₦airaland Forum

AntiBalaka:
100 Fulani bandits detained for various activities related to banditry.

Why did you not deny that your fulani masters were not jailed for banditry instead talking crap about PDP vs APC?

FYI, the crisis began under APC stewardship.

Your comment and question is stupid and irrelevant. Instead of taking tougher stand on issue the PDP decided to release the bandits and disband civilians defense. Lol you guys are silly.

The bandit menace actually been around longer fyi. You can find incidents before APC. Why take such a soft stance on criminals?

zeromeridian:
Hausa are the most marginalized people in Nigeria

Stop cappin dude. Did they not vote this guy in? I don't understand why everyone is looking for a medal in victimhood Olympics.

Zamfara PDP < Zamfara APC

This story reads like satire peace. Just look at these quotes.

Zamfara State Governor, Dr. Bello Matawalle, will grant amnesty to 100 Fulani in Gusau prison as part of the ongoing peace process in the state.

The Fulani, who are detained for offences related to the banditry menace bedeviling the state, will be released before the week runs out to celebrate Sallah with their families.

Muhammad stated this when he received representatives of the Fulani community at the centre of the peace process in the forest wielding guns and detaining abductees.

The governor lamented the plight of the Fulani people, not only in Zamfara but in the country at large where they are described as terrorists worse than Boko Haram.

He promised to work in line with his administration's determination to save the Fulani from themselves and the wrath of the larger society.

"I am one of you and I know you are not terrorists. What is happening today has a cause and we are determined to address it with your cooperation," the governor said.

As a measure of addressing the problem, Matawalle said their North-west governors' meeting held in Katsina last week outlawed vigilantes against banditry otherwise known as "Yan Sa Kai".

Matawalle called on all the Fulani in the state to disregard anyone who goes around telling them that the government was not sincere about the peace process.

"You can see now you are here not only in Zamfara State Government House. Nobody will arrest or harm you. Our aim is to have a lasting peace in our dear state," the governor said.

Representatives of the Fulani, who spoke through an elder, Baba Alhaji Bello, commended the forthrightness of the governor and his proven honesty and commitment to the peace process.

Bello promised that all the known bandits will listen to the new sermon and surrender their weapons because they will listen to them.

He assured that the Fulani in the state will adhere to the new pact and ensure a lasting peace in the state.

Source: https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/08/07/zamfara-grants-amnesty-to-100-fulani-inmates/

Why is the picture quality so bad. The should get closer let camera focus.

kYjelly2:
How can Nigeria ever be better?

Here you have a governor caught red handed on tape stuffing his agbada with hard currency from contractors, not once, not twice, not thrice...

Yet it seems everyone has just forgotten about him.

Which way naija?

Please join the revolution.

Nobody's forgotten there's simply an impass. The courts blocked state assembly from investigating. Then the he still has his immunity. I doubt the would have done much but those are facts.

Im also mad the court placed injuction again the publisher from releasing more tapes. Those 3 were just a just a appetizers before the meal. Just be happy the gandolla decided to sue them for defamation meaning the case cant just be buried under rug.

Ganduje explained that the state government has introduced compulsory free education which is the policy that will bring an end to the trend.

I agree this solution but it only solves part of the problem. Almajari are orphans for the most part. If the cant be reunited with parents or guardians they should be wards of the state.

Parents who refuse to send their wards to school would be sanctioned.

A week in a jail cell and or fine will be enough to scare them.

Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has said that 95 per cent of Almajiri roaming the streets of Kano are foreigners.

NIS workers of nairaland what are the laws regarding unaccompanied alien children? Why not deport these kids back to their countries?

I personally find this percentage questionable. Im sure Africacheck will say something about this. I doubt hundreds of thousands of kids are crossing boarder without anyone sounding alarm. Do these other countries even have comparable almajari issue like Nigeria?

These kids are most likely domestic. Nigerians just like blaming foreign countries to save face. They should know statement like this just open whole new can of worms.

The Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has said that 95 per cent of Almajiri roaming the streets of Kano are foreigners.

Ganduje explained that the state government has introduced compulsory free education which is the policy that will bring an end to the trend.

The governor said the state is organising a special summit which comes up in the next few weeks, where all issues involved in the noble policy would be deliberated upon.

At the summit, Ganduje reveals that many experts in the education sector would participate, so as to come up with modalities on how to effectively and efficiently attain optimal results while implementing the policy.

