Watching the news today it was quite sad again seeing the plight of Africans today - allowing others to make things miserable for them in their countries, going abroad and still having things made miserable for them. Nigeria is not exempt, while the rest of the world progresses and moves on, we just consume, produce nothing and engage in fighting ourselves for all kinds of petty reasons.
This was the disheartening news I read tonight, the video makes you sick:
About 1,000 African migrants have marched out of an Israeli detention centre in protest at their treatment and are camped out by the border after Israel’s army prevented them from crossing into Egypt, migrant activists said on Sunday. The Eritrean and Sudanese migrants left the open detention facility on Friday, saying Israel has not processed their claims for asylum. The migrants are imploring the UN to help resettle them elsewhere. “We cannot continue living in a cage in the desert, with no release date and no judicial review,” migrant activists said in a statement. The army said the migrants approached an area that is restricted for security reasons and were not allowed to proceed. About 50,000 Africans have poured into Israel in recent years from Egypt. The Africans say they are fleeing persecution and danger. Israel says many are looking for employment. Some believe Israel’s history as a refuge for Holocaust survivors compels it to help the downtrodden. Others fear taking in so many Africans will threaten the country’s Jewish character. Israel has struggled with how to deal with the African migrants. It has built a fence along its 220-kilometre border with Egypt, offered cash to migrants to return home, reached out to other countries to take them in and in many cases detained them. Some 2,300 people are held at the open Holot detention centre in a remote desert location. They can come and go, but they must sign in several times a day and sleep there, making it impossible for them to stray far from the remote facility or hold jobs. Those who violate the rules, or reject what Israel calls “invitations” to report there, can be sent to a nearby prison. Israel does not deport the migrants because they could face danger in their conflict-ridden homelands. But critics charge that Israel’s policies make migrants feel coerced to leave. They also accuse Israel of dragging its feet on reviewing the migrants’ claims for refugee status.
Students of world religions will also be be familiar with the following verses from the muslim Qur'an:
Surah 60, verses 7 to 9
7 ) It may be that Allah will grant love (and friendship) between you and those whom ye (now) hold as enemies. For Allah has power (over all things); And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
8 ) Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loveth those who are just.
9 ) Allah only forbids you, with regard to those who fight you for (your) Faith, and drive you out of your homes, and support (others) in driving you out, from turning to them (for friendship and protection). It is such as turn to them (in these circumstances), that do wrong.
In a day of dramatic incidents in the heart of the British-controlled area of Iraq, the two undercover soldiers - almost certainly special forces - were held by Iraqi security forces after clashes that reportedly left two people dead and threatened to escalate into a diplomatic incident between London and Baghdad.
The soldiers, who were said to have been wearing Arab headdress, were accused of firing at Iraqi police when stopped at a road block.
In another incident an angry crowd attacked a Warrior armoured personnel carrier with petrol bombs. A British soldier was forced to flee from his burning vehicle. ___________________________________________________
The two British operatives, arrested by Basra police and later freed by a British military operation, were identified by the BBC as “members of the SAS elite special forces” (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/424614.stm ).
They were disguised by wigs and Arab dress. Iraqi sources reported that the Iraqi police were watching the two, and when they tried to approach them they shot two policemen and tried to escape the scene. The Iraqi police chased and captured them, to discover large amount of explosives planted in the car, which apparently was planned to be remotely detonated in the busy market of Basra. The SAS involvement in Iraq was discovered on the 30th of January 2005 when an RAF Hercules plane crashed near Baghdad killing then British servicemen after dropping off fifty SAS members north of Baghdad to fight Iraqi guerillas.
SAS (Special Air Service) is a secret regiment in the British Army. It was formed in 1941 to conduct raids behind the German lines in North Africa. ___________________________________________________
In a statement, the MoD said: "We neither confirm nor deny the story and we do not comment on the special forces."
Jon Leyne, who is in Benghazi, said the men went to the compound of an agricultural company where they were challenged by Libyan guards and asked if they had weapons.
