₦airaland Forum

learnt about my son’s death on an online newspaper called Sahara reporters and up till know, the army authorities have not said anything to us about his death, we want the corpse of our son, husband and brother brought back to us here in Kaduna so that we can say farewell,” the father of late Captain Benjamin Toyi Sule, Mr. Sulieman Yusuf,cried out when our correspondent visited his home this week.


The 63-year-oldretired civil servant, who was executive director of the Agency for Mass literacy, said Benjamin, the first child of the family, was killed in Bama, Borno State after he and 10 othersoldiers were ambushed by insurgents in Danbawa town.
Giving an insight into how Benjamin lived and died, he saidBenjamin who was born on May 5, 1978, got married eight months before he met his death. He joined the military in 2008 after he obtained a degree in Town Planning at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), because he of love country.


“He felt he could do better with the military so he opted to go and join the Short Service Course (SSC) and he had the option to choose the Direct Short Service (DSS) which is professional and combatant but he chose combatant course as he felt that was the best he could do to serve the country,” a distraught Yusuf told Weekly Trust.


“He joined the army immediately after his course at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), he was taken to Ikom in Cross River State, where he served for one month after which he was taken at the heat of the Aba kidnapping and armed robbery where he served for two years, when Aba had settled, on his return to Ikom, he was sent to Liberia. As soon as he came back from Liberia after six months he picked a wife on 30th November, 2013, thinking he was going to be around for sometime,” the slain officer’s father narrated.


But as he thought he was going to settle down, he was transferred to Bauchi, where his commanding officer released him to attend a two- week course. Shortly after his return after the course, he was asked to move to Bama between 5-10 February, Yusuf said.


“He was serving with the Armoured Corps, and was given four armoured vehicles to move to Bama, the vehicle that will carry the armoured cars was not in good condition and normally, when they send armoured cars, they have accessories, including smaller guns, but my son was not given those accessories, he took that risk to Maidiguri, he was informed that when he gets to Bauchi he would be given those guns but at Bauchi he was asked to move to Bama without the guns, he even argued with a Colonel there on the issue asking the Colonel if he would send his son to Bama without the adequate weapons and at 6pm knowing fully well the town was hot at that time,” the bereaved father recalled.


“He was allowed to take off the following day, as Captain, after being promoted in July, 2014, he was the head of the team and he was there for six months as he went in February, he told us he had escaped attacks three times, unfortunately, in Damboa town which has been occupied by the insurgents, an ambush was laid on my son and his men numbering 11 and they were killed by the insurgents between 2nd and 3rd of August, 2014,” he told Weekly Trust.


“I am happy because my son knew what he was getting himself into and he knew he could either come back home to his family or die on the battlefield because he signed for it, but my pain is for over 10 days after my son was killed no one from the army has called or knocked on my door to tell us how my son died or this is the arrangement for his burial, I got to find out he was dead on Saharareporters, they placed pictures of his wedding day and the story was told there, my picture as well as his mother’s was placed in the story but up till now, the army has said nothing to us,” Yusuf said with sadness.


“I would have been very happy if they told me my son fought a gallant fight…In developed countries, when a soldier dies, he is a hero, if everybody refuses to join the army, we do not have security, the insurgents would have consumed all of us,but somebody sacrificed his life, I am not sad because he’s dead, some people die as drivers, some as cooks, some as armed robbers, but my son died serving his country, it is only fair to tell his next of kin, his community because they love him and they are proud of him so bring him to his home state, if they cannot bring him to my house and bury him, do not bury him there and say you gave him honour, it is wrong and it is repugnant to natural justice and good governance, I don’t know if they have buried him because no one has told me anything and I cannot just start going to Maidiguri because it is not safe,” he added.
He army authorities to let the late Benjamin’s family know where their son’s corpse:

“Let them bring back his body, if they cannot give it to me, let them bury him in any military cemetery in Kaduna, his home state, as it will be greatly appreciated and it will not stop my children from joining the army, we are now more disturbed not seeing his dead body, we signed he can die but we did not sign that he can be buried anywhere moreso at the war place, more so a mass burial, when we did not see his body, even his wife who he married just six months ago has not seen her husband’s body.”


Yusuf added that: “I am lucky because he was a gentleman among the four children, he took after me, he is a disciplinarian, a quite person, a jovial person and he loves people, he found it very easy to make friends, he doesn’t drink and was a true Christian.”


On her part, Benjamin’s wife, Mrs. Asabe Sule, said: “The loss of my husband eight months after our wedding is very unfortunate, very painful that the nature of his job could not allow us enjoy our marriage and it’s so painful, because it even led to what has happened that is, his death.”
The young widow recalled: “Before I married him, I knew he was an army officer, but I did not really expect that he would die now.


