₦airaland Forum

Almajiri1:
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obinoral1179:
what if she is An APC member.... The fact remain that PDP gave us no choice to support them and we used our PVC to send them packing, if APC thread the same route as the PDP, bet me we are going to send them packing as well.


We are going to continue this thread, if it will get us to our promise land.....

Chairmen, councillors now operate from Calabar Governor appeals for extension of ‘Operation Delta Safe’ to state

Bassey Inyang in Calabar and Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

Armed militias have taken control of two local government areas in Cross River State and displaced virtually every civil authority in the area, THISDAY has learnt. The militia, generally believed to be members of Bakassi Strike Force, had been operating in the area for some time. But they recently seized control of Bakassi and Akpabuyo local government areas, displacing both civil and traditional authorities in the councils.

It was reliably gathered that the elected chairmen of the two local governments had fled the area for several month now, while the councillors hold their legislative sittings in Calabar. The secretariats of both local councils have also been deserted by civil servants for fear of being kidnapped or attacked by the militants.

To try to stem the slide into anarchy, the state governor, Professor Ben Ayade, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the activities of “Operation Delta Safe”, a security taskforce protecting oil installations in the Niger Delta, to Cross River State. Ayade said his state should not to be isolated in the battle to keep the Niger Delta safe. He also promised to increase the firepower of the state’s security taskforce, “Operation Skolombo.”

Militancy has gripped Cross River State for the past few months. And militants are being blamed for an increasing wave of kidnapping, armed robbery, and other criminal activities, especially, in Calabar, the state capital.

But Bakassi and Akpabuyo local government areas, which share maritime boundary with Cameroon, recently became a lawless, anarchic zone in which militants rule. It was discovered that the militants collected rents and levies from people doing business in the council areas, which they termed “protection money”, a situation that has made many people to flee.
The militants are said to have also rendered the state judicial organs and the traditional institutions in Akpabuyo and Bakassi local governments impotent, as the militias now handle matters that should otherwise be handled by the conventional courts, village heads, clan chiefs, and paramount rulers.

A source conversant with the situation, but pleaded not to be named, said, “There is total anarchy there now, and people are actually running to Cameroon now for help. First of all, the local government chairmen in both places don’t go to office, and they have not gone to office over the past one and a half years. They have written, complained, begged, and appealed, to no avail.

“The legislatures in those places don’t meet at the local government headquarters. They hold their meetings in Calabar so as to fulfil the statutory requirements that they hold a certain number of meetings in a session.
“So, effectively, there is no governance in those areas.”

The source said the locals had made a failed bid to contain the armed men.
“The traditional institutions have tried to fight, but they can no longer sustain the fight. They don’t have guns, they don’t have money,” the source stated. “What we have now is that militants have set up a parallel government. They are the ones that resolve land disputes, they are the ones that resolve family disputes, and if husband and wife quarrel they go to militants. Of course, their methods are crude but effective.

“They rely on jungle justice, they cane people. Culprits pay fines of goats, drinks, and money.”
Though, as gathered, there are police posts and soldiers stationed in the areas, the security agents appear to be overwhelmed by the militants.

When contacted, the chairman of Akpabuyo Local Government Area, Mr. Patrick Ene Okon, refused to speak on the issue. But the chairman of Bakassi Local Government Area, Mrs. Edisua Usang Iso, admitted that militants were operating in her council area. She, however, denied that the activities of the militants were affecting the administration of the council. Iso said, though, the council had lost substantial revenue to their activities, the federal government should grant amnesty to them and incorporate them into the federal government’s amnesty programme for Niger Delta militants.

The Bakassi local government chairman, who spoke with THISDAY in Calabar, denied abdicating her duties and deserting the council secretariat, saying she goes to Bakassi whenever it is necessary.

However, confirming the occupation of the Bakassi area on Friday, when he addressed the press on the security situation in the state, Ayade vowed that the militants will be dislodged from the area.

The governor said, “The three kingpins, we have identified their homes, we have the coordinates of their armoury, we have a clear picture of their modus operandi and we are working on a massive attack. I speak as the United States would do. They let you know that they are coming for you and they will come after you.