Speaking at a stakeholders meeting on free and compulsory education held at the Government House, Kano, Thursday, where all heads of state agencies under the Ministry of Education and those of all institutions of higher learning in the state, among other stakeholders were present.

“We all believe that education is one of the major routes to economic prosperity and a corridor to scientific and technological advancement. It is at the same time, as largely regarded and enunciated, a veritable tool to combat unemployment,” Ganduje said.

All the five Emirates in the state were represented at the meeting, as the governor attaches the importance of the traditional institution for the desired results.

While making reference to the solid foundation upon which the free education policy rests on, the governor assured the audience that the summit would come up with practical ways to achieve the desired goals of the free and compulsory education from primary to senior secondary school level.

“Part of our stakeholders for this noble policy are experts who specialise in basic education, some in science and technical education, some in assessment and quality control in education, some in examination management and also some would come from Almajiri system of education,” he explained.

Traditional institution also forms part of the critical stakeholders in the implementation stage of the policy, adding that: “Because we believe in the important role they play in the education of our wards and the advancement of the sector as a whole, we said they must be included.”

Ganduje, who reiterated the important role of the media in the implementation and evaluation of the policy, urged the media “to come forward and be good partner for the overall development of the education sector in the state”.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Free and Compulsory Education Committee, Dr Kabiru Shehu, who is also the state Head of Service, assured the governor of their unrelenting commitment towards the successful implementation of the policy.

He told the governor how committed his committee is, since their inception a few weeks ago, emphasising that: “As Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is determined to get this done, we have equally positioned ourselves so as to have result-oriented programme.

“DFID and World Bank praise the initiative and have promised to partner with Kano State towards having smooth and successful policy. They all promise to do their best towards that. As they are convinced that Kano is very serious about it.”

Shehu said that after the summit, a policy would come up as a road map for free and compulsory education in the state, adding that: “Parents who refuse to send their wards to school would be sanctioned. We are very lucky that this administration is not only aiming at free and compulsory education at the primary school level, which has already been in place for long.

“This time around, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje includes post primary education, up to senior secondary school education. This is a new development.”

Source: https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/08/01/majority-of-almajiri-roaming-kano-streets-are-foreigners-says-kano-gov/

Bump

urahara

Btw DICON is engaging in ppp with Chinese company to manufacture ammunition in future. They could have just as easily contracted work to domestic industry like I suggested above giving specifications required. Again this small stride is pathetic considering the Organization is 55 years old and supposed to be supplying all the security forces.

● DICON and Poly Technologies Incorporated (PTI) of China and their Nigerian Counterpart, Defence Integrated Resources Limited (DIRL) to establish a new line for the Production of 7.62 x 39 mm special ammunition and also to establish a primer Cap factory to ensure continuous supply of Primer Caps (warheads)

● The primer Cap Factory located in Kachia, one of the visions vigorously pursued by Gen Ogunkale is about 70% completed

Source

DICON unproductivity is troubling co siding they been around 1964. They should be making more sophisticated weapons after decades of bring in exist but all they do is design light arms. Recently Nigeria bought a cache of ammunition from Europe. If they got rid of security votes and just channeled it towards military and other security forces it be better. Its more efficient than splitting it 100 ways.

Im thinking DICON role should be re-examined. They private sector can manufacture everything from weapons to equipment. They can do PPP to contract work domestically. Proforce and Innoson already do things like armoured vehicles.

Olaleye Aluko, Abuja

The Federal Government has said that the statutory manufacturer of arms and ammunition in Nigeria, the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, suffers neglect and this has raised the cost of military spending.

The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, stated this in Abuja, noting that the poor performance of DICON meant that the defence sector had to rely on external influences for expensive military arms and ammunition.

Dan-Ali noted this in a lecture he delivered to participants at the National Defence College, Course 27. The paper was titled, “Defence Management in Nigeria: Ministry of Defence in Perspective.”

The minister said the recurrent expenditure in military budgets did not give enough room for adequate financing of capital projects, adding that in 2018, for example, the recurrent expenditure was about 73 per cent.

Dan-Ali said, “The challenges of defence management in Africa, particularly in emerging democracies, are varied and complex. Some of the challenges militating against defence management in the Ministry of Defence include absence of military industrial complex, funding deficit, infrastructural decay and obsolete equipment.

“DICON, the main statutory manufacturer of arms and ammunition in Nigeria, has suffered neglect over the years and has been virtually non-operational. Consequently, the defence sector has to rely on external influence to determine the types of equipment to be sold or acquired. This has increased expenditure, reduced the multiplier effects on employment, encouraged technological spin-offs, and underdevelopment of the economy.