Our marriage was quite brief even though we courted for about two years, but it will forever be a memorable one, an unforgettable one, he was so dear, so loving and all he wanted was to make me happy.”
Asabe, a lecturer at Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria, recall ruefully that late Capt. Benjamin came home on a pass in June.


They young couple met in Zaria where the widow resides: “The memorable thing about him is how he told me he will be coming back home finally in August, he said he will go back but that he will come back home finally in August, I did not know he meant he will be going beyond.”


She described her late husband as a gentle and peace-loving man who did not like trouble: “When we saw a story about his death on the internet, we made our own contacts to confirm if the story was true and it turned out to be true, but unfortunately, we are still waiting for the army to tell us so.”


Asked how life is without him, she said: “I don’t know if I have started living without him because I have people around me, his family and friends are here to comfort me, the problem will be when I go back to Zaria and I am all alone.”


His 52 year-old mother Ladi Rhoda Sulieman said: “I am feeling so bad, that being the first born, I had entrusted everything to, he has been a child that you can trust and rely on, a promising child, we work like a team in our family.


To Mrs. Esther Sylvester, wife of Corporal Sylvester Moses, August 4, 2013, would ever remain green in her mind. “On that fateful day, my husband, father of my three children and breadwinner of my family, was snatched by death leaving me to face the hardship and realities of life alone,” the widow said of her husband who was slain by Boko Haram insurgents. They were married for 13 years.


“When my husband was alive and in Maiduguri, I was always crying because I knew that in a matter of time, I will be made a widow because of the rate at which soldiers are being killed by the insurgents. It was a very traumatic period for my family, but now, at least, we know he is dead and is resting in the bosom of the Lord. All we can do is pray for him and also pray that the reward of his sweat be paid to us so that life can be a little easier for us even though it can never be easy as it was when he was alive,” she added.


“I do not have any real source of livelihood as all I do are menial jobs that just fetch small money which I use to feed myself and my children as well as pay their school fees,” Mrs. Sylvester said, adding that she has not received the late corporal’s entitlements which could have helped her in the upkeep of the family and payment of school fees.


“Whenever it is first term, my heart skips a beat because I know I have to raise a lot of money to send my children to school now that I know their father is not alive,” she lamented.


“Education is a necessity, even if these children go to the farm, they will still need education to manage the business so that it becomes a success and they can also contribute their own quota to the development of the barrack community, the state and the country at large,” Mrs. Sylvester noted.


It is her hope that the sacrifice that claimed her husband’s life would not be in vain as she urged the military authorities to urgently set machinery in motion towards ameliorating the suffering of families of soldiers, who have lost their lives in the war against terror.

Former military president General Ibrahim Badamasi BabangidaFormer military president General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangidahas said that the military have no business in supervising elections, stressing that policing of election processes should be left to the police.


He made this remark yesterday while fielding questions from newsmen in Minnaon the occasion of his 73rd birthday coming up tomorrow.
Babangida, who spoke at his uphill residence, said with a well trained and well-equipped police force, elections could be held in the country without any rancour.


“I don’t believe that the military should supervise elections
because I don’t believe it should participate. A peep into the Nigeria Police Force, which is the closest to the people, is capable of doing so if the government is able to train them, they will be able to handle any situation,” the former leader said.


“I was already an officer in the Nigerian Army in the 60s and there were no military presence (during elections) in those days except the Nigeria Police and I think it is high time we restored the past glory of the force. But I think it is again, what the developing countries face,” he added.


He argued that the military could only be used in electoral processes in circumstances for giving logistical support, citing the case of Niger Delta, which has a difficult terrain.


“You can ask those people (military) operating the boats to use their boats in ferrying ballot boxes to such places that cannot be easily accessed through the road and that is perfectly okay. But pertinently, I don’t believe the military guys should be seen on the streets,” Babangida stated.


On President Goodluck Jonathan’s unconfirmed ambition to seek a second term in 2015, the ex-military leader said the president is free to contest for any position likeany other Nigerian, adding that whoever is occupying such an office would be willing to seek re-election.


“Well, if you were in his shoes, wouldn’t you want to come back if you are there? If you belief in what you are doing and you are doing well, why shouldn’t you? I think what is lacking is what I have always referred to as voter education, the level of understanding, the level of belief is still below what we expect,” he said.

Author: Daniel Obi
American foremost beer brand, Bacardi Breezer has joined other international brands that are leveraging Nigeria’s large market as a hub to expand their footprint into Africa.

