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Owo church attack: Court denies Al-Shabab terrorists bail

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday refused a bail application filed by five men accused of being members of the Al-Shabaab terrorist group and of carrying out the deadly attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

Recall, on June 5, 2022, during Pentecost Sunday Mass at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in State, which claimed the lives of more than 40 worshippers and left over 100 others injured.

On August 11, 2025, five suspects were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on nine terrorism charges. The men were alleged to belong to the Al Shabaab terrorist group and accused of plotting additional attacks. They all pleaded not guilty and were remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services.

The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, dismissed the application, holding that the terrorism charges against the defendants were capital offences and that releasing them on bail would pose a significant security risk.

The defendants — Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar — had, through their lawyer, Abdullahi Awwal Ibrahim, filed a bail application dated August 11, 2025 and argued on August 19.

Their counsel argued that the defendants had secured “reliable and responsible sureties” to stand for them if granted bail.

However, the plaintiff – the Department of State Services, represented by Dr Callistus Eze, opposed the application, warning that the men might abscond due to the gravity of the charges and the strength of evidence against them.

The DSS also argued that admitting them to bail could intimidate witnesses and jeopardise the trial.

Justice Nwite agreed with the prosecution, ruling that the defendants had failed to provide cogent and verifiable reasons for their release and had not presented credible sureties. He added that granting them bail would amount to “judicial risk”.

The judge also noted procedural defects in the bail application, pointing out that the names of the five defendants were not listed on the motion paper as required by law. In addition, the application was supported by a joint two-paragraph affidavit, contrary to the requirement that each defendant must provide a separate affidavit.

The five accused are facing multiple terrorism-related charges under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, including Membership of Al-Shabab’s Kogi State cell, participation in meetings where the Owo church attack was planned.

Possession of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and AK-47 rifles, detonating explosives at St Francis Catholic Church in June. 5, 2022, resulting in the deaths of more than 40 people and injuries to over 100 others.

The horrific attack at St Francis Catholic Church shocked the nation and drew widespread condemnation both locally and internationally. It was one of the deadliest terrorist incidents in Nigeria in recent years, raising concerns about the spread of extremist networks beyond the North-East, where Boko Haram and ISWAP have been most active.

Justice Nwite ordered that the accused remain in DSS custody and granted an accelerated hearing of the case, fixing October 19, 2025, for the commencement of trial. (Punch)

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Police arrest three suspected armed robbers, recover stolen vehicle

The Kano State Police Command has arrested three suspects linked to an armed robbery incident at Abuja and recovered a stolen vehicle.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna, confirmed the arrest of the suspects in a statement on Wednesday.

“On the directives of the Commissioner of Police, the Command in a sustained surveillance operation and in collaboration with the local Vigilante apprehended the suspects on 6th September 2025,” he said.

Haruna gave the names of the suspects as Ismail Imran, 20, Abdulaziz Yahaya, 31; and Musa Ibrahim Isah, 29 years old; all of Rigasa Quarters, Kaduna State.

He said during the operation, a 2014 model Toyota Corolla S with Registration No. KWL-78 DN, blue in color with a broken windscreen was recovered.

Haruna further explained that preliminary investigation revealed that the vehicle was stolen during an armed robbery attack on 5th September 2025, at approximately 02:00am, at Durumi, Abuja.

“The vehicle’s owner confirmed that the suspects attacked his family, critically injured one and made away with the vehicle”, he said.

The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, commended the operatives for their swift response and professionalism, stating that the success of this operation underscores the importance of community-centered policing as espoused by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun,

“The suspects are currently helping the investigation to unravel the full extent of their criminal activities”, he said.

The Kano State Police Command urges members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.

“We assure the public of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of lives and property across the state,” he added.

On Monday, September 1, 2025, PUNCH Online reported the arrest of 107 suspects involved in various crimes, including armed robbery, kidnapping, illicit drug trafficking, thuggery, motorcycle and motor vehicle theft and other social vices within August.

The state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, made this known while giving an update on the current security situation in the state at the command’s headquarters, Bompai.

