By Suleiman Yakubu

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has called for the deployment of more Air Force assets in the fight against bandits and criminal elements in the state.
The governor made the call when he paid a visit to the Nigerian Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, at the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters in Abuja.
He said the deployment of Air Force personnel and fighter jets would help in having a more rapid response to any security threat.
Governor Umaru Bago also described the helicopter crash in the Shiroro local government area of the state as unfortunate and sympathised with the air chief.
He appreciated the efforts of the Nigerian Air Force in containing the activities of terrorists and other criminal elements in the state.
He assured the Nigerian Air Force of the state government's commitment to provide all the needed support, including accommodation and other facilities for personnel.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, thanked the governor for the visit and reiterated that the Nigerian Air Force will remain undaunted even in the face of challenges to deal with banditry and insurgency that have plagued the Northern Region.
Air Marshal Bala Abubakar also identified the government's approach as key to addressing the security challenges and called on Nigerians to support the Armed Forces through information sharing.

By Suleiman Yakubu

Nigerians, especially the body of Christ, have been admonished to renew their hope in God as there is life after the death of their relatives, particularly those who died in Christ, rather than blaming the death as the handiwork of some enemies or some evil people, especially when such relatives died at relatively young ages.
Reverend Obadiah Dakut of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) Church and the officiating Priest at LCC Kiffong village, Pushit District, Mangu LGA in Plateau State gave the charge at the Funeral service for the late Mr. Pan'an Mathew Jwuantu, a former Niger State Correspondent of Standard Newspaper, over the weekend.
Rev. Dakut, whose theme at the funeral service was taken from the Book of Psalms 34:18, added that the essence of his sermon was that people have different perceptions about death, saying that people, especially Nigerians and some Christians, no longer look up to God because whenever there was any death of their relatives or friends, they accused people or witchcraft of being responsible for it.
The Cleric stated further that the essence of his preaching was to draw the attention of Christians to the fact that no matter their conditions, they should not despair but rest their hope and believe in God, emphasising that death is inevitable while there is time to be born and time to die.
"Whenever a Christian dies in the Lord, irrespective of his or her age, the relatives and friends on earth will start weeping for the person because they are feeling a sense of loss, but if such a person was a strong believer when alive, the Angels will be rejoicing over the departed soul on his or her arrival in heaven as a new-born Baby in their midst", he said.
He therefore enjoined the families of the deceased journalist, especially his aged Parents, wife, and children, not to lose hope over the death of their breadwinner, stressing that there is hope after death, and praying that God should raise a provider for the family in a miraculous way that they never expected.
Aged 39, the late Mr. Pan'an Mathew Jwantu is survived by his Parents, Mr. Mathew Jwantu (Sr.) and Mrs. Halima Mathew Jwantu; Wife, Mrs. Mercy Pan'an Mathew Jwantu; and four children.
The remains of the deceased Journalist who died recently during a brief illness was buried shortly after the funeral service at a Private Cemetery on rocks within the village in the presence of his relations and friends from far and near, some of whom were the representatives of the Leadership of the Niger State Council of NUJ, led by the Council's Vice Chairman, Comrade Uriah Gana, in conjunction with the state chapter of NAWOJ, led by it's Treasurer, Ruth Gana and their counterpart, members of the Correspondents Chapel of NUJ, Niger led by Adelowo Oladipo of the Nigerian Tribune and Chinwe Nnadozie, Secretary of the state chapter of SWAN and state Correspondent (Niger) Daily Independent Newspapers.
Others included Rev. Luka Elisha from COCIN, LCC Minna, Niger State, and Mr. Joshua A. Mufla, Secretary Mapjoval, Doloiass (Jos, Plateau State Socio-Cultural Association) Minna branch Niger State, among others.