The Dangote Group has absolved self from the fire incident that gutted the House of Assembly yesterday morning. The company refuted claims that it was responsible for the development in a statement signed by Mr. Anthony Chiejina, Group Head Branding and Communications, Dangote Industries Ltd. on Monday in Lagos. Chiejina noted that the company, as a socially responsible corporate entity, totally refuted this allegation and condemned “the unprofessional and irresponsible attempt to smear its image before local and international investors and thus erode its brand value.” He said the company would never stoop so low as to sponsor thugs to destroy any property, belonging to either government or any individual. “Our attention has been drawn to a circulating press statement issued by the Kogi State Government, wherein the Dangote Group was accused of allegedly sponsoring arsonists to set the Kogi State House of Assembly on fire in the early hours of Monday, October 10, 2022,” the statement read.

Minister of Interior, Abdulrauf Aregbesola has hinted that his office will meet with state Governors to decide on the mass decongestion of prisons across the country by 30%. The minister stated this when he was a guest at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja. Aregbesola stated that the interface was a necessary one considering that more than 90% of Nigerian inmates were being kept in custody for offenses that contravene state laws. More so, he added this as more than 70% of the total inmates numbering about 75,635 inmates were awaiting trials according to his record.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Criminal Police Organization commonly known as Interpol to access and contribute to global criminal data records of 195 countries worldwide. NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) signed for the Agency while the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the National Central Bureau (NCB), who also serves as Interpol’s Africa, Vice President, Garba Umar signed on behalf of the global policy body.

Not fewer than thirty (30) persons were reported to have drowned in a canoe accident last night while fleeing from a bandit attack in Bukkuyum local government of Zamfara state. Vigil360 learned that most of the victims were women and children who were trying to cross a river to a safe haven in the across community when the overloaded canoe capsized. The source revealed that armed bandits believed to be from Gando and Barikin Daji forests in recent times have stepped up their raids of local villages around the Bukkuyum and Gummi Local Government Area of the state.

The Nigerian Army has announced the release of all the 23 remaining passengers of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack who were held captive by Boko Haram terrorists since March 28, 2022. This was made known in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Secretary of the Chief of Defence Staff Action Committee (CDSAC), Usman Yusuf.

The Academic Staff Union of the Nigerian Universities, ASUU says the country is undergoing internal colonialism and therefore there is nothing to celebrate as Independence Day. The union made the statement today through its Ibadan chapter of ASUU. The academicians have been on industrial action since February 14, 2022, which has continued unabated even after intervention by respected traditional rulers and clergymen.