₦airaland Forum

Eight people have been reportedly killed and two others injured in Cinke and Zarama villages of Kwall district, Irigwe chiefdom, Bassa local government area of Plateau State as armed men attacked the communities on Thursday night.

The State Police Command did not confirm the incident but the National Publicity Secretary, Irigwe Development Association, IDA Davidson Malison confirmed that apart from the killing, the property was also carted away by the attackers.

He said, “Residents of Cinke and Zarama villages of Kwall District woke up on the left-hand side of the bed following the unprovoked attacks launched by Fulani Militia on Thursday, May 5, 2022, resulting in the killing of eight persons and injuring of two persons. The attack is no doubt the continuous perpetration of terror and mayhem in Rigwe land in an attempt to forcefully eject the peace-loving Rigwe people from their ancestral land as well as the complete annihilation of the entire tribe.

“The attack has become a daily affair as the marauders have assumed an immune set of people and are feeling untouchable daring the authorities concerned. This spate of wanton killings and destructions of lives and property, stealing of valuable items of the Rigwe people have passed a condemnable level and require a drastic decision and action that will call and treat the attackers in the language they comprehend to place them in their cocoons.

“We are yet again thrown into a deep mourning mood and sadly commiserate with the entire Rigwe people especially the immediate families over the loss. Once again, our call for the authorities concerned saddled with the responsibility of protection of lives and property of the citizens to step up and double efforts in safeguarding the Rigwe people cannot be overemphasized.”

He added, “The National leadership of Irigwe Development Association (IDA)  and encourages her people to be security-conscious and alert,” and gave names of the victims as, “Irah Weyi 48yrs, Elizabeth Weyi 21yrs, Ladi Mandu, Mary Gya 4yrs, Esther La’aji 5yrs, Titus Agah 40, Aweh Ngwe 47 and Sunday Dada (Corporal). The persons injured are Munto Gado and Sarah Weyi. Destroyed and stolen items are three phones, Television, and an MP3 (Jambox).”

As the 2023 presidential election approaches, the Igbo Elders Consultative Forum (IECF) better known as Ime-obi Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has threatened heavy sanctions against any Igbo politician or activists masquerading as promoters of presidential aspirants outside the South East zone.

POLITICS NIGERIA recalls that Ralph Uwazurike, leader of the Biafra Independence Movement (BIM), had allegedly disowned the South East Presidency project during a recent rally in Owerri, the Imo State capital, to draw support for Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello’s presidential aspiration.

IECF Chairman and former Anambra State governor, Chukwuemeka Ezeife condemned the move in a veiled censure.

Speaking in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the Forum’s latest meeting, Ezeife said: “It has come to our notice that some of our sons and daughters are colluding shamelessly with some unreasonable and dishonest Nigerians to sabotage our collective efforts to produce the next president of Nigeria of the South East extraction.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Elders Consultative Forum will pursue to a logical conclusion the sanctions of these shameless renegades and bootlickers, who plan to accept to be running mates to any presidential candidate not from the South, as well as those who are working hard to sabotage our efforts, masquerading as coordinators and promoters of presidential aspirants outside the South East zone. The Forum will also curse them and their families publicly.”

Hoodlums believed to be armed herdsmen have killed a farmer, Musa Monsuro, in the Ibarapa Central Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Monsuro was reportedly slaughtered on his cashew farm at Araromi village, Igboora, around 5pm on Monday, Punch reports.


While the reason he was killed could not be ascertained, there were reports that those behind the act were herdsmen.

Some residents explained on Tuesday that security agents were alerted and they went to the farm to pick the corpse, which was taken to a mortuary.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident to our correspondent in a text message.

He said, “The case is undergoing investigation. You will be updated accordingly.”

The killing is coming after a break of some months in killings by suspected herdsmen.

Ibarapa had been ravaged by criminal herdsmen who allegedly killed, maimed, raped residents and destroyed farmlands before Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Igboho, visited the area to warn against such acts.

The Leader Of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, on Tuesday, issued warnings concerning the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.

Primate Ayodele said Northerners are not ready to relinquish power in 2023, adding that they would not allow anyone that isn’t on good terms with them to rule.

In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele alleged that cabals in the North are planning to destabilize Nigeria because they are determined to hold onto power.

He also berated political parties for not having the best interest of the country in mind.

The clergyman said some of the politicians have declared their intention to become the next president of Nigeria, noting that most of them can’t rule a local government successfully.

He said: “All these political parties are not serious, they just want money, not the interest of the country, they don’t want 2023 to exist. They want to create trouble for 2023 because the Northerners are not ready to leave and anyone who is not in agreement with them will not be allowed to rule.

‘’The Northern cabals want to install anybody who will dance to their tune and these politicians are not mature enough to rule Nigeria. Why is everyone coming out? Those that can’t even rule local government successfully are coming out, they don’t pity this country, they want to inherit Nigeria forgetting they will die one day.’’

IWUKPOM- YORUBA inhabitants, mainly fishermen, residing at Mkpanak and Iwukpom villages in Ibeno Local Government Area, Akwa-Ibom State, have escaped from their homes in both towns, following a clash between Yoruba and Mkpanak youths, generating uneasy tension.

One person was reportedly killed, several others either maimed or missing and property worth millions of naira destroyed in the violent clash.

However, head of Iwuokpom, one of the affected Ibeno villages, Obong Okon Sunday Atabop, told NDV that nobody chased away Ilaje-Yoruba residents from the community, saying the people would sit down with them at a round-table to resolve the misunderstanding when they return.

To avert escalation of the crisis, the chairman of Ibeno Local Government Council, High Chief Henry Mkpa, on April 21, imposed a 7.00 pm to 6.00 am curfew on the local government area.

They shot arbitrarily, burnt my boats, fishing nets – Mr. Ayo


On what caused the fight, one of the fleeing fishermen, a father of seven children, Mr. Ayo, said: “The only thing I can say is that it was around 2.00 am, I heard noise outside my house. Before I knew what was happening, they (boys) entered my house, took all my money and other things. So everybody ran and scattered.

“I live in Jacob Street, Ibeno and I have lived in Ibeno for more than six years but l have not seen a thing like this happen before. Sometimes, we have misunderstanding with the natives, but within seconds, we settle. Other tribes are living there too and when this started, everybody ran away.

“Those people were shooting indiscriminately. If the police and soldiers had not come, maybe they would have killed everybody. It was not a small thing, they burnt all my boats, and my fishing nets. We are standing here because we don’t have anywhere to stay.

We arrived in this place (temporary refugee location) since yesterday (last Wednesday) and we were more than this number you are seeing here today. Some people have gone to find houses to stay in town.”

My son, Taye missing

“Some people have died, many are missing. As we are talking, one of my sons, Taye, is missing. I do not know where to look for him. I am planning to see if I can find a soldier that I will join to the Terminal (Mkpanak area) to search for him. I cannot go there alone. There are many streets there, when those doing bad things see security agents, they will go to another street to make trouble. Most of us here are local fishermen in Ibeno,” he said.

I and my children are starving – Mrs. Solomon

Also, Mrs. Taiwo Solomon residing at Apostolic Road, Ibeno, testified that on Tuesday night when she peeped through her window, she saw people running and boats in flames, she was afraid and held her six children together.

“We were hiding in the house when we were told to move and lock our door, that if those people making trouble come inside the house, we will be killed. So we left Ibeno about 12.00 pm on Wednesday. We are stranded here, we do not have anywhere else to go. We have not even eaten since that yesterday. We managed to buy water and snacks for the children, ” she lamented.

Nobody pursued them—Obong Atabop, Iwuokpom village head

Reacting, the Village Head of Iwuokpom in Ibeno, Obong Okon Sunday Atabop, said: “I went to church, because we (Brotherhood) are having Pentecost this period and I came back home around 11.00pm. On the way, I saw broken bottles everywhere. When I got  home, I saw Yoruba boys, they were many. I told them to go home  that I did not want to see anybody causing problem here at Iwuokpom, but they refused to go.