“The ongoing efforts by the ministry to turn around DICON will yield positive results. These were clearly captured in the reviewed National Defence Policy 2017 and the 2018 budget.

“One critical problem facing the ministry is inadequate funding. More to this, the amount approved every year, and the actual amount released, usually fall short of expectation. In 2018, the defence allocation was about N576bn of which recurrent expenditure was estimated at N418.69bn.

“This represents 72.69 per cent while capital expenditure was N157.32bn, representing 27.31 per cent of the total defence budget. Thus, it is evident that the defence expenditure did not provide for adequate financing of capital projects and this imposed some limitations on the activities of the Armed Forces.”

Source: https://punchng.com/fg-blames-high-cost-of-weapons-on-dicon-neglect/amp/

Front: Lalasticlala mynd44

Bump

I always like their reports. Their one of few good opinion polling companies. Anyway its digisting to see most rapist seem to after minors according to the opinion poll. There need to more prosecution of these criminals. The public perception on cause of rape seems odd. I really doubt they're dressed indecently or intoxicated.

Alarmingly, the poll found out that Nigerians considered consent from a minor (less than 18 year) as well as consent from an intoxicated individual as valid consent for sexual activity.

Are people unaware of the age of consent in country? The intoxicated response shows there's something wrong in the society.

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Survey Methodology

The survey was conducted through telephone interviews in the week of July 8th, 2019. A proportionate random nationwide selected sample of 1,000 phone-owning Nigerians, 18 years and above, were interviewed across the six geopolitical zones in the country using a well-structured questionnaire. This sample size provides a 95% confidence interval that the results obtained are within a range of plus or minus 4.65% of the opinions of population. The interviews were conducted in English, Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba. The use of several Nigerian languages reduces the likelihood of a non-response bias.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the poll having examined the prevalence of rape in Nigeria, attitudes towards reporting incidence of rape and the persecution of rape offenders in Nigeria. It was found that that cases of rape in Nigeria is highly prevalent across Nigeria. Alarmingly, trends on the prevalence of rape showed that only a marginal 1 percent decline has been recorded in the fight against the prevalence of this atrocious crime between 2014 and 2019. Hence, this menace is still a major challenge in Nigeria. Alarmingly, the poll found out that Nigerians considered consent from a minor (less than 18 year) as well as consent from an intoxicated individual as valid consent for sexual activity.

Also, this study shows that rape cases are still under reported in Nigeria for reasons such as fear of stigmatization and lack of persecution of offenders by the law amongst other reasons. These two scenarios may likely encourage offenders to perpetrate more of such crimes and may also be the reasons for the poor success recorded in the fight against rape thus far; despite efforts by several government agencies and civil society organizations to mitigate this crime. Hence, the study recommends that if this crime must be mitigated, a nationwide advocacy be carried out by civil society organizations and government agencies that deals with gender issues and sex related crimes. To encourage victims to report rape incidences as get the law to persecute rape offenders and get justice for victims. There is also a huge need on the orientation of Nigerian on the meaning of consent.

Source: https://noi-polls.com/noipolls-rape-poll-report/

mankand:
The truth is that these guys are not working alone some stakeholders in the state are their employers

True they were protected by residents as reported by punch. Im sure they paid off certain people then intimidated those they needed to.

Conflict minerals weren't a cause but a amplifier. There's illegal mining all over the nation but you dont see the rate of murders you see in zamfara. Nigeria has to make security reforms.

Chatham House: Security reform suggestions

• End Security votes
•Create US-style inspector general offices tasked with exposing corruption, revealing waste and protecting whistle-blowers.
• Consolidate the numerous security agencies and integrate each of them into either the military and police.
• Consolidate Military support functions by creating joint combat support agencies that could help the force improve its dismal ratio of non-combat elements to frontline units.

Border security solutions by CONNOR COLLINS: 
• Incorporate a network of electronic detection systems, such as radars, ground based sensors, cameras, and drones in select regions. 

• Invest in physical instrastructure, establishing checkpoints and forward operating bases in the remote regions. 

• Increase military patrols in high threat regions, to demonstrate a consistant presence and control that spans the border region.

Bolustical:
This is a serious issue that must not be handled with kids gloves.

The chaos that illegal mining birthed in Zamfara must not be repeated in any other parts of Nigeria.