"Witnesses said that when the men's bags were checked they were found to contain arms, ammunition, explosives, maps and passports from at least four different nationalities.
"The witnesses said at that point all eight men were arrested and taken to an army base in Benghazi where they are being held by the opposition forces who control this area."
It was reported that in May of 2005, an Iraqi man was arrested after witnessing a car bombing that took place in front of his home, as it was said he shot an Iraqi National Guardsman. However, "People from the area claim that the man was taken away not because he shot anyone, but because he knew too much about the bomb. Rumor has it that he saw an American patrol passing through the area and pausing at the bomb site minutes before the explosion. Soon after they drove away, the bomb went off and chaos ensued. He ran out of his house screaming to the neighbors and bystanders that the Americans had either planted the bomb or seen the bomb and done nothing about it. He was promptly taken away."
Further, another story was reported in the same month that took place in Baghdad when an Iraqi driver had his license and car confiscated at a checkpoint, after which he was instructed "to report to an American military camp near Baghdad airport for interrogation and in order to retrieve his license." After being questioned for a short while, he was told to drive his car to an Iraqi police station, where his license had been forwarded, and that he should go quickly. "The driver did leave in a hurry, but was soon alarmed with a feeling that his car was driving as if carrying a heavy load, and he also became suspicious of a low flying helicopter that kept hovering overhead, as if trailing him. He stopped the car and inspected it carefully. He found nearly 100 kilograms of explosives hidden in the back seat and along the two back doors. The only feasible explanation for this incident is that the car was indeed booby trapped by the Americans and intended for the al-Khadimiya Shiite district of Baghdad. The helicopter was monitoring his movement and witnessing the anticipated ‘hideous attack by foreign elements." ___________________________________________________
Anyone remember when these stories were all all over the news? These are easy ways for foreigners to manipulate bombings and wars in other countries. Let's hope the same tricks are not being played out in in Nigeria today.
In a day of dramatic incidents in the heart of the British-controlled area of Iraq, the two undercover soldiers - almost certainly special forces - were held by Iraqi security forces after clashes that reportedly left two people dead and threatened to escalate into a diplomatic incident between London and Baghdad.
The soldiers, who were said to have been wearing Arab headdress, were accused of firing at Iraqi police when stopped at a road block.
In another incident an angry crowd attacked a Warrior armoured personnel carrier with petrol bombs. A British soldier was forced to flee from his burning vehicle. ___________________________________________________
The two British operatives, arrested by Basra police and later freed by a British military operation, were identified by the BBC as “members of the SAS elite special forces” (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/424614.stm ).
They were disguised by wigs and Arab dress. Iraqi sources reported that the Iraqi police were watching the two, and when they tried to approach them they shot two policemen and tried to escape the scene. The Iraqi police chased and captured them, to discover large amount of explosives planted in the car, which apparently was planned to be remotely detonated in the busy market of Basra. The SAS involvement in Iraq was discovered on the 30th of January 2005 when an RAF Hercules plane crashed near Baghdad killing then British servicemen after dropping off fifty SAS members north of Baghdad to fight Iraqi guerillas.
SAS (Special Air Service) is a secret regiment in the British Army. It was formed in 1941 to conduct raids behind the German lines in North Africa. ___________________________________________________
In a statement, the MoD said: "We neither confirm nor deny the story and we do not comment on the special forces."
Jon Leyne, who is in Benghazi, said the men went to the compound of an agricultural company where they were challenged by Libyan guards and asked if they had weapons.
"Witnesses said that when the men's bags were checked they were found to contain arms, ammunition, explosives, maps and passports from at least four different nationalities.
"The witnesses said at that point all eight men were arrested and taken to an army base in Benghazi where they are being held by the opposition forces who control this area." ___________________________________________________
We were directed to an agricultural project and there we learnt that the british manager had gone at 2am into the dessert. He returned with the men who had landed by helicopter. No wonder suspicions were raised. A man who we met who had been a guard on the gate told us how they had searched the foreigners. He said they found guns and bombs in their luggage. Other sources said they also had maps and passports from a variety of countries.
