₦airaland Forum

From PAUL ORUDE, Bauchi
Wednesday, November 16 , 2011



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The relative peace in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State is being threatened following the gruesome murder of two undergraduates in the area. The killing of Bukata Bitrus and Masoyi Bitrus has now brought to eight the number of persons silently killed in the area in the last three months, Daily Sun learnt.

The state police command Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mohammed Barau confirmed the killings in an interview with our correspondent on telephone yesterday.

Barau, an Assistant Superintendant of Police, (ASP) said an investigation into the murder had begun. Our correspondent learnt that the latest victims, Bukata Bitrus and Masoyi Bitrus were hacked to death near Dalmundin village last Thursday at about 7pm in the evening.

They were reported to be riding on a motorcycle when they were waylaid and attacked with machetes.
The Secretary of the Sayawa Traditional Rulers and Council of Elders, Bukata Zhadi condemned the killings in an interview with our correspondent in Tafawa Balewa.
Zhadi lamented that no fewer than eight youths in the area had been killed within the last three months and fingered the Hausa Fulanis as responsible.

“The way Bukata and Masoyi were killed was most brutal. They were inflicted with several cuts on their heads, faces, shoulders and body,” he said.
Zhadi said the killing of the two youths was a sad development to the community as they were both peace loving persons with promising future.

The late Bukata, an orphan it was learnt was preparing to travel the next day for his clearance, having gained admission to the Federal College of Education Technical, Postikum before his dream was cut short.
“He had no parents, his only brother, Godia, was killed in the January 27 crisis in Tafawa Balewa by Hausa Fulani, now his younger brother had receives the same fate. Godiya was an employee of Bogoro Local Government Area,” he added.
Similarly, he revealed his bosom friend, Masoyi just gained admission to the Gombe State University before his murder.

“We feel really bad about these killings. The community is not out to retaliate or do anything but we want the government to investigate the guerrilla attacks carried out on the Sayawa in Bogoro and Tafawa Balewa local government areas.
“The killings of these two has brought the number to eight in three months. The victims, who were from Sayawa were always ambushed and killed, some in their houses and some during the raids. The security operatives must investigate these attacks,” Zhadi appealed.

Daily Sun gathered that Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro had become flashpoints due to attacks and counter attacks between the Hausa Fulani and Sayawa communities in the area, which had claimed hundreds of lives and property worth millions of naira.
Experts believe the problem, which is rooted in politics usually took religious dimension, where the Christian Sayawa and Muslim Hausa Fulani took up arms against each other in some of the most violent clashes ever witnessed in the state and the country.

The state governor, Isa Yuguda recently accented to the law by the State Assembly, which created the Sayawa Chiefdom, which the Sayawa had agitated for decades in a bid to bring lasting peace.
But the citing of the temporary headquater at Bogoro and subsequently moving it permanently to Marti Giji and not Tafawa Balewa as demanded by the Sayawa has further made the peace elusive.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/nov/16/national-16-11-2011-0010.html

Buhari a.k.a Islamic fundamentalist.

Buhari who justified the death of hundreds of innocent nigerians (because he did not win an election)

I hope next time he will not say that he was "misquoted".

I heard that he cried for naija.

Even if he cries the whole river niger, he will[b] never [/b] be president of naija. (he can try somalia)

Scharck:
how much are they paying & wat are the requirement qualifications :-|

Why are you asking?

I hope they prayed that God will touch the hearts of BKH.

Dawgpound:
So instead of praying for prosperity, peace, good healthcare, security, productive leadership, end of almajiri, end of forced marriages, end of child violation in the name of marriage, end of polio, end of Boko haram, rise in education, these people are more worried about the governor becoming a muslim? Why is FG continuing to sponsor these silly trips that promote nothing but more backwardness?

This was done the d state government.

Kx:
To think that he was mentioning the name of Jesus in his campaign as if he was God sent.

edoyad:
. . . almajiris would ride.
Hopeless set of leeches, so that's what Yakowa has been using state resources for ? Feeding, funding and by extension perpetuating stupidity. Continue wasting resources while your counterparts are developing various sectors in their respective states.

right.

By Imam Imam and Ibrahim Shuaibu


Call it a dramatic turn of fortune and you won’t be wrong. For Kaduna State Governor, Mr. Patrick Yakowa, his fairy tale political life took another turn when, to the surprise of many, Muslim pilgrims from Kaduna State swept away all prejudices and perceived political differences to, not only pray for his success in office as governor, but asked God to make him one of their own.


