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and one from the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, are feared dead after their boat capsized at Marina Resort waterways in Calabar, Cross River State. The incident happened around 3 pm on Saturday with 15 passengers, including 13 medical students, in the cruise boat.
6. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) yesterday revealed that the average price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), cooking gas, crashed by 6.07 per cent from N4,642.27 in April to N4,360.69 in May 2023. In its “Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Price watch May 2023,” it said the price rose by 11.20 per cent from N3,921.35 in May 2022 in terms of Year-on-Year.
7. A young man, Mr. Glory Jato, who got married earlier this month, has been killed after flood water swept him away at Bethel Estate, Oba Ile community in Akure North local government area of Ondo State. Jato was said to be returning from work when he was swept away by flood caused by Friday’s downpour, which lasted several hours.
8. A deadly clash between members of the Islamic States of West Africa (ISWAP) and Boko Haram fighters has left scores of terrorists killed in the North East of Borno State. Sources said the recent rivalry clash occurred along the road between Gajiganna and Gajiram last Friday.
9. Electricity Distribution Companies have stated that tariffs will increase from July 1, 2023. In statements sent to respective consumers on Sunday night, the DisCos stated that the review was due to the fluctuation of the naira in the exchange rate market.
10. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, on Sunday, confirmed the arrest of two Ghanaians, Monday Saba and Hakeem Kwana, and 11 other suspects for drug-related offences in different parts of the country. The agency’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi confirmed this in a statement on Sunday.