He said the suspects who were apprehended within the last month included eight armed robbers, eight kidnappers, three human trafficking suspects and 14 suspected drug dealers. (Punch)

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Thai court orders ex-PM back to prison over unlawful hospitalisation

Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been sent back to prison after the country’s Supreme Court ruled that his extended hospitalisation following his return from self-imposed exile was unjustified, Reuters reported.

The court found that both Thaksin and his doctors had colluded to avoid serving his sentence behind bars.

The 76-year-old billionaire and political powerbroker was returned to prison on Tuesday, marking the latest chapter in a turbulent political career that has dominated Thai politics for over two decades.

His re-incarceration comes amid a wave of political turmoil, just days after the collapse of the latest government led by his daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Thaksin had returned to Thailand in August 2023 after 15 years abroad and was sentenced to eight years for corruption and abuse of power during his 2001–2006 premiership.

The sentence was later commuted to one year by royal pardon. However, he spent only a few hours in prison before being moved to a hospital, citing heart issues and chest pain.

He remained there for six months until his release on parole.

The Supreme Court found that Thaksin’s hospital stay was unwarranted and that minor surgeries were performed to extend his time outside prison.

“The defendant knew the facts or was aware the situation was not a critical emergency.

“The defendant only had a chronic condition that could be treated as an outpatient and did not require hospitalisation,” the court said in its ruling.

According to Reuters, television footage showed Thaksin being escorted by corrections officers and arriving at a Bangkok jail shortly after the court’s decision.

Thaksin’s daughter, Paetongtarn, who was removed from office on August 29, was visibly emotional outside the court. “Me and my family are concerned,” she told reporters, adding, “This is quite heavy.”

Anutin Charnvirakul, the incoming prime minister and a former member of Thaksin’s party, expressed sympathy.

“I am saddened, I sympathise with him.

“For someone who has governed the country, I don’t want him to face something like this,” Anutin said.

Thaksin remains a divisive figure in Thailand. Once a police officer who became a telecom magnate, he won the loyalty of rural and working-class voters with populist policies such as cash handouts, healthcare reforms, and farm subsidies.

However, his rise angered Thailand’s conservative elite, including the military and judiciary, leading to repeated clashes and his eventual ousting in a 2006 coup.

Thaksin is the first former Thai prime minister to be jailed. Whether this signals the end of his political career or yet another chapter remains to be seen. (Punch)

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Tinubu reaffirms commitment to overhauling Nigeria’s health sector

President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s health sector, emphasizing the urgent need to address the longstanding challenges that have hindered effective healthcare delivery.

According to the president, the government is determined to pursue innovative solutions that will directly tackle the hydra-headed problems confronting the sector, with a special focus on improving the enabling environment for hospitals, clinics, and research institutions.

He spoke on Tuesday at the National Stakeholders Dialogue on Power in the Health Sector, held at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Continental Hotel, Abuja.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, the President assured Nigerians that his administration is working assiduously to promote sustainable energy solutions to power medical facilities nationwide.

Tinubu added that these efforts are part of a broader plan to restore confidence in public healthcare, improve outcomes, and ensure that quality services are accessible to all citizens, regardless of their social or economic status

The president said : “Today, we face a pressing issue that affects every Nigerian: the persistent power supply crisis in our tertiary hospitals and public health institutions. In surgical theatres, maternity wards, intensive care units, laboratories, and emergency rooms across the country, power outages too often compromise safety, interrupt care, and cost lives. This crisis demands our immediate attention and concerted action.

“These outages cannot continue, and under our administration, they should not. Lives are at stake. We must act now.

“Let me therefore affirm unequivocally that my administration is fully committed to the transformation of our health sector by targeting innovative solutions at the hydra-headed challenges bedevilling the sector, including the sub-optimal, inefficient and often uneconomical electricity supply that drives up the cost of services, disrupts care, compromises quality and increases patient dissatisfaction. This initiative to advance energy solutions in our hospitals is not an isolated intervention. It is an integral part of the strategic direction of the Renewed Hope Agenda to address energy poverty in Nigeria by decentralising and deploying tailor-made solutions and promoting private sector participation”.

