BREAKING: Terrorists Attack Ongoing in Southern Kaduna

Reports reaching MBT confirmed an ongoing attack in Madamai and Abum communities all in Mallagum District, Kagoro in Kaura local government area of Kaduna state.

Details later

Taliban Requests To Address UN General Assembly

The Taliban has sought to join world leaders in addressing the United Nations General Assembly.

The 76th session of the assembly is currently ongoing in New York.

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu will address the UN on Thursday.

As part of its effort to seek international recognition, The Taliban, which took control Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, nominated its ambassador to speak at the UN.

According to UN spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, received a communique on September 15 from the currently accredited Afghan ambassador, Ghulam Isaczai, with the list of Afghanistan’s delegation for the assembly’s 76th annual session.

Five days later, Guterres received another communication with the letterhead “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” signed by “Ameer Khan Muttaqi” as “Minister of Foreign Affairs,” requesting participation in the UN gathering of world leaders.

In this new bulletin, the Taliban claimed that Isaczai last represented Afghanistan when former President Ashraf Ghani, who fled on August 15, 2021, was in power.

In light of these developments, the Taliban said they are nominating Mohammad Suhail Shaheen as the new permanent UN representative.

However, it is not yet known if the UN credentials committee will legitimise the request.

An official from the panel told the Associated Press under strict condition of anonymity that the UN committee “would take some time to deliberate”, suggesting the Taliban’s envoy would not be able to speak at the General Assembly at this session at least during the high-level leaders’ week.

Senior officials of the US state department said they were aware of the Taliban’s request, but could not predict how the panel might rule.

The committee’s members are the United States, Russia, China, Bahama, Bhutan, Chile, Namibia, Sierra Leone, and Sweden.

(DAILYTRUST)

Killer Herdsmen: Kogi residents decry killing, kidnapping, beg governor to review open grazing

The socio-cultural group, Okun Development Association (ODA), has condemned the attack on worshippers at a church in Kabba-Bunu local government area.

He said the fear of this and similar occurrences in different parts of Okun land made ODA appeal to the Kogi government to reconsider its open-door policy to herdsmen.

Gunmen invaded ECWA Goodnews Church, Okedayo, in Kabba on Sunday, killed one person, injured three, and abducted two worshipers.

ODA national secretary Ben Abereoran on Tuesday in Lokoja decried, in a statement, the needless attack on innocent people who gathered to worship their God in line with their religious tenets.

He noted that the church attack was among the numerous insecurity issues bedevilling communities in Okun land.

“The attack and the attendant loss of life are barbaric, unfortunate and extremely very sad,” stated Mr Abereoran.

“Those who disguised as ordinary people going about for their survival, Okun land. They had and still harbour evil intentions. Today, we all know better,” Mr Abereoran noted. “Also, the jailbreak at the Federal Minimum Correctional Centre, Kabba, and the kidnappings in Ijumu, Kabba-Bunu, Mopa Amuro, Oworo land, Yagba East and Yagba West local government areas, are alien to our land.”

ODA called for improved security in the areas to prevent further attacks.

“We, the ODA, do not want to believe that the security agencies lack the ability and capacity to decisively deal with this situation,” the ODA statement added. “This is why we once again appeal to our political leadership across the board, for the sake of millions of young, innocent children and the overall long-term interest of Nigeria, to demonstrate the political will and put this menace to rest once and for all,” he said.

(NAN)