My understanding is that these were diplomats were with a close protection team, but as somebody close to the council running Benghazi said to me ”why did they come through the window when they could have come through the door?” ___________________________________________________
It was reported that in May of 2005, an Iraqi man was arrested after witnessing a car bombing that took place in front of his home, as it was said he shot an Iraqi National Guardsman. However, "People from the area claim that the man was taken away not because he shot anyone, but because he knew too much about the bomb. Rumor has it that he saw an American patrol passing through the area and pausing at the bomb site minutes before the explosion. Soon after they drove away, the bomb went off and chaos ensued. He ran out of his house screaming to the neighbors and bystanders that the Americans had either planted the bomb or seen the bomb and done nothing about it. He was promptly taken away."
Further, another story was reported in the same month that took place in Baghdad when an Iraqi driver had his license and car confiscated at a checkpoint, after which he was instructed "to report to an American military camp near Baghdad airport for interrogation and in order to retrieve his license." After being questioned for a short while, he was told to drive his car to an Iraqi police station, where his license had been forwarded, and that he should go quickly. "The driver did leave in a hurry, but was soon alarmed with a feeling that his car was driving as if carrying a heavy load, and he also became suspicious of a low flying helicopter that kept hovering overhead, as if trailing him. He stopped the car and inspected it carefully. He found nearly 100 kilograms of explosives hidden in the back seat and along the two back doors. The only feasible explanation for this incident is that the car was indeed booby trapped by the Americans and intended for the al-Khadimiya Shiite district of Baghdad. The helicopter was monitoring his movement and witnessing the anticipated ‘hideous attack by foreign elements." ___________________________________________________
The Borno State director of the SSS, Ahmed Abdullahi, disclosed on Wednesday night that his officers had arrested the man who goes by the pseudonym Abul Qaqa in Maiduguri.
Qaqa, who had been speaking on behalf of the Boko Haram sect for the past six months, had been issuing statements claiming responsibility for various bomb attacks.
Speaking to newsmen yesterday, the state director of SSS, Mr. Ahmed Abdullahi, said Qaqa was picked from his hideout in Maiduguri, the capital city of Borno State, through the global positioning tracking system (GPS)
Although Mr. Abdullahi declined comment on the precise area where the sect’s spokesman was nabbed, he explained that a team of experts within the service had been on the trail of the suspect, saying, “We have finally got him and he is currently in our custody,” he said.
What, it took all that while to figure out he could be tracked via his mobile phone after all the so many calls he's been making?
It was gathered that Qaqa, an indigene of Kogi State and a native of Igala tribe, was finally arrested after the SSS had been monitoring his phone calls, despite the fact that he used numerous numbers and always replaced them with new ones.
Ah, he kept changing his numbers. He must have been changing his addresses as well - all in the same location? The CIA/MOSSAD must have helped the SSS with technology for this one.
Everyone could guess the insistence upon sending messages in Hausa meant the senders were being to academic and could speak English.
3.
Shortly after the announcement of the capture of the spokesman, an unidentified member of the sect who spoke with reporters on phone confirmed that their spokesman had indeed been nabbed.
“Yes, I can confirm to you that our spokesman has been arrested at his residence in Maiduguri. In fact, he was just arrested without any confrontation as he was taken unawares… our warriors who normally guard him were absent when the security agents raided his hideout,” the sect member said.
He however stated that Qaqa’s arrest would not deter the sect from carrying out more violence against the authority and security agents, adding: “Our struggle was not for worldly gain; rather it is to be close to Almighty God by establishing Islamic system of governance, so why would we be discouraged just because one of us was nabbed?”
The man assured that the group would make a formal reaction over the issue, “We are ready to sacrifice our lives for this cause as the arrest of one of our top leaders will only further motivate us.”
[b]The "warriors who normally guard him were absent"? Was it their break time or did they go shopping? We were told they were a "highly organised sophisticated group".
