Nigeria Roundup: Death, political crisis, terrorist attacks

Inflation surges

Nigeria’s inflation rose from 27.33 percent in October to 28.20 percent in November, the National Bureau of Statistics has said. In its Consumer Price Index released on December 15, the National Bureau of Statistics said the figure is a new record high for the country in two decades. The figure is expected to increase further to 30 percent by the close of 2023, aligning with recent predictions by KPMG and Stears Business, The Punch reports.

Ban on sale of firecrackers

Police have banned the sale and use of fireworks, knockouts, firecrackers and other pyrotechnics in Delta State during the Christmas period. The Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass warned that the use of these items poses a threat to the state security and could pose unnecessary disruption of public peace, local news outlet Daily Post reported.

Joint Task Force kills terrorists

The Joint Task Force North West Operation HADARIN DAJI (OPHD) has killed three terrorists and rescued six kidnapped victims at Bauni village in Sokoto. In a statement from the Nigerian Army, the operation took place on December 14, 2023, during which troops engaged the terrorists in a gun duel that lasted over several hours. The terrorists eventually abandoned their hideouts leading to the rescue of some kidnapped victims and the death of the three terrorists, local news outlet The Guardian reported.

Political crisis in Rivers State

Nine Commissioners have resigned from Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s cabinet in Rivers State in Nigeria as the feud between him and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, continues to affect the oil-rich state. According to Nigeria’s Premium Times, all nine commissioners are loyal to Nyesom, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory who contributed to their appointment to cabinet. The Rivers political crisis which has split the River State House of Assembly into two factions stemmed from a rift between Fubara and his predecessor.

Tank kills woman and baby

A 30-year-old mother and nine-day-old baby have died after an overhead water tank crashed into a one-bedroom detached bungalow housing them. The woman identified as Bose Sanusi is said to have christened her baby two days before the event. Her mother and son who were in the kitchen at the time of the incident managed to escape unaffected. Investigations are still ongoing to ascertain details of the incident, The Guardian reported.