₦airaland Forum

Abia killing meant to provoke North, don’t retaliate – Islamic group tells Muslim tradersPublished on February 23, 2022By Seun Opejobi

The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has reacted to the killing of Northern traders in a cattle market in Abia State.

MURIC urged Northerners not to retaliate the death of about eight traders and cows killed in Abia State last week.

The Islamic group said the appeal was aimed at ensuring that peace reigns in the country.

The incident occurred at the New Cattle Market in Omumauzor, Ukwa West Local Government Area of the State.

However, the group said the killing was meant to provoke the North.

A statement by MURIC’s Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said: “About fifteen (15) Northern traders and 150 cows belonging to the victims were killed in Abia State last week. The killings occurred on Tuesday, 15th February, 2022 at the New Cattle Market in Omumauzor, Ukwa West Local Government Area of the state.

“Although we are aware that this is not the first time such dastardly act would occur in South-Eastern Nigeria, we strongly appeal to Northerners not to contemplate retaliation. Our main reason for the appeal is the need for peace in the country at this point in time when we are approaching the end of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

We charge Northerners to remain patient and law-abiding. This attack in Abia in particular was intended to provoke the North into counter-killings which may spiral into another orgy of violence culminating in a civil war. The North should not even bite the bait, talk less of swallowing it. The cost is too high.

“Our records show that this has occurred several times particularly in the last seven years without the North attempting to retaliate once. We salute both the Northern youths and elders and urge them to hold on and continue the display of maturity and reticence.”

.”

Pro 28:1 (BBE):
"The evil man goes running away when no man is after him, but the upright are without fear, like the lion."

Those were the words of the richest, yet wisest man in human existence, Solomon the son of David, a king under whose reign every man of Israel became employer of labour.

It is no longer news that light has shone upon the deeds of Abdufatai Femi Fani Kayode. It is unbelievable that a man who made name and fame in freedom of speech saying whatever he likes about others will be afraid of the Right of a woman to speak at the Apostolic Round Table – ART – Conference!

What FFK fails to realize is that he is inconsequential to the discourse on the Nigerian state!

ART is a convergence of Leaders After God's Own Spirit Initiating A New State, The LAGOSIANS!We are too concerned about a better state to be bothered about a man who is as unstable as water!

FFK should accept the heroine that Precious Chikwendu has become, a woman whose travails represent the oppressed people of Nigeria who in their oppression are forbidden from opening their mouths!

This timely timidity from a flip of both side of our coin of political misery, head or tail equal same thing; oppression, is for us a proof that we indeed represent a generation without greed. Minds with ideas whose time is now.

What is FFK afraid of? Is he afraid of the man whose pen tore the garment of deception with which he garbed himself pretending who he wasn't until it was heard that a spy fooled us? Femi must come to terms with the fact that he cannot live the rest of his life hopping from court to court seeking injunctions to stop the truth from being spoken! "Ti ìró bá lọ ní ogún ọdún, ọjọ́ kan ni òótọ́ má baa!" If a lie has travelled for 20 years, it is the day that the truth sets out that it will overtake it. Truth has set out and it is understandable for lies and its merchants to seek for covering from facing the truth!

A man who the other Femi at the Presidency reminded us said unforgivable and unpardonable things against President Muhammadu Buhari prior to his inglorious defection to the ruling party!

What is it that FFK has not spoken with his mouth? He once wished Yusuf Buhari dead when he had a motor bike accident according to reports monitored in the news. To see the same man all dressed up and gallivanting among guests at Yusuf's traditional wedding in Kano is only a revelation of his state of mind. It is about time that persons approaching the court should be subjected to mental health examination!

One who like a dog is quick to chase back to its vomit doesn't constitute any distraction whatsoever to our well laid out plans to shift Nigeria away from his likes.

What is it that must not be heard from Snow White? For which injunction should be purchased if the need so warrants it. Could the mouth of this oppressed mother of four stripped of her sons and denied access to them be the gate of hell that must not be opened to Femi Fani Kayode?

What will make an obviously terrified man run to court like a dog with his tail between his legs to get an injunction restraining Snow White from speaking at Green Shift; Apostolic Round Table?

If silence is golden, then FFK better be ready for the deafening sound of truth unspoken when it should be upon the conscience of the wicked.

Will Snow White speak on Thursday in Lagos at the Apostolic Round Table? We have to wait to find out!