Terrorist referring to the location of their member as a "hideout"? Hiding from whom? They said they couldn't be stopped and had warriors for a just cause, they're not afraid, so why a hideout? Or is a translation error??
Again deliberately mentioning the struggle to establish "Islamic governance" not fighting for worldly gain. That's odd - what example of Islamic governance have they actually established anywhere? Wait a minute, so why the majority attacks on police stations in the middle of nowhere with statements saying it was because their members had been captured by security forces? That's not the struggle.
Why are they referring to the guy captured as one of their "top leaders"? That almost sounds like the captors speaking. Why tell everyone how important he was to your organization? That's not being highly sophisticated.
Let's hope the fantastic escape scenario isn't played out once more.
Hopefully whoever's in government apparently pulling the boko haram's strings (feeding them classified information and enabling escapes) won't also be pulling the SSS' strings. [/b]
Record Year For Company Tracks 800 Million Devices Attempting Fraud 150,000 Times Each Day Across Online Financial Services, Retail, Gaming, Social Communities and More
PORTLAND, Ore. – January 31, 2011 – iovation, the Device Reputation Authority™ protecting online businesses from fraud and abuse, today announced a record year in preventing online fraud, and that transactions originating from the country of Ghana are most likely to correlate to fraud. Overall, the company stopped 50 million fraud attempts in 2011, and is at a current pace of 150,000 fraudulent transactions per day. iovation identified these fraud attempts using its patented ReputationManager 360 solution, which tracks more than 800 million devices across a broad range of industries and has protected more than 6.5 billion total online transactions to date.
“Although Ghana topped our list, online fraud is a global problem,” said Greg Pierson, founder and CEO of iovation. “We see proof everyday that cyber fraud knows no boundaries—crossing borders, devices and industries at will which makes it all the more important to share data and about truly global device activity.”
According to iovation, the top five countries showing the most fraud in 2011 (as a percentage of the transactions originating in that country) were:
1. Ghana
2. Nigeria
3. The Philippines
4. China
5. Israel
iovation also detected a 400 percent increase in fraud via mobile devices last year. Although these devices represent only 4 percent of the overall fraud total, this dramatic increase mirrors general growth trends for mobile usage, and indicates that recognizing and stopping fraud will only become more challenging.
A lot of people in the West are apprehensive of anything to with China in Africa and post their concerns a lot on online forums (scramble for Africa competition).
Defence authorities have reportedly uncovered a plot to bomb the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Also on attack in a fresh orgy of violence set to be unleashed on Abuja, the federal capital, is a highbrow hotel in the heart of the city (name withheld by us).
However, detailed analysis of the plot, which was said to have been picked by the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) as well as the Defence Intelligence, reportedly indicated that it had a political undertone and was part of the fireworks over next month’s gubernatorial elections in Adamawa and Bayelsa States.
Military sources confided that the planned attack on the critical facilities, if executed, would be blamed on the rampaging Islamist sect, Boko Haram, but an analysis of information available to the military intelligence authorities traced the plot to the machinations of ‘do-or-die politicians’.
Specifically, the plot to bomb the INEC head office in Abuja is said to be linked to the governorship polls slated for Adamawa and Bayelsa States on February 4 and 11 respectively. While a former military administrator of Lagos State, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd.) of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and incumbent Governor, Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako (retd.), are the major contenders in Adamawa State, Governor Timipre Sylva is slugging it out with a federal legislator, Hon. Seriake Dickson in Bayelsa State.
Intelligence sources said the bombings on the CBN headquarters and the hotel had been planned to take place simultaneously to give an indication of coordinated attacks on national assets with a pre-arranged plan for a fake Boko Haram spokesman to announce through a foreign media station that the sect was responsible for the attacks.
Consequently, the defence authorities have reportedly placed a security alert on the FCT with a directive that the present military strength at INEC, CBN and the hotel, among other critical facilities, should be beefed up.
News from Kano suggests confused police opened fire on civilians running into the barracks for safety, confusing them for attackers. If confirmed true that would explain such high casualty numbers.
