NEWS
ADF Distributes Rice to 10,000 Families in Bayelsa
The Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) has flagged off the distribution of 10,000 bags of rice, each weighing ten kilograms, to vulnerable households, people living with disabilities and the less privileged in Bayelsa State.
Deputy Governor Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo who represented the Governor, Senator Douye Diri at the event commended Aliko Dangote for his philanthropic gesture and lucrative partnership with the state government in agriculture by accepting to be the off taker of the rice been cultivated in the state.
He said: “The Bayelsa State government has a very lucrative and viable relationship with the Dangote Group; we want to thank Alhaji Aliko Dangote for the relationship that he has established with us.
“We want to thank Dangote in the area of been a off taker for our rice production. We are also looking forward to the issue of building a mill by the farm clusters and settlements.
“We want to commend Dangote for conquering greed through his philanthropic virtues in the past 30 years. I want to urge us to emulate his acts of giving.”
ALSO READ: Again, Dangote Refinery Reduces Price to N820 Per Litre
Speaking during distribution exercise, the Head of Operations, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Edero Victor Ejiro, said the initiative is part of the foundation’s annual National Food Intervention Project, which aims to support over one million disadvantaged Nigerians across the country.
He stated that the foundation will be distributing 10,000 bags of 10kg rice to the vulnerable population in the state.
He pointed that the Foundation’s distribution is across the 774 local government areas in the country and is intended to cushion the effects of the hardship currently being experienced in the country.
His words: “We are here to present 10,000 bags of 10kg rice to the people of Bayelsa. The Aliko Dangote Foundation has been in existence for over 30 years and has been helpful in the areas of empowerment, nutrition and education.
“This distribution of rice is to support and complement the food security initiative that is been put in place by the various state governments and the rice distribution is across the 774 local government areas in the country. Our target beneficiaries are market women, the vulnerable, physically challenged people, widows and artisans.
“We have seen the template that the state government wants to use to distribute the rice and we are impressed with what we saw, and we believe that they are going to do a thorough job by distributing the rice to the needy and vulnerable in our midst.
“This programme is to support families, support people in the grassroots to alleviate and back up synergy with the state government.”
Also speaking the Chairman Bayelsa State chapter of Joint National Association of People with Disability, (JNAPWD), Ekpomokumor Mayor, expressed appreciation to the Aliko Dangote Foundation for reaching out to them by putting food on their table in these trying times and commended the Bayelsa State government for selecting them to be part of the beneficiaries. With the flag off, the distribution exercise now shifts to the eight local governments in the State where the various councillors will ensure that the rice gets to the intended targets in their wards.
Caption:
Flag off of distribution of 10kg bags of Aliko Dangote Foundation donated rice to vulnerable families in Bayelsa State. Here, Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, handing over bags of rice to beneficiaries
NEWS
Police Summon AIG Moshood Jimoh, Invite VDM Over Explosive Allegations
The Nigeria Police Force has summoned Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Moshood Jimoh for questioning and invited social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), over allegations made against the senior police officer.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, who said the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Abuja, had formally invited AIG Jimoh as part of an internal investigation.
SEE ALSO: “You Are Stupid” — VDM Launches Fresh Attack on Presidential Spokesperson Onanuga
According to the statement, the FCID also issued a letter of invitation to VeryDarkMan on July 30, 2026, requesting him to appear before the department and substantiate the claims he made publicly.
The Police said the actions underscore the Force’s commitment to accountability and transparency, stressing that every credible allegation of misconduct would be investigated regardless of the rank of the officer involved or the status of the complainant.
The statement followed recent public comments by VeryDarkMan concerning the AIG in charge of Zone 2, Lagos, and an ongoing criminal matter.
The Force, however, clarified that the criminal case referenced by the activist had already been investigated and filed before a court of competent jurisdiction based on legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Describing the matter as sub judice, the Police maintained that the case would not be determined through media campaigns or public commentary.
“The Force will not try this case in the media, nor will it allow its outcome to be shaped by public campaigns or commentary seeking to prejudge the officers or parties involved,” the statement read.
The Police reaffirmed that its disciplinary procedures are guided by the Constitution, the Police Act 2020, Police Regulations, Force Orders and other established administrative processes, adding that the rules apply equally to all officers irrespective of rank.
While recognising citizens’ constitutional right to freedom of expression and to demand accountability from public institutions, the Force cautioned that such rights do not extend to defamation or the publication of unverified allegations.
It urged VeryDarkMan to honour the invitation by the Force CID and cooperate with investigators while allowing the courts to determine the separate criminal matter already before them.
The Police further assured Nigerians that any officer found culpable after investigation would face appropriate sanctions, while individuals found to have deliberately made false allegations aimed at damaging the reputation of an officer or the institution could also face legal action.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains an institution founded on law, discipline and accountability. No officer is above the law, and no genuine complaint is ignored; nor will any officer be sanctioned outside the procedures the law prescribes,” the statement added.
NEWS
FG, Resident Doctors Reach Truce as NARD Suspends Planned Strike
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its planned nationwide strike following a high-level meeting with the Federal Government at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The breakthrough came after a three-hour meeting convened by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and attended by key government officials, including the Ministers of Labour and Employment, Health and Social Welfare, Finance, as well as senior officials from the Budget Office, the Office of the Accountant-General, and the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
ALSO READ: Nationwide Relief as Resident Doctors Call Off Strike
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, NARD President, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, said the discussions resulted in firm commitments from the Federal Government to address the association’s longstanding grievances.