He assured the private sector and investors that Nigeria is open for business in health, energy, and infrastructure.

The President also reiterated his government’s commitment to create the enabling environment for return on investment and partner with credible investors in renewable and hybrid energy systems.

According to him, the national dialogue is a launching pad for collaborative action, strategic alignment, and shared responsibility in powering our nation’s health institutions.

“Through the Energy Transition Plan and our Power Sector Reform initiatives, we are building a robust foundation for cleaner, more resilient, and more decentralised energy delivery systems across Nigeria. These efforts are deeply rooted in the principles of sustainability, innovation, and inclusivity,” he stated.

He said his administration is aligning the Energy Transition Plan to focus on expanding off-grid solar and hybrid systems for critical public infrastructure, creating incentives for private sector participation through supportive regulations and fiscal measures, promoting public-private partnerships as drivers of sustainable energy deployment as well as leveraging blended financing to attract investments from development partners, international financial institutions, and local financiers. (Vanguard)

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PENGASSAN backs NUPENG, threatens shutdown of Dangote refinery

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has declared solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers in the push for the unionisation of tanker drivers and all employees of the Dangote refinery and its allied companies.

Recall that NUPENG had declared its intention to stop loading fuel today over allegations that the Dangote refinery planned to ban the drivers recruited for its 4,000 trucks from joining the union.

In a statement released on 7Monday, the association’s General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, said, “On behalf of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, we are writing to express our unwavering solidarity with our ally and sister union, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, in their ongoing efforts to secure the rights of tanker drivers who are currently being hired at the Dangote Refinery.”

PENGASSAN warned it may be forced to take drastic action if the matter remains unresolved.

“Should the ongoing situation persist without a resolution, PENGASSAN will be left with no option but to join in shutting down the refinery operations as a last resort to protect our members’ rights and interests,” the association threatened.

PENGASSAN accused the refinery’s management of resisting unionisation since its inception despite several diplomatic interventions.

“We wish to put on record that Dangote refinery management has been resisting potential members of both PENGASSAN and NUPENG from joining the Association since its inception. All diplomatic efforts to persuade the company’s management have so far not yielded the desired result. It is with deep concern that PENGASSAN observes the increasing resistance to unionisation at the Dangote refinery, as the continued denial of workers’ rights will no longer be tolerated going forward,” the statement read in part.

The union said it fully supported NUPENG’s demand for total unionisation across the refinery and its affiliates, saying this was in accordance with the principles set forth by the International Labour Organisation and in line with Nigerian labour laws.

It declared its firm support for NUPENG’s call for the full unionisation of not just petroleum tanker drivers but all employees of the refinery and its allied companies.

“The right of workers to organise and collectively bargain is not only a fundamental human right but also essential for promoting fair labour practices, ensuring safety, and upholding dignity in the workplace,” the statement added.

The union also urged urgent dialogue from all stakeholders to avert disruption.

It urged all stakeholders to engage in immediate and constructive dialogue to address the pressing issues.

“Failure to recognise and respect the rights of workers to unionise will have consequences that extend beyond Dangote’s refinery workplace, thereby impacting all facets of our industry.

“In unity, we advocate for the rights of all workers and pledge our support to NUPENG in this vital mission. Together, we will work towards an equitable and just labour environment for all employees at Dangote Refinery,” the statement concluded.

Meanwhile, a meeting of all stakeholders has been summoned in Abuja by the Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Muhammadu Dingyadi, to settle the crisis. (Punch)

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‘Bluey’ Movie gets August 2027 release date

Fans of everyone’s favorite blue heeler dog may just be a little more excited this afternoon as the Bluey movie unveils a release date.

The film version of the hit animation will launch August 6 2027, according to a Disney post on X in the past hour. “Hooray! The all-new feature length Bluey movie is coming only to cinemas on August 6, 2027!,” read the post.