Governor Oyetola must press the FG to do the needful.

BTW, the Ministry of Interior shouldn't be for declaration of public holidays alone.

This border porosity is a very big menace they need to find solutions to.

Well illegal mining is rampant and not taken seriously. If you compare Nigeria to Ghana you can see how lazy security agencies are. You read about illegal mining arrest in Ghana every few weeks. Illegal mining didnt cause the issue it just amplified it. The violence hasn't dropped significantly after the mining ban if you noticed.

Border security solutions by CONNOR COLLINS: 
• Incorporate a network of electronic detection systems, such as radars, ground based sensors, cameras, and drones in select regions. 

• Invest in physical instrastructure, establishing checkpoints and forward operating bases in the remote regions. 

• Increase military patrols in high threat regions, to demonstrate a consistant presence and control that spans the border region.

The Defence Headquarters on Tuesday acknowledged that the clampdown on illegal miners in Zamfara and other northwestern states has not significantly cut down violent attacks against villagers across the region.

Security agencies had in April identified illegal solid minerals mining as a major driver of violence that had claimed hundreds of lives in recent months. Authorities said Zamfara, especially, was rich in gold, lead, and even rare-earth minerals and bandits were killing villagers to take over their land for mining of the minerals.

The Buhari administration had said the ban would significantly reduce killings in the region. Three months later, however, fatal bandits’ attacks have continued, and reporting of them also as regular as they were before the announcement.

The difficulties in containing the bandits have left security experts questioning whether or not the government exaggerated the role of illegal mining as a major driver of the conflict.

But at a press briefing on Tuesday, the Defence Headquarters said mining was only one of several factors that intelligence revealed had been fuelling the violence.

“We have other issues like illegal crossing of borders from foreign lands,” Onyema Nwachukwu, Nigeria’s chief military spokesperson, told reporters. “There are several conspiracies but the ultimate aim is to restore lasting peace in the region.”

Mr Nwachukwu, a colonel, said military operations in the area had been highly successful, with several arrests made and weapons seized from suspects.

He said at least 25 suspected bandits arrested in recent weeks in the region were undergoing military interrogation, after which they would be passed to civilian authorities for prosecution.

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/324348-breaking-zamfara-violence-nigerian-govt-bans-mining-activities-in-troubled-state.html

Nemesis909:
The media is equally as bad.

It is not only about brown envelopes. The press should have been ringing this message ever since.

They have been for months you just didnt catch it. Read punch articles on topic. They even reported the people allowed these people to opperate since they believed it would be good for business. The police should have conducted a raid after quitely investigating issue.

It was learnt that some villagers, consisting mostly of women, had approached the monarch of the town, Alagunmodi of Itagunmodi, Oba Michael Famadewa-Kosile, and urged him to allow more northerners into the town to boost economic activities as seen in other neigbouring villages like Igun and Iyere.

The monarch said, “After several months of pressure, I acceded to their demands because it got to a point that those behind the move resorted to blackmail. I did not have any option but to shift ground.

“More miners were allowed to enter the town but the families that own farmlands were the ones dealing with them and not us. They are the ones selling their farmlands to the miners. I was not involved in any way.”

The Nigerian security forces are next to useless. Journalists from punch and thisday have been reporting illegal mining in Ijesa for months but you haven't heard about any mass raid. Punch reported the illegal miners as northern Nigerians so this new.

some arrests were made sometimes ago, adding that the command under the former Comptroller of Immigration Service in the state, Idowu Adebowale "deported those suspects."

This would be an interesting FOIA request.

By Yinka Kolawole

Osogbo — Thousands of illegal miners purportedly from Mali, a Franco-phone country in West Africa, who allegedly entered and settled in Osun State, have been generating fear among the residents of the state.

THISDAY investigation revealed that between April 2017 and February 2019, no fewer than 6,000 illegal miners from Bamako, the capital of Mali and its environs, settled in Ijesa land in Osun East senatorial district to work as labourers at the various illegal mining sites located in the area.

THISDAY however gathered that the immigrants have taken advantage of the porous Nigerian land boarders to enter the country in droves, not minding that they do not possess legal document supporting their expedition in the country.

A source, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, told THISDY that the 'illegal' miners from Mali have been linked with several criminal activities, ranging from highway robberies to kidnappings among others.

The source frowned at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for not living up to its statutory obligation of regulating and monitoring migration into the country.

He stressed that with the way the illegal migrants besiege the state without check and action, there was no immediate solution to security challenges facing the state.