“When the boys from my village heard about this and came out, I asked them to go home and they did. But as I prepared to go to sleep at about 2.00 am, I saw some Yoruba boys, they started rioting, and there were shootings. I was afraid, so I used my phone and called the paramount ruler and the Divisional Police Officer, DPO. The police team came and dispersed them. But before police came, they had already destroyed things, burnt things and they even broke the glass of my house as you can see.

“When the police arrived, I came out from my house and police told me to go inside because they were still rioting. It was not a small fight. Some of them (Ilajes) are living here with us, just as some are living with our people in other villages. Also before the police came, I called their leader, Chief J-J to tell his people to disperse, but the man said he had warned them but they refused to listen to him,” he said.

Responding to claims that many people died, the village head said:  “Nobody died except that young man that was stabbed to death with something and they brought the corpse down here. He was living here. We saw the corpse, it has been deposited in the hospital at Upenekang. So if anybody tells you many people died, let them bring their corpses for us to see.

“And immediately this thing happened, many of them used their boats to run away.  Nobody drove anybody away, we are all Nigerians. And if they come back, we will sit down at a round table and give them the condition that they should agree to live in peace with us, and to be law abiding.

Police boss visits, cautions combatants

Akwa Ibom State Police Command in a statement by Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Odiko MacDon, said proactive steps have been put in place to ensure law and order in the affected areas, assuring members of the public that those behind the dastardly act would be brought to book.

The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State, Andrew Amiengheme, had on receipt of the information, deployed men from Ibeno Division and Tactical Teams from the State Headquarters to the affected areas, and was able to successfully restore law and order.

MacDon who said the commissioner was pained by the loss of one life and the wanton destruction of property, in company of the village head of Mkpanak, Chief Dennis Bassey,  addressed stakeholders and youths of the area during his visit to the areas.

“The commissioner also met with residents from Ilaje where he had a similar interface with them before proceeding to meet with the paramount ruler of Ibeno, HRH Owong Effiong Archianga. He assured the monarch and leaders of continued security presence and the maintenance of law and order in Ibeno,” he added.

Ibeno paramount ruler issues traditional injunction

Paramount Ruler of Ibeno Local Government Area, HRM Effiong Bassey Archianga, in a statement on April 21, appealing to the governor, Udom Emmanuel, to wade into the crisis, revealed he had placed traditional injunction calling for peace.

“I hereby appeal to the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State to wade into this matter, to resolve this conflict, give a meaningful and permanent solution that will let peace reign in lbeno land.

“In my capacity as the paramount ruler of Ibeno, I hereby place a traditional injunction and sue for peace. Both parties should sheathe their swords. Any person or group of persons who violate the traditional order should bear the consequences,” the monarch said.

A 49-year-old mother, Mrs Monsurat Alimi, has alleged that operatives of Amotekun in Ogun State killed her son, Tunde Olutayo, and labeled him a cultist.

The bereaved mother told newsmen in Abeokuta, the state capital, on Sunday, that after death of her son, she saw a picture of his corpse on Facebook tagged cultist and armed robber.

It was alleged that, on penultimate Saturday, operatives of the local security outfit allegedly invaded the victim’s compound in Sokori, Abeokuta and shot him after he tried to escape.

The Amotekun Corps in the state had on Saturday, issued a statement titled, “Death of notorious Eiye cultist and armed robber”, claiming that Olutayo and his gang engaged the corps in a gun duel which led to his death.

The commander of the corps, David Akinremi, who is a retired Commissioner of Police, said his men received a distress call on the presence of a group of Eye cultists who attacked and robbed some residents along Sokori Street, Abeokuta.

Akinremi said, on getting to the place, his operatives engaged the hoodlums who had snatched valuables such as telephone handsets, money among others.


He said “during this encounter, one Olutayo Tunde a.k.a. Badoo, aged 30 years who is the leader of this group which had previously been involved in Cult killings, armed robberies and other sundry crimes in Abeokuta Metro fired at the operatives and in a swift response, he was shot on the arm in an attempt to disarm him.

“The suspect immediately ran into the nearby bush along with his other cohorts, dropping a locally made pistol which was recovered by the operatives.

“A painstaking search was conducted in the bush where he escaped, during which he was arrested while others escaped.

“He was immediately taken to Ijaye General Hospital for treatment so as to be able to extract useful information from him in respect of his and other members’ involvement in previous cult, related killings, armed robberies and other related crimes in Abeokuta Metro in recent times but was confirmed dead shortly on arrival at the said hospital.

“His death was sad as his being alive would have avail security agencies veritable information that would have helped in stemming the tides of this menace.”

But the mother faulted the claim by the Amotekun Boss, saying her son was a vulcaniser and neither a cultist nor an armed robber.

While speaking on the incident on Sunday, Mrs Alimi said, “It was on Saturday when they called me and said he was at the junction of his workshop and that was where they apprehended him.

“They said he was shot by the Amotekun , the moment he tried to escape from the riverbank. When I got to the place where he was shot, all those that were present said he knew nothing about what he was apprehended for.”


Olutayo’s mother also expressed concern that her son’s corpse had not been released.

Demanding a thorough probe that would ensure justice on the murder of her son, she said, “We urge the government to help ask the Amotekun to release to us his dead body. He is not a cultist. They did not inform us that he had been killed, it was on Facebook that we saw it.

“We want the government to find out what led to the killing of my son . Please help me , they want to cheat me. They want to use power to cheat me . They killed my son and seized his corpse.”

The Nigeria Police Force has launched a manhunt for a lady seen having sex with a dog in a viral TikTok video.

Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said posting bestial-natured videos online won’t be tolerated.

Adejobi also vowed that the police would apprehend the lady in the viral video.

In a terse statement to journalists on Sunday night, the FPRO said, “I really want us to take necessary action on these ladies that are involved in unnatural offences (including bestiality) and post same online. We want to urge you to give us any useful information on how to get these ladies. We need to fish them out please. Thanks.”

Commenting specifically on action of the lady setting the Internet ablaze, Adejobi said, “We will get her.”

The PUNCH had earlier reported that a light-skinned lady in a trending video claimed she was paid a lump sum to sleep with the dog.

The video was said to be recorded in Nigeria but The PUNCH could not immediately confirm its authenticity.

According to lawyers, the Criminal Code Act and the Penal Code Act criminalise sleeping with an animal and that the act attracts up to 14 years imprisonment in Nigeria.

Months earlier, the leaked sex tape of singer Ikuforiji Abdulrahman, aka Oxlade, and another sex tape involving singer Tiwa Savage had gone viral with many condemning the salacious act. While those of the two singers were with intimate human partners, the latest video involved a young lady and a dog.

Many had also argued that the obscene display of nudes and the sharing of sex tapes on the Internet is capable of causing damage to public decency and national morality.

Abraham Yorka, a pastor, has been shot dead in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State.
It was learnt that some gunmen invaded Yorka’s community, Oloko, and killed him.

A member of the community, who identified himself as Monday Piit, told reporters that the men of Oloko went to eat after working on a community farmland when they heard the shouts of women and children.
Piit disclosed that the gunmen burnt down houses, shot at people and also burnt their victim’s motorcycle. 
He stated that it was later that the Oloko community discovered it was a local Vigilante group from a neigbouring community in Oyigbo Local Government Area that were behind the incident.
He said some of the persons, who escaped from the assailants, disclosed their identities.
Piit also alleged that some of the natives of Oloko community were still missing.
Spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, DSP Grace Koko, was not available for comments as of press time.

Senator Shehu Sani says President Muhammadu Buhari would have protested if the government of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan piled up debts like he has done.

In an ongoing Twitter Spaces session with Daily Trust, the Senator who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th assembly, rated the government lowly.

Never at a time as a country has Nigeria been in so much debt. We keep borrowing from everywhere,” he said.

He said whatever Buhari thought he had achieved would mean nothing if Nigerians are not secure.