The Bluey movie will no doubt be one of the biggest animated releases of 2027. It had long been teased and was confirmed late last year under a deal struck by Disney and BBC Studios. Disney has global theatrical and streaming rights. The Australian series chronicles the life of blue heeler dog, Bluey, and her family: Mom Chilli, Dad Bandit, and sister Bingo.

The film features returning voice talent Melanie Zanetti and David McCormack as Mum (Chilli) and Dad (Bandit). The show has captured the world’s imagination with its charming, funny, and relatable observations about everyday family life.

BBC Studios is financing and licensing the picture with theatrical distribution through Walt Disney Studios. The film is being supported by the Australian government through the Producer Offset and Screen Australia, and support from the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland’s Post, Digital and Visual Effects Incentive.

Written and directed by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, the film is a Ludo Studio production. Brumm recently announced that he was stepping away from the TV series to make the film although the TV series will continue without him. A video game was also announced by Nex Playground this morning.

“I’ve always thought Bluey deserved a theatrical movie. I want this to be an experiential event for the whole family to enjoy together,” Brumm said last December.

The movie is produced by Ludo Studio in collaboration with BBC Studios, the CG-animated feature is produced by Amber Naismith (Happy Feet) and co-directed by Richard Jeffery (Bluey, Series 1–3). Brumm is the executive producer, alongside Justine Flynn for BBC Studios, with Charlie Aspinwall and Daley Pearson from Ludo Studio. For Disney, the film will be overseen by David Greenbaum, president of Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios, and his team. (Deadline)

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Shooting in occupied East Jerusalem kills six, Israeli authorities say

Six people have been killed in a shooting attack in occupied East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities say, as the Israeli military’s punishing assault on besieged Gaza rages alongside an accelerated violent crackdown by the army and settlers in the occupied West Bank.

Paramedics said at least 12 people were injured and six were in “serious condition” after the shooting on Monday morning at Ramot Junction. Several others were “lightly injured by glass” and treated at the scene, Israel’s paramedic service, Magen David Adom, said.

Israeli police described the shooting as a suspected “terror attack”.

A security officer and a civilian shot and killed the perpetrators soon after the shooting began, police confirmed.

The police said the perpetrators arrived in a vehicle and opened fire at a bus station.

Israeli forces closed all checkpoints between East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank after the attack, sources told Al Jazeera.

After police said the perpetrators had come from the occupied West Bank, Israeli Army Radio reported Israeli forces imposed a military cordon on four villages in the Jerusalem governorate in the territory – Qatana, Biddu, Beit Inan and Beit Duqu – and conducted raids there.

The Israeli military said it had reinforced its forces in the wider Jerusalem area and was conducting a wide-ranging search for what it described as “accomplices” in the shooting.

Palestinians in the West Bank are preparing themselves to face collective punishment from Israel in retaliation for the attack, a Palestinian journalist said.

Speaking to Al Jazeera from the Aida refugee camp in the West Bank, Leila Warah said Palestinians were “very much on edge, waiting to see what is going to happen”. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israeli forces are pursuing the villages where the attackers hailed from, in what was a now standard Israeli response to such attacks, said Warah.

Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut – reporting from Amman, Jordan, because Al Jazeera is banned from East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Israel – said: “Israeli authorities are saying the two perpetrators are from an area in the occupied West Bank that is just west of occupied East Jerusalem. They say the two worked in tandem in this attack, that two gunmen boarded a bus – witnesses say one of them was dressed as a ticket inspector – and opened fire.”

“This attack took place near an illegal settlement of Ramot, just north of West Jerusalem, and if you look at where the Green Line is on a map, it actually bleeds into occupied East Jerusalem,” she added, referring to the generally recognised boundary between Israel and the West Bank. “These settlements are deemed illegal under international law and are buildings and structures that infringe on the rights of Palestinians and destroy territorial continuity for a future Palestinian state.”

“Israeli officials are now trying to wrap their heads around how exactly this happened, saying that they haven’t seen something like this happen in years, saying that the last shooting like this in greater Jerusalem was back in November 2023,” Salhut said.

Meanwhile, the Israel Hayom newspaper reported that Netanyahu informed judges that he would not attend his corruption trial session scheduled for Monday due to the security developments.