The source contended that the government has been scratching the issue on the surface rather than tackling it from the root to get desired result.

However, he added that "the people of the state are worried with the influx of number of Malians coming into the state without steps to stop them as well as regulate their activities.

"We even learnt that many of them are just disguising as miners while in reality, they are criminal elements terrorising innocent citizens in the state."

THISDAY reliably gathered that the early set of miners who came into the state in 2017 were the ones who invited some of their friends with criminal tendencies, who have now allegedly started unleashing terrors on the people of the state.

"I believe that many of the security agencies in the state are aware of this through their intelligence gathering mechanism, otherwise, there is little or nothing to be achieved in the efforts to stamp out insecurity in the state.

"You will agree with me that Mali is one of the most volatile countries in West Africa; the base of Alshabab, a deadly Islamic extremists carrying out nefarious activities on the African continent, even up to Kenya in the east Africa region.

"I think it is pertinent to look into this security threat and take action without delay before it degenerates further," the source said.

Also, resident of Ibodi, one of the communities with multiple illegal mining sites and densely populated by miners from Mali, who preferred anonymity, said the community is under the siege of foreigners who worked at the illegal mining sites.

He lamented the influx of these foreigners into the community, saying every resident of the community is apprehensive over the development.

He noted that majority of the miners working in the community and adjourning villages are from Mali and are very hostile to the people of the area.

Consequently, a civil society organisation working in the state, Advocacy for Peace in Africa, has expressed concern over the issue, citing various criminal activities in the past that linked heavy presence of foreigners in the area with insecurity.

The state Coordinator of the organisation, Sunday Adams, stressed that plethora accounts of victims of kidnappings and robberies on the Akure -Ibadan expressway have given credence to the suspicion that some of those migrants from Mali, who claimed to have come to work at mining sites were also responsible for the criminal activities on the expressway.

Adams opined that: "You remember what the Professor from Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-ife, who was kidnapped on that road, recently said. He said that those who kidnapped him were of French-speaking Fulani extractions with highly sophisticated weapons.

"That remarkable revelation laid credence to the concern of many discerning residents in the state that many of those miners from Mali, who came into the state for mining jobs, are criminals terrorising innocents Nigerians on that road.

"Equally, an eye witness at the scene where a local government worker was killed by armed men in Ikire, a location very close to the place in which the professor was kidnapped, gave the same account of set of criminals wielding highly sophisticated weapons, and communicating in French.

"However it is clear that the state has been infiltrated by foreign criminals without any positive move by security agencies to nip such in the bud and keep the state safe."

While speaking further on the issues, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Folashade Odoro, said although some arrests were made in the past, there was no specific identification of any suspect as Malian.

"I cannot specifically state that any national from Mali was arrested; I can't remember we made such arrest," Odoro stated.

Also, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Osun State Command, has declined comment when contacted for reaction on the issues.

A source in the command who pleaded anonymity confided in THISDAY that nothing much has been done to check the influx of illegal migrants mainly from Mali into the state.

He, however, claimed that some arrests were made sometimes ago, adding that the command under the former Comptroller of Immigration Service in the state, Idowu Adebowale "deported those suspects."

Source: https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/25/6000-illegal-miners-flood-osun-from-mali/

It was not immediately clear how the IMN would respond to its proscription if announced. A spokesperson for the movement said a decision would be taken after official announcement by the administration.

They'll probably file lawsuits and continue protesting. The Shiites forming a continued insurgency Depends on Iran. I dont think they're too interested in issue besides the occasional story on PressTV. The geo analysts I asked say they dont have much projective force into Africa anyway.

“The judgement is called for,” a source said. “But the presidency is probably concerned that people will say: so why not Fulani Herdsmen, too?”

I can see this happening by end of they month. The herdsmen question will be deflected.

By Samuel Ogundipe

Prresident Muhammadu Buhari is considering the proscription of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), PREMIUM TIMES has learnt from security and administration sources.

The proscription, which is likely to come in form of an executive order, is expected to be made public between tonight and tomorrow, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

An emergency meeting of security chiefs held at the State House late Monday afternoon, and the conclusion was that the IMN will be declared an illegal organisation in Nigeria.

It is a direct response to the protests that turned violent Monday when members of Shiite IMN took over the streets of central Abuja, the Nigerian capital.

The demonstration was billed as just another instalment of relentless agitation for the release of Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, a foremost Nigerian Shiite cleric who was taken into custody four years ago.

