ARNOLD CHWARZENEGGER INVOLVED IN MULTIPLE CAR CRASH

Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger has been involved in a car accident in Los Angeles, his spokesman has confirmed.

The four-vehicle crash, which occurred on Friday afternoon, left one person with injuries, Los Angeles Police said.

Images from the scene show a large SUV on top of at least two vehicles at an intersection in Brentwood. The actor can be seen standing nearby.

Police said that no arrest has been made and ruled out the involvement of drugs and alcohol.

Officers did not identify those involved but the actor and former California governor’s spokesman confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that he was driving the SUV when the incident occurred.

It added that the SUV rolled on top of the Prius and ended up hitting two other vehicles.

Photos published on the TMZ website show a black GMC Yukon SUV on top of the Prius and a Porsche.

One person was taken to hospital by ambulance, police said, but the injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

Schwarzenegger’s spokesman said that the actor was uninjured and had spoken with emergency services and the injured person.

The crash is currently under investigation. (BBC)

POLICE DISCOVERS CORPSE OF MISSING 3-YEAR- OLD BOY

The Jigawa State Police Command has discovered the corpse of a three-year-old child, Aminu Bukar, who has been missing since January 14, 2022, in Guri Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

The Command’s Public Relations(PPRO), ASP Lawan Shiisu, in a statement, confirmed that a team of policemen swung into action, upon report by father of the boy, Alhaji Bukar, later discovered Aminu’s corpse at Tudun Mai Jambo bush, about one kilometers from the village.

Shiisu disclosed that the child who went missing at about 4:00 pm in Dolen Zugu Village on the relevant date, upon discovery by the Police, rushed the body to a hospital where he was certified dead by a Medical Doctor.

The PPRO said, investigation reveals that there was no foul play in the boy’s death, emphasizing that the remains was later released to the relatives for proper burial..

BULLYING: SS2 STUDENT SLITS 11-YEAR-OLD SYUDENT’S THROAT WITH RAZOR BLADE

An 11-year-old pre-Junior student of Elkenemi College of Islamic Theology, Maiduguri, Borno State, is lying critically ill at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), after a senior student of the school allegedlly slit his throat with a razor blade.

It was gathered that a SS2 student, identified as Umar Goni, took the victim, Jubril Sadi Mato (Ramadan), to a secluded place at night and committed the act, severing most of his arteries, nerves and trichea, after the victim refused to go on an errand for him.

A source disclosed that the victim struggled from his pool of blood and managed to walk to the Principal’s office where he eventually fell down unconscious.

The source added that management of the school invited police who subsequently arrested the suspect.

COURT REMANDS MONARCH IN CORRECTIONAL CENTRE FOR SLLEGED CULTISM

A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt has remanded an Ogoniland monarch in Port Harcourt Correctional Centre for alleged involvement cultism related charges.

The 63-year-old Ogoniland monarch, Taalor Tornwe, was arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, harbouring, financing and giving material supports to cultists.

The monarch and others, now at large, were allegedly to committed the offence on June 5, 2021, at Kono Boue community in Khana local council of Rivers state.

The Charge with No. PMC/91C/2022, accused the monarch of allegedly conspiring with others to commit felony to wit (cultism) and committed an offence punishable under Section 7 (C) of the Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Laws of Rivers State No. 6 of 2018 as amended.

The second count accused the monarch of allegedly harbouring one Christian Kina (alias Abarima), knowing him (Christian) to be a member of Deywell secret cult, an offence punishable under Section 3 (b) of the Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Laws of Rivers State No. 6 of 2018 as amended.

On the last count accused the monarch of allegedly providing financial and material assistance to members of Iceland cult group, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 2 (I) of the Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Laws of Rivers State No. 6 of 2018 as amended.

No plea was, however, taken and the presiding Chief Magistrate A.O. Amadi-Nna referred the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice, while the monarch was accordingly remanded.

TEACHERS KILLS 5-YEAR-OLD PUPIL, DECOMPOSING CORPSE RECOVERED

The decomposing corpse of a 5-year-old pupil, Hanifa Abubakar, of Noble Children Academy, Kwanar Dakata in Nassarawa Local Government Area of the state, has been discovered in a shallow grave in the school premises.

Public Relations Officer of the kano State Command, Haruna Kiyawa, who confirmed the development to Journalists said the victim’s teacher, Abdulmalik Tanko and an accomplice were allegedly indicted in the murder.

The PPRO, stated that the teacher confessed kidnapping Hanifa and took her to his house where he contacted her relatives and demanded a ransom of N6 million from the girl’s parents.

He disclosed that the suspect later conspired with one Hashim Isyaku to kill the girl on December 18, 2021 and buried her in a shallow grave within the school premises located at Kwanar ‘Yan Gana in Tudun Murtala Quarters, after realising that the victim had recognised him.

