Banks and state government offices in Osun, were closed on Friday, for the ‘Isese Day’ celebration, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

NAN recalls that the ‘Isese Day’ was set aside by Osun Government for Traditional Religion Worshipers/Believers, to celebrate their deities and exhibit their religion.

A former governor of Osun, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, in 2013, approved Aug. 20 as a public holiday in the state for Traditional Worshipers, under Section 2 (2) of the Public Holidays Act CAP P40 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2010.

NAN observed that all banks in Osogbo, the Osun capital, were under lock while offices at the state government secretariat in Abere, Osogbo, were equally closed for business transactions.

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The secretariats of Olorunda Local Government and Osogbo Local Government, both in Osogbo, were equally deserted, except for security men on duty.

Schools in the state were all closed for the holiday, but some Federal Government establishments were open for business activities, as the holiday was not binding on Federal workers.

NAN recalls that Gov. Gboyega Oyetola on Wednesday, announced through the Osun Commissioner for Home Affairs, Alhaji Tajudeen Lawal, that Friday, Aug. 20 would be a public holiday to commemorate the 2021 ”Isese Day”.

Oyetola, however, said the 2021 festival, would not be marked with the usual fanfare, because of the increasing rate of the third wave of COVID-19 in the country.

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He appealed to the worshipers to be peaceful and law abiding in their conducts, before, during and after the festival, urging them to observe all COVID-19 protocols, especially the use of nose masks and social/physical distancing among other rules.

Banks, state offices close for ‘Isese Day’ celebration in Osun

It was gathered the President scheduled the meeting to receive updates on security efforts and give direction on the next line of actions on the various operations.

The security forces have in the past few weeks taken the battle more robustly to insurgents and bandits.

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In attendance are Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari; Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha; National Security Adviser, retired Major General Babagana Monguno; Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff; Lieutenant-General Farouk Yahaya; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amoo; and Director General, Department of State Services (DSS) Yusuf Bichi.

The meeting also gas Minister of Defense, Bashir Magashi; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, and Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola in attendance.

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President Buhari, Security Chiefs meet over terror war

JUST IN: Buhari, Security Chiefs meet over terror war

Gunmen have kidnapped Ademola Alayaki, the son of a former National Secretary of the Nigerian Medical Association, Adewunmi Alayaki. 

Ademola, 25, was kidnapped at his father’s farm in Isaga Orile, Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State on Wednesday.

The Ogun State police spokesman, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed the incident. He noted that a manhunt has been launched by the tactical team of the Nigeria Police Force to track down the abductors and rescue the victim unhurt.

Already, the kidnappers have reached out to the family and are demanding N20 million for his release, a development confirmed by the police spokesman.

As of the time of this report, the family is yet to make a statement on the issue.

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Kidnapping for ransom is a common occurrence in many parts of Nigeria. Wednesday’s incident is the latest in kidnapping for ransom cases in the South-West state.

About two weeks ago, gunmen kidnapped a Swiss national, Andred Beita, and his Nigerian driver simply identified as Ifeanyi.

Police authorities in Ogun said the incident occurred along the Ibese-Itori Road. Oyeyemi explained that the victims were captured by the bandits on their way back from a farm in the area.

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Gunmen Kidnap Ex-NMA Secretary’s Son In Ogun

BBNaija Lockdown finalist Nengi has taken to her Instagram page to flaunt her new newly-acquired Range Rover jeep.

The 23-year-old former beauty queen struck a pose in front of the newly acquired car and she shared the picture with her 2.6 million followers.

“Young and getting it,” she captioned the photograph.

Nengi, who was born and raised in London, secured a political appointment with the Bayelsa state government after the reality TV show. And she has gone on to cinch other endorsement deals while also securing roles to star in movies.

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I’m young and getting it, says Nengi of BBNaija

A family source said the late Plateau Central Senator died at a private hospital in Abuja after nine days of sickness and isolation.

He informed Mantu died around 2am on Tuesday.

“He fell ill about nine days ago and was receiving treatment at home but he was rushed to the hospital when there was no sign of improvement,” the source said.

The source added the funeral prayer would hold today in Abuja.

Mantu, in 2001, was elected Deputy Senate President on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), a position he held till 2007 when he did not return to the Senate.

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He hailed from Gindiri District in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau and worked in various establishments before joining politics.

Plateau Governor Simon Lalong described his death as a great loss to the State.

He said: “Late Senator Nasiru Mantu was a grassroots politician whose life was all about the interest of the people as he did everything within his power to serve them through empowerment and quality representation

“He earned his place in Nigerian politics by active involvements and also had a great connection with the youth whom he mentored not only in politics but in other fields, especially service to humanity”.

Useni mourn as ex-Deputy Senate President Mantu dies at 74

Two staff and one student who were part of victims of Zamfara College of Agriculture and Animal Science Bakura have escaped.

Reports states that they have since returned to the college.

Deputy Provost of the College, Ali Atiku, disclosed this in a chat with reporters on Monday.

He said: “Two staff and one student escaped from the bandits after they kidnapped them and returned to the school early this morning."