It, however, ended with casualties, including the death of a deputy police commissioner. The IMN said 11 of its members were killed during the violence.

Presidential spokespersons, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, did not immediately return requests for comments about the president’s consideration of a Shiite proscription on Monday night.

Mr El-Zakzaky was arrested following an invasion of his residence in Zaria, northern Nigeria, between December 12-14, 2015.

The official death toll of the invasion, which was carried out by Nigerian soldiers in the dead of the night, was 347 for Shi’a adherents. The IMN said the official death toll was grossly downplayed and insisted more than 1,000 of its members were killed in that single attack.

The military said the protesters had attempted to block the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, from the free passage on a highway that runs through the Shi’a headquarters in Zaria in the evening of December 12, 2015, and soldiers had no choice but to open fire when the Shiites became unruly.

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The IMN strongly disputed the military’s account, saying its members were peaceful during the encounter.

They also questioned why the Nigerian Army deployed heavily armed soldiers, bulldozers and excavators to demolish both the headquarters and Mr El-Zakzaky’s residence in an operation that lasted two days.

A panel of enquiry constituted by the Kaduna State Government indicted Nigerian Army officers for the massacre, and also recommended the prosecution of some IMN leaders for various offences.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai accepted the conclusions of the judicial panel, but partially implemented its recommendations by proscribing the Shiite movement in Kaduna State.

No action was taken against the military officers indicted by the panel.

A separate investigation into the violence has been ongoing at the United Nations, with preliminary findings revealing that the Nigerian government has questions to answer.

Mr El-Zakzaky and his members have instituted several court cases against the government for his detention, and an order for his release had been handed down by a federal court.

However, the government has been reluctant to obey the order, citing national security and the cleric’s safety.

A few days ago on July 10, federal lawmakers also passed a resolution for the Buhari administration to honour court orders and release the cleric. They expressed fears that Nigeria’s security crisis could get even more complicated if IMN members become radicalised over the prolonged incarceration of their leader and deadly confrontations with security forces.

The cleric was taken away from the public’s view, alongside his wife, Zeenah, who was arrested with him on December 14, 2015.

He was only allowed a brief appearance before television cameras at the headquarters of the State Security Service in Abuja, where he had been detained for the most of his incarceration.

A few months ago, the cleric was transferred to Kaduna and arraigned on criminal charges. But widespread protests for his release continued almost every other day since his arrest.

The protesters have encountered deadly response from Nigerian security forces, which had led to hundreds of deaths.

In October 2018, dozens of Shiites were killed when Nigerian soldiers responded to a procession with live ammunition.

Security agencies, however, denied using disproportionate force, saying the Shiites were the aggressors and they would not be allowed to take over the Nigerian capital and unleash violence on citizens.

Groundwork laid

The Buhari administration has long categorised IMN as a violent group and encourages the use of force to suppress its agitations.

“This proscription will put an end to the madness of Shiites in Nigeria,” one of the official sources who confirmed the discussion on the executive order for proscription told PREMIUM TIMES Monday night.

Another source said Mr Buhari would cite the Terrorism Prevention Act to ban the Shiite movement in Nigeria. The law was introduced under President Goodluck Jonathan to proscribe Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation and intensify the crackdown on its members.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the police have concluded that they might not be able to contain Shiite protesters in Abuja any longer. But the administration had now become reluctant to deploy soldiers to crush protests in downtown Abuja because of its negative perception.

Sources said Mr Buhari sympathised with the situation the police have found themselves on the Shiite crisis but was also concerned about what Nigerians would say should he proscribe yet another group for its antagonistic tactics.

“The judgement is called for,” a source said. “But the presidency is probably concerned that people will say: so why not Fulani Herdsmen, too?”

Our sources spoke under anonymity because they were not authorised to disclose the development before a formal announcement by the administration.

If gazetted, the IMN will be the second organisation to be proscribed by Mr Buhari, who assumed office in May 2015 and was declared the winner of a second term this March. The government had declared the separatist Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) a violent group in 2017 and proscribed its activities across Nigeria.

It was not immediately clear how the IMN would respond to its proscription if announced.

A spokesperson for the movement said a decision would be taken after official announcement by the administration

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/342382-exclusive-buhari-considers-proscription-of-shiite-imn-in-nigeria.html

Bello disclosed that “the state government will, in the next three months, flag off its over 45,000 hectares grazing reserve in Bobi, Mariga Local Government Area of the State” 

“We have about 20 grazing reserves in the state, only two (Bobi and Girin) have been gazetted but hopefully, overtime, we’ll develop others”

Wow just how much land are they committing to this initiative? The journalist should've asked. Hopefully they dont hopefully the CBN doesn't swing ban hammer for milk like the did beef for whatever reason.