The Federal Ministry of Power has debunked reports of labour issues with the staff of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
Speaking against the backdrop of the 48-hour ultimatum to the ministry by the electricity workers to resolve all outstanding labour issues, failing which they will embark on an indefinite strike, Power Minister, Prof. Bart Nnaji, said: “The only outstanding issue between PHCN workers and the Ministry of Power is the payment of arrears for the months of last June, July and August following the 50 per cent increase in PHCN staff salaries, which the Minister of Power graciously approved even though it escalated the monthly wage bill from about N8 billion to over N11 billion monthly.”
A release Sunday by the minister’s Special Assistant, Hon. Nick Agbo, said although the law allows Nigerian workers to embark on an industrial action if there is a trade dispute, but that the law prohibits PHCN employees from going on strike, because they provide essential services.
He, however, stated that all outstanding arrears due the worker would be paid this week.
According to Agbo, “The law allows Nigerian workers to embark on an industrial action if there is a trade dispute between an employer of labour and his or her workers. Even so, there is a procedure which must be followed; and this procedure has not been attempted at all in this instance. Therefore, it is inconceivable that the union of junior workers in the power sector could wake up one morning and give the government a mere 48-hour notice to resolve all so-called outstanding labour issues or face a strike.”
He argued that the main task before the Nigeria’s power sector now is how to sustain the improved power supply across the country and warned that any attempt to return the power sector to the days of wild cat strikes at a time that the country is being faced with security challenges and acute socio-economic crisis arising from the recent nationwide strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress and civil society coalition over the increase in the pump price petrol will would not be tolerated.
According to him, government has received intelligence reports to the effect that “certain entrenched interests diametrically opposed to the ongoing power sector reform because of their personal gains are sponsoring the attempt to disrupt power supply all over the nation using the redeployment of the PHCN Headquarters staff as a bogey”.
He also denied report that the PHCN headquarters had been sold and all the staff disengaged, reaffirming that there is no plan to sell the building.
“In fact, the building will serve the Ministry of power and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), among other government establishments.
“The government merely redeployed the workers to PHCN successor companies, National Integrated Power Project and Federal Ministry of Power so that they will not be out of job when the successor companies are privatised later in the year; the National Electricity Regulatory Commission does not regard the PHCN as a market participant.
KAMPALA, Uganda—The Ugandan parliament has ordered the state-run Electricity Regulatory Authority to reverse a power-tariff increase, announced last week, noting growing economic hardships occasioned by the removal of government subsidies.
The move comes amid widespread protests over high prices, which have led to clashes between protesters and police.
Uganda's parliamentary panel on energy ordered a halt to the new tariffs after the ERA failed to produce minutes of the special board meeting that sanctioned the increase, as required by the Ugandan law, according to Jacob Oboth, chairman of the panel.
"We consider the tariff adjustment illegal at the moment since there is no evidence that the board approved it," he said.
However, Uganda's Energy and Minerals Ministry said separately that it is the duty of ERA and not parliament to adjust power tariffs.
"The committee can only make recommendations to Parliament, which would then discuss them and change them if a resolution is made … the Electricity Act is clear and makes no provision for tariffs to be taken to Parliament for endorsement," said Paul Mubiru, the energy and minerals ministry director, in a statement.
The price of electricity increased last week by an average 42%, with industrial users facing rises of up to 70%, after the government said maintaining current levels of subsidies was unsustainable. The first bills under the new tariffs were expected Feb. 15.
Mr. Oboth said parliament is investigating the Ugandan electricity sector, and increasing the tariffs could pre-empt its findings.
However ERA Executive Director Benon Mutambi said separately that the money budgeted to subsidize the sector during the 2011-12 fiscal year has already been exhausted due to inflationary pressure and a depreciating exchange rate, hence the need for the removal of the subsidy.
Uganda has spent at least $623 million on electricity subsidies since 2005, according to the Energy and Minerals Ministry.
Uganda's opposition said Monday that they would resume street protests over worsening economic distress.