Both Netanyahu and far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have visited the scene of the shooting.

“We are in an intense war against terror on several fronts,” Netanyahu said there. “I want to send condolences to the families of the dead and to the wounded. A pursuit and encirclement of the villages from which the terrorists came is under way.”

In reaction to the shooting, the Palestinian Authority (PA) has “reiterated its firm position of rejecting and condemning any targeting of Palestinian and Israeli civilians”. Its presidential office said in a statement from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank that the PA denounces “all forms of violence and terrorism regardless of their source”.

Neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Islamic Jihad has claimed responsibility for the shooting but have expressed “congratulations” for the attack.

Hamas said in a statement that the shooting was “a natural response to the crimes of the occupation and the genocide it wages against our people” and that it sends a clear message that Israel’s plans to “occupy and destroy Gaza City and desecrate Al-Aqsa Mosque will not pass without punishment”.

The group said Israel’s aggression against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank “will not weaken the determination of our people and their resistance” and called for more attacks in occupied territory.

The al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, said in a short statement that the shooting was “a natural and legitimate response to the ongoing crimes of the Zionist enemy” in Palestinian territory.

The shooting most likely originated from the West Bank rather than from Hamas in Gaza, Israeli political analyst Ori Goldberg said.

Speaking from Tel Aviv, Goldberg told Al Jazeera he “seriously” doubted it had been ordered by Hamas.

If Hamas had carried out the attack, then it would mean Hamas was “trying to step up its resistance to what is beginning to look like a superimposed attempt to end the war”, he said, referring to comments from United States President Donald Trump’s administration that it is working on a solution to the war in Gaza.

Goldberg added that Israel has made some Palestinians feel that their only means of resistance is violence because Israel has done its utmost to ensure that they have no “sustainable model of politics”.

“Many Israelis ask where the Palestinian Nelson Mandela is at the moment, and the answer is either at a cemetery or in an Israeli prison. Israel has done everything it can to break any attempts on the part of the Palestinians to try and explore different paths, paths that are not violent like the ones we saw today,” he said, referring to the shooting.

Goldberg added that while Palestinians have also played a part in the failure of Palestinian politics, Israel is “by all means the stronger party” and bears most of the responsibility.

“Israel has done everything it can to break the Palestinian Authority, to arrest any semblance of a political leadership that might be amenable to a political process with Israel and to deny such a political process vehemently and repeatedly at all levels of the Israeli government,” he said. (AlJazeera)

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Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigns after election defeats

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has announced he is stepping down after less than a year in the role, following two major election losses.

The move comes a day before his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was expected to vote on whether to hold an internal leadership vote that could have forced him out.

The LDP has governed Japan for most of the past seven decades, but under Ishiba it lost its majority in the lower house for the first time in 15 years and then lost its majority in the upper house in July.

Japan, the world’s fourth-largest economy and a key US ally, now faces a period of political uncertainty as tensions rise with China and regional insecurity mounts.

“Now that a conclusion has been reached in the negotiations concerning the US tariff measures, I believe this is precisely the appropriate time,” Ishiba said, referring to a deal signed last week to ease tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on Japanese cars and other exports.

Until Sunday, he had resisted calls to resign, saying it was his responsibility to settle the dispute with Washington before stepping down.

“I have strongly believed that negotiations concerning the US tariff measures, which could be described as a national crisis, must be brought to a conclusion under our administration’s responsibility,” he said.

The 68-year-old said he would continue his responsibilities “to the people” until a successor was selected.

The LDP will now choose a new leader, who will become prime minister following a vote in parliament.

Ishiba, who took office in October 2024 promising to tackle rising prices, struggled to inspire confidence as the country faced economic headwinds, a cost-of-living crisis and fractious politics with the US.

Inflation, particularly the doubling of rice prices in the past year, was politically damaging.

Public support further slid after a series of controversies, including criticism of his decision to appoint only two women to his cabinet and handing out expensive gifts to party members. (BBC)

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New Zealand dad shot dead by police after years on the run with children

A father who had been on the run with his three children in New Zealand’s wilderness for nearly four years has been shot dead by police.