By Laleye Dipo in Minna

Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari will inaugurate the expanded 45,000 Bobi grazing reserve in the Mariga local government of the state.

The governor did not give the exact date the inauguration will take place but said finishing touches were being put to the development of the reserve including gazetting the project.

Governor Sani Bello was quoted as disclosing the plan when he received the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele, during the latter’s visit to him at the Niger House in Abuja on Thursday.

A statement by Mary Noel Berje Chief Press Secretary to the governor said Bello disclosed that “the state government will, in the next three months, flag off its over 45,000 hectares grazing reserve in Bobi, Mariga Local Government Area of the State” adding that “government is also in the process of gazetting seven other grazing reserves in parts of the State

“We have about 20 grazing reserves in the state, only two (Bobi and Girin) have been gazetted but hopefully, overtime, we’ll develop others”

“There is no going back on the development of grazing reserves in the state because it is the best solution to curtail the Herders/Farmers conflict and also develop one of our areas of comparative economic advantage.

“We will develop our grazing reserves where we can keep the herders and provide the infrastructure so that they can get better yields with regards to milk and beef,” Governor Bello was quoted as saying.

In his remarks The CBN governor expressed the readiness of the bank to “provide a wide range of agricultural opportunities for the country by assisting state governments “not only in the areas of rice and cassava production but most importantly in the development of livestock and dairy business”.

The CBN Governor was also quoted as explaining that, “under the livestock and dairy development programme, the apex bank is looking at the possibility of discouraging importation and encouraging the production of milk from different parts of the country beginning with Niger state.

“We intend, hopefully, to get Mr. President to come in to launch the first Grazing Reserve that’s going to be resuscitated under the programme that we are putting in place”. Emefiele was reported to have said.

He assured that funding would be provided by the CBN to the private sector entities adding that they would be expected to recover their money from the milk that is going to be sourced from the livestock.

“The private sector will work directly with the CBN and the state. They will invest by providing the Pastures, Seedlings and the infrastructure that will also guarantee constant supply of water to enhance the production of quality milk”.

The CBN governor was accompanied on the visit by top officials of the Apex bank.

Source: https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/19/ruga-buhari-to-commission-bobi-grazing-reserve-in-niger/

These guys have a great job sustaining themselves. Taxes, kidnapping and foreign funding keep them afloat. It's good they're not interested in drug dealing and human tracking asides their own personal needs. Those girls they call wives are just sex slaves with Stockholm syndrome in my opinion.

Locals say ISWAP controls trade, imposes taxes and facilitates agricultural and piscicultural livelihoods to increase its support by providing services including security, public toilets, clinics and potable water through digging boreholes.

It's funny to read ISWAP has a better tax policy than Nigerian government and seem to be better at governance. The dont have multiple taxation, prioritize security and treat the population relatively well.

Lol it's funny how some of life's problems are counterintuitive. The millitary heavy handed bans on trade and fishing pushes civilians to black markets facilitated by terrorists. They should allow commerce but just regulate it instead of collapsing local economy.

ISWAP also employs people to fish for it and work on its farms.

Does anyone else find this treasonous?

analysis By Malik Samuel

In the Lake Chad Basin region, which includes Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria, economic viability and control is as important to extremist groups' resilience as military tactics or ideology. Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a Boko Haram faction, is generating income from remote communities in exchange for a range of services to secure its position.

By occupying dozens of Lake Chad island villages, ISWAP has set up state-like structures in the Abadam, Kukawa, Guzamala, Marte and Monguno local government areas in Borno State, north-east Nigeria, community members and security sources say.

The indiscriminate targeting of civilians was a major point of disagreement contributing to Boko Haram's split into two factions in 2016. Since then, ISWAP has sought to distinguish itself strategically and operationally from the Abubakar Shekau-led Jamā'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihād (JAS). ISWAP avoids harming civilians and focuses mainly on military and government targets.

ISWAP uses both state military responses that have resulted in a clampdown on civilians' livelihoods, and the absence of basic government services in remote areas, to try to win over Lake Chad Basin communities. The extremist group has elaborately sought to fill social service provision gaps and foster income-generation opportunities.