“Today, I can tell you, our matters are solved,” Suleiman declared.
He explained that both parties agreed on clear timelines for resolving outstanding salary, promotion and allowance issues that had prompted the association to threaten industrial action.
According to him, the government also committed to implementing agreed measures on meal allowances at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) within a week.
On the issue of delayed salaries for house officers, Suleiman disclosed that the Presidency had issued a standing directive to ensure prompt payment.
“In fact, he has given a standing order that before the 10th of every month, salaries of house officers must be paid,” he said.
The NARD president also revealed that the Federal Government had directed the Ministries of Labour and Health to fast-track negotiations on the Collective Bargaining Agreement so that any agreed terms can be reflected in the 2027 budget.
Beyond welfare concerns, the meeting also addressed the growing incidents of violence against healthcare workers. Suleiman disclosed that 31 doctors and more than 20 other health workers had been assaulted in the past 10 months.
To tackle the trend, he said the Ministry of Health would strengthen security in hospitals and launch public awareness campaigns against attacks on health personnel.
He further disclosed that the Chief of Staff had pledged to champion legislation that would classify assaults on health workers as an aggravated offence.
“The Chief of Staff has taken it upon himself to introduce legislation so that the National Assembly can come in with something that will make assault on health workers an aggravated offence. We are very glad with that. We think it will send the right signal that health workers should not be assaulted,” Suleiman said.
Addressing the long-running dispute over unpaid hazard and specialist allowances, Suleiman explained that although the Federal Government corrected payment shortfalls in February 2026, a 19-month backlog dating back to July 2024 remains unresolved.
Despite expressing confidence in the outcome of the meeting, Suleiman said the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) would take the final decision on formally calling off the planned strike.
“I have National Executive Council members. I will have a conversation. I have to report all of this back. We sit down. We take a decision.
“The point is, the person that called us for this conversation has never failed resident doctors. That is what I am emphasising.”
NARD had earlier threatened to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike from August 10 if the Federal Government failed to address outstanding salary arrears, welfare concerns and other unresolved issues affecting its members.
NEWS
Army Busts Boko Haram Supply Network, Arrests Four Terror Logistics Suspects
The Nigerian military has recorded another breakthrough in its counter-insurgency campaign after troops of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation HADIN KAI, arrested four suspected logistics suppliers linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) during separate intelligence-led operations in Yobe and Borno states.
The operation also led to the interception of 20 suspected family members of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) terrorists who were reportedly fleeing sustained military offensives in Borno State.
The Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North-East), Operation HADIN KAI, Capt. Mohammed Goni, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Tuesday.
SEE ALSO: Justice at Last: Boko Haram Member Sentenced to Death for 2015 Maiduguri Terror Attack
According to Goni, troops of the 159 Battalion under Sector 2 arrested two suspected Boko Haram collaborators during a cordon-and-search operation in Geidam, Yobe State, following credible intelligence.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects allegedly supplied hard drugs and other logistics to Boko Haram terrorists, thereby facilitating insurgent activities,” the statement said.
Items recovered from the suspects included suspected Indian hemp, mobile phones, power banks, scissors, knives, torchlights, lighters, cigarette rolls, Pregabalin capsules, Piscof syrup, identity cards, ATM cards and ₦14,530.
In a separate operation conducted around 3:30 p.m. on the same day, troops of Sector 3 Garrison, in collaboration with the 242 Reconnaissance Battalion, arrested two suspected ISWAP logistics suppliers in Monguno, Borno State, after sustained surveillance of terrorist supply routes.
Goni said the suspects confessed during preliminary interrogation that they were transporting food items and other supplies to ISWAP fighters operating in Kwatan Dowoshi Village, Kukawa Local Government Area.
“During preliminary interrogation, the suspects confessed to conveying food items and other supplies to ISWAP terrorists operating in Kwatan Dowoshi Village, Kukawa Local Government Area,” he stated.
Recovered exhibits included 11 cartons and 192 sachets of assorted biscuits, one carton of Peak milk, 10 mudu of sugar, nine bars of Viva soap, six headlamps, two bags and 16 rolls of sachet garri, three packs of lighters, two Tecno button phones, one assault knife, one charm belt, four prayer beads, six packs of herbal medicine and ₦6,600.
In a related development, troops of the 222 Battalion intercepted 20 suspected family members of JAS terrorists during a routine patrol along the Gezuwa axis in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.
The military said the group comprised nine women, two men, eight female minors and one male minor, who reportedly fled their enclave following intensified military operations.
“During preliminary investigation, they disclosed that they escaped from Gezuwa after a military offensive against their settlement. The individuals have since been handed over to the 21 Military Intelligence Regiment for further profiling and necessary action,” the statement added.
The military said all arrested suspects and recovered exhibits had been handed over to the appropriate Military Intelligence units for further investigation.
It added, “These successful operations underscore the effectiveness of Operation HADIN KAI’s intelligence-driven approach in disrupting terrorist logistics, dismantling support networks, and denying insurgents access to critical supplies.”
The military reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining pressure on Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents, while urging members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing counter-terrorism operations across the North-East.





