THE fragile peace in Uzere community, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, was, Sunday, shattered, following the kidnap of the Chairman, Governing Council, of the state Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Professor Abednego Ekoko, by gunmen.

WIDOWER of late Madam Mariam Edokpayi, who was buried alive in a shallow grave by suspected kidnappers on New Year eve, has appealed to the police in Delta State to hasten investigation into the case with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice.

A widow, Mrs. Nkechi Obisike, whose husband was allegedly stabbed to death by a police officer last year, has restated her call for justice over the killing.

Barely seven days after the abducted mother of the Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mrs. Betinah Benson, was released by her captors, gunmen have struck again at Oloibiri in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state, kidnapping the parents of the chairman of the council, Mr. Richard Ibegu.

The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Saturday, urged the Federal Government to sell off or privatise the current local refineries in the country while encouraging new private refineries to be setup.

The United State Agency for International Development, USAID, has expressed commitment towards ensuring that pregnant women and People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria are provided with adequate medical services.

One of the eight civil servants accused of complicity in the illegal diversion of over N40 billion from the Nigeria Police Pension Funds, Mr. John Yakubu Yusufu, yesterday, confessed before an Abuja High Court that he connived with the others and stole only about N23 billion. He was, however, sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of N750,000 fine.

WORRIED by the high incidence of death among premature babies in the country, a consultant paediatrician, Dr. Efunbo Dosekun, has called on Nigerians at home and abroad to come together so as to effectively combat the challenge and foster better survival of babies born prematurely.

THE Technical Committee on Flood Impact Assessment in Delta State, yesterday, said property destroyed in 12 affected local government areas of the state stood at N9.602 billion.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has raised alarm over shortage of funds that has hit its operations, amidst rising overheads in recent times.

LAGOS State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, of alleged manipulation of the Local Government Election Petition process in the state.

On the eve of what has turned out to be Nigeria’s most important match at this Africa Cup of Nations so far, Chairman of the NFF Technical Committee, Barrister Chris Green has assured that the Super Eagles will not underrate their less fancied opponents from the Horn of Africa.

Rivers State governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, has said that despite comments by detractors against his government, God will continue to strengthen him to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of the state.

AFTER 42 months of ceaseless attacks during which it killed about 3000 Nigerians, the Jama’atul Ahalis Sunna Lida’awati Wal Jihad, also known as Boko Haram Islamic sect, yesterday, agreed to lay down its arms for peace to prevail in the country.

IBADAN— OYO State Chapter of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Monday, said allegations of inflation of contract leveled against Governor Abiola Ajimobi by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had exposed the PDP’s jaundiced knowledge about road construction.