Top 5 Stories Of The Day | Police Reveal Refusal to Help an Officer Under Attack will Result in ₦100k Fine and Jail Term

• Police reveal refusal to help an officer under attack will result in ₦100k fine and jail term
• General Hydrocarbons claims not to owe First Bank $225 million
• Tinubu renews approval on ban of LGBTQ+ and cross-dressing activities
• Bandits attack Zamfara, kidnap several Muslims in mosque
• 250 manufacturers and academic institutions abandon discos to self-generate their electricity

Across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, these are the five top Nigerian news stories you shouldn’t miss.

Police reveal refusal to help an officer under attack will result in ₦100k fine and jail term

Muyiwa Adejobi, an NPF spokesperson, has revealed that there would be severe conditions carried out on anyone who refuses to assist police officers under attack.

According to Adejobi, civilians are liable to be imprisoned for three months and a ₦100,000 fine as the civilian would be committing an offence by refusing to provide assistance to an officer in distress.

“Section 99, Police Act 2020: When a person is called upon to aid and assist a police officer who is, while in the discharge of his duty, assaulted or resisted or in danger of being assaulted or resisted, and the person refuses or neglects to aid and assist, the person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N100,000 or imprisonment for a term of three months or both,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

General Hydrocarbons claims not to owe First Bank $225 million

General Hydrocarbons has refuted the allegations made towards it by First Bank, claiming that it does not owe the bank the amount proposed in court ($225 million).

It criticised the Mareva injunction issued by Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos at the request of First Bank and FBNQuest Trustees Limited.

According to GHL’s Director of Strategy and Operations, Abdelmuizz Bello, he claimed General Hydrocarbons Limited entered into a deal with First Bank in 2021 to which the latter agreed to fund its exploration, production and development of OML 120 in exchange for sharing profit from oil proceeds from the OML in a 50:50 ratio after statutory payments and taxes over eight years.

First Bank had initially filed a suit against General Hydrocarbons, allowing the Federal High Court to restrict all financial institutions in the country from releasing funds to the company owned by Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman of Arise and publisher of ThisDay Newspapers, and others.

Tinubu renews approval on ban of LGBTQ+ and cross-dressing activities

President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has banned all LGBTQ+ activities, including relationships and cross-dressing in Nigeria.

The federal government has announced that homosexuality, bestiality and other behaviours that are morally questionable are prohibited in Nigeria as they would contradict the reviewed Harmonised Armed Forces Terms and Conditions of Service (HAFCTCS).

The reviewed Harmonised Armed Forces Terms and Conditions of Service (HAFCTCS) 2024, which President Bola Tinubu signed on December 16, 2024, also banned people from body piercing, tattooing, drunkenness, disorderly conduct, and other forms of public misconduct to enforce discipline amongst the military.

Bandits attack Zamfara, kidnap several Muslims in mosque

Suspected bandits have infiltrated a mosque in Birinin Yaro village in Zamfara state, kidnapping several worshippers found at the scene.

According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication centred on the Lake Chad region, the attack was orchestrated by Bello Turji, a dangerous warlord, and his armed men during Isha prayers on Friday, January 10, 2025.

Though the number of people abducted is yet to be known, this was not the first time that bandits were attacking residents in the state in recent times.

As of last week, 46 people were abducted in Gana town, Zamfara State, and in December 2024, 43 persons were kidnapped by gunmen in Kakidawa, Gidan Goga district, Maradun LGA of Zamfara.

250 manufacturers and academic institutions abandon discos to self-generate their electricity

The constant blackouts in Nigeria have led about 250 manufacturing companies and academic institutions to abandon electricity distribution companies and instead focus on generating electricity for themselves.

These industries and institutions have ignored the national grid and chosen to work with reliable electricity for the smooth operations of their respective companies.

Data from various sources, especially the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), indicates that the firms have collectively generated up to 6,500 megawatts of electricity. This amount exceeds the country’s current power generation, typically between 4,500 MW and 5,000 MW.

Read » Top 5 Stories Of The Day | Police Reveal Refusal to Help an Officer Under Attack will Result in ₦100k Fine and Jail Term on YNaija