In other climes, it may not amount to much for followers asking God to make their leader a member of their faith. But the Kaduna, or appropriately the Yakowa's case, is exceptional. After becoming the first civilian Christian to emerge as governor of the state in May 2010, Yakowa saw his effort to become a symbol of unity and tolerance thwarted by the devastating post-election violence that rocked the state and some other Northern states of the country last April.


To many, especially the Muslim-dominated Northern and central zones of the state, Yakowa represented every negative they despised. But not any longer, it seems.


When the pilgrims converged on Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj, it was normal to hear them pray for their leaders and for the peace, unity and progress of their country and their states. What was surprising this year was that the Kaduna pilgrims not only prayed for their state, they also prayed to Allah to make their Christian Governor, Yakowa, to convert to Islam.


In groups and individually, the pilgrims extolled Yakowa’s virtues and prayed for his success as a politician and as governor of the state.


A pilgrim from Soba Local Government Area of the state, Musa Ibrahim, said even though he did not vote for Yakowa in April, he is today praying for his success because the governor has done enough to convince him that he is sincere.


“I am impressed with what he has done so far. I can tell how sincere he is and even though a Christian, he has taken special interest in our welfare here in the Holy Land. Our officials have told us that he speaks to them regularly on phone and has been addressing issues that affect us even though he is not with us here. So I prayed to God to make him join us here for Hajj next year,” he said.


He added: “My present position does not mean I belong to his party, no. If there is new election today, I will vote for the governor even though I don’t like his party.”


Another indigene of the state performing the hajj from Kaduna South Local Government Area, Shehu Malami Bukkuyum, said even though he prayed for Yakowa to become a Muslim, it does not mean he disrespects him (Yakowa) as a Christian. “I respect his present faith, I only ask God to make him join mine which is normal,” he added.


While Kaduna State officials in the Holy land declined to speak on record on the issue, some expressed delight that the seeming religious and political differences between the governor and some Muslims in the state, is waning.


“More than anyone I have known, Yakowa has done a lot to bridge the political and religious gap existing between him and some people in the state.


“He has gone the extra mile to prove to the people that he is a leader of all the people of the state.
Importantly, he has carried on with his assignment in a sincere manner which helped to endear him to the people,” a Pilgrim Officer (PO) in one of the councils told THISDAY.


THISDAY checks indicated that among the measures adopted by the state government to ensure a successful hajj were the subsidising of the fare for the pilgrims, payment of a token 50 riyal to all pilgrims as sallah gift from the governor on the sallah day, direct communication with the hajj officials in the Holy land to ensure all challenges are tackled among others.


Similarly, since he came to power, Yakowa has made a habit to feed the poor and the destitute during the Muslim Holy month of Ramadan and the introduction of iftar sessions with various Islamic groups in the Government House throughout Ramadan season.


Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of the state and Amirul Hajj, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yaro, has commended the pilgrims for the orderly manner they conducted themselves in the Holy land during the exercise.


Speaking, when he addressed the pilgrims in Mina, Yaro said over the years, Kaduna pilgrims had always conducted themselves in dignified manner and this year was no exception. He equally urged them to continue praying for peace and unity of the state.


Some of the pilgrims who responded commended the arrangements put in place by the state government to ensure a stress-free hajj, and urged the government to ensure that their flight back home would equally be hitch free.


In another development, over 5,000 Nigerian pilgrims are billed to be flown home from Saudi Arabia in 10 flights by Max Air Limited, which commenced airlifting of pilgrims last Friday.


Spokesman of the airline, Alhaji Ibrahim Dahiru, told THISDAY yesterday in Jedda that pilgrims from Nassarawa State were among the first to arrive Nigeria, stating that “we are also to airlift additional pilgrims from Katsina and Abuja today (Sunday)”.


He said 1,500 pilgrims had arrived Nassarawa, Katsina States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with three flights.


Dahiru also explained that Max Air airlifted over 43,000 pilgrims from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia.
He added that the status quo of the company is still maintained that every pilgrim will go home with their luggage immediately they arrived in Nigeria from the Holy land.


According to him, the weight of pilgrims’ luggage were being taken care of at the slated centre of the Max Air in Mecca, pointing out that the airlift of the pilgrims would be completed in good time.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/kaduna-pilgrims-pray-for-yakowa-s-conversion-to-islam/102750/

Pukkah:
Why should El-Rufai be sent to Bauchi? What's the link here?

