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Enugu gov’t acquires 200 hectares of land for Cassava farming

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Enugu gov't acquires 200 hectares of land for Cassava farming
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The Enugu State government has acquired additional 200 hectares of land for the cultivation of cassava in Nkanu East Local Government Area of the state.

This was made known by the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Mr Patrick Ubru during an inspection tour of cassava farmlands in Amagunze, Nkanu East local government council, on Wednesday.

Mr. Ubru, who was accompanied by the Chairman of Nkanu East LGA, Hon. Sydney Okechukwu Edeh, expressed delight over the fertility of lands for the cultivation of a variety of crops in the area, saying the state was working towards achieving food security, as well as for export.

He said the Peter Mbah administration was aiming at becoming one of the top three economically viable states in Nigeria through massive agricultural rebirth.

He assured that the state would establish cassava processing clusters in the three local governments of Uzo-Uwani, Nkanu East, and Aninri for cassava production for bioethanol and others purposes in the cassava value chain.

“I commend the Chairman of Nkanu East LGA for keying into this wonderful initiative of the governor who is very passionate about transforming the agricultural sector of the state, creating jobs and eradicating hunger. Our initiative is Cassava to Bioethanol Value Chain Development, and with this, the governor hopes to unlock the rural areas, create employment opportunities for the people, and make Enugu the food basket of the country.

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“We already have markets for our produce, most of which we want to be exporting to Europe and other parts of the world,” Ubru said.

Also speaking, the Nkanu East council chairman, Hon. Sydney Edeh said the target given by the state government to the council was 50 hectares of land, adding that they had already cultivated and planted over 60 hectares of cassava, while looking forward to upscaling to 200 hectares in no distant time.

Commending Governor Mbah for his zeal in agriculture and food production in the state, Hon. Edeh restated the council’s willingness to partner with the state government in realizing its objectives, stating that the 6 council areas of Enugu East senatorial district had earmarked 100,000 hectares of land for the cultivation of different crops as their contribution to the total 300,000 hectares of land for agricultural projects across the state.

“These agricultural projects will not only generate employment for our people but will also help in reducing insecurity in Nkanu East because some of the forests we have in Nkanu East, especially in Akpawfu. The forests, which served as hideouts for criminals, have totally been turned to cassava farms. So, with the assistance of the state government, we have been able to curtail insecurity by embarking on a good project like this.

“Remember that the governor traveled to Indonesia recently to woo investors. It is our duty to assist the state in making sure that the environment is suitable for business to thrive,” Edeh said.

Some of the officials present at the occasion were the Deputy Chairman of Nkanu East, Hon. Ndubuisi Agbo, Secretary to the local government, Mr. Emeka Nnamene, Supervisor for Agriculture, Sunday Ogbu, Chairman Committee on Agriculture, Chief Sam Udeh, amongst others.

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DSS releases Nnamdi Kanu’s doctor, Aghaji

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Martin Aghaji, retired professor
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…insider sheds light on reason for his arrest

Professor Martin Aghaji, personal doctor to Nnamdi Kanu, has been arrested by Nigeria’s security operatives, Aloy Ejimakor, Mr Kanu’s lawyer said in an X post on Saturday.

Mr Kanu is the convicted leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). He is serving life imprisonment in Sokoto State after a federal high court in Abuja convicted him in November for terrorism.

Mr Ejimakor said in the X post that Mr Aghaji, a retired professor, was arrested at his residence in Enugu State on Friday.

The lawyer did not specifically say which operatives arrested the medical doctor, although he suggested that the arrest was connected to a medical report issued by the doctor on Mr Kanu which contradicted a similar report by the Department of  State Security (DSS).

“This is the height of the official harassment he has been facing since he issued the medical report that did not comport with the SSS’s medical report on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” Mr Ejimakor said.

How they arrested the medical doctor

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In another post on Sunday evening, the lawyer claimed “the security operatives” stormed Mr Aghaji’s residence at about 3:00 a.m., violently pulled down his gate and forcibly gained entry” into the apartment.

“During the commotion, shots were fired. They’ve now taken him to Lagos,” he stated.