Sani also accused Buhari of keeping incompetent in office, wondering why he cannot reshuffle his cabinet.

As presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014, Buhari led thousands of party supporters in a protest rally in Abuja.

The protesters had accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government of playing politics with Boko Haram.

They also accused President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP of gross incompetence and unprecedented display of impunity.

The protest tagged ‘Salvation Rally’, was aimed at drawing global attention to what the opposition party described as deliberate hijack of the Nigeria police and other security agencies by the ruling PDP.

The South-West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA) group on Friday said it will not agree to a consensus arrangement for the selection of the All Progressives Congress’ presidential candidate.

Speaking in Abuja after purchasing the APC presidential form for Tinubu, Chairman of SWAGA, Sen. Dayo Adeyeye said all aspirants must be allowed to test their popularity at the party’s primaries.

Mr Tinubu, a former Governor of Lagos State, is one of many aspirants seeking to fly the APC’s flag for the 2023 presidential election.

Other candidates include the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

SWAGA was officially launched in October while Tinubu himself was recuperating in the United Kingdom.

The Group, backed by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, believes Tinubu “understands the diverse nature of the Nigerian economy.”

Operatives of Western Nigeria Security Network Agency, Amotekun Osun, have apprehended one Afeez Odusanya, a 33-year-old truck driver who specialises in desecrating corpses.

Parading Odusanya among other suspects in Osogbo on Wednesday, the Field Commander, Osun Amotekun Corps, Amitolu Shittu disclosed that the suspect, who is a ritualist, was arrested for exhuming and extracting tooth from dead bodies at a burial ground at Ilesa, with the intention of using it for money ritual purposes.

Shittu also revealed that the suspect confessed that he started his quest for money ritual in 2016, but it failed twice after extracting teeth from two different bodies in Sagamu, Ogun State.

“12 teeth believed to have been extracted from corpses he exhumed for a money ritual were found in the suspect’s possession.

“Two finger bones were also recovered from him,” he said.

Two finger bones were also recovered from him,” he said.

Other suspects paraded by the Osun Amotekun include, 30-year-old Ibrahim, who was arrested for stealing wielding engines and Toheeb, 35, who was arrested for stealing mechanical tools.

An average of 14 persons are killed in northern Nigeria every day, the Northern Broadcast Media Owners Association (NBMOA) has said.

The association also said no fewer than 8,372 people were killed in the north in 2021.
 
The acting chairman of the association, Abdullahi Yelwa, disclosed this in a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

He also said there were 10.5 million out-of-school children and 2.7 million internally displaced persons in Nigeria, Daily Trust reports.
 
Abdullahi explained that the association invited all aspirants seeking political office across all the political parties to come up with clear policy prescriptions to tackle the challenges facing the nation.
 
“Here in the North, we’re daily confronted by a unique set of existential challenges. The scourge of banditry, terrorism, Internally Displaced Persons, (IDPs), drug abuse, rural poverty, out-of-school children, youth unemployment, begging and the threat of hunger, have become epidemic and have defied solutions.
 
“These are the issues that should therefore be at the centre of political discourse. The attention of any political leader seeking the votes of the northern electorates should therefore be focused on these issues. For the purpose of clarity, let’s review some depressing statistics:
 
“A data consulting firm had revealed that no fewer than 8,372 people lost their lives to security challenges in 2021. Today, an average of 14 people are killed every day.
 
“Between 2018 and 2020, an average of 21.4 percent of the Nigerian population experienced hunger. The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), revealed that 14.4 Percent of Nigerians engage in drug abuse, higher than the global average of 11 percent.”

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has said he is not afraid of former President Goodluck Jonathan or any presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Jonathan has the backing of two governors and many other stakeholders of the APC to defect to the ruling party and pick the party’s presidential ticket for the 2023 poll, according to sources.

But in an interview with newsmen at the APC National Secretariat on Wednesday in Abuja, shortly after obtaining his expression of interest and nomination forms to run for presidency, Governor Bello said, “That is the beauty of democracy.”

He said, “In democracy anybody can support anyone but I am assuring you that our great party, the APC is a party that has its own ethics, rules and regulations and I know surely that all of these are in my favour and I am not in anyway scared of the pedigree of anyone whatsoever.

“I am confident that I am in the majority, I have the women, I have the youths, I have the people living with disabilities and they are all behind me. I have leaders, I have followers and above all, I have God almighty.”

The governor added, “Yahaya Bello is coming on the table to restore hope to the entire Nigerians and the black race in Africa as a continent and the entire black people across the world.

“That is the hope we are bringing on board to unite, to secure, and to put our country and its people on the path of progress and prosperity.”

Terrorists Release Another Photograph Of Abducted Kaduna-Abuja Train Passengers

Terrorists who attacked an Abuja-Kaduna train about a month ago have released a picture of the male passengers kidnapped from the train.
The gunmen had on March 28 ambushed the train heading for Kaduna from the nation’s capital city after bombing its rail track.

The terrorists earlier released a photograph showing the kidnapped female passengers alongside little children.
At least eight passengers were killed in the incident, while many others were kidnapped or declared missing.
A few days after the incident, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Bank of Agriculture, Alwan Hassan, was released alongside others.
Hassan, who was seen in a video released by the bandits, said he was freed on compassionate grounds.
However, sources told SaharaReporters that a ransom of N100 million was paid before he was released.
Meanwhile, the families of 22 of the passengers have declared them missing.

Terrorists who attacked an Abuja-Kaduna train about a month ago have released another picture showing some of their victims.

The gunmen had on March 28 ambushed the train heading for Kaduna from the nation’s capital city after bombing its rail track.


At least eight passengers were killed in the incident, while 168 others were kidnapped or declared missing.

Few days after the incident, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Bank of Agriculture, Alwan Hassan, was released alongside others.

Hassan, who was seen in a video released by the bandits, said he was freed on compassionate grounds.

However, sources told SaharaReporters that a ransom of N100million was paid before he was released.

Meanwhile, the families of 22 of the passengers have declared them missing

The Muslim Right Concerns Group know as Muric led by professor Ishaq Akintola should by now be of concern to all peace loving Nigerians and friends of our nation who desires nothing but peace for our dear country. Muric has gradually become a group of ideological terrorists in South West Nigeria with HQ in Lagos State of Nigeria. 

Intellectual Terrorism is worst than operational extremism in any given society, because one comes before the other. Acts of terror are usually signs that intellectual or ideological terrorism has taken root in a given society. We must call to mind how Boko Haram started as an ideological group, with views not different from what MURIC holds and its promoting.


The South West of Nigeria is mainly occupied by Yoruba Natives, with cultural and historical antecedents of living together in peace and harmony irrespective of religion wether Christians and Muslims or Persons holding to our indigenous African traditional beliefs. It is a common thing to find all this divide represented in the same family without any suspicious motive of one another.

A lot of Muslims are married to Christians and Christians to Muslims Living under the Same Roof. As a matter of fact I was born by a Muslim mother and a Christian father with offsprings divided into both religion some of my siblings are Christian and many more are Muslims all living peacefully today without any rancor or major religious issues.

But this TERRORISTS Group led by this an extremist professor should be arrested and prosecuted immediately before it's too late! 

His words are not only provocative and divisive, they are hate fill, words deliberately spoke in an effort to set an average Muslims against their Christian Brothers and Sisters, always presenting every issues with political and Religious colouration this is very dangerous for our National Security and Development with 2023 Election on the Way this group has an agenda to set Muslims against Christians and with access to a lot of Local and international funds from mischievous Sponsors who want to destabilize our Peaceful co-existence with Each others, we must all cry out against MURIC.

In this Global age of Social Media and internet radicalization, I would like us to know that Professor Ishaq Akintola knows exactly what he is doing and how to achieve this demonic objective if care is not taken against his irrational attitude and terrible acts we may live to regret our docility and diplomacy.

The Body of Christ has been very diplomatic about this Group's Attitude for a very long time I think "Enough should be Enough".