Are you just arriving from the moon?

[quote author=ekt_bear link=topic=801465.msg9536661#msg9536661 date=1321085747]SE DC is not a safe place to be.

And if I am foolish enough to be cabbying there, I won't argue over 75 cents. Too many drug-addled niggers roaming around there.

Not to mention that it was late at night, at 4am. . .

Gotta use more common sense if you want to survive[/quote]What do you mean? (just thank God 4 ur own condition or keep ur mouth shut. )

Did you read the story?

Is that all you can say? (You must be a very wicked person)

Thank God no one was killed.

The fg should send el-rufai to bauchi.

This is marginalization there is no mohammed or aminu.

Anyway at last d sw and se agree on something.

This should be a lesson to all  tribalist that when there is a will there will always be a way. Goodluck to you.

May her soul rest in peace. Amen.

@op
This is so true.

BootyOnMe:
Source ko. . .source ni.
I nor tell you say na one NL member im friend?
Keep waiting for 'source'!
For all your know, all na lie!
You know say 'Abia Rap-e' na hoax. . .just like this one.

Gosh! It is raining and loving it!!!!

Are you sure?

BKH should also respect human rights.

This may be difficult for the nigerian security forces. BKH does not understand human rights.

Hold Perpetrators Accountable, Ensure Security Forces Respect Rights

November 8, 2011

(Abuja) – The bombings by the militant Islamist group Boko Haram that killed at least 100 people in the northern Nigerian state of Yobe on November 4, 2011, were an indefensible attack on human life, Human Rights Watch said today.

Since the beginning of 2011, Boko Haram has been implicated in attacks that have killed more than 425 people, including police officers, soldiers, community leaders, politicians, Islamic clerics, Christian pastors, and church members. The attacks on November 4 resulted in the highest death toll in a single day since Boko Haram began its campaign of violence in Nigeria in July 2009.

“Boko Haram has once again demonstrated its utter disregard for human life,” said Corinne Dufka, senior West Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The authorities should act swiftly to bring to justice those responsible for these terrible crimes and for earlier attacks that left hundreds dead.”

The latest attacks, including an apparent suicide car bombing, targeted the police state headquarters in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, as well as police housing, government buildings, banks, and at least six churches. Earlier in the day, the group also carried out several attacks in Maiduguri, the capital of neighboring Borno State, including a suicide car bomb attack on the headquarters of the military task force, and attacks in the town of Potiskum in Yobe State.

Boko Haram seeks to impose a stricter form of Sharia or Islamic law in northern Nigeria and recruits members through its populist anti-corruption message.

According to international media reports, a Boko Haram spokesperson, Abul Qaqa, said that Boko Haram took responsibility for the attacks and threatened further violence.

“We will continue attacking federal government formations until security forces stop persecuting our members and vulnerable civilians,” Qaqa said.

Human Rights Watch has documented dozens of attacks by suspected Boko Haram members over the past year including attacks on police stations, military facilities, prisons, banks, beer halls, and churches. On August 26, a suicide car bomb attack at the United Nations headquarters in Abuja, the nation’s capital, killed 24 people and left more than 100 others injured.

Alleged Boko Haram members have gunned down several dozen police officers in the streets and outside their homes, or dragged them out of their cars and killed them in front of their families. Numerous others have been killed during attacks on police stations or while guarding government buildings, banks, and churches. These attacks have killed more than 70 police officers so far in 2011 alone. The vast majority of these incidents have taken place in Borno State, but attacks have also been carried out in the northern states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Katsina, and Sokoto.

Violence associated with Boko Haram, which means “Western education is a sin” in Hausa, can be traced to five days of clashes in July 2009 between the group and members of the security forces in Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, and Kano states that left more than 800 people dead, including at least 30 police officers.

Human Rights Watch has also documented serious abuses, including extrajudicial executions, by the Nigerian police and military in response to the Boko Haram violence. The police, and in some cases the military, have carried out extrajudicial executions of numerous suspected members of the group, including several dozen people who were publicly executed at the police state headquarters in Maiduguri. Those summarily executed included the Boko Haram leader Mohammed Yusuf on July 30, 2009, and Yusuf’s 72-year-old father-in-law, Baba Fugu Mohammed, on the following day. Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that both men were shot by the police officers outside the police headquarters.

