A suspected bomb explosion has left the people of Umuneke Obazu Mbieri in Mbaitoli LGA, Imo State, devastated as they woke up on Sunday morning to witness the incident.

Confiding in journalists, a community leader, Emeka Arimanwa, narrated that at about 1 am, a suspected drone was seen hovering over the community and its neighbouring Umunjam and Amaulu in Ihitte Mbieri autonomous communities, a scene he said was unusual.

He further explained that within 10 minutes of sighting the object, a loud explosion was heard, leading to the destruction of one building and causing varying degrees of damage to other nearby buildings.

Arimanwa hinted that the effect of the explosion had created apprehension in the community, as such an incident had never occurred in the area before.

He called on security agencies to visit the scene to ascertain the level of destruction caused by the explosion and investigate its cause.

The DPO in charge of Mbieri Police Division, Superintendent of Police Wet Ben, had visited the scene but did not make any official statement regarding the cause of the explosion.

Visiting the scene of the explosion, the chairman of the local government, Ifunanya Nwanegwo, addressed residents of the area and urged them to remain calm, assuring them that everything was being done to unravel the cause of the explosion.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has called for constructive dialogue with the Federal Government regarding the Tax Reform Bill, especially its implications for the workforce across the nation.

NLC President, Joe Ajaero, made this call at the weekend during the unveiling of CNG buses for the Southwest chapters of the Union in Ibadan

Ajaero stressed the urgency of addressing critical concerns within the Bill.

“Collaboration with the government is essential to clarify and resolve certain issues outlined in the Bill. For instance, the Bill proposes zero taxation for workers earning below N800,000 annually.

“However, it’s important to note that many in the public service earn above the levels that fall under this threshold.

“If we consider a baseline of N70,000 per month, there are hardly any worker on Level 1, Step 1 who earns this amount. This suggests that virtually all workers in Nigeria could be affected by the proposed tax structure. We need clarity on these matters, and a dialogue is necessary to highlight where the concerns lie,” Ajaero stated.

Contributing to the discussion, a tax expert from Lead City University Ibadan, Professor Godwin Oyedokun, acknowledged the importance of taxes in societal development, warning against imposing taxes on those who cannot afford to pay, a practice he termed taxing poverty.

According to him, the new tax initiatives should focus on individuals with luxurious lifestyles, ensuring they contribute fairly to the system.

He underscored the significance of reforming tax policies to capture revenue from informal sectors and digital businesses.

The tax expert also encouraged the NLC to pursue constructive negotiations with the government, rather than outright opposition to the reforms, suggesting that resistance might stem from self-interest.

Tragedy struck in Gumki village, Arewa Local Government Area of Kebbi State, when suspected Lakurawa terrorists launched a brutal attack, killing three Airtel staff and one local resident.

The peaceful border community, nestled between Nigeria and Niger Republic, became a scene of horror as the attackers targeted a telecommunication project in the area.

The terrorists reportedly stormed the village upon discovering that Airtel Communication Nigeria Ltd was installing a surveillance mast in partnership with the Nigeria Immigration Service.

Their deadly raid, which occurred late on January 10th, left a trail of grief and shattered lives.

The Kebbi State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed the harrowing incident, stating that four lives were lost in the assault.

In response to the attack, the Commissioner of Police, Kebbi State Command, CP Bello M. Sani, swiftly led a security team to the site.

The corpses of the victims were evacuated to Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi, while additional tactical units were deployed to bolster security in the region.

CP Sani, in collaboration with the Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kebbi State Command, CIS Muhammad Bashir Lawali, also met with key stakeholders, urging them to provide timely intelligence to aid security operations.