Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Saturday morning

Good morning! Here is today’s summary of Nigerian newspapers:

1. The Federal Government announced on Friday that it would conduct a thorough inquiry into Wednesday’s unintentional bombing in Gidan Bisa and Runtuwa villages of Silame Local Government Area, which killed ten people. Bello Mutawalle, Minister of State for Defence, promised Governor Ahmed Aliyu of the inquiry during a condolence visit in Sokoto.

2. As part of efforts to deepen collaboration and encourage bilateral trade and investment between their countries, Nigeria and China renewed their currency swap arrangement worth 15 billion Yuan ($2 billion). The People’s Bank of China (PBOC), in a statement yesterday, indicated that the arrangement will continue in place for another three years.

3. Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed claims that the tax reform legislation before the National Assembly favour only one sector of the country. Speaking to the Christian community in Bauchi State, the governor urged President Bola Tinubu to reverse the tax policy adjustments, claiming they could lead to anarchy.

4. On Friday, the Defence Headquarters explained that the deaths of ten people in Sokoto State were caused by a secondary explosion at the Lakurawa terrorist supply camp, not an airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force. Maj-Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, told journalists in Abuja that the airstrike was a precision-guided operation targeting a terrorist hideout in the area.

5. The Nigeria Police’s Anti-Cultism Squad, Cross River Command, seized two alleged drug sellers on Old Market Road in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area. Speaking to press on Friday, Gyogon Grimah, the state Commissioner of Police, said the arrest was successful due to credible intelligence and the squad’s rapid raid of the area.

6. The Nigeria Police Force said it foiled kidnapping attempts in eight states on Christmas day and detained 23 individuals. The police operations, which included states including Lagos, Kaduna, Delta, Ogun, Katsina, Benue, Imo, and the Federal Capital Territory, also resulted in the recovery of deadly weaponry, including a manufactured AK-47 rifle.

7. The Catholic Diocese of Nnewi in Anambra State has been devastated by the murder of one of its priests, Rev Fr Tobias Okonkwo, by unidentified gunmen. It was reported on Friday that Okonkwo was shot dead by gunmen along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway around 7 p.m. on Thursday.

8. Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, has unequivocally denied allegations that Nigeria planned to destroy or destabilise the Niger Republic, as claimed by its leader, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani. Ribadu described Tchiani’s statements as shocking and frightening, emphasizing that they were false and unjustified.

9. In 2024, Plateau State’s Police Command detained 859 suspects and recovered 27 guns and 115 ammo. Mr. Emmanuel Adesina, the state’s Commissioner of Police, made the announcement at a news conference in Jos on Friday. He stated that the command rescued 46 kidnapped victims within the time period under examination.

10. The Economic Community of West African nations, or ECOWAS, has denied charges by the Niger Republic that Nigeria and certain ECOWAS member nations conspired with France to finance terrorism against the country. ECOWAS spokesman Joël Ahofodji issued a statement calling Niger’s charges “unfounded and unsubstantiated.”