Of the 13 leaders that have led our country since 1960 seven were working for the British MI6 and/or the American CIA. Only the remaining six were working solely for Nigeria. 

The other seven were firmly within the power, control and grip of the British and the Americans. In short, they were nothing but spies and informants that were carefully and craftily planted. 

Again of the five Nigerian leaders that died whilst on the throne, every single one of them was murdered in cold blood by local agents of the CIA with the tacit and implicit support of M16 and Langley. 

Again no military coup has ever been successful in Nigeria without the tacit backing and support of M16 and/or the CIA. 

Every nation has its secrets but most of them are classified and are known only to the more experienced, circumspect and cerebal members of the intelligence community.

Nigeria is no different but hers are legion. There are more secrets hidden in the belly of our nations womb and history than most. 

These are sad and bitter truths that many cannot possibly handle and that most would rather not hear. 

They include the truth about the deaths of Shehu Musa Yar’adua, MKO Abiola, Sani Abacha, Dele Giwa, Sulia Adedeji, Alfred Rewane, Bola Ige, Funso Williams, Ibrahim Abacha, Tunde Idiagbon, Abubakar Audu, Abba Kyari, Brigadier Bako, Major General Shuwa, Bagudu Kaltho, Air Marshall Alex Badeh, the C130 plane crash, the Bellview plane crash, the Chibok girls abduction and so much more.

They also include the identity of the foreign entities and local collaborators that are behind the terrorist activities and insurgency of Boko Haram, ISWAP and the murderous herdsmen in the north east and north west respectively and the violent secessionist agitation and brutal killings by so-called unknown gunmen in the South East. 

There is much more we can go into at a later date but this is a season for politics and electioneering and not one for revealing secrets. The bottom line is that the Nigerian people, blissful in their naivity and innocence, still believe that they control their own future and destiny yet nothing could be further from the truth. Poor them. 

They have no idea about what went on in the past and what is going on today and neither do they care. They are far too busy simply trying to survive and make ends meet. 

They are also unaware that our country has become something of a football that is being kicked around and silently carved up by the Americans, the British, the French and increasingly the Chinese. 

Sadly we are not the beautiful bride but rather the buxom little slave girl that is being fought over and sold into bondage and servitude and that is being teleguided, brutalised, carved up, ravaged, raped and sodomised by a bunch of gluttonous, thieving, lustful, desperate, hungry and sociopathic carpet-baggers and slave masters who are hell bent on ripping our guts out, tearing our country apart, turning us against one another, pillaging our resources and sharing our entrails as their spoils. 

Permit me to resist the temptation of going any further and saying too much for now and let me end with the following. 

All those that ruled us in the past that gallantly attempted to stand up against western domination and neo-colonialism and that had a patriotic, zealous and enviable pan-African disposition were taken out by a coup d’etat or by being murdered. 

You want their names? I will not mention them here. Kindly do the research yourselves and work out who they are.

I will say though that each of them at least gave us something to be proud of. Yet the tales of woe and sordid state secrets continue. Did you know that approximately 800,000 Nigerian civilians, including women and children, were killed by Biafran forces during the three year Nigerian civil war.

We often talk about and rightly condemn the mass murder and slaughtered of 3 million Biafran civilians (including 1 million children) during that horrendous and inexplicable intergrum of fratricidal butchery but rarely do we spare a thought for or even mention the 800,000 Nigerian civilians that also perished. 

Clearly the genocide, mass murder and crimes against humanity went both ways. These are bitter and uncomfortable truths that many hate to hear and that others will find hard to believe. 

Yet they must and will be told. The dark history of Nigeria is not known by 95% of Nigerians. So sad! There is so much that they wil not tell you. More to come later. Know the truth and let it set you free!

Residents of Ilaje extraction displaced by the communal crisis between them and Ibeno indigenes in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have appealed to the state government to come to their aid, a report by PUNCH said.

 
They revealed they lost everything to the crisis.


Five people were said to have lost their lives, many injured and others still missing while property worth millions of naira were destroyed in the crisis.

 
Speaking at their camp in Eket Local Government Area of the state, head of the Yoruba community in Ibeno, Chief J. Olala, said a minor disagreement with their hosts triggered the crisis.

 
“We have been in this camp for more than two days. As you can see, everything was lost. Even I came out with nothing left, just like displaced persons. Our property and source of livelihood were destroyed.

 
“I can’t tell personally the cause of the crisis. That night, I slept late and around midnight, the village head of Ibeno community called me to say that there was a problem on Ojo Street. I told him it’s too late to come out that night. He urged me to come out, but I insisted that I wasn’t going there.

 
“Later, some boys came to my house; I saw them talking and shouting. I switched off my light so they wouldn’t know I was around, and then they started destroying my house and I ran away through the back door with my children and wife. We entered our neighbours house around 2:00am. The incident subsided a little but after some minutes, it resumed so I ran out.

 
“Throughout the night, I communicated with the chief and he said I should come out and I said I cannot until the following morning. Even in the morning, it continued. One of my sons called to tell me that I should come out. When I came out, he ran to the pole. I tried to talk to them but because of the way they were talking to me, I ran to the church. I cannot really tell you what happened.

 
“We need the government to assist us because as of now, many of our people are still indoors. Some are still hiding somewhere. The government should help us. We need the government’s intervention. We need police assistance," he said.

 
The youth leader of the Yoruba community, Mr Meduoye Beneth, said he escaped miraculously from the hands of the hoodlums after sustaining a head cut.

 
Beneth explained that the crisis was triggered by a cult clash among some youth.

 
He said, “We don’t know the cause of this crisis. I think it’s between some cult groups and others. I cannot really tell what caused the disagreement. But what I know is that while I was in my house with my family, I heard a big bang on the door at exactly 1:30am. I wondered what was going on. I cautioned my wife and children not to move. I covered them with a blanket to prevent the stones thrown from affecting us.’

 
“They attacked only Yoruba because they insinuated that the Yoruba must leave and cannot stay. They said if they don’t go in peace, they would go by force. I think it is a planned work. This crisis with cultists has been happening but not to the extent of burning houses.”

A yet-to-be identified gunmen have kidnapped 10 members of the Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria MACBAN in Anambra State with 300 Cows, Igbere TV has learnt.

They were said to have demanded N4m ransom and a gun from families of the victim.

The South East Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Gidado Siddiki confirmed the incident.

The incident, according to Siddiki, happened at Obene Community in Ogbaru local government area settlement of the herders around 1.30am on Saturday.
He alleged said the herders were attacked at their settlement while asleep and their animals forcefully taken away by the gunmen numbering about 40.

He said they invaded the area with sophisticated weapons, guns, cutlasses, sticks and charms.

According to him, the kidnappers had established contact with their victims families, demanding N4million and one gun as ransom.

As I speak to you now, I have reported the incident to the Police and DSS for prompt action,” he informed.

He appealed to the kidnappers to release his members and cows, stressing that the abductees were mere strugglers.

He condemned the politicisation of the herdsmen and host communities conflict across the country.

He noted that the herdsmen were always accused of crime, even in situations where they were the victims of attack.

Siddiki blamed the face-off between herdsmen, farmers and host communities on lack of accurate communication by the concern authorities.

He commended Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo for initiating peace and reconciliation committee to address the security challenges in the State and the South East region at large.

Anambra police spokesman Ikenga Tochukwu confirmed the incident.

He urged the leadership of Miyetti Allah in the State to come up with more information that would enable the Police commence aggressive investigation into the matter.

Accordng to him: “Yes, we are aware of the incident, but we want the Miyetti Allah leadership to supply us with more information, since the Kidnappers have established ransom contact with the victims families.”

He advised the Miyetti Allah leadership not to react, assuring the Commissioner of Police Echeng Echeng and other security agencies would do everything possible to rescue the victims from their abductors.