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the relevant bodies to ensure justice is served in the murder of The President ordered the Police and the Ministry of Justice to uphold the integrity of the detective work that busted the case by preparing well and presenting a good case that will earn the respect of the court. The President gave the directive on Friday in a statement by his media aide, Garba Shehu, in reaction to the death of little Hanifa who was initially abducted in December last year.He expressed the nation’s condolences to the family of the schoolgirl whose body was discovered in a shallow grave in Kano after almost two months of fruitless search.President Buhari, however, commended the police and the secret service for unravelling the mystery behind the disappearance of Hanifa, and particularly for the arrest of her teacher and his accomplices suspected of the child’s kidnap and murder. According to him, the family and the whole nation which followed up on Hanifa’s travail every day since her disappearance were hoping for the girl to have returned home alive and well. The President stated that the thorough and painstaking detective operation by the law enforcement bodies, leading to the discovery of her remains and the arrest of the suspects who have already made confessions, was commendable. He described it as an achievement that should instill more public confidence in the authorities, adding, “when breakthroughs like this happen, people will talk differently of law enforcement.” President Buhari prayed for the repose of the soul of the little schoolgirl and urged her parents to bear the sad loss with courage and fortitude in God.

POLICE, NSCDC BATTLES OVER ‘ILLEGAL BUNKERING SITE’

How crude oil is stolen, refined, sold in Niger Delta

The Rivers State Police Command has alleged that operatives of a sister security agency, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) prevented Police personnels from gaining access into an alleged illegal oil bunkering site in the state.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, disclosed that some Police operatives in company of the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, George Ariolu, were prevented from gaining access into the illegal refining site by armed operatives of the NSCDC.

The PPRO disclosed that the Police operatives, led by Akika Solomon, an assistant commission of Police eventually disarmed and arrested the NSCDC personnels numbering about 20 before gaining access into the illegal depot.

“We are fully committed to fighting the war against illegal oil bunkering to a logical conclusion,” the PPRO said.

Reacting to the Police statement, NSCDC Commandant in Rivers State, Bature Aliyu, who spoke through an Assistant Commandant of Corps, Michael Oguntuase, said the site in question was visited and endorsed in 2021 by the NSCDC Commandant-General, Ahmed Audi, emphasizing that itwas not used for illegal oil activities.

The State NSCDC Commandant stressed that the marine exhibit yard in Ogbogoro jetty is not an illegal bunkering site but a holding bay used by NSCDC to detain boats, vessels, barges and drums used for illegal oil bunkering.

According to him, most of the exhibits in the yard were arrested by the Nigerian Navy and handed over to the NSCDC, while some others were arrested by the Command’s personnels.

“The Ogbogoro jetty is a no-go area for anybody because destroying the yard means destroying the exhibits,” he said.” he said.

It would be recalled that Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike recently accused the Police and the NSCDC of aiding and abetting the operation of illegal refineries in the state.

COURT REMANDS MOTHER, SON FOR ALLEGEDLY BRUTALIZING THREE TEACHERS OVER HAIRCUT

Presiding Magistrate B.O. Abdulsalam expressed disappointment over the attitude of the mother who in company of some thugs allegedlly followed her child to school to beat up his teachers for scolding him over his haircut.

The court noted that If a drastic measure was not taken, these are the youths will become a menace to the society.

In her words, “If my parents had followed me to my school to fight my teachers, will I be on this bench today?”

While adjourning the case to February 15, 2022, the Court ordered that other students, allegedly involved in the brutalization if the teachers, now at large, should be produced during the next court sitting.

It was gathered that Joshua Joseph, a student of Toyan High School, Ere, and his father had signed an undertaking in view of the State Government, due to incessant cases of attacks on teachers in Ogun state before the young man and his mother allegedlly attacked three teachers on Tuesday, while one of the teachers’ car was destroyed in the process.

ABDUSALAMI ABUBAKAR WARNS AGAINST FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL: LAMENTS INSECURITY, COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Ex-military Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar

Ex-Military Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, has warned the federal government against removal of fuel subsidy which, he said would further impoverish Nigerian citizens.

“Insecurity in the country is worsened by our dear economic situation.”

“ Unemployment and underemployment remain at a high level.”

“Over 18 million Nigerians are still caught up in needless poverty. All of these tend to have negative effects on security.”

“ In fact, Nigeria now faces a full security crisis that is confounded by the COVID-19 global pandemic and the banditry in many states in Northern Nigeria.”

“Most of these have disrupted the final value chain across the country and negatively impacted the ability of Nigeria to produce, process, and distribute.

“There is a continuous rise in the prices of food items beyond the reach of many Nigerians.”

“On top of all these, fuel prices are expected to rise significantly in the coming months as announced last November.”

“We all know that when this happens, it will push many millions of Nigerians into poverty.”

“Insecurity remains the single, most difficult challenge for the country.”

“The Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east, banditry in the North-west, violence in the South-east, kidnappings and abductions of travellers across many states all continue to fester in the land.

“In addition to these, ethnic, communal and religious conflicts are rearing their head again in many parts of the country.”

“All of these have greatly challenged and overstretched our security forces.”

“This has caused thousands of deaths and millions of internally displaced persons in the country over the past years,” Abubakar stated.

