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INEC seeks support for Rivers South-East Senatorial District bye-election on June 20
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has called on political parties and stakeholders to support efforts for a credible bye-election in Rivers South-East Senatorial District. Resident Electoral Commissioner REC Dr. Johnson Alalibo made this appeal at a stakeholders' meeting in Bori, Khana Local Government Area. The bye-election is scheduled for June 20, covering 88 electoral wards and 1,629 polling units across seven local government areas, with 858,573 registered voters expected to participate. Alalibo emphasized that the election offers an opportunity for residents to exercise their democratic rights, as the area has been without representation since the demise of Senator Barinada Mpigi. INEC is in the final phase of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise and urged stakeholders to mobilize eligible residents for registration, transfers, corrections, and card replacements. The commission plans to deploy 6,774 ad hoc personnel and collaborate with transport providers for logistics. Political parties and candidates were urged to engage in issue-based campaigns and avoid actions that could threaten peace. Security agencies were called upon to maintain professionalism and neutrality, while traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society groups, and the media were asked to intensify voter education to counter misinformation and encourage peaceful participation. District Electoral Officer Mr. Emmanuel Nwankwegu confirmed INEC's readiness to conduct a credibl
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
The Ogun State Police Command has refuted social media reports of bandit attacks and invasions in communities and schools across the state, clarifying that the recent arrest of 38 Ivorian nationals in Atan-Ota was not related to banditry or terrorism. Babaseyi Oluseyi, the command's public relations officer, stated that Ogun remains safe and secure, contrary to claims of attacks on schools and communities in areas like Ota and Ifo. Oluseyi confirmed there have been no bandit attacks, kidnappings, or terrorist activities in the mentioned locations. Police operatives and the School Protection Squad conducted assessments, finding all schools safe, secure, and fully operational. The 38 foreign nationals, comprising 19 males and 19 females aged 25 to 35, were arrested in an apartment during an intelligence-led operation in Kajola-Ilese, Atan-Ota. They could not produce valid immigration documents and claimed to be in Nigeria for online business. They have since been handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation. The police emphasized that linking these arrests to banditry is false and misleading. This clarification follows heightened insecurity concerns in the South-West and the recent arrest of a tailor for circulating a fake video claiming bandit invasion in Atan-Ota. The command urged the public to verify security information through official channels to prevent panic and disorder.
Eight victims of a recent gunmen attack in Gwon-Ajang village, Foron District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, were laid to rest in a mass burial. The ceremony, attended by family, community, and religious leaders, followed an attack between Saturday and Sunday that also injured over 15 people. Hon. Peter Gyendeng, a former member of the House of Representatives for Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency, expressed frustration over the recurring violence and the authorities' inability to stop it, despite the peaceful nature of residents. He urged security agencies and the government to take decisive action. Ishaya David Lalu, member representing Mangu/Bokkos Federal Constituency, condemned the killings as tragic and unacceptable, calling for intensified efforts to protect communities and bring perpetrators to justice. Dalyop Mwantiri, national president of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, highlighted the vulnerability of rural communities due to inadequate security and poorly equipped local vigilantes. He called on the Federal Government to deploy more security personnel, address the "conspiracy of silence" regarding attacks on indigenous communities, and seek international collaboration to tackle insecurity and terrorism in the state.
The International Organisation for Migration, a United Nations agency, received 180 Nigerian migrants, including women and children, from Libya in Lagos. The returnees arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport on a chartered Buraq Airline flight. The IOM Subhead in Lagos, Mr. Ali Ibrahim, stated that the majority of the migrants were from detention camps in Benghazi, Libya. He noted that many left in search of opportunity but faced hardship and exploitation. The returnees included 108 adult females, 45 adult males, 17 children, and 12 infants, totaling 123 females and 59 males, though the overall count was 180. Two of the children were unaccompanied. Upon arrival, returnees received reception support, health screening, and counseling. Eligible individuals can access reintegration assistance, which may include skills training, small business support, and psychosocial care. According to Ibrahim, over 65,700 Nigerians have returned safely in nearly a decade, with more than 52,200 receiving reintegration support.
Must ReadMicrosoft has introduced its own advanced artificial intelligence models, including MAI-Thinking-1, a "reasoning" model, and other tools for image generation, audio transcription, synthetic voice creation, and coding. This move is a strategic effort to lessen its reliance on OpenAI, with whom Microsoft renegotiated its alliance last year, retaining a non-exclusive license until 2032. Sophie Lebrecht, from Microsoft's AI team, emphasized the importance of self-sustainability in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. The company also unveiled Microsoft Scout, an "always-on" assistant based on the open-source software OpenClaw, and the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box, an Nvidia-powered mini-PC for offline AI model operation. Additionally, Microsoft showcased an AI platform for scientific research and an ecosystem of Android-based devices for voice interaction with AI agents, including a desk speaker and a wearable badge developed with Qualcomm.