"As though to add insult to injury, ERA chose the period of the traders' strike to scrap the power subsidy and hike power tariffs," said Mathias Mpuuga, an opposition lawmaker.
Last week, a nationwide strike by the business community over steep interest rates crippled business in the capital Kampala and several towns across the country. Fears are rife that the country could plunge into unrest, like in Nigeria, where the recent removal of a fuel subsidy led to violence and mounting pressure on the government.
Power Reform: New Electricity Tariff Out Next Month
By Ejiofor Alike and Chineme Okafor
As part of the ongoing reform in the power sector, a new electricity tariff, which targets an increase of between 50 and 100 per cent to the current tariff, will be out by next month, contrary to earlier reports that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) will release the approval this month, THISDAY has learnt.
In accordance with the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO), aimed at gradual increment in tariff to attract private investors, NERC had initially planned to release the new tariff for all categories of electricity consumers in November 2011 but wide consultations with relevant stakeholders had delayed the approval.
The commission had in June 2011 announced an upward review of electricity tariff, as part of the last schedule of the 2008/2013 regime of MYTO, which became operational on July 1, 2011.
MYTO was introduced in 2008 to ensure that prices of electricity were predictable and to mobilise funds for the power sector by attracting private sector investments through a tariff structure that guarantees adequate return on investment, while protecting electricity consumers against profiteering.
Confirming the new time table for the release of the new tariff, the Chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, told THISDAY Tuesday that the commission was still working on the new document.
“By early next month, we will announce it, but we are still working on it,” he said.
Amadi was silent on the actual figures involved under the proposed tariff regime, as he stated that the issues were yet to be finalised.
However, statistics obtained by THISDAY indicate that under the proposed regime, the highest-paying electricity consumers, who now pay N15.60 per kilowatt hour (Kw/hr), will pay between N23.40 and N31.20.
The Residential Two category of customers - residential customers with single-phase metres - where majority of electricity consumers belong, will pay between N10.85 and N14.60 per kw/hr.
The Residential Three category of customers, will pay between N16.50 and N22, while the Residential One category – the lowest-paying customers, will pay between N3.30 and N4.40.
The R2 category now pays N7.30 per Kw/h; while the R3 category customers are currently paying N11 per Kw/h, with the Residential One category paying N2.20 per Kwh.
The new figures are, however, subject to further review before the final approval by NERC, after the consultations with the various stakeholders involved in the electricity business, including the consumers.
Amadi had stated that MYTO provided for a periodic review of the cost parameters through the minor annual and major five-year review windows.
Electricity workers threaten strike LAGOS — SENIOR Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies, SSAEAC, weekend threatened to down tools and begin an indefinite strike if the purported mass deployment of its members in Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN by the Minister of Power Professor Barth Nnaji was not suspended immediately until all labour issues were resolved.
President of SSAEAC , Comrade Bede Opara who spoke in Lagos, said that organised labour would resist any mass disengagement of the workers by PHCN and said the associations had written to the Minister on the need to follow due process to avoid industrial unrest.
He said: “We brought to the knowledge of Professor Nnaji the fact that before his appointment as minister, President Goodluck Jonathan had appointed a Negotiator/Conciliator to look into and resolve the labour issues in the power sector, before the planned reforms.”
We draw his attention to the outcomes of 1st and 2nd meetings chaired by the same Negotiator/Conciliator at Abuja and Ghana wherein it was explicitly stated that no action prejudicial to the final outcome of the negotiations should be undertaken by any side. Consequently Nnaji’s earlier memo to PHCN management and BPE to the effect that promotions are suspended was withdrawn to pave way for the negotiations.”
Similarly, SSAEAC in a petition through General Secretary, Comrade Abiodun Ogunsegan, to management of PHCN and the Minister of Power demanded explanations from the Minister reasons for the mass deployment and the modalities for the transfer since there were no vacancies in the companies these staff were sent to.