Convinced of the strong Nigerian growing beer market, owner of the Bacardi Breezer is determined to compete strongly in the local beer market as it is already investing over $100 million (N150bn) in its manufacturing factory in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, BusinessDay has learnt.

Bacardi Breezer Nigeria, which also has some Nigerians on its board, is launching the product today, in Lagos. The recommended retail price of the product, according to sources, is expected to be competitive at N170.

Revealing the entry of the brand into Nigeria, Akin Adesola of Madisson and Park, media agency to the brand, said Nigeria will be the only African country where Bacardi Breezer would be manufactured and sold to other African countries.

“This will create jobs and boost the Nigerian economy,” he said, as “Bacardi Breezer with 5 percent alcohol‎‎ and delicious mixture of‎‎‎ Bacardi rum‎‎,‎‎ watermelon flavours and sparkling water‎‎ is a product borne out of consumer activity by mixing drinks and fruits.‎‎ It is presently sold in over 100 countries.”
The agency would employ colour and other activations to make the product appeal to the Nigerian audience, Akin said.

Also speaking with BusinessDay on the brand, Gbenga Lawrence, the brand manager, said the brand, which was launched in the UK in 1993, had over 15 flavours, “but in Nigeria we are introducing about three flavours. Breezer’s new packaging is designed to excite and recreate a whole new generation of consumers. Our aim is for unique, consistent, upbeat and edgy global brand expression.”

Already, Sean Tizzle and Seyi Shay are on board as brand ambassadors of the product.

The entry of Bacardi Breezer is expected to further strengthen competition in the Nigerian beer industry, which according to experts, is characterised by a partial duopoly structure that has more than 80 percent of the industry’s total share.

It is not clear how much local input Bacardi Breezer would utilise for the production of the product in Nigeria, but other manufacturers still import over 25 percent of their raw materials.

ChimaAdeoye: Seun, Please tell Musiwa to take his medicine before writing anything again on NL.
Yoruba e-warriors will soon vex and hack your website again because of this topic.

MaziOmenuko: Another FEMALE suicide bomber

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

#chibok#

Editor’s note: This interview with Saa Sabas, an Ebola survivor who now volunteers for the Red Cross Society of Guinea, was conducted for CNN by Moustapha Diallo from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
(CNN) — The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has hit

“unprecedented” proportions, according to relief workers on the ground, with the WHO reporting 844 cases including 518 deaths since the epidemic began in March.

There is no cure or vaccine to treat Ebola, but the aid agency MSF has shown it doesn’t have to be a death sentence if treated early. Ebola typically kills 90% of patients but the death rate in this outbreak has dropped to roughly 60%.
One man who survived the disease describes how the virus took hold.

How did you contract Ebola?

I am an agronomist and I have two children, one boy and one girl.
I work in the pharmacy at the health center of Gueckedou in southern Guinea. When my father was hospitalized at the health center I naturally volunteered to be at his bedside so other family members would not have to make the daily trek of tens of kilometers, traversing the trails between their village and the facility.

I cleaned him when he vomited and also did his laundry. I also often gave him food and drink. He had diarrhea at least eight times per day but I did not know he was suffering from Ebola.
Five days after being hospitalized, [my father] passed away.

After his death the medical staff realized he had presented Ebola symptoms and as I had close contact with him, it meant that I was at risk. So they told me that I needed to be followed up for 21 days and if ever I felt a small fever I had to come to the health center. The countdown then started for me: after nine days I got fever and this persisted until the 11th day. Finally I went to the treatment center — where I did an Ebola test which was positive.

What were the symptoms? How did you feel while you were ill?


I first got a fever which persisted. My body temperature reached nearly 40C (104 degrees Fahrenheit). After that I had diarrhea, vomits, dysentery and hiccups [all symptoms of Ebola]. I went to the toilet several times a day and I felt so tired and uncomfortable.


How and where were you treated?

I received medical assistance at the Ebola treatment center, put in place at the health centre of Gueckedou. The medical staff provided me with oral medications and infusions. They also provided me with food. I suffered at lot in the beginning with diarrhoea and hiccups but with the treatment I started to feel better.

What was the initial reaction in your home village after you recovered?

Joy, for my family because everyone thought that I would not survive this disease as many others people had died. However before the medical staff released me to go back to my family they tested me three times to make sure that I really had recovered. Afterwards they gave me a certificate of discharge.

They also visited my family, the leaders and elders of my community to inform them that I had recovered and I was no longer contagious. Despite this, I was stigmatized. Some people avoided me in the beginning but now, over time, they have learned to accept me. Now they call me “anti-Ebola.”