Tom Phillips, who disappeared with his children in late 2021, had evaded capture despite a nationwide search and multiple sightings over the years.

The case had gripped the country and remains one of New Zealand’s most enduring mysteries.

Phillips was killed in a shoot-out around 02:30 (14:30 GMT Sunday) on Monday, in which a police officer was seriously injured, authorities said.

Officers were responding to a reported robbery at a commercial property in Piopio, a small town in northern New Zealand, when Phillips and one of his children were spotted riding a quad bike.

Police officers then gave chase before laying road spikes to stop them. The bike hit the spikes and went off road.

When police reached the vehicle they were met with gunfire, Deputy Police Commissioner Jill Rogers told reporters.

The first attending officer at the scene was shot in the head, and remains in a serious condition, police said.

A second patrol unit then engaged Phillips, who was shot and died at the scene. While the body had not been formally identified at the time of the announcement, police were confident it was Phillips.

The other two children were found later in the day at a remote campsite in dense bush. All three children are unharmed, Rogers said.

The child he was with, who has not been identified, had provided “crucial” information that helped them locate Phillips’ two other children later in the day.

It was unclear whether the children had been informed of their father’s death.

Police have notified their mother and Phillips’ parents that the children are safe, though they declined to comment on who will provide ongoing care.

The children’s mother, known only as Cat, told local media outlet RNZ she was “deeply relieved” that “this ordeal has come to an end” after missing her children dearly “every day for nearly four years.” But, she continued: “We are saddened by how events unfolded today.”

Authorities said Phillips had been evading capture since failing to appear in court in 2022.

Before they disappeared, Phillips and his children were living in Marokopa, a small rural town in the region of Waikato. Phillips, believed to be in his late-30s this year, had been described as an experienced hunter and bushman.

Police believe he took his children after losing legal custody of them.

Marokopa is an area surrounded by a very harsh landscape, a sweeping and rough coastline, dense bush and forested terrain with a network of caves spanning many kilometres.

Locals know Phillips as a bushman with survival skills that would have set him up for building shelters and foraging for food in the wilderness.

Still, there were signs that he got desperate for resources. Since 2023, there have been sightings of Phillips and his children at numerous break-ins at hardware and grocery shops.

Last October, a group of teenagers spotted them trekking through the bush and filmed the encounter. In the video, Phillips and the children were wearing camouflaged clothing and each was carrying their own packs.

The teenagers had briefly spoken to one of the children, asking if anyone knew they were there. The child had replied “only you” and kept walking, New Zealand’s 1News reported.

Last year, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Phillips over his suspected involvement in a bank robbery in Te Kuiti, a small town on the North Island.

Police said he had had an accomplice during the alleged incident.

In fact, over the years, many have wondered if Phillips got any help from the tight-knit community in Marokopa, a town where fewer than 100 people lived, and the question remains unanswered.

Phillips’s death comes less than a month after his family directly appealed to him to come home.

In an interview with local news website Stuff, his sister Rozzi said the family had been “ready to help [Phillips] walk through what you need to walk through”.

“I really want to see you and the kids and be part of your lives again,” she said then.

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Chris Luxon has described the turn of events as “sad and absolutely tragic”.

“This is not what anybody wanted to happen today. I think that is a consistent feeling from everybody across New Zealand,” he said in a weekly briefing on Monday.

Other New Zealanders are also concerned about how Phillips’s death would affect his children’s wellbeing.

Marlene McIsaac, a resident in the Waitomo district, says she wished there had been “a happier ending”. “For the kids, you know? The kids will be devastated,” she told 1News. (BBC)

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Gbajabiamila hails military, unveils 1,200-seater auditorium at Lagos Army Barracks

The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila on Friday inaugurated a 1,200-capacity auditorium he facilitated at Abalti Army Barracks, Surulere, Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that, the auditorium, named Bola Tinubu Hall, is one the projects facilitated by the Chief of Staff at the barracks.