The petition said “We demand explanation from the Minister of Power, professor Nnaji on why the sudden plan by Government to wind down the corporate headquarter of PHCN and deploy all the staff therein to successor companies like Discos, Transyco, Neimco, Bulk purchaser, NERC and Naptin when the arrears formally reached on 50% of salary increase and regularization of casuals, even when the much talked about audit and verification exercise had long be completed and the workers not settled”
“The President General and Deputy President (North) are in Abuja to hand deliver our correspondences and meet with other agencies of Government to prevail on the Minister, “without which, the leadership of the association will have no choice than to take necessary industrial action.” http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/01/electricity-workers-threaten-strike/
There’s a lot of money to be made today in foreign security contracts.
Following the appearance of the group popularly referred to as ‘Boko Haram’ in Borno, Nigeria during the late Yar’adua’s government, new ones seem to have turned up during Jonathan Goodluck’s administration.
So what are the characteristics of these new ‘Boko Haram’ groups?
- They are repeatedly described in the media as modelled after the Taliban in Afghanistan and fighting to “impose sharia law across Nigeria” but unlike other such groups around the world, this bunch make no attempt at implementing sharia law nor engage in any propaganda to win hearts and minds of locals with promises of fair law and justice [they prefer to portray themselves as terrorists and kill innocent civilians].
- They are reported to have raided and robbed a bank in Maiduguri, Borno State [seeking easy ‘haram’ money?].
- They generally avoid attacking corrupt politicians and their property [police stations and poor civilians preferred targets].
- They have a great trust for BBC Hausa for making their attack claims [an odd pro-boko inferiority complex behaviour towards the BBC?].
- They are practically untraceable after making phone calls to journalists [in a country where most calls come from mobile phones these days].
- They take too special care in sending out their oral and written messages in Hausa [feeling rather academic seeing as it’s obvious they understand English and are behaving like politicians].
- They generally attack everyone but take care to direct their claims against CAN, christians and southerners [seeking foreign media attention?].
- They have a standard BBC/CNN description copied word for word and re-broadcast by many local Nigerian news media [product branding?].
- They make claims to foreign media and deny the claims to local media [constant communication errors or false callers?].
- They have good information on police/security details, plans and police hangouts and ride motorcycles [thus suggestions they’re actually also policemen].
- They are able to pull of high profile security escapes [or someone on the ‘inside’ letting them off?].
- They are mobile, doing something in one state then running off to another state [in a pattern similar to that of armed robbery gangs].
- They are able to carry out attacks on police stations and escape totally unscathed and never caught [either they ride, park and attack then run back to their bikes unchallenged or they ride by tossing explosives and shooting randomly?].
- Given their love of attacking overpowered or unprepared policemen and civilians, they were surprisingly quiet for over one week when thousands poured out into the streets to protest the Nigerian government’s fuel subsidy removal [or were they scared they’d be caught in the midst of a crowd, pulled off their motorcycles, their identities exposed, then get lynched?].
- They behave a lot like hitmen and assassins [often attack as if to punished people for acting in a many undesirable to their masters e.g. coming out to protest and appearing all over YouTube].
- They definitely not ‘poor man’ [well-funded and boko-educated even].
Thank God, o Nigerians, you learnt something valuable now and taught the rest of Africa and the world as well. For the first time in many generations, you remembered who you are as a united force in today’s world. The fuel subsidy protests of January 2012 in Nigeria and in various other countries around the world demonstrated the power of truth and unity.
Congratulations, but take that as the first step of many more positive ones to come as enemies of progress within Nigeria and from outside will be licking their wounds and plotting their next moves.
Remember to stick to your prayers, a wise person knows most things in this life can be taken from him or her, but no-one can ever take away your Creator. This knowledge whether you believe it in this ‘modern’ world or not holds the key to success, you only have to look at the world now and take a look at history as well.
Remember also that all humans are created equal. A white man is not superior to an African, and vice versa. A European is not superior to a Nigerian, and vice versa. An American is not superior to a Nigerian, and vice versa. You can do whatever any other human do as long as you try. Every other human makes the same kinds of mistakes you make, one way or the other.