“We are coming after them. We know all the militants who are now parading and taking full occupation of Bakassi. We would free the people of Bakassi. The people of Bakassi have seen enough pain. Lands taken, oil wells taken, reduced to want in spirit, body and economy, we cannot afford also to create a perilous nightmare for the same people.”

Addressing newsmen yesterday at the Peace Park, Calabar, shortly after a five-hour security council meeting, the governor, accompanied by service commanders in the state, as well as his security adviser, unveiled a new security agenda aimed at containing the emerging threat in the state. He added, “Cross River is known as the home state of tourism, Calabar is known as the destination for African hospitality. Anything that will impinge on the integrity, knowledge, wealth and values of the state must be resisted by Cross Riverians and Nigerians.”



He explained that as part of the new strategy, his administration had decided to increase the budgetary provision for security, saying, “We will provide additional 30 vehicles to cover Calabar city centre, increase the firepower of ‘Operation Skolombo,’ expand our security network and introduce Cross River State Homeland Security Service that will provide intelligence report to Operation Skolombo and other security agencies in the state.”
Ayade disclosed that a total of 47 criminals had been arrested in the wake of the recent security threats in the state capital, saying, “None of those arrested are Cross Riverians and that clearly underscores the fact that the culture, integrity, character and honour of the people of the state have not changed.”

On cultism, which the governor said was beginning to resurface, he warned, “We, as an administration, are going to take deliberate steps to ensure that any person who is in any cult and is in government is thrown out.”
Piqued by intractable communal clashes in the state, which have resulted in the wanton destruction of lives and property, Ayade ordered the immediate withdrawal of the certificates of recognition of traditional rulers in the affected communities.

He hinted that the state would be divided into 18 cells for purposes of security, saying, “Nine entry and nine exit points have also been identified.”

However, the Defence Headquarters at the weekend denied the takeover of any local government area in Cross River State by militants. The Director of Defence Information, Brig-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, in response to THISDAY enquiry yesterday, said such development was not true. He vowed that the military, in collaboration with other security agencies, will crush any attempt to temper with the territorial integrity of the country.

Abubakar said, “The information about parallel government is a rumour and a dream of those unpatriotic elements and is not true. The military and other security agencies will not leave any stone unturned in exploiting any necessary measure in ensuring the indivisibility of our nation.”

He assured members of the public of the commitment of the Nigerian armed forces to the safeguarding of “the territorial integrity of Nigeria, no matter what it takes us to achieve in a more professional manner.
“Our military activities will go on in all crisis identified locations and areas in line with our constitutional mandate and our rules of engagement.”

In a related development, Ayade and the service commanders in the state at the weekend embarked on “operation show of force” through major roads and streets of Calabar.
Briefing newsmen shortly after the exercise, Ayade explained that it was a deliberate measure to let the miscreants know that his team was in control of the security situation.

He said, “We are out here as a show of force to demonstrate that we are in absolute control and we are going to keep Calabar totally safe. We have done a complete surveillance of all the possible routes, all the water areas through which these criminals escape.

“We know who they are, the security and intelligence report has shown clearly the people who are behind all these activities and I can assure the people of Cross River State that Calabar is, indeed, peaceful and they should go about their legitimate businesses peacefully.”

On measures to sustain the exercise, the governor explained, “As a fallout of our security meeting yesterday (Friday) and today, we will make adequate budgetary provision, reduce some of our spending while transferring some of the overheads to guarantee sufficient ammunition as well as other security and logistics support.”
Commenting, the Cross River Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Ozi-Obeh, assured that his men will continue to protect lives and property in the state. “Those who have legal businesses should go about them peacefully, but those who have illegal businesses should run away,” Ozi-Obeh warned.



The state security adviser, Mr. Jude Ngaji, expressed the state government’s readiness to tackle the security menace, assuring, “In a couple of days, the security challenge being experienced in the state will be a thing of the past.”

lifezone247:
I'm not disputing the pics ma, what I'm trying to say is that it's either the camp is in Bama or in maidugri and not Bama IDP camp in maiduguri as written here.

