Categories
Entertainment News

Gunmen Abduct Groom And Family Members On Their Way To Kogi For His Wedding, Demand N250M Ransom

A groom and his family members have been abducted on their way to Kogi State for his wedding.

A family member of the bride, Serah Ibrahim, who disclosed this on Tuesday, December 26, 2023, said the kidnappers demanded N250m ransom.

“So my mum just told me that her cousin’s fiancé and all his family members have just been kidnapped on their way to Kogi for the wedding. The kidnappers are asking for N250 million. Thank you Nigeria for the amazing security you’re providing for your citizens. Merry Christmas,” she wrote.

In an update on Wednesday afternoon, December 27, she said the abductors released the victims after payment of ransom.

“Ransom negotiated and paid. They have now been released. The entire family have now been allowed to go. Nigeria is such a disgraceful country. A big shame.”

She added that there is a security checkpoint where the kidnappers collected the ransom money paid in dollars.

post

post

post

Categories
News

Dino Melaye: “I’ll run Kogi with fear of God”

Dino Melaye, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 11 Kogi governorship poll, says he would run an inclusive government if elected into office.

In a statement released on Saturday by Melaye’s media team, the PDP candidate spoke during a visit to the palace of Abdulrazaq Isa Koto, Ohimege Igu of Koton Karfi.

The former senator representing Kogi West said he would run the state with “fear of God” if elected.

Melaye added that he would be “a governor for all” regardless of ethnic group.

“As you are aware, His Royal Majesty, in the space of 4 years as senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I did 19 projects in your Kogi LGA. I have a very special relationship with Kogi and by the grace of God, when elected as governor, I will focus attention on the needs of our people, particularly the ecological challenges in this area,” the PDP candidate said.

“We are not unaware that the major business in this area is agriculture, trading and transportation. We shall make these ventures the focus of our administration by providing incentives that will encourage our people.

“I will be a Kogi governor that will govern our state with the fear of God. I will run an all-inclusive governance not as an Igala, Ebira, Okun, Kakanda, Bassa, Koto or Nupe governor but as a governor for all under the guidance of the Almighty God.

“I congratulate you as the leader of the Kogi west traditional rulers and I pray that under your leadership, Kogi West will produce a governor. I, therefore, seek your blessings as we go into the polls.”

On April 16, Melaye won the PDP primary for the Kogi gubernatorial election, defeating Idoko Ilonah, his closest challenger, by 189 votes.

He will face Ahmed Ododo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the governorship election scheduled to take place on November 11.

Categories
2023 Elections

Kogi Primary: It’s Collective Victory, Says Melaye

Dino Melaye, the Kogi State Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate for November 11 governorship poll, has reacted following his victory.

He commended the leadership of the party, his co-contestants and party members for their conduct in the primary election which was held on Sunday in Lokoja, the State capital.

Melaye, a former lawmaker who represented Kogi West Senatorial District at the National Assembly polled a total of 313 votes in the indirect primary election to beat 8 other aspirants to clinch the ticket.

In a statement made available to newsmen in the early hours of Monday, Melaye said, “I thank the leaders of our party at the National, State, Local and ward levels, my dear brothers who advanced the cause of democracy in this contest and our numerous supporters who ensured that peace reigned, decorum prevailed, and conflicts were contained all through the process.

“As I savour this moment in humility, I return again to the scriptures. I recall the task and support that God gave to Moses to lead the people of Israel out of bandage to freedom. By the grace of God, our state will be liberated from the yoke of Yahaya Bello and APC. I also found a correlation between the new responsibility that God is placing on me and the responsibility that he gave to Gideon, who though felt unworthy, was qualified by God to deliver his people from the Gibeonites who had plundered their land and eaten their harvest.

“This shall be our experience in Kogi state. Furthermore, I think of Jephthah, who was despised and was called unserious. God has just proved that he takes my matter very seriously.

“The outcome of today’s (Sunday’s) election is not traceable to the strength of anyone in our state. It is a collective victory; the manifestation of a new spirit and purposeful coalition of all peoples across our beloved state. I acknowledge especially the enormous energy and commitment deployed to this endeavour by my sister, Natasha Akpoti- Uduaghan, and her beloved husband. Your day of celebration is very near, by the grace of God.

“I recognise that contests of this nature are hardly devoid of offences. I ask for forgiveness for all personal and corporate infractions in all my political navigations.”

Categories
2023 Elections

2023 Elections: Why we may cancel results in Kogi — INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may invalidate election results from areas that have experienced crises during the presidential and National Assembly elections in Kogi.

This warning comes in response to recent reports of electoral disturbances in several local government areas, including Anyigba and Dekina in the Kogi East, Mopa in the Kogi West, and parts of Kogi Central, where it is alleged that voting materials were stolen by thugs.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Kogi state, Dr. Hale Longpet, issued a warning while reacting to the crises that erupted in some parts of the state.

“You know the electoral law says that where there are disruptions to the process, the result will be cancelled, the very particular units’ results will be cancelled.

“The issues initially were only in the Kogi East and Central but I can’t tell exactly where and where in the state have been affected until the results are brought by the electoral officers.

“We understood that because of the violence, those affected areas couldn’t conclude election there.

“I’m shocked that people can go to that level and disrupt something that everybody should have enjoyed.

“Election is a peaceful and willful thing that people are offered to freely participate.

“Again, if people are given assurance that everyone will enjoy a pleasant experience, why then should we have thugs invading the whole town or the local government, disrupting the conduct of the elections?” he asked.

Longpet said, “This is very sad and shocking when you look at the loss of lives involved.”

He emphasized that participating in an election should not be viewed as an act of war. He added that if someone is not interested in voting, they are not obligated to do so.

The REC further stated that those who are genuinely interested in improving their communities should exercise their right to vote and not be hindered from doing so. He also shared that he personally accompanied security officials on a motorcade to monitor the election process, from Adankolo to Crucial, through Kabawa and Falele.

“Yet in all these places, we didn’t see anyone angry but people were all smiling and casting their votes peacefully,” he added.

 

Categories
Uncategorized

BREAKING: Terrorists Bomb Kogi LG Offices Days To Election

Some yet-to-be-identified gunmen have attacked and blown off the administrative offices of the Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, less than four days to the February general election.

DAILY POST reports that the incident occurred on Monday night when the assailants invaded the area with some explosives.

When contacted by DAILY POST, the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, William Ovye Aya, confirmed the incident.

According to him, the command had commenced an investigation to unravel the cause of the attack.

Recall that the Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, had claimed responsibility for a car bomb explosion that killed about four people and injured several others in the Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State in January.

More to follow…