At the inauguration, Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, said that the military deserved better recognition and dividends of democracy even when they do not ask like the electorate.

He said, “The military has done so well in stabilising this country and this democracy.

“And that is why when you talk about dividends of democracy, normally it is the civilians, our people, our electorate that talk about and ask for dividends of democracy.

“But you guys don’t ask for it. It is given to you naturally because we understand the role you play in Nigeria.

“If you are doing that, it behoves on us, as elected officials, and unelected officials as I am now, to make sure that you live in a comfortable environment, that you operate within a comfortable environment that will make your work easier.

“That’s why we commission projects here on a regular basis. This is another one of them: over 1,000 capacity hall, it is furnished, fully air-conditioned, with an 80 kVA generator and it is ultra-modern.

“And why do we do that? We do that because the army, the military is an integral part of any democracy.”

According to him, without security, there cannot be democracy.

Gbajabiamila conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s leadership commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of the officers and men of the military.

He expressed the President’s gratitude for the role the men and women in the military play, and for sacrificing, sometimes even paying the supreme sacrifice, to keep the country one.

According to him, the facility allows the military to host events, to do training and conferences as well as help to generate revenue.

Gbajabiamila added that he was working to pull down the old bungalows in the barracks and replace them with a multi-storey residential building, “which will be our next project for this barracks”.

He added that efforts had been made to build and inaugurate an ultra modern new residential building at the nearby police barracks, “Yours is coming, too”.

He added, “I want to thank you for all that you have been doing, not just in Surulere, but for what you’ve been doing for everyone, even outside Surulere.

“We thank you for how you have been able to maintain peace and security within Surulere

“The traditional role of the military, even constitutionally, is to protect the territorial integrity of our country, but sometimes you are called upon to step outside that traditional role to maintain internal security.

“And not once have you wavered in that call to duty. May God continue to bless you. May God continue to keep all of you.

“May you continue to serve your motherland dutifully, responsibly and with the same commitment and faith that Nigeria will continue to be one. Nigeria will continue to be strong.”

According to him, the nation’s democracy is growing and doing well, noting that the President has full commitment towards the welfare of the men and women in uniform.

“I have served many presidents, I have seen many presidents and I have worked with many presidents. They all have the same commitment towards our men and women in uniform. They all have commitment towards you.

“But I have not seen one that has the kind of commitment, the kind of passion, like President Bola Tinubu does for you,” he added.

Speaking, Mr Muiz Dosunmu, the Vice Chairman, Surulere Local Government, who described the council as the best in Nigeria, said that council had been relating peacefully with the Abalti Barracks community.

He said that the cooperation and collaboration between the two parties had facilitated many notable projects in the barracks.

“Surulere is leading in all facets: development, education, sports, health infrastructure. We have tried to be the best and people can see, we don’t need to blow our trumpet unnecessarily.

“We believe we can do more than we are doing and we promise to do more than what we are doing. We are not leaving any man behind, everybody is being carried along, involved and integrated, as advised by the chief of staff to the President.

“We keep promising that we will always be the vocal point of whatever is happening in Nigeria,” he said.

He applauded Gbajabiamila for doing his best not for the council alone ,but for the state and the country.

In his keynote address, Director of Nigeria Army on Corps, Lt.-Col. Michael Toriola, who described Gbajabiamila as a role model, philanthropist and a man with a good heart, commended the chief of staff vision and commitment to the welfare of the military.

Toriola applauded Gbajabiamila for building the Hall and other projects that had been put in place in the barracks out of his magnanimity.

“Sir, we appreciate you. This is a true reflection of your commitment to the well-being of officers, our family and men. It underscores the importance of creating an environment where we can perform and thrive.

“The completion of this facility (Bola Tinubu Hall) goes beyond mere infrastructure, it represents progress, professionalism and a deep pride in service.

“As we commission this gigantic hall today, may it stand as a lasting symbol of our shared commitment to excellence and service,” he said.

The event was attended by many APC leaders including a member representing Surulere Constituency I in the House of Assembly, Mr Desmond Elliot, officers and men of the Nigerian Army. (Nation)