Three persons were reportedly killed after a bloody clash between some hoodlums and Hausa youths in Ede, Osun State, just as some people were feared killed and property destroyed following a clash between indigenes and the Yoruba residents of Mkpanak community in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

It was gathered that some thugs led by one Rasheed (a.k.a Olopa) invaded Sabo area of Ede town populated by Hausa traders and unleashed mayhem allegedly leading to the death of one person and leaving many injured.

The situation, according to findings, infuriated the Hausa community, which later mobilised and invaded the said miscreants’ den where two of the thugs were reportedly killed.

Head of the Hausa community in Ede, Alhaji Gambo Ibrahim, while speaking with journalists, said the thugs led by one Rasheed Olopa invaded Sabo community shooting sporadically into the air and looting goods in the area.

He added that three to four persons were injured but could not confirm if anyone was killed.

“Some thugs attacked Hausa traders and the whole Sabo community because it houses the Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba and other tribes in Ede and disrupted the peace of the community.

“The thugs that attacked us are Rasheed Okoilu’s boys but he is not involved because there is a new man who wants to be the leader. They were shooting sporadically into the air during the attack. Four to five people were injured, and we have not ascertained if anyone was killed.”

Normalcy has returned to the community, as police and other local security outfits are manning watch in the area.”

Some feared killed, property destroyed during clash in A-Ibom

Although the casualty figure could not be ascertained in the clash between indigenes and the Yoruba residents of Mkpanak community in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, sources, yesterday, said two persons, an Ilaje fisherman and an indigene of Okoroette died in the fracas.

It was gathered that the crisis, which started Tuesday, followed a fight between two Yoruba men over a woman.

Sources disclosed that when the two men took their quarrel to the residence of Mkpanak indigene, who asked them to leave his premises, the Ilaje man allegedly felt insulted and reportedly broke a bottle with which he stabbed the Mkpanak man.

The sources added that the Ibeno indigenes, who witnessed the Ilaje man’s action descended on him and beat him to a stupor.

“The Ilaje man later mobilised members of his cult group and they came to attack the Mkpanak community, which led to an all-night fight. We believe many must have died in that crisis,” the source added.

But, Oluwajuwon Ogunbiyi described the situation as unfortunate and called on the state government to set up a committee to investigate the crisis.

“It is quite unfortunate that this crisis has led to the loss of innocent lives and destruction of property. The Ibeno community had been a good host over the decades. Both indigenes and non-indigenes have been living there in harmony without rancour.

When contacted the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Odiko Macdon, simply said he was not aware of the incident.

Police, youth clash over alleged Yahoo boys in Ibadan

Yesterday, some youths at Powerline in Labinkulu/Alaja/Temidire communities in the Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State went on a rampage as they resisted an attempt by police operatives to arrest some suspected Yahoo boys in the areas.

An eyewitness told Vanguard that the police officers, who went to the area with a Micra car painted in commercial colour, suddenly alighted from it and attempted to apprehend two young boys alleged to be Yahoo boys.

“It has become their daily routine. They came here every time to arrest any young person they see but we resisted the attempt to arrest those boys today. We even chased them away with stones,” a source, who preferred anonymity, stated.

The latest report of SB Morgen, SBM, Intelligence has indicated that security challenges in the north, recent petrol scarcity across the country and the activities around the sit-at-home order in the south-east caused the hike in prices of foodstuffs in the first quarter of 2021.

The report, titled ”Jollof Index Q4 2021 & Q1 2022: Geopolitics Comes for Dinner”, provides an explanation of food inflation in Nigeria by using a delicacy that is common to many households — jollof rice.

The Jollof index covers major food items used in making a pot of jollof rice, such as rice, curry, thyme, seasoning, groundnut/vegetable oil, turkey/chicken, beef, pepper, tomatoes, salt and onions.

In the latest report, the research firm said the average cost of making a pot of jollof rice for a family of five rose from N8,007 in Q3 2021 to N8,595 at the end of Q1 2022 — a 7.3 per cent increase

The research firm said it visited selected markets in the six geo-political zones of the country to determine prices of jollof rice ingredients, adding that consumers complained about the hike in prices of beef, turkey and chicken.

In the north-central markets, the prices of turkey, beef, and onions increased. The price increase in February and March can be attributed to the fuel scarcity which increased the cost of transportation of goods — some drivers had to spend the night at filling stations to be able to get fuel for their vehicles and others had to buy from black market vendors at higher rates,” the report reads.

“In the north-east, heightened insecurity has sustained price increases in the region even as there was a price reduction in January in other regions. The humanitarian situation created by the activities of various Islamist groups has made farming in the region difficult.

“The sit-at-home protest by separatists in the south-east and associated violence in the region is one of the causes of food insecurity in the region. Prices went up in both Awka and Onitsha between October and November, dropped slightly in January, and took off again in February and March. Turkey, tomatoes, vegetable oil, beef and onions accounted for the increase in these markets.

“The southwest Jollof index showed price swings in the last five months. Balogun, Bodija, Dugbe and Trade Fair markets experienced price swings. Dugbe Market in Ibadan experienced a slight rise in October, dropped through November and January, and rose again in February and March.

“In Port Harcourt, prices increased from October to November and went downward in January, maintained a“low in February and increased in March. The same trend is noticeable in Calabar Municipal and Bayside Mbakpa markets. Market prices rose in October and November and started a downward trend in January.

“In Kano, the cost of making a pot of jollof rice increased in October, flattened in November and began moving upwards in January, a movement maintained through March. This, according to all our respondents, was due to a sharp rise in the prices of perishable foods such as tomatoes and peppers, caused by the closure of the Tiga Dam for repairs.”

Terrorists who kidnapped locals at Anguwan Bulus in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State have killed three of the victims and threatened to kill more unless a ransom is paid.

Spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Mohammed Jalige, confirmed the killing, saying “I received phone calls from some people this morning that 3 bodies were found at Dutse village somewhere in the bush. The corpses were evacuated to Saint Gerald Hospital. We are trying to talk to the Area Commander to ensure the safe return of those who are still in captivity,’ he said.

Bandits demand N2m ransom for each resident abducted
It was gathered that about two weeks ago, bandits attacked the Anguwan Bulus community killing one local and abducting several others. They also attacked neighbouring communities like Juji, Angwan Gimbiya, and Sabo GRA.

“The bandits called their community contact to go to a particular location at Dutse village along the Kaduna-Abuja highway to pick up the three persons killed due to failure to pay ransoms. The bandits called yesterday that they have killed three of the people they kidnapped and told us where their bodies were deposited,’ a source said

‘The terrorists called last evening and said since we refused to pay the ransom, we should go to a location and carry the corpses of our people.”

‘Before we get there, we learnt that Police had already evacuated the bodies and deposited them at Saint Gerald Catholic Hospital, Kakuri, Kaduna. We were at the hospital last night to confirm that.”

The terrorists threatened that if the community and families fail to pay the ransom by Tuesday evening, they should go to the same spot and carry another set of corpses.”

‘Right now, we are confused. We don’t know what to do. We have sold all we ever worked for to appease these people but they want more. We are appealing to the Federal and State Governments to come to our rescue to save the remaining people in captivity,’ the source said.

Meanwhile,8 out of 20 persons that were abducted in Idon town, Kajuru LGA, have been released by their abductors after spending about two months in captivity.

According to a source, “they were released on Sunday after ransom was paid. They said we need to bring additional ransom before they can release the remaining 12 persons.”

‘We have reported the recurrence of bandits attacks in Kajuru and Kachia to higher authorities but they have not done anything concrete to stop the attacks. As we speak, there are several others in the kidnappers’ den apart from these 12 people.”

A yet-to-be identified policeman and three others have been killed while many others were abducted in a terrorist attack on Gwada community in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

The attack was said to have occurred when Muslim faithful were breaking their Ramadan fast on Saturday evening.

The spokesperson for the Coalition of Shiroro Association, Salisu Mohammed Sabo, said the attack lasted for over 4 hours unhindered.

He added that the attack led to the abduction of many persons, one being a businesswoman whose shop was looted by the terrorists, and another the son of one of the officials of the North-South Power Company.