Remember your mutual alliances and peace agreements between Muslim and Christian, between South and North and between so many ethnic groups. The troublemakers will try to weaken you by whispering war in your ears. They will try to hypnotise you with their media repeating ‘fight’, ‘civil war’, ‘sectarian’, ‘unrest’, ‘terror’ and other such words over and over again to keep them stuck to your brains, trying to get you to experiment and try them out in actions. But remember, pray and focus on your common goals. Only a mumu will fall for such trickery unguarded. Even in the Holy Lands you find Jews, Christians and Muslims who have been living peacefully as neighbours for centuries still remnant or do you think their ancestors who were closer to the origins of the religions had less knowledge of their faith than you today? Never let the crafty enticer lure you into schisms and fights while he runs away with your wealth and resources.
Remember the government of Nigeria has to work first for Nigerians not foreigners. What Nigerians need and want must always come first, if your government forgets, remind them as you have reminded them over the fuel subsidy removal case. Remember henceforth, whenever Nigerian peace and security is threatened, the government must work for Nigerians and not foreign interests first, oil or no oil, debt or no debt. Whenever a Nigerian is harassed or harmed in any other country, embassy or aboard some aeroplane, the Nigerian government must take action to correct the situation. If the government people forget, remind them again.
Remember when people tell you they analyse Nigeria should be broken into several pieces by 2015 and that the boundaries created by the British colonisers made you an unnaturally large country – remember to tell them the British actually made you a smaller country by breaking you away from your other African brothers and sister as they fought other European colonisers grabbing African land in the Scramble for Africa many years ago. Haba, the English fought the Scots for centuries and today insist on Scotland being a part of the UNITED Kingdom along with other lands like Wales and Ireland. Didn’t the IRA and factions of them today want to break the UK and everyone said the civilised answer was “no”? Why should the answer for Nigeria to break up be “yes”? Ah, the Northern and Southern states of America fought a bloody civil war because one region wanted to break away. Today they insist on being called the UNITED States of America. Tell them to break up into their original smaller forms because they have an artificial boundary – the logical answer will be “no” because a smaller America is a weaker, less developed America. Spain had the Basque region, France had katakata with Corsica. The European countries for years fought bloody tribal and world wars and today are rushing to make themselves bigger as the European Union. Who’s joking with China today and it is still laying claims to more lands around it. Nigerians think wisely and don’t be deceived so easily. You can quarrel all you want, that is natural, that is human. Throw away your might, a blessing to you, that makes you mumus.
Remember to produce not just consume. Do not just keep importing everything, learn to produce. That is how the world today works. Anyone who tells you about poor quality of your products – they yabbed “Made-in-Japan” and “Made in China” the same way years ago. Those countries focussed and ignored the mockery until they became better than the mockers today. You have to start somewhere – ABC comes before writing an English dictionary. Ah, what about Nigerian films (not the yeye Hollywood imitations) taking Africa by storm today? Are they not your products? Government must get oil refineries working now, e don do. The textile industry, the coal mines in Enugu and elsewhere, Ajaokuta steel complex and housing, agriculture – every single thing needed for the normal, standard of living for every Nigerian must be put back in operation now, now, now. No more corruption to such stupid levels. Everyone should do their own bit. If government can’t hear you, if they forget – make them hear you and remember.
Remember now is the time to demand your electricity – no more shouting of “NEPA!” Demand your clean water. Demand your roads. Demand your housing. Demand your education. Demand your employment. If the government doesn’t hear you, make them hear as they have heard you over the fuel subsidy nonsense.
God will help you if you start to help yourselves and deserve the support.
Well, this was my Nigerian video work for YouTube for 2010. A lot of scenes from driving about but several fun stuff like crocodiles and the "werewolf transformation" (5th part).
Politics › Re: Anti-african Racism - Nigerians Should Protect Their Home, Not Check Out by abdnMe(op): 6:17am On Jun 30, 2014