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“As I am talking to you now, we have formally discovered that the bandits have kidnapped 15 students all of them male, three women and one person who are also our staff and killed two of our security watchmen.”

Zamfara Police command was yet to speak on the issue as of the time of filing this report.

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Two kidnapped Zamfara college staff, student escape

Just In: Two kidnapped Zamfara college staff, student escape

The United States is boosting its troop numbers in Afghanistan to 6,000 after the Taliban reached Kabul.

The State Department and Department of Defense said they were aiming to secure Kabul’s airport for the safe departure of U.S. and allied personnel.

“Over the next 48 hours, we will have expanded our security presence to nearly 6,000 troops, with a mission focused solely on facilitating these efforts and will be taking over air traffic control,” the departments said.

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The departments also said they wanted to speed up the evacuation of thousands of Afghan aid workers entitled to U.S. special immigrant visas.

The move sees an additional 1,000 U.S. troops going to Afghanistan, just a day after U.S. President Joe Biden had ordered a prior reinforcement of 1,000 soldiers.

The deployment of 3,000 was announced last week, and 1,000 were already on the ground.

When Mr Biden announced the withdrawal of U.S. troops earlier this year, some 2,500 were left in the country.

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U.S. boosts troops in Afghanistan in bid to secure Kabul

The Commissioner, who was abducted at his residence at Babban-Tunga village in Tafa local government area, was released around 9.30 pm on Thursday at an unknown place.

Reports states that he showed up at Kofa Dam area of Tafa local government area.

He was later debriefed and immediately taken to a hospital for medical attention.

In a video taken by well-wishers during his arrival at his residence, the Commissioner disclosed those who abducted him were detailed to carry out the act on the basis he receives a large sum of money from the government monthly.

He said he has forgiven his abductors and left them crying in regret of abducting him.

“Allah has promised to test us. I have forgiven the people who kidnapped me. Please don’t curse them or say anything bad against them. I left them in regret."

“The kidnappers said they were contracted to kidnap me. They are from Zamfara."

” They don’t know me but the person who told them to kidnap me told them that the Governor gives me N200 million monthly."

“The kidnappers never knew this village before. They were given a picture of my house and that was how they came here."

Abducted Niger Commissioner regains freedom

Britney Spears’ father is to step down as conservator of her estate, US media reported Thursday, seemingly ending a bitter legal battle with his daughter.

Britney, 39, last month launched a bid to remove him from the controversial 13-year guardianship that she said amounted to “abuse.”

Jamie Spears’ lawyer said at the time he would fight the move, disputing his daughter’s account. But TMZ and Variety cited legal documents Thursday in which Spears said he would step back from the role.

“There are, in fact, no actual grounds for suspending or removing Mr. Spears as the conservator of the estate… and it is highly debatable whether a change in conservator at this time would be in Ms Spears’ best interests,” the documents reportedly said.

“Nevertheless… he does not believe that a public battle with his daughter over his continuing service as her conservator would be in her best interests.

“So, even though he must contest this unjustified petition for his removal, Mr Spears intends to work with the court and his daughter’s new attorney to prepare for an orderly transition to a new conservator.”

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Variety magazine reported a statement issued by Britney’s lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, welcoming the move and calling it “vindication” for the singer.

“We are pleased that Mr Spears and his lawyer have today conceded in a filing that he must be removed. It is vindication for Britney,” the statement said.

“We look forward to continuing our vigorous investigation into the conduct of Mr Spears, and others, over the past 13 years, while he reaped millions of dollars from his daughter’s estate, and I look forward to taking Mr Spears’s sworn deposition in the near future.”

There was no immediate response from either lawyer to AFP’s requests for comment.

Britney Spears, who rocketed to fame in her teens, suffered a highly public 2007 breakdown — when the shaven-headed star attacked a paparazzo’s car at a gas station.

That led to her being placed under the unusual legal guardianship largely governed by her father.

She swiftly returned to performing, released three albums, appeared on various television shows and even took up a Las Vegas residency.

But in January 2019, she abruptly announced she was suspending her performances until further notice, and became increasingly vocal about the conservatorship.

She claimed in emotional court testimonies and social media posts the arrangement amounted to “cruelty,” and accused her father and others of profiting from the system.

Britney alleged in court that she had been prevented from having a contraceptive IUD removed, despite wanting more children, and was forcefully put on medication that made her feel “drunk.”

She recently wrote on Instagram that she was “not gonna be performing on any stages anytime soon with my dad handling what I wear, say, do, or think.”

Jamie Spears’ filings Thursday again rebutted claims he has exploited his daughter, and insisted he had her best interests at heart.

“If the public knew all the facts of Ms. Spears’ personal life, not only her highs but also her lows, all of the addiction and mental health issues that she has struggled with, and all of the challenges of the conservatorship, they would praise Mr. Spears for the job he has done, not vilify him,” the papers said.

Jamie Spears’ removal has been a longstanding demand of devoted global fans campaigning under the #FreeBritney slogan.

Supporters on Thursday welcomed the development.

“She Will hopefully be Posting on instagram later on today but i think she is Celebrating right now,” tweeted @Cheermaster500

“I Am So Happy for Her as well, and i’m Celebrating by Watching a Britney Spears Concert.”