“With this attack, it means that only Kuta has not been attacked in Shiroro. Gwada is very tensed and people are considering moving to Kuta as an alternative,” Sabo said.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident, adding that the details of the incident were still sketchy.

On 16/04/2022, at about 1900hrs, information was received that armed bandits attacked Kadna village via Gwada, in the Shiroro Local Government area.

Police tactical team and other security agencies with vigilante were mobilised to the area and the hoodlums were repelled”, he stated.

Abiodun further stated that he was unaware of the ransom of N2m being demanded from the relatives of the abducted persons.

The Secretary-General of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association  of Nigeria, Ngelzeerma Usman, speaks with SOLOMON ODENIYI about the recent killing of the association’s chairman and members in Abuja by Fulani bandits

Members of your association were killed and others kidnapped in Abuja. How is your association taking this?

Our Chairman in the Gwagwalada area council was killed with one Gwari man and two other persons. They were ambushed by bandits and killed and in the process four other people were also kidnapped. It happened on April 7 around 8 o’clock in the evening. They were coming from a cattle market on the road to Daku village. They took away from them the proceeds of the cows they sold and they are demanding N100m ransom to free those kidnapped.

Does it mean these attackers, believed to be of same ethnicity with you, don’t have respect for Miyetti Allah members?

Are our members different from the other public members? Of course, not. Their cattle are being taken away by bandits on a daily basis; they are being kidnapped and killed by bandits.  It is the same thing that is happening to communities in the North-West and the northeastern part of the country. Our people are not different from other citizens that are coming under attacks by bandits.

We understand that, as an association, we must safeguard the interest and welfare of our members. When things like this happen we always ask government to take action and protect everybody in society. The way these things are happening is really scary and our members are the most affected.

Since majority of these bandits belong to the same ethnic group as you, has your association tried speaking to them, to persuade them to stop these unprovoked attacks?

There is no doubt that a large number of them are Fulani, but this, of course, does not stop them from killing many (of our people) and taking away cows from the pasture at the same time. A criminal can come from any tribe and they don’t select their victims. Whoever comes their way; they kill, kidnap and take away their cows. However, our appeal to the government is, though they are doing their best, they should redouble their efforts in protecting the cattle breeders and other Nigerians alike against the activities of this criminal group.

Beef is the most consumed meat in the country. Is there fear that bandits’ attacks on your members may lead to scarcity of beef?

It (the attacks) has already affected supply in major parts of the country because cow meat has been the major source of protein in the country. Go to the market and price meat and compare the current price with the price of last year.  You will realise that the price has skyrocketed. And it is not an imported commodity that we will say the price is being influenced by the dollar-naira exchange rate. Beef is locally sourced, purchased in naira and sold in naira, yet you’ll realise that the price of meat has skyrocketed by about 100 per cent, if not more. Undoubtedly, this is not unconnected with the activities of bandits who are rustling our members’ cows. The livestock industry is all already failing. The producers are being rendered poor; the meat no longer comes to the market in large quantity because some of the pastoralists are trying to move out of the country for fear of attacks by bandits, who forcefully take their cows from them. We have lost about 15 per cent of the pastoralists. Others are also trying to move out of the country to where they can find shelter and protection for their lives and cattle.

The livestock industry is already affected; a visit to the butchering markets shows the reality. In Niger State alone, over 5,000 cattle have been rustled; our statistics show that all over the country, about three million cows have been lost to rustling since the beginning of this banditry, insurgency and what have you. I could remember an attack in Niger State in February, in just one day, 120 cows were rustled from pastoralists.  So, the pastoralists are not being spared by the kidnappers, who attack them on a daily basis. And because of the rate at which our members’ cattle are being taken away, so many families have been rendered poor and you know they don’t have formal education to survive on, the only career and skill they have is to rear cattle, they don’t know anything. And when these cows are taken away from them, they become idle and an idle hand is the devil’s workshop. They become an easy prey for initiation into criminality. No education, no work, idleness, poverty and possession of arms, what do you expect to happen?

What is the way forward?

These are difficult times for the pastoralists because after being kidnapped, whatever money they make from selling cattle in the market they give to the bandits as ransom to secure their freedom. Yet that’s the only source of livelihood they have. When you kidnap their wives, daughters and others relations, the only option they have is to sell their cows to pay the ransom and rescue their loved ones from being held hostage.

The way these things are going on are alarming and that’s why we call on the Federal Government to double up efforts in bringing peace to the pastoral industry in the country because not all pastoralists are criminals.  Some of them are criminals, we know, but the majority are legitimate cattle rearers doing their business.

A group, Progressive Lawyers for Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Saturday,  raised an alarm over the alleged recruitment of mercenaries against the Vice President sequel to his declaration to run for the office of the President in 2023.

The group’s Convener, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, in a statement said that the attack was aimed at de-marketing the Vice President

He said that all efforts were being made to malign Osinbajo while alleging that about six different characters were said to have been sent to Ogun State Ikenne, his home town for the onslaught.

This he said was to get the requisite information from his kindreds that could allegedly discredit him and also recruit his kinsmen against him in his state all in an effort to malign him. 

Ajulo said: “But it is a pity that they are doing this to someone who has warned all his supporters not to attack or abuse anybody.


“So in days to come do not be surprised to see more of their fabricated lies and contrived false allegations, but the question you need to ask yourself is why all these now.

“We know them, there’s nothing hidden under the sun, but as lawyers, the due process will be followed to ask for redress and ensure the perpetrators are dragged before the court.”

He however said that the identities of the perpetrators would soon be made known.
“Since the Vice President’s declaration to run for the office of the President in 2023 on April 1 people have narrowed down the presidential race in the APC to Osinbajo and Tinubu.

“People also believe that his coming in may polarise the votes of the southwest delegates between him and Tinubu thereby putting the region in a disadvantageous position.

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Prof Yemi Osinbajo are leaders in all ramifications and South West is their base, but don’t let us miss this point the state is that of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not South West. 

“What matters most, is that the best candidate, the most experienced emerges as the candidate of the party.

“This is not only that he is the most experienced aspirant today; politically he is the most experienced. Then when you talk of his intellectual prowess, he is there,” he stated.

The Middle Belt Forum (MBF), has observed has said that there is a calculated attempt by suspected Fulani militia to increase attacks on the Middle Belt region with the sole purpose of annihilating the communities.

The forum noted that “as the 2023 campaigns gather momentum, the intensity of these attacks is set to increase, with the sole purpose of annihilating communities of the Middle Belt by the invaders.

“The increase in the level of massacres, devastation of communities and kidnapping of members of the Middle Belt Region extraction is aimed at impoverishing and disempowering the people and creating chaos that will render them as refugees in their own ancestral homes.”

The National President of Middle Belt Forum, Dr Pogu Bitrus, in a statement explained that the forum’s attention had been drawn to the renewed vicious attacks on communities of the Middle Belt Region in Southern Kaduna, Southern Kebbi, Niger, Plateau and Benue States, “that have led to hundreds of lives lost and decimation of our once thriving communities.”

It observed that on 8th March, 2022, “daredevil terrorists” mounted an ambush for members of a vigilante group called ‘Yan-Sa-Kai’ in Zuru, Kebbi State, saying that the terrorists killed 65 of them, while attempts by the security forces to bring the bandits to justice led to the murder of 13 soldiers and five policemen, bringing the total of number of the dead to 83.

It added that one week after the assault on Zuru Emirate, “the blood-thirsty criminals” attacked a police station in Nasko town in Magala Local Government Area of Niger State on March 15, 2022, where they slaughtered no fewer than eight people, comprising the divisional police officer, three policemen and four members of the community’s vigilante group.

The forum also stated that a week after the murder of the DPO and seven others in Nasko, another group of butchers, dressed in military uniforms, on March 22, 2022, launched an attack on four communities: Tsonje, Agban, Katanga and Kadarko, all within Kagoro Chiefdom in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State and killed no fewer than 34, according to the Kaduna State Government and razed 35 homes down.

