A few number of persons have been confirmed killed following a bomb explosion that hits a drinking joint at a cattle market in Iware Community, a suburb of Ardo-Kola Local Government Area of Taraba State.

At least 19 other persons have also been confirmed injured and receiving treatment at various health centres within the community and beyond.

The state Police Public Relations Officer Abdullahi Usman said this is the second time such explosion is taking place with the first at a catholic school in Mutum Biyu, the headquarters of Gassol Local Government Area, 30 kilometres away from each other a month ago.

Usman added that security operatives have been drafted to the scene to commence investigation as well as douse the tension already created.

Iware Community is known for its cattle market and attracts buyers from all over Nigeria and neigbouring Cameroon who storm the market every Tuesday to make purchases at affordable prices.

An eye witness Sunday Pantuvo, who narrowly escaped with injuries said the alleged bomber came to the drinking joint with a friend as customers, ordered for a drink and left in separate ways.

The alleged bomber later returned, paid for the drink and dropped a polythene bag which is said to contain the explosive and stepped aside.

Few minutes later, he said he was going in search of his friend and seconds after the bomb exploded.

Pantuvo said one of the suspected bombers was later caught and killed by the angry residents who cut his body into parts in anger.

Former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso, has formally declared for the 2023 presidential race.

Kwankwaso who bought the form by himself, picked the Presidential nomination and expression of interest forms of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), on Tuesday, he urged Nigerians especially politicians who truly want to change the image of the country for good to join NNPP.

Speaking at the national headquarters of the NNPP while collecting the forms, Kwankwanso said his party will take over power in 2023.

“This is a progressive party that want to change the political landscape of this country. If you go to any ward now, the party people are talking about now is NNPP. Those who want to grow this country should join NNPP.

This country has never been divided like this before and we are people who want to unite this country regardless of religion and tribe because the country is for all of us,” Kwankwanso said.

Kwankwanso said: “Let me at this point also invite all Nigerians to register in NNPP. Go to your wards and register. We have been printing membership cards and they are being exhausted.

“For people who want to join politics, come and buy the forms at the headquarters of the NNPP. For the state house of assembly, forms are at the state level.”

A gunman identified as the Commander of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was killed by Nigerian Army troops belonging to the 34 Artillery Brigade in Imo.

Troops reported that they came across members of the separatist organization who were firing sporadically at Banana Junction in the state’s Orlu Local Government Area, while they were enforcing their “illegal sit- at-home’’ order on law-abiding citizens.

The commander was killed during a gun battle at Ihioma Community in Orlu, according to Army spokesman Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, who issued a statement in Abuja on Monday.

The IPOB/ESN offenders withdrew from the gun duel in a blue Toyota Highlander towards Ihioma locality for reinforcement, according to Nwachukwu.

“In the gun battle that ensued, one of the criminals was taken out, while others fled in disarray. Troops are combing the general area in a follow-up operation to track down the fleeing dissidents.”

“Having suffered casualties and effectively denied freedom of action by the troops, the group has resorted to cheap propaganda to whip up public sentiments.

“This, they have done by circulating a doctored video on social media alleging troops’ complicity in their mindless atrocities. This propaganda should be disregarded in its entirety,” the statement said.

Apostle Johnson Suleman of the Omega Fire Ministries has said that biological brothers of men who beat their wives are useless.

Suleman advised women in abusive marriages to leave while they are still alive, he said there are some marriages that should break.

He made the appeal as reaction trails the death of gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu, whose husband, Peter Nwachukwu, physically abused in their marriage.

Osinachi was said to have died from injury sustained from one of the many attacks she suffered from her husband.

Speaking on Sunday, Suleman said, “All those women that their husbands are beating, don’t they have brothers? If they don’t have biological brothers, they have Christian brother.

“If you are in this church and you are beating your wife, stop it. If she reports you to me, we will beat you, I will go to the police station and take permission before I gather brothers in this church to beat you.