Newspaper Headlines: 10 things you need to know this Thursday morning

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:

1. A report released by West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) has indicated that no fewer than 693 Nigerians lost their lives in various attacks across the country in August this year. Among the casualties were 183 persons who lost their lives during shoot-outs between security operatives and criminal gangs.

2. The Southeast caucus of the National Assembly has resolved to intervene in the issue of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. This was part of the resolutions reached by the caucus during a meeting held in Abuja, at the residence of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

3. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the Buhari administration is obtaining loans to finance the deficit in the 2021 budget and develop critical infrastructures in the country. In a statement on Wednesday, Secretary of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Sen John James Akpanudoedehe, said the critical infrastructure was, in turn, stimulating economic growth, generating jobs, reducing poverty and improving the general well-being of the citizenry.

4. The Federal Government has again assured Nigerians that all issues that led to the suspension of the activities of the popular microblogging platform, Twitter, will be sorted out soon. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, gave the assurance while fielding questions from State House correspondents after the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

5. President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, sworn in three National Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The commissioners sworn-in before the start of the virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the conference room of the First Lady’s office, State House Abuja, were Dr Baba Bila representing the North-East zone; Professor Sani Adam, North-Central and Professor Abdullahi Abdu, representing North-West.

6. At least, eight persons were killed in an aerial bombardment on Buhari village in Yunusari Local Government of Yobe State, on Wednesday. The Chairman of Yunusari Local Government, Alhaji Bukar Gaji, confirmed the incident to newsmen on Wednesday evening.

7. The Federal Government and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors on Wednesday told the National Industrial Court, Abuja that they were open to negotiations in order to end the ongoing strike action. They disclosed this to Justice Bashar Alkali when the matter came up in court.

8. Yoruba Nation agitators and other self-determination groups have asked the Nigerian government not to tag their protest at the United Nations Headquarters in New York as an event organised by the Indigenous People of Biafra. They said this in a reaction to an earlier statement by the presidency asking them not to associate with IPOB. This was contained in a statement by the agitators’ spokesperson, Maxwell Adeleye.

9. Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, yesterday, signed the Anti-Open Grazing Bill into law to prevent killings, environmental degradation caused by open rearing and grazing of livestock. The bill was passed by the state House of Assembly on August 12, and transmitted to the Governor for assent.

10. Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing of Abdulkareem Na‎’Allah, the 36-year-old son of Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah who was murdered on August 29 at his residence in Malali GRA, Kaduna State. The Kaduna State Police Command’s spokesman, ASP Jalige Mohammed who confirmed the arrest, said one of the suspects is currently at large.