You’re now working with Red Cross volunteers in Guinea to raise awareness of the disease: what lessons are passing on?

I am part of a team of Red Cross volunteers, visiting communities, raising awareness on how to prevent the spread of the disease. One of the messages I try to pass on to the communities is to go early to the health center when sufferers first feel symptoms. The treatment is free of charge. People there will give you food and clothes and you can get a chance to survive.


What’s your message for the outside world about Ebola? How can they help?

Everyone should be mobilized. We need to educate people and increase the sensitization. This is the key to stop the dangerous disease Ebola.

Many people have already died, that is why I participate in activities [to educate people]. I urge people to go the isolation and treatment centres if they experience the earliest symptoms of the disease, to increase their chance of being cured and surviving.

Idrismusty97: seriously! Now they wouldn't just regard this menace as a Nigerian problem. West Africa countries and France in particular would do more to fight bokoharam. Shekau will pay!!!

Emekamex: So the military can avert one in a mosque but allows the one in the church to detonate. Judgement day is at hand.

Women from all the Igbo-speaking states converged on Enugu on Saturday to brainstorm on the way to stop baby factories from operating in the region.


The meeting themed “The Baby Factory Conundrum” was organised by two non-governmental organisations, Africa and Media, and drew the cream of women from the zone.


In a presentation, UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking, Dr Joy Ezeilo, regretted that the laws in the concerned states were obsolete and needed reforms.


She said that most people arrested in the course of the campaign to stop baby factories often found loopholes in the obsolete laws to escape punishment.


She advised the Igbo to stop discriminating against the girl-child in terms of inheritance, saying it gave rise to rampant cases of illegal adoption.


In her contribution, a former Minister of Education, Prof. Chinwe Obaji, said the issue of baby factories debased womanhood and was evil.


Obaji said it also showed that women had lost their duties as parents, saying that any woman who closely monitored her children would not allow them to reside in a baby factory.
Also speaking, Prof. Theresa Kanno of the Abia State University said there was a need to educate parents on the evils of baby factories.


The Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development in Enugu State, Mrs Ndidi Chukwu, said there was a need for the government to sponsor the girl-child to skills acquisition programmes for self-sustenance.

http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2014/07/27/south-east-women-seek-to-stamp-out-baby-factories/

Former head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) has said that the second explosion that ripped through Kaduna on Wednesday was an assassination attempt on his life.

Buhari said this in a statement he signed. “I am personally involved in a clearly targeted bomb attack today at about 2:30pm on my way to Daura.

Buhari, a national leader of the All Progressives Congress narrated harrowing experience. “The unfortunate event, clearly an assassination attempt came from a fast moving vehicle that made many attempts to overtake my security car, but was blocked by escort vehicle.

“We reached the market area of Kawo where he took advantage of our slowing down and attempted to ram my car and instantly detonated the bomb which destroyed all the three cars in our convoy.

“Unfortunately, when I came out of my vehicle, I saw many dead bodies littered around. They were innocent people going about their daily business who became victims of mass murder.

“Thank God for His mercy, I came out unhurt, but three of my security staff sustained minor injuries. They have since been treated in hospital and discharged,” the statement read.

dozzzybaba: The aguleri cowards are only risky when they want to fight their umuleri brothers.

The Ibaji warriors in Kogi have been roasting them like suya.

Tell your ibo brothers to keep of our land. Go back to your land oooops. I forgot Anambra is no mans land

93RD: There is nothing to fight about.... I wonder why nigerians keep killing each other because of greed? If the boundary commission do their survey as usual, they should declare the owner of the so called oil well and let peace return to the states involved..

BekeeBuAgbara: Did you type this?

psucc: What happens to the convert or die threat all over the Islamic nations. We must be objective and if Nigeria must work, every aspects of freedom including worship must be guaranteed.

Though I hold no brief for the Presidency, the way and manner we are taunting the President is making him more popular by the day. How powerful is GEJ that he incites every bit of evil and yet clueless and daft(according to APC).

ratiken: Healthy opposition is always welcome which was the reason GEJ gave APC the benefit of doubt with his long silence.

But when you play negative politics, constantly bashing the office of the presidency, criticize every FG move without proffering any tangible solution, inciting the public against the govt, promote violence through pronouncements and statements. Such opposition can easily throw a country into anarchy.

Even the holy book says 'suffer not a witch to live'. All APC have practiced so far is pure witchcraft and evily more. They have to be dealt with both by the FG but more by the nigerian masses using their votes.