Britney’s Father ‘To Step Down’ As Estate Conservator

The Federal Government has said total lockdown will be the last resort in its strategy to contain spread of Delta variant of COVID-19.

It cited the extreme effects of lockdowns on the economy and everyday life.

Minister of Health Dr Osagie Ehanire, during the weekly ministerial briefing by the Presidential Communication Team in Abuja, also assured Nigerians the new variant of the virus does not pose the sort of threat that might warrant a lockdown of any form.

According to him, countries have become circumspect with imposing total lockdowns as it was seen at the onset of the outbreak.

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He added that administrators would rather employ precision lockdowns on specific areas of the country under threat.

He also revealed apart from the vaccines sourced free of charge, Nigeria has paid for about 30 million doses of Johnson&Johnson doses.

According to him, since the prices of the one-shot vaccine have dropped, the country hopes to purchase about 40 million doses of the vaccines in all.

Ehanire said the 176,000 doses of the Johnson&Johnson doses have already been received while the rest will come in batches.

He assured that the majority of vaccines used in the country will be bought by government rather than depending on those gifted to it by other countries.

JUST IN: FG to consider lockdown for Delta variant

Petitions protesting the outcome of ward congresses have been filed from 14 states for consideration by the national caretaker of All Progressives Congress (APC).

Twelve state chapters are yet to submit reports of the congresses to the Mai Mala Buni-led National Caretaker Committee, three weeks after.

There is concern in the ruling party that the non-conclusion of congresses may affect announcement of dates for local government and state congresses.

The dates may not be released, until reports of the ward congress appeal panels are submitted to the national secretariat.

Also yesterday, former National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said he has no plan to return to his former position in the party.

As at the time of inaugurating Appeal Panel Committees for the ward congress yesterday, only 21 of the 33 states where the congress held had submitted reports. They Ward congresses were held on July 31. Congress did not hold in Anambra, Bayelsa and Zamfara states.

Reports confirmed that the national secretariat received petitions from, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Niger, Kwara, Ekiti, Osun, and Kano among other states.

The Chairmen and Secretaries of the five-man Appeal Panel Committee for each of the 33 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were inaugurated by the Chairman of CECPC, Yobe State Mai Mala Buni at the party secretariat in Abuja.

The inauguration of the Appeal Panels came five days after the committee was scheduled to have completed the assignment. The earlier timeline and schedule for the Ward Congress Appeal Panel Committee was to have been between August 1 and 7.

Addressing the committee members, the CECPC Secretary, Senator Akpanudoedehe, who stood in for the Chairman, said: “The outcome of the committee’s report will determine when we are going to fix the date for Local Government and State Congresses.

“It is trite to note that, the Congresses to produce our party organs across had commenced on the 31st of July, 2021 and you will agree with me that it went substantially well.

“However, it is expected that wherever and whenever there’s a competition, of course, there is bound to be contestations."

“Therefore, as an organization based on rules and procedures, avenues and channels must be provided for party members who are dissatisfied with the processes, to ventilate their grievances through an internal mechanism, hence this Wards Congresses Appeals Committee in the circumstance of this exercise.

“This party is for all Nigerians, therefore we must show, not only by words but by concrete actions that there’s no attempt to exclude or sideline anybody in the course of the exercise. This is very fundamental, not only to the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee but to the preservation of the very essence of the party.”

Akpanudoedehe added: “The chairman had directed that I remind all party members that this is a family affair, hence differences should be handled with the understanding that no dispute is worth the destruction of the house you jointly erected.

“The party’s guidelines for the exercise and the constitution shall be your guide. The terms of reference shall be made available hereafter.”

Ward congresses: APC gets petitions from 14 states

Nollywood actor, Rich Oganiru, has died weeks after his reports of his ill health surfaced online.

The Owerri- born actor died on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 after being ill for months without funds to cater for his health.

Two weeks ago, a video of Rich Oganiru lying in his sick bed and begging for financial assistance surfaced online.

The video shared by one of his colleagues had the caption, “Please, everyone should reach out before he dies.”

Having featured in over 300 movies that include Queen of Hasso Rock, Wasted Effort, Pay Day, Lacrima, Stoneface in Love, Givers Never Lack, His Majesty, Yellow Fe Rich Odichinma Azu ver, My Destiny, Battle Of The Rich, Political Control, Touching Love, Total Control, and Last Confession as well as many others, Oganiru has been in the industry for over two decades.

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In 2012, the Nollywood actor was arrested for allegedly killing his wife in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.

According to reports, Oganiru was arrested following a petition by family and relations of his wife who claimed he poisoned her.

Oganiru maintained his innocence, stating he never killed his wealthy wife.

The controversy saw the actor’s career on a decline despite claiming innocence.

Oganiru, before his death, held the role of Corporate Marketing Consultant to the Abuja Chapter of AGN, an Evangelist with the Davidical Order Ministry.

He prided himself as one who discovered, developed, exposed, empowers and evangelize musicians, actors, and artistes to be relevant in their different churches with his non denominational outreach for the entertainment industry.

Popular Nollywood actor Rich Oganiru dies

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