Flexherbal:
Why do are government start what they are not ready for?

lifezone247:
baby at Bama IDP camp in maiduguri at the same time? Bama is a different place a local government, and maiduguri is the state capital.

disloman:
When I see comments like this one.I now believe people can be pained to their bone marrow and make them look stup1d.Why didn't buhari come and arrest my father?

Redoil:
But why bringing gej into this

Aegon:
Did you extend this sanctimonious piece of advice to awolowo and his people during the events of the Civil war? Or do you think we have forgotten?
I'm sorry but more must die. That is the way of Karma and retributive Justice.

TI1919:
[s][/s]




What's your problem?

I have never voted APC plus am sorry if you are offended.

TI1919:
Okay

The IDPs have been languishing from hunger and dying in droves while Nigerians out there have been made to believe all along that the victims were being taken good care of. At least, that was what the governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima had made us believe until Nigerains came to know the truth.

As recently as April 2016, the governor had told the world in a keynote address he presented at the first annual dialogue on Rebuilding Peace in Borno State organized by AOA Global, a humanitarian advocacy group, that Internally Displaced Persons consume a whopping 1,800 bags of 50 kilogrammes of rice daily. That number represents three trailer loads of rice. Daily?



Before this time, the state’s former deputy governor, late Alhaji Zanna Mustapha, had some time in December 2014, told the world that the Borno State government was spending a humongous N600m monthly to feed IDPs in only 20 out of the 27 local government areas in the state.

However, despite this supposed huge investments by the State, very disturbing reports came out from the camps recently of people especially children dying of malnutrition in the camps in Borno State. One of the reports had it that, at least, 30 children were dying from the phenomenon almost daily while there were about 1,233 graves of citizens who died of acute malnourishment out of which 480 were children’s discovered by Medecins Sans Frontiers.

In a bid to cover up their negligence and corruption, some government officials had claimed that the children were already malnourished in Boko Haram camps where they were held captive before being rescued. But this story does not sell and cannot sell unless such officials want us to believe like it is being mouthed in some quarters that the purported rescued Chibok girls noise was stage-managed. For how can you not have prepared for a thing and time like this as a State playing host to the world’s deadliest terror group? Were Shettima and his partners not aware that unlike the purported stage-managed rescued Chibok girls, the reality of such rescue is that the victims would need intensive care?

Why would Nigerians who survived the onslaught of the dreaded sect for years showing resilience while in captivity be left to die after regaining freedom? Why would those who were forced to live in Sambisa die in Bama? Why would children live under Shekau but die under Shettima? Even if their conditions were so desperately hopeless, does it mean that the government of Shettima did not make adequate provisions medically and otherwise for such situations despite the hundreds of millions bandied about as the sums expended on taking care of the IDPs?

Those innocent Nigerians had no reason whatsoever to die once rescued from Boko Haram! Their rescue should have been a joyous journey back to life and not a sad, pathetic and shameful one to death! And just like the outgoing USA Ambassador to America, James Entwistle asked recently, “Nigerians are dying of starvation in Nigeria. How can that be?”

Indeed, how can that be?

If the Doctors Without Borders could have an inpatient therapeutic centre in Maiduguri where they immediately referred 16 of these malnourished and dying children to, nurture them back to life with utmost and intensive care, the Borno State governor and members of his team should be held responsible for the needless and avoidable deaths of citizens directly in their care!

They should be made to account for all the donations both in cash and in kind that have come the way of the IDPs through the state government from foreign countries, local and international donor organizations, corporate entities, NGOs, religious organizations, individuals etc.



Another fact we must not gloss over is the reality that some of these children actually became malnourished while in the camps as we have heard of how officials shortchange the IDPs in the distribution of food and medicines. Obviously, somebody somewhere is feeding fat at the expense of these vulnerable children who deserve our all in order to be alive. That is the height of heartlessness.