The National Economic Council (NEC), adhoc Committee, recommended N302 per litre of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), while NEC, on Thursday, says it was yet to take decision on subsidy remival.

FATE OF PUMP PRICE HANGS AS NEC IS YET TO DECIDE

The National Economic Council (NEC) says it has yet to take a decision on the issue of fuel subsidy removal as deliberations are still ongoing.

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo fielded questions from State House correspondents after the NEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to the governor, NEC has been deliberating on the issue of fuel subsidy for more than a year.

“There was an ad hoc committee set up by NEC and headed by Gov. Nasir El-Rufai that included members of the executive arm of government and worked on recommendations as to what we should do about the cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) locally.

“Because as you realise, as it has been told us, the cost of PMS in Nigeria today is about N162 for a litre whereas every other country surrounding Nigeria is selling the product at more than 100 per cent of the cost in Nigeria.

“The country, as at (of) last year, spent in excess of …; we must have the exact figures — but we must have spent almost N2 trillion subsidising petroleum products.

“That is money that could have gone into building roads; money that could have gone into healthcare and education.

“So, for NEC, the argument has been put out; should we continue this regime of spending money that we do not have to subsidise the living standard of mostly those who have vehicles,” he said.

Mr Obaseki said that when NEC looked at some of the analyses last year, it realised that less than one-third of the states of the country consumed two-third of the subsidy.

According to him, the issue of equity also comes up.

“All of these findings were presented to NEC and NEC has deliberations still ongoing.

“So, NEC has not come up with any decision yet and I think has also been made to the president,’’ he said.

On his part, Govermor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State said

Nigerians ought to know about the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as the NNPC had become a limited liability company.

According to him, the NNPC will run differently henceforth.

“So, if the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning provides for six months, you probably can understand part of the reason for the provision of six months before NNPC takes off.

“At that moment, that is when decision will be made. But I want to make the correction that it is not governors who are making the recommendations.

“It is actually a NEC committee that is looking at this and no decision has been made; probably a decision will be made; the PIA would have taken charge and it would not require any recommendation from anybody,’’ Mr Sule said. (NAN)

AUSTRIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES MANDATORY VACCINATION ORDER

Austria has moved closer to introducing a compulsory vaccination order after parliament’s lower house voted in favour of new government proposals.

The law, which is due to come into effect on 1 February, would make Austria the first European country to introduce a mandatory jab.

From mid-March the law will see adults unvaccinated against Covid-19 subjected to fines of up to €3,600 (£2,994).

So far, 72% of Austrians have been fully vaccinated against the virus.

The bill must now pass the upper house and be signed into law by President Alexander Van der Bellen, steps largely expected to be formalities.

The vaccine order is expected to remain in force until January 2024, with the government investing €1.4bn in measures designed to encourage unvaccinated people to come forward for the jab.

Addressing lawmakers on Thursday afternoon, Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein called the measure a “big, and, for the first time, also lasting step” in Austria’s fight against the pandemic.

Chancellor Karl Nehammer told reporters ahead of the vote that vaccines were “an opportunity for our society to achieve lasting and continuous freedom, because the virus cannot restrict us any further”.

A majority of MPs, including those from Mr Nehammer’s governing centre-right coalition and the three main opposition parties, backed the bill, by 137 votes to 33.

The far-right Freedom Party, which has courted the votes of Austria’s substantial anti-vaccine minority, has taken a stand against the bill.

Its leader, Herbert Kickl, said the mandate “paves the way to totalitarianism in Austria” and vowed he would continue to refuse vaccination in defiance of the new law.

Some Austrian MPs have accused Freedom Party leader Herbert Kickl of opportunistically opposing the mandate
Since authorities announced they intended to introduce the mandate in November the capital, Vienna, has seen regular protests, with some numbering over 40,000 people.

The demonstrations have attracted a coalition of anti-vaccine campaigners and far-right extremists, and authorities have warned that they have been radicalising in recent weeks, with new “protective zones” declared around healthcare facilities and vaccination centres to protect workers.

Similar vaccine mandates are being introduced in several other countries, including in Greece, where jabs are now obligatory for everyone aged 60.

In neighbouring Germany, the new government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said it will introduce a vaccination bill in the Bundestag in March.

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Austria’s move comes as some European countries begin to tenuously loosen restrictions introduced to tackle the highly infectious Omicron variant.

In the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced the end of mandatory face coverings in public places and Covid passports on 26 January.

Mr Johnson also suggested that the government intended to end the legal requirement for people who tested positive for Covid to self-isolate – and replace it with advice and guidance at the end of March.

The Irish government also looks set to end a raft of coronavirus restrictions introduced over the Christmas period, including rules mandating the closure of hospitality settings by 20:00.

And in the Netherlands 30 mayors, including Femke Halsema in Amsterdam, have urged Prime Minister Mark Rutte to curb tough restrictions amid a fall in hospitalisations and deaths.

Austria’s chancellor says he is sorry that vaccinations will be mandatory, but the take-up rate is “too little, too late”. (BBC)