The Borno State High Court in April 2010 found that the killing of Baba Fugu Mohammed was “illegal, unconstitutional and a violation of his right to life,” and ordered federal and state authorities to pay N100 million (US$65,000) in damages to his family, exhume his body for proper burial, and apologize for their “reprehensive and unconstitutional” acts. Although the government did not challenge the facts of the case at trial, it has appealed the ruling. The appeal has not yet been heard.

In July 2011 the attorney general’s office filed criminal charges against five police officers, including three assistant commissioners of police, for the killing of Mohammed Yusuf and his followers.

“The Nigerian authorities need to ensure that all law enforcement operations in response to Boko Haram are conducted in full accordance with international human rights standards,” Dufka said. “The most effective way to counter the abhorrent tactics employed by groups like Boko Haram is to scrupulously adhere to respect for human rights and the rule of law.”
.

http://www.hrw.org/news/2011/11/08/nigeria-boko-haram-attacks-indefensible

Has she been confirmed dead? Her sis said she is missing.

nysc should stop posting peeps there.

pDude:

So people still have the guts to go to the North to serve even after all that has been said and done. And she was sharing Rhapsody of Reality when she was hit? Was the pastor hit alongside her? Or was he safe at home when it happened.

God forgive me for my next statement. Amen.

That girl died from stupidity. She doesn't even value the life that God gave her.

That was rather harsh . But u have a point. I just hope she is still alive somewhere (since her sis said she is "missing".

Torch1:
are you kidding, what is Nigeria turning into? U.S, U.K, Japan or what huh? Nigeria is gradually turning into another Somalia or Sudan of Africa. @Topic-you can easily solve a problem from non-muslim group but once it is coming from Jihadists(radical muslims) it will be hard to solve. To me the only solution to Boko haram problem is to give them Sharia law by dividing Nigeria. Nigeria Army is made up of Muslims and majority of them are spies. U.S 've killed Osama but it can never stop Al-qeada, Taliban from operating. Give Boko haram boyz what they want, it wil be hard for GEJ but to me this is the solution.

This is why i said northern muslim leaders should also speak out and condemn BKH activities as being anti-islamic (why r they suddenly quiet). So that when gej acts, it will not be termed a "religious war".

coogar:
if you read my comments in the previous page, i asked for the scheme to be completely scrapped or revamped.
let people serve in their states of origin. i don't need to know the hausa way of life or efik way of life. i will never stay there or imbibe in their culture or tradition.

nigerian parents should be doing more too. a 1-million march protest to scrap the nysc would go a long way to dent the credibility. statistics should be provided on the death-rate of the useless scheme. thousands of lives have been lost to the senseless scheme and the purpose of setting it up in the first place has been defeated many years ago.

Point noted. . Also has she been found or she is still missing like her sister reported?

coogar:
stay at home and try again - if she was still in the east, she wouldn't have died such a violent death.
sending one's ward to northern nigeria since jonathan came into power is a suicide mission.
they should have slaughtered her themselves - it's like sending an american to basra without protection.

I partially agree with u. But don't u think nysc leadership should also stop posting peeps to these places (if u don't send an american to basra in the first instance, the issue of "protection" will not arise).

coogar:
would she go to prison if she refused to serve her nation? where was she when boko haram killed some corp members during the elections earlier in the year? any parent/guardian sending their wards to the north for nysc is irresponsible.

u know in naija nysc cert. is required for most jobs. And maybe her parents do not have enough connections to get her re-posted. what do u expect the girl to do?

They love violence, that is why they want to turn naija into somalia. But nigerians will not allow them.
They never work for the progress of naija, instead they prefer to talk about their love for libya,Iran,sudan,somalia,saudi and gaza.

Northern muslims love violence.

namfav:
when you are caught in that situation you have to question why some people put there lives at risk, it is like going to libya (a month ago)
all the way from enugu, parents did not do there job

IMHO i have to say; i do not think that she is to blame. She was posted to serve her nation, i think the NYSC should stop posting peeps to BKH states. It happened during the elections and nothing was done.

emiye:
The facebook post by Mary Remmy her sister claims she is not dead.

She however asks for prayers, in her words,

"Eucharia Remmy is a member of christ Embassy Damaturu. she was sharing Rapsodies of Reality along New jerusalem, when she was hit. pray with me pls"

Please i hope and pray she is still alive. Please God keep her safe.

May her soul rest in peace. Amen