Release of the doctor

Mr Ejimakor, in a fresh post on Sunday night, announced that Mr Aghaji has been released from detention following the intervention of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and other bodies.

“While welcoming this development, the DSS is hereby admonished to do better than this,” he said, suggesting that the secret police earlier carried out the arrest.

DSS speaks

When contacted on Monday, the spokesperson of the DSS, Favour Dozie, confirmed the secret police indeed arrested Mr Aghaji from his residence in Enugu.

Ms Dozie, however, said the arrest was never linked to Mr Kanu or IPOB.

“He was arrested, but not in connection with Nnamdi Kanu,” she said, refusing to give details because the matter was under investigation.

The DSS spokesperson stressed that the retired professor’s arrest could not have been linked to Mr Kanu because the IPOB leader had already been convicted by a court and currently serving jail term.

She confirmed that Mr Aghaji was granted administrative bail and subsequently released to the NMA leadership in Lagos State on Sunday after providing a credible individual as his surety.

An official of the DSS later informed PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Aghaji’s arrest followed his alleged financial transactions to high-profile criminals under investigation.

“He was even sorry about it when he was informed of the transactions he made. The man himself felt very bad,” said the official who asked not to be named because he did not have permission to speak on the matter.

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PFIPC: Adeyemi’s father arrested as police intensify forgery probe

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The father of Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi, who is facing criminal charges over alleged forgery and impersonation, was reportedly arrested by police operatives on Monday in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

Residents told journalists that the arrest took place at the family’s residence, where officers reportedly arrived in several vehicles before taking Adeniyi’s father and another man said to have been visiting the home into custody.

Witnesses said the operation drew the attention of residents and caused anxiety within the household, particularly for the suspect’s elderly mother.

A resident, who requested anonymity, alleged that the officers quickly secured the premises and left with the two men, while a security presence remained in the area for some time after the operation.

Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi is currently standing trial over allegations of forgery, impersonation and related offences arising from claims linked to the purported Presidential Fiscal and Infrastructure Projects Council.

The case is pending before the court.

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As of the time of filing this report, the Oyo State Police Command had not issued an official statement confirming or explaining the reported arrests.

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Tiktoker, Peller, arraigned in court for threatening and videoing police officers on duty; granted 500k bail

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Peller
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The Lagos state police command today July 6 arraigned popular TikToker, Habeeb Hamzat aka Peller, and one other, Bello Oladipo, before a magistrate court on a three-count charge bordering on resisting police officers, obstructing them from carrying out their duties, and threatening and videoing police officers while performing their lawful duties.

Recall that on July 2, Peller clashed with some officers along the Coastal road in Lagos after he was intercepted for allegedly driving a car without a plate number.

Peller had claimed he had just purchased the vehicle.

The officers, however, dismissed his claim and insisted he must be taken to the station. Things, however, took a different turn after Peller began recording his interaction with the police officers.

He claimed the officers became hostile to him. He alleged that one of the officers dragged his shirt and even pointed a gun at him.

Monday morning, both Peller and his friend, who was in the vehicle with him, were arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate court.

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Count one of the charges reads:

‘’That you Bello Oladipo “m” and Habeeb Hamzat “m” of No. 16,Platinum Road Lekki phase 2 , on the 2” day of July 2026 at about 2000hrs at Coastal Road Lekki, Lagos within the Magisterial district of this Honourable Court, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Resisting public officers and thereby committed an offense punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos state 2015.

COUNT 2

‘’That you Bello Oladipo “m” and Habeeb Hamzat “m “ of Number 16, Platinum Road, Lekki Phase 2, on the 2’” day of July 2026 at about 2000hrs at Coastal Road Lekki, Lagos within the Magisterial district of this Honourable court did obstruct one ASP Agbede Victor and three other police officers while engaged in the discharge of their constituted duties and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable by Section 117 (1)(2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.”

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all three counts.

The court subsequently granted them bail in the sum of N500,000 each with two sureties, one of whom must be a bl++d relative. The court also directed them to present two years’ tax clearance certificates as part of their bail conditions.

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