“Less than seven days after the bedlam on the four Kagoro communities, members of a madcap gang bombed an Abuja-Kaduna bound train on March 28, 2022. The blood-spilling outlaws abducted scores of passengers and murdered eight persons, among others. The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) is yet to account for the whereabouts of 165 passengers that were on the ill-fated trip,” the statement explained.

The statement noted that while the nation was mourning these avoidable murders, another deadly assaults on Kadanye village in Kajuru Local Government Area and Akilbu village in Kachia Local Government Area left eight persons, mostly women and children, dead, while 28 were abducted on April 6, 2022.

The forum lamented, “These killings seemed to have hit the peak on Sunday April 10, 2022, when another group of armed brigands pounced on four villages in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State and killed about 80 people in cold blood.

“While these communities were still in deep mourning, another terror group launched yet another deadly assault on a military base located in Pole Wire Village in Birnin Gwari LGA of Kaduna State, slaying 12 soldiers and injuring 19 military personnel.”

“To clearly convince the world they were in charge”, the bandits, the statement said, “in a video clip shot in front of the captured armoured tank, announced the release of the Managing Director of Bank of Agriculture, Alhaji Alwan Ali Hassan, on compassionate grounds, saying that thought they hinged the release of the BOA MD on the Ramadan season, the terrorists threatened to kill the kidnapped train passengers if the government did not meet their demands.”

It explained that another group of gunmen would re-enact a horror scene on Monday April 11, 2022 in three local government areas of Logo, Tarka and Guma in Benue State by killing no fewer than 25 persons, including a traditional ruler, Zaki Unongo Shaayange, stressing that in the three attacks on Plateau, Kaduna and Benue that took place within 24 hours, no fewer than 117 lives were lost, including 12 military personnel.

The forum, therefore, condemned what it called “this gradual return to the bloody days of horrifying assaults that are presently assuming a genocidal level”, saying that no nation can survive this level of crippling insecurity that had rendered life short and brutish for many communities in the Middle Belt Region.

The forum said it was irrevocably convinced that the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari had abandoned “its constitutional responsibility of stopping these recurring deadly attacks on our peoples.”

“We are still at a loss why the the government has not found it expedient to engage local communities on how best to defend themselves against these highly sophisticated terrorists. The Forum completely aligns with the position of the Benue State Governor, His Excellency Dr Samuel Ortom who has declared that our besieged communities must rise up to the challenges of the time and defend their lives and property,” the group said.

It called on the international community to beam its searchlight on the horrendous massacres of the Middle Belt people, being carried out under the watch of President Buhari and the refusal of the government to deal with perpetrators of those recurring killings.

It said that the Middle Belt Region had lost faith in the capacity of President Buhari to secure the lives and property of Nigerians and called on their people to be alert and use whatever is available to them to stand firm and resist the bloodthirsty invaders.

“We call on our communities to be security conscious as
they celebrate Easter. We must never allow ourselves to be caught unawares by those inflicting all forms of barbarities and threatening our existential survival,” the forum stated.

MORE facts, yesterday, emerged about how 106 persons were killed by bandits, who attacked about 10 communities in Kanam and Wase Local Government Areas of Plateau State on Sunday.

This came as family members of abducted passengers aboard the AK-9 train bombed by terrorists along the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor on March 28, 2022, yesterday expressed readiness to negotiate with the terrorists to release their loved ones, if the government was not prepared to do so.

It was gathered that the bandits, who rode into the Plateau communities in over 70 motorcycles, each carrying three persons fully armed with sophisticated weapons, opened fire indiscriminately on men only, and left women unhurt.

A source told Vanguard that while some of the victims were shot fleeing into the bush, others were killed in their homes, including old and young men.

Killers went after men, gathered women under trees

The bandits entered the communities, one after the other, shooting directly at men and boys only; and gathered the women and girls under the trees while the operation lasted.

“At the end of the operation, they asked the women to return to their burnt homes. There was also selective burning of homes because someone, who knew the communities was the one telling them what houses to set on fire.

“Although 106 persons killed in the attack have been given mass burial, many dead bodies are still being recovered in the bushes because the bandits pursued some people into the bushes,’’ the source said.

Deputy Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly, Saleh Yipmong, who also confirmed this, said the military and other security agents arrived in the communities an hour after the killers had left.

He said even the villagers were surprised about the attack because the communities remain the safest in the state.

Embarked on selective burning of houses

“Something that shocked everyone was that the burning of houses, over a hundred in number, was selective. Someone was telling them which houses to burn. That is why you see that a house will be burnt, the next one or two houses would be spared before they go to the next.

“The attack has created a huge humanitarian crisis in the communities now. People are homeless and are in desperate need of assistance.

Chairman of Kanam Local Government Area, where the communities are located, Dr Dayabu Garga, also confirmed that 106 victims had so far been given mass burial, adding that they were buried on Monday.

 “I was present on Monday morning where we did mass burial of 106 killed and we are still picking more dead bodies in the farmlands,” he said.

He also said more than 16 people were hospitalised, having sustained gunshot wounds.

According to him, the attacks have rendered hundreds of people homeless and increased the number of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs.

He added:  “Displaced people are uncountable, more than 5,000 people are IDPs on their own soil. The issue is so much devastating.

“These people require at least protection. First and foremost, we need to have security outposts, either MOPOL or Army, because if we don’t stop who is going into the forests, definitely, there must be more attacks in the future.’’

While food items and other relief materials have been sent to the affected communities, he admitted that it was definitely not enough.

Kanam is not the only local government affected by Sunday’s attack, as there were also killings in the Wase Local Government Area, where the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase, hails from.

The 10 villages attacked in Garga include Kukawa, Gyanbawu, Dungur, Kyaram, Yelwa, Dadda, Wanka, Shuwaka, Gwammadaji, and Dadin Kowa.

Train attack:  We’re ready to negotiate with terrorists, say distraught families of abducted passengers

In a similar development, family members of abducted passengers aboard the AK-9 train attacked by terrorists along the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor on March 28, 2022, have expressed readiness to negotiate with the terrorists for the release of their loved ones.

They also took swipe at the Federal Government for not speaking up and for failing to act to get them about 141 missing persons out more than two weeks after the unfortunate incident.

Addressing newsmen at the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC headquarters, where they presented a letter to the Executive Secretary; the families decried what they described as the government’s insensitivity to their plight, adding that despite efforts made on their part; nothing positive had happened till date.

The spokesman of the families, Aliyu Mahmood, told journalists that have lost hope of possible government intervention; they were now ready to negotiate terms with the gunmen to secure the release of their loved ones.

“We are begging, we are pleading with the kidnappers to provide room for dialogue so that we can negotiate the release of our loved ones. We beg you to include them in your prayers and thoughts. It could have been any one of us. “All we can do is to plead with the government, plead to the world, even the terrorists and good people of the world to come to our aid in securing the release of our family members.

“We don’t have any clue on what to do. Any additional loss of life results in unbearable sorrow to the family but not to the government. We are the ones that will feel the pain of not seeing them again. We are the ones to bear the burden of knowing we could have saved them given the chance and opportunity to negotiate for the safe return of our loved ones,” the petition read in part.

Recalling the sad incident, Mahmood stated: “On March 28, 2022, the train departed Abuja and was supposed to arrive at Kaduna at 8: 40pm, but it never made it. So, this is why we are here on a very, very sad note because our family members have been abducted, scores have been injured, and some have died.

“We are here today as a group, yearning for a solution to bring our family members back home, in good health and utmost safety.”

They added that since the tragedy struck 18 days ago, the abductors only contacted the concerned families once, regretting that they were yet to call thereafter.

“We would like to bring this to the world stage that we were only contacted by the kidnappers once since the incident, and that was just to show proof of life, which unfortunately does not guarantee the health of the victims.

FG unconcerned

“No government agency reached out to us, though we have made attempts to see the right authorities, nothing came through. Everything we tried proved abortive. These are human beings that we are talking about but the response is rather discouraging and devastating.

