Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Editor roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 26th August 2023.
1. Niger’s military leadership has expelled the French ambassador, Sylvain Itte, from the country. In a statement on Friday, Niger’s foreign ministry said the decision to expel the ambassador stemmed from his refusal to honour an invitation.
2. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has debunked claims that the regional bloc was being remotely controlled by foreign powers to attack the Niger Republic. Omar Alieu Touray, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, disclosed this on Friday while addressing a press conference in Abuja.
3. There were tears as family members of 20 soldiers and officers of the Nigerian military who were killed by terrorists during an ambush in Niger State were buried on Friday. The mass burial was held at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja.
4. The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, has tasked the federal government to fix all the local refineries to put an end to the hike in the price of petrol in the country. The monarch made the call in Ado-Ekiti during a tour across local government development areas, LCDAs, in his domain, as part of activities to mark the 2023 “Udiroko” celebration.
5. The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, says Nigerian Military will avenge the killing of its personnel who were ambushed at Zungeru-Tegina road in Niger State on August 14. The Defence Chief who made the resolve at the military cemetery, Abuja, where 20 deceased personnel of the armed forces were buried, said none of those adversaries will go scot-free.
6. The head of the junta in Niger Republic, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, on Friday signed two decrees authorizing Burkina Faso and Mali to intervene militarily on Nigeriene territory should the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) make good its threat to move in troops to restore democracy. It also expelled the ambassadors of Nigeria, Germany and France and told them to leave Niamey within 48 hours.
7. Ohanaeze Ndigbo has declared its readiness to sign an indemnity agreement for the federal government for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation said nothing would gladden the hearts of Igbo people more than the unconditional freedom of the self-determination agitator.
8. The Abia State Government has embarked on the demolition of illegal structures in Aba, saying everything must be done to restore the city’s master plan. The exercise, which was carried out through a joint effort of the Osisioma Ngwa, Obingwa, Aba North, Aba South and Ugwunagbo Local Government Areas Town Planning Authorities, saw to the demolition of illegal structures within the commercial town.
9. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has said no fewer than 40 suspected illegal coal miners have been arrested in Enugu State. The state Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr Muhammed Dada, while briefing the press on Friday in Enugu, said items recovered from the suspects included pumping machines, diggers, head-pans, shovels, and four Hanvan G7 trucks without registration numbers.
10. Gunmen have reportedly killed a retired President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Makurdi, Benue State, Justice Margaret Igbetar. Her remains were discovered on Thursday by her son at her residence on 1, Wantor Kwange Street, opposite the School of Medicine, Benue State University, Gboko Road.