Locals say ISWAP controls trade, imposes taxes and facilitates agricultural and piscicultural livelihoods to increase its support by providing services including security, public toilets, clinics and potable water through digging boreholes.

ISWAP has sought to fill social service provision gaps and foster income-generation opportunities

Military efforts to eliminate the group's funding source have had the unintended consequence of endangering civilian livelihoods. This has encouraged people to find creative ways to circumvent government controls, with the help of ISWAP.

The five-year ban on using the Maiduguri-Monguno-Baga and Maiduguri-Gamboru-Ngala roads to transport fish in Borno State is one strategy to counter Boko Haram's dependence on fish trading. Both community and military sources have reported the seizure, burning and diversion of fish consignments by government forces along these routes. This has often been accompanied by the arrest and detention of fish traders on suspicion of supporting Boko Haram.

This approach has brought socioeconomic hardship to communities, exacerbated unemployment, and caused increases in fish prices and broken homes. It has also not stopped the trade in fish. For decades fishing was a major livelihood, in addition to farming and trade. The blockade, coupled with ongoing insecurity, has negatively affected civilians and allowed ISWAP to position itself as the guarantor of security and badly needed services.

Realising the damage being caused to communities, ISWAP has worked for two years to secure trade routes to ease the transportation of fish from the islands. At the same time, it has encouraged the resumption of fishing and farming on the islands. This has attracted people, including older women from Maiduguri, to the islands to provide paid farm labour. The Nigerian military's blockade has pushed traders to transport fish from the islands across international borders in order to reach Nigerian markets.

In ISWAP-controlled areas, fishermen, fish dealers and cattle farmers are all expected to pay taxes

Farming activities and cattle rearing were also revived, as the routes under ISWAP control are considered safe by civilians. In exchange, ISWAP imposes taxes that people appear willing to pay. Secure trade routes mean that everyday commodities - the most important of which for ISWAP is fuel - can reach the islands.

In ISWAP-controlled areas, fishermen, fish dealers and cattle rearers are all expected to pay taxes. Fish dealers pay an average of N1 000 (US$2.8 ) for every carton of fish leaving the island daily. Individual fishermen using canoes each pay N5 000 (US$13.8 ) for one-time fishing permits.

Cattle rearers pay according to the number of cows they have. Sources familiar with the tax system on the islands say there is no multiple taxation, which affects legitimate businesses in Nigeria. Cattle rearers don't worry about their cattle being rustled, and there is little to no harassment or abuse of civilians by ISWAP fighters.

As part of the group's facilitation of locals' livelihoods, farmers are not taxed, but those buying from the farmers for commercial purposes are expected to pay a token depending on the quantity of farm produce they purchase. ISWAP also employs people to fish for it and work on its farms.

Improving basic government services could lessen popular support for the extremist group

As it continues to exploit the service delivery gaps left by governments while endearing itself to the locals and boosting its revenues, ISWAP's economic strategy has made the group financially robust, according to security and civilian sources.

Improving basic government services could lessen popular support for the extremist group. Disentangling its complex web of economic resilience would also undermine ISWAP. But when targeting ISWAP's source of income and influence, governments need to craft solutions that don't harm locals' means of survival. Strategies must take account of what draws civilians to areas controlled by the group, and try to counter these factors.

Nigeria's government should consider allowing fishing activities to resume in Baga, which, as the country's Multinational Joint Task Force headquarters, should be safe for civilians. Government must re-evaluate policies that have negatively affected civilians and led to their resentment of it.

Security forces should take charge of safety in rural areas, and prioritise intelligence gathering to identify and target specific individuals involved in illicit activities that support and fund Boko Haram. This includes finding out how commodities get to areas under Boko Haram's control despite the presence of military checkpoints leading to these areas.

Undermining the economic resilience of violent extremist groups in the Lake Chad Basin is fundamental to effectively degrading them. However, this must be done without harming civilians' livelihoods.

Malik Samuel, Researcher, ISS Regional Office for West Africa, the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin

Source: https://allafrica.com/stories/201907110100.html

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If these politicians made rape a capital offense they'll just cause more issues. It would make the rapist more likely murder their victim to get rid of the evidence especially if they're children. I doubt that proposal will go anywhere.

“In most cases, prisoners, rapists inclusive, get released because of overcrowding. The lack of training of security officers on how to deal with victims of sexual abuse.

That's insane the Prisons director should be summoned to explain this. If anything non violent offenders should be released first. It should be based on danger level to public if they out.