“Our loved ones being in that perilous state for 18 days of agony in a dehumanizing state and every attempt to reach out to the kidnappers for further discussion and negotiation has proven abortive because the terrorist made it clear and explicit that the only one they will talk to is government. We are confused and most of the victims are in dire need of medical attention.”

Mahmood, who sobbed uncontrollably, added that “a seven-month-old pregnant woman, among them, has been in captivity for about two weeks now.

“Only God knows the trauma she is passing through. There is one of the victims who had a gunshot wound and needs immediate medical attention but there is no access to give him that.

“We have other people that are sick, that require daily medication; they don’t have access. There is a two-year-old (a toddler). For God’s sake, we can only imagine what they are going through. We have an aged woman of 85. She is there helplessly just like the others.

“We want to actively participate in ensuring their safety. Nothing is too small or too much to secure the lives of the victims. The longer they stay there, one cannot help but imagine the emotional, mental and physical trauma they are going through at this moment.

“The abuses they suffer can have a lasting psychological effect on them from now onward. How will that two-year-old toddler look at the world today? They have lived in unprecedented agony these past 18 days. We can’t sleep but wonder how they sleep and obviously the women among them,” he said.

‘Buhari, do something’

A family member, Idayat Yusuf, in an emotionally laden voice urged President Muhammadu Buhari to rise to the challenge of leadership and “do something,” before it is too late.

Battling tears, she said:  “The only thing I want to say is to appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to look at this issue as a father and husband. Some of the victims are dead. We can’t just start imagining what situation they are in.

“Please, we are appealing to the necessary authorities. The only crime of these people is that they boarded the train to Kaduna. Please, they should come to their rescue, we are appealing to the government. We are pleading.

We’re ready to negotiate with terrorists

“We are also appealing to the kidnappers to come out and negotiate with the families. We are ready, we are willing, but they are not even talking to us. We beg the government; please, they should come to the aid of these people.

“Look at the pregnant woman, seven months pregnant, no care in two weeks and she has already been given a date for caesarian section.

“Please, we are begging you, Mr President. Please come to the rescue of our family members, your citizens, children, and wives. Please, Mr President, do something.’’

Mrs Yusuf further urged President Buhari to reciprocate the mobilisation efforts she carried out for him during electioneering campaigns, saying, Mr President, Muhammadu Buhari, as one of the people that were in the forefront to campaign and mobilise for you, I am begging you to do something today.”

Responding, the Deputy Director, Civil and Political Rights, National Human Rights Commission, Haliru Adamu, expressed sympathy for the families, even as he bemoaned the security situation in the country.

The commission, he said, was working hard to make contact with relevant agencies and bodies over the tragedy.

“The commission is actually monitoring the events closely in the media and also making contacts with the relevant authority. Now that you are here to present your plea, the commission is also a government agency, which will definitely transmit your plea to the relevant authority.

“I will work closely with the relevant authority to ensure that the right thing is done. So, we welcome you and will sincerely take this matter seriously and will ensure that we follow it up adequately,” he assured.

A traditional ruler, Zaki Unongo Shaayange and 24 others were, Monday night, killed in three separate attacks on communities in Logo, Tarka and Guma Local Government areas of Benue State by bandits.

The attack also left many hospitalised with severe machete and gunshot injuries.

It was gathered from a community leader, Chief Joseph Anawa that the armed herdsmen numbering about six blocked and took over the Anyiin-Tse Kile road in Ukemberagya Ward of Gaambetiev Logo council on Monday night at about 7:15p.

They shot and killed the traditional ruler, Zaki Unongo Shaayange at Ikyaan village, matcheted many who are now in critical condition at the NKST Hospital Anyiin.

“One of the victims of the attack, Mr. Aondoakura Kile also disclosed that the Fulani terrorists made away with some Baja motorcycles of their victims,” he said.

It was also gathered from a local source that no fewer than nine persons were gunned down same Monday night at about 8p.m., by armed herdsmen who invaded Tse-Sumaka village near Umenge, Mbadwem Council Ward in Guma LGA.

The marauders were reported to have invaded the community from neighbouring Nasarawa state, shooting sporadically and chasing their victims out of their homes.

“They shot at the people as they fled and anyone they caught up with was not spared.

“Nine persons were killed and many others sustained injuries.

“As we speak women and children are fleeing their homes in their numbers in search of safe areas in neighboring communities to hide themselves,” he said.

Confirming the attack, the Guma Local Government Council Chairman, Mr. Caleb Aba, told newsmen on phone said the attack was unprovoked.

He added that “these days these herdsmen don’t have to be provoked before they attack and kill because the agenda is to chase us away from our ancestral homes and occupy our land.”

Protesting youths lay corpses on road

It was also gathered that the armed herders, at about the same time, invaded Tiortyu community which is less than 18 kilometers from Makurdi town, on Makurdi-Gboko road in Tarka council, where 15 persons, including women, were either hacked or shot dead.

That attack triggered an angry protest by the youths of the area who took over the busy Makurdi-Gboko road.

They laid the corpses on the road for several hours, stopping all vehicular movements on that axis of the state.

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Catherine Anene, said she was at the scene of one of the attacks with the Police Commissioner and could not talk, but promised to get back.

The Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision making organ of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos is yet to endorse Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for a second term.

There have been reports that Sanwo-Olu, whose tenure ends in 2023, has received the nod for a fresh term in office.

But a member of the GAC who spoke with Daily Trust on the condition of anonymity said the GAC has not met to decide on a second term of Sanwo-Olu.

“I am surprised to read a report that GAC has endorsed Sanwo-Olu for a second term. There is absolutely nothing like that. GAC has not met for some-time now on the issue of the second term,” he said.

However, the GAC member said the general opinion of the GAC members is that Sanwo-Olu deserves a second term.


“He is already getting the endorsement of some divisions in Lagos. Ikorodu people recently endorsed him for a second term, I am aware when he came to commission some projects in the zone. But he needs the support of all the divisions in Lagos and all the GAC members in these zones would have to endorse him. Until then, we just need to exercise some patience,” he said.

When asked when Governor Sanwo-Olu is likely to declare his intention for a second term, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso said it is about leadership and not about one person just standing up to declare.

Victims of the Sunday morning attacks by bandits on four villages in Plateau State were yesterday given mass burial by their communities.

 Residents said over 100 bodies had been recovered and buried but there has been no official figure from the police and the state government.

Daily Trust had reported on Monday how the bandits at about 11am invaded the villages of Kukawa, Gyanbahu, Dungur and Keram where many people were killed and many others injured.

The bandits also set over 100 houses ablaze and destroyed the telecom mast to make it difficult for the people to call for help.

More corpses of those trying to flee their assailants were recovered from nearby bushes yesterday.

 The Plateau State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Ubah Gabriel, said more policemen had been drafted in the area but stopped short of giving casualty figures.

“I am yet to get detailed information about the number of those killed and houses burnt. I will update the press as soon as I get it,” he said. However, Alh Dayyabu Garga, the Chairman of Dangi Local Government Area under which the villages fall, confirmed to our correspondent that over 100 people had been buried.

My self and other people have visited the affected villages. We buried over 100 together with the people of the area. But security has been deployed to restore order. This is the first time we are experiencing this kind of atrocity in Kanam. “ 

Adam Musa, a resident of Kukawa, told Daily Trust that 45 people were killed in Kukawa, 31 in Gyanbahu, six in Dungur and 31 in Keram.

He added that many have been referred to different hospitals including Dangi General Hospital in Kanam LGA of the state for treatment.

Meanwhile, Governor Simon Bako Lalong has directed security forces in the state to go after the perpetrators of the dastardly act. 

The governor in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Simon, vowed to make it difficult for terrorists and other criminals to set their bases in any part of the state.

He also directed the state emergency management agency and the Peace Building Agency to immediately visit the areas, assess the situation and provide relief as well as trauma management to the people.