French President, Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday met with President Muhammadu Buhari in a closed-door bilateral meeting at the Presidential Villa and pledged to increase the cooperation between Nigeria and France in tackling security challenges brought about by the activities of Boko Haram and ISIS jihadists in Nigeria.

Macron who challenged him to work towards providing an enabling economic and political environment to help youths to achieve their dreams, noted that it was important for leaders in Africa to understand why young people were disposed to joining terrorist groups.

” First of all, I think the main plan is an African plan and France is not the one to solve or fix African situations.

“What is important to me is how the different African governments organise themselves to fight against terrorism and get rid of these people and especially, Jihadism. That’s is why I do promote the G5/Sahel Initiatives,” he added.

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The French President thereafter proceeded to the New Afrika Shrine of popular Afrobeat king, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, in Ikeja Lagos where he attended a concert in company of Lagos Governor, Akinwumi Ambode.

Responding to questions on why he chose to visit the New Afrika Shrine of popular Afrobeat king, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Macron said the place was an iconic hub.

“First, because I wanted to find a good occasion to come back there. I know the place and I have some memories. I think that is such an iconic place for a lot of African people and African culture. Fela, Femi, Seun Kuti are obviously very famous in France and Europe. I mean they are big successes, but the Shrine is a cultural hub, an iconic hub.

“It is very important for me, first on a personal level. That is why I want to say with a lot of humility that I recognise the importance of this place. I recognise the place of culture in this current environment.”

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Seven policemenon patrol were on Monday shot dead by unknown gunmen at the Galadimawa Roundabout, along the Nnamdi Azikiwe Road, Lokogoma District of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in a surprise attack.

Commenting on the incident, the Force Spokesman,  Jimoh Moshood, said investigation had commenced into the attack., adding that the incidence was an indication that those who are calling for the disbandment or end to SARS are not doing the nation any good.

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The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), has warned that the peace-making efforts of the church should not be misunderstood to be a weakness, because if pushed to the wall, the church could react.

President of  the body, Rev. Felix Omobude who stated this on Tuesday during a condolence visit to Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau on the recent killings in the state, also called on Christians to continually follow the path of peace in line with the injunctions of the faith.

He noted however that there was no law prohibiting Christians from defending themselves in the state as he called on the government to beyond mere condemnation, fish out the perpetrators of the evil across the land and expose their sponsors.

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Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi has revealed that he got the information about his father’s abduction shortly before he led Nigeria out against Argentina last Tuesday 26th June in Saint Petersburg.

Mikel who made the disclosure on Tuesday in a statement announcing the release of his father, said he didn’t discuss it with the coach as he did not want his issue to become a distraction to the coach or the rest of the team on the day of such an important game,

“Four hours before kick-off, I received a call from Nigeria that my father Pa Michael Obi had been kidnapped for the second time.

“He was on his way to a funeral in south eastern Nigeria from Jos when he was abducted along the Makurdi-Enugu expressway.

He went on to thank the police authorities for their rescue efforts as well as friends and family members who supported him.