Residents of Mpape, a densely populated suburb in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have been thrown into panic mode by panic following a series of earth tremors that have persisted for three consecutive days.

The event, which began on Saturday and continued through Sunday and Monday, has left many in fear as buildings shake and an ominous sound echoes through the community.

Mpape, located 10 minutes away from the upscale district of Maitama in Abuja, is home to both low-income earners and members of the middle class.

The tremor has been most noticeable in areas like the P.W. Neighbourhood and the Mopol 24 Barracks, two sections of Mpape bordered by the narrow road that leads into the community. The strange sound has also been reported near Katampe Junction, a spot connected to the Murtala Muhammad Expressway.

Obinna Ngozi, a local resident, described the situation as alarming, explaining that the buildings would shake with each tremor, causing widespread anxiety.

He experienced the earth shaking about 10 times on Saturday alone, starting around 4 p.m,adding that the frequency and intensity of the tremors increased the following day, Sunday.

Muhammad Ibrahim, another resident, initially mistook the sound for a bomb blast, noting that it differed from the typical sounds associated with quarry mining an activity Mpape is well-known for.

His confusion is echoed by Nasiru Ahmad, a former mining blaster in the area, who explained that while stone blasting is easy to identify, the origin of the tremor’s sound remains a mystery.

The recent tremor has brought back memories of a similar, more severe event that occurred three years ago.

According to Peter David, a local community chief, the previous incident had its origins near the Arab Road area in Mpape. That tremor was so strong it was felt in distant districts such as Gishiri, Jahi, Maitama, and AYA in Asokoro District.

Following the earlier tremor, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had suspended all mining activities in the community.

According to David, this ban was only enforced for about three months before quarry operators resumed their activities, potentially setting the stage for the current situation.

As the earth tremor continues, residents of Mpape are left in a state of uncertainty, with many calling for immediate intervention from authorities to address the potential dangers posed by both the tremors and ongoing mining activities in the area.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Air Component of Operation Delta Safe executed air interdiction missions in Rivers State on 13 September 2024 as part of its intensified efforts to curb crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and economic sabotage in the Niger Delta.

Conducted in two separate missions, the missions targeted specific sites along the Imo River, including the areas of Owaza, Uzaku, Obuzor, Osuaku, and Obiaku, a statement signed by Group Captain Kabiru Ali,Deputy Director Public Relations and Information,Nigerian Air Force,said on Monday.

According to the statement,in the first mission, NAF aircraft were assigned to provide Close Air Support to ground troops near the Imo River.

Due to a discrepancy between the initial coordinates and the troops’ updated location, the aircrew proceeded to conduct Armed Reconnaissance (AR) in the areas of Owaza and Uzaku,it said.

It quoted that,during this operation, they identified an active illegal refining site at Uzaku,adding that the site was immediately engaged, resulting in the destruction of four IRS tanks and two canoes.

“In a second mission, originally intended to support troops northwest of Umuahia, adverse weather conditions forced the crew to divert and conduct further AR around the Obuzor section of the Imo River. During this mission, 12 IRS tanks, along with several jerrycans and other equipment used by the criminals were destroyed around Owaza, Obuzor, Osuaku, and Obiaku”,it added.

The statement further said NAF will continue to conduct air operations against the activities of oil thieves and other criminals in the Niger Delta and in support of ground forces across the region.

It said:”The need for law-abiding citizens to key into the efforts of security agencies to deter the activities of these economic saboteurs would go a long way in checkmating their activities”.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Federal Government has received 50 tons of humanitarian aid from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to support those affected by recent floods.

The relief materials,delivered to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, were handed over by UAE Ambassador Salem Alshamsi.

He disclosed that the donation, initiated by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Al Nahyan, reflects the UAE’s ongoing commitment to assisting countries impacted by natural disasters.

Dr. Ahmed Dunoma, Permanent Secretary of Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed gratitude on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, while acknowledging existing the strong ties between Nigeria and the UAE.

Besides,the NEMA Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, also appreciated the government of UAE for the gesture,noting that this will certainly complement the bold efforts by the Federal Government to provide succour and assist flood affected persons to recover from the disaster.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Nigerian equity market gained N607bn in market capitalisation in the past week, on the back of buying interest in large-cap stocks like Access Corporation and MTN Nigeria.

The All-Share Index appreciated by 1.06 per cent to close at 97,456.62, while the market capitalisation rose by 1.10 per cent to N56tn.

Besides,All other indices closed higher, except for the Growth Index, which saw a depreciation of 0.03 per cent, while the Alternative Securities Market Index remained flat.

The upward trend was driven by investor interest in major stocks, such as Access Corporation, which gained 2.39 per cent, and MTN Nigeria, which rose by 7.37 per cent.

Across various sectors, the performance was bullish, with gains recorded in consumer goods (1.47 per cent), insurance (1.59), industrial (0.17 per cent), banking (5.12 per cent), and oil & gas (two per cent).

In terms of activity, the financial services industry led the charts, accounting for 1.71 billion shares valued at N26.99bn traded in 19,277 deals, contributing 66.05 per cent and 52.71 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value, respectively.

Following closely was the oil and gas industry, which saw 332.83 million shares worth N12bn traded in 9,956 deals.

The services industry ranked third with 146.189m shares valued at N530.544m traded in 3,404 deals.

During the week, 43,535 units valued at N13.476m were traded in 122 deals, up from the 23,881 units valued at N8.240m transacted in the previous week.

Overall, 52 equities appreciated, an increase from the 36 equities recorded in the previous week, as 31 equities saw price declines, compared to 46 in the prior week, while 68 remained unchanged, slightly lower than the 69 recorded earlier.