Maybe Kashim Shettima is still waiting for former president Jonathan to call him before he wakes up to his responsibilities just like he lamented in the wake of the Chibok saga that the former president did not call him until after 19 days following the incident. He declared this as one of his defence for his poor handling of the Chiobk issue, and when he was reminded that he, as the chief security officer of the state should have reached out to Jonathan, he said he did not reach out to the former president because he assumed that he would have been briefed! Briefed by whom? If a governor could think and act this way then, how do we expect such a ruler to be able to handle even more intricate matters of nurturing dying children back to life?

It is such act of carelessness and incompetence that Shettima has grown with to the extent that he cannot take care of a small proportion of citizens put under his care. Or, is he still waiting for Jonathan’s call. His excuses so far for this inexplicable and unfortunate occurrence are at best lame in reason and defective in intelligence.

This is the effect of politicising serious matters just for mundane purposes. If Shettima and his team had used the Chibok matter as a learning process rather than as a divisive tool, if they had focused on the larger picture rather than on the narrow prism of pulling Jonathan down, they would by now have appreciated the enormity of the catastrophe staring them in the face, and would have risen to the challenge rather than sacrifice those innocent citizens including children in desperate need of the care of a certain governor and his officials.

To put an end to this carnage of disturbing proportions, I wish to appeal to former president Goodluck Jonathan to place a call to Alhaji Kashim Shettima, the governor of Borno State, perhaps that is all he needs to wake up to the enormous responsibility that fate has placed on him, and save us the embarrassment of war-like images from his domain.

Reminez:
Everyone just throw around figures these days ..I barely knew of the Ijaws untill Oga Jonah brought them to the limelight .

mrvitalis:
Ijaws are not upto 5 Million.. .
Max 2 million in Rivers
2 million in Bayelsa
1 Million in delta and akwa ibom. .. and that's it

goldust777:
D only thing that comes to my head when i hear ijaw is murderers.oneday you will taste murder evil people

Vatsyayana:
They're not fit to be called states because Jonathan & his PDP clan looted the money allocated to purchase arms for their defence from insurgency.
These states used to feed Nigeria until PDP nurtured insurgency in those states.
Thank God they can now publicly observe sallah courtesy of PMB.



quote author=dimieprincess post=47364070]
Just bursted yo lies about Lagos. Zamfara, Yobe and Borno has never been ruled by PDP and they are not fit to be called States

BlackSeptember:
show me your pix lets see how flat nosed you look. You can't measure up to an average Igbo girl

xmich:
Dimieprincess as I have recorded is a tribal bigot only active on tribal threads,and hell bend in bringing tribalism in any thread she found her self,dimieprincess according to record is a staunch "Igbo's want to take oil" SS wanabee but was later bursted by Rose2014 in one of this threads "Why I hate ipob and every thing they stand for " www.nairaland.com/3174812/why-hate-ipobs-everything-stand/2#46713577

DaBullIT:
It makes me understand that our bane as a nation is tribalism and not corruption or bad leaders


Madam , check your body temperature

DaBullIT:
It makes me understand that our bane as a nation is tribalism and not corruption or bad leaders


Madam , check your body temperature

HopeAtHand:
What do you think is the population of Urhobos and Igbos in Delta before you add Isoko, Itsekiri and Ijaw.

Ijaw people always love to exaggerate their population.

HopeAtHand:
The most populous Ijaw state is Bayelsa, followed by Ijaw in Rivers and then Delta. Bayelsa of today isnt more than 3million, Ijaws of Rivers is about 2.5 million and that make it roughly 5.5milliin.. i am now left to assume the remaining 4.5million are in Delta state, Ondo, Edo and Akwa Ibom..

HopeAtHand:
Op, how is Ijaw 10million, pls kindly breakdown the distribution of figures.

charix:
Corruption is our major bane, tribalism is a close second. How do they(the politicians) try to colour a situation along ethnic lines where two individuals from the same region and under the same political party vie for one post?
See the problem in Rivers State where both rivals Amaechi and Wike were sons of the soil, it's hard to paint such a situation using ethnicity. Wike had to cunningly push blame to the presidency and APC to make it easy for the common Rivers indigene to pick a side.

Vatsyayana:
I wish you nothing but the best!!!
But don't say you were not told!