The newspapers for Monday, July 3, report on the police raid on members of the dreaded Badoo gang and the declaration of one Nigeria made by south east leaders.
Members of the dreaded Badoo Boys cult have started making useful confessions to the police after about 100 members of the group were arrested over the weekend during a joint raid on the group’s hideouts by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, of Lagos State Police Command, Anti-Robbery operatives, members of the Oodua peoples Congress, OPC, and members of vigilante groups in Ikorodu.
Vanguard reports that the raid on the group was sequel to serial killings by the Badoo Boys cult in Ikorodu and environs.
Vanguard newspaper for Monday, July 3, photo credit: snapshot from NAIJ.com
A source told the newspaper on Sunday, July 2, that a suspected member of the gang confessed that each ritual handkerchief used to clean victims’ blood after operation was sold for N500,000 to herbalists and some prominent Nigerians for money rituals.
According to the source, some of the suspects who confessed to be mere errand boys, stated that their use of grinding stones in killing victims was to ensure efficacy of the money rituals.
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Meanwhile, south east leaders comprising of the state governors, members of the National Assembly, the leadership of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo; traditional and religious leaders and other leaders of thought from the zone have declared that Ndigbo were in support of one united Nigeria.
The Punch reports that the leaders issued a communique at the meeting stating that the Igbo were in “full support” of a united Nigeria.
Punch newspaper for Monday, July 3, photo credit: snapshot from NAIJ.com
The regional leaders however called on the federal government to start the process of restructuring the country without delay.
The Nation reports that the south east leaders at the meeting disowned the campaign for secession being championed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).
The Nation newspaper for Monday, July 3, photo credit: snapshot from NAIJ.com
The communique released by the leaders after the meeting read in part: ”We therefore call on the Federal Government and all Nigerian leaders to commence a process of dialogue among Nigerians on the modalities of achieving this pressing question within a reasonable time frame.
“Ndigbo support the report of the National Conference of 2014 and urge the Federal government to set up structures that will enable the implementation of same within a reasonable time.
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“That the South East governors, members of the National Assembly from the South East and the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo should henceforth constitute the official organs that will speak on behalf of Ndigbo on political matters.
“That the South East leaders in consultation with leaders from other parts of the country, will engage the Federal government on all areas of concerns to Ndigbo and to Nigeria as a whole.”
This Day reports that the five governors from the south-east, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Willie Obiano of Anambra and Dave Umahi of Ebonyi – had earlier met at the Government House, Enugu, to harmonise their position before moving to the Nike Lake Resort, Enugu, for the enlarged stakeholders’ meeting.
This Day newspaper for Monday, July 3, photo credit: snapshot from NAIJ.com
Apart from the governors, other notable persons that attended the meeting included Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and other members of the National Assembly, former Senate Presidents, Senators Adolphus Wabara and Ken Nnamani, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo and his predecessor, Enwo Igariwey, former Chief of General Staff, Admiral Ebitu Ukiwe, former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ogbonna Onovo and a former Deputy Inspector General of Police, Hillary Opara.
Others were deputy governors, state assembly speakers, religious leaders and traditional rulers from the zone.
The newspaper however stated that political appointees from the South-east currently serving in the administration, especially the ministers, were conspicuously absent from the meeting and no reason was given for their absence.
In business news, the Guardian reports that a plan by the National Pension Commission (PenCom) to boost funds contributions from N6.4 trillion to N7.2 trillion by the end of 2017 may be hindered by the current pension outstanding estimated at N140 billion.
Guardian newspaper for Monday, July 3, photo credit: snapshot from NAIJ.com
The newspaper stated that top of the list of pension debtor were federal government’s agencies who were followed by private entities.
Experts stated that the current situation would truncate the PenCom’s agenda if cogent action is are not taken to recoup the debts.
In the video below, a NAIJ.com reporter asked some Nigerians if they think the country can be united again. Watch responses.