AN operative of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, was reportedly killed by gunmen, close to a military checkpoint in Ebonyi State.

The operative was killed when the gunmen attacked an NDLEA team on duty along Ezzamgbo axis of the Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway, yesterday.

Another operative reportedly sustained injuries during the incident.Vanguard gathered that the gunmen also collected a rifle from the officers. They also set ablaze an NDLEA patrol Hilux van.

The source said: “On February 20, 2022, at about 300hrs at a drug checkpoint along Enugu Abakaliki expressway, Ezzangbo, unknown gunmen attacked drug law enforcement agents and shot two officers on duty.

“One officer was killed while the other one was shot on the leg, which fractured his leg. One rifle collected, one patrol Hilux van burnt. The names of the victims not yet disclosed.”

Spokesperson of NDLEA in Ebonyi State, Mr Audu Benji. said he was in a meeting and would get back to Vanguard after the meeting. He is yet to do so hours after the meeting even as he refused to take subsequent calls or reply to messages.

Police spokesperson, Loveth Odah, could not be reached as she didn’t pick calls put across to her phone.

NDLEA intercepts counterfeit $4.7m cash in Abuja

Meanwhile, the agency, yesterday, disclosed that its operatives foiled an attempt by a syndicate to steal at least N2.7 billion from the Nigerian economy by pushing into circulation fake $4.7 million cash.

The operatives had in the early hours of last Friday intercepted a consignment sent from Lagos to Abuja at Abaji area of the Federal Capital Territory.

Controlled delivery of the parcelled counterfeit US dollars totalling $4,760,000 led to the arrest of a principal suspect, 42-year-old Abdulmumini Maikasuwa.

The seizure followed intelligence received by the FCT command of the agency detailing the movement of the cash and the vehicle conveying it.

Nursing mum arrested 3 weeks after bail on drug offence

Also, the agency’s operatives in Kwara State arrested a nursing mother, Mrs Rashidat Adebayo, 38, barely three weeks after she was granted administrative bail following her arrest for dealing in illicit drugs

She was again arrested in Offa with assorted drugs such as Tramadol, Swinol, Diazepam and Pentazocine injection ampules.

Before her latest arrest last Thursday, the nursing mother had been arrested and granted bail on January 24, 2022 for dealing with similar drugs.

In the same vein, NDLEA officers have arrested two drug dealers: Sani Isa (aka Bilaz) and Bala Yerima in Hong, Adamawa state with 239 blocks of cannabis Sativa weighing 209kg, just as operatives of the Bauchi state Command have intercepted a truck marked FFF 422 XB coming from Lagos to Maiduguri, at Azare, Bauchi.

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has reacted to the attacks on the newly constructed Abia cattle market in Omumauzor in the Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State by unknown gunmen.

The gunmen had on Tuesday night invaded the new cattle market in the community, killing about eight persons.

Reacting, spokesman of the NEF, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed urged Igbos in the North to go about their legitimate businesses and not panic about any reprisal attack.

He added that those targeting and killing northerners in the South East region should be “stopped and prosecuted” by the government.

“Igbos in the North are not the killers of Northerners in the East. If they pursue legitimate business and live in peace, they have no reason to fear, and they should not be intimidated or threatened. Those killing Northerners in the East should be stopped and prosecuted. It’s enough,” Baba-Ahmed wrote on his Twitter account.

Some South-East women and supporters of the detained leader Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, thronged the court on Wednesday calling for the immediate release of the agitator.
The women who were mostly middle-aged said Nnamdi Kanu had committed no crime and should be freed from the detention of the DSS.

A woman perceived to be their leader said, “Free our son, he has committed no crime. This man lost his parents to this struggle. He's our saviour.”
The women subsequently sat on the floor, wailing and mourning the detention of the IPOB leader while they rolled on the floor in their Isiagu attire.
Meanwhile, there were also male supporters at the venue who alleged that Nnamdi Kanu was being detained for seeking the independence of the southeast region.
One of them said, “They should allow us to go, you move according to your pace. We must go. Biafra must be free, whether they like it or not, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu must be free, that's what we're saying, give us our freedom. They should allow us to develop.”
The embattled IPOB leader had arrived the courtroom on Wednesday as trial for terrorism charges continues.
A 15-count terrorism charge was slammed on Nnamdi Kanu by the Nigerian Government.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and asked the court to discharge and acquit him without standing trial because the charges were incurably defective and not worth being defended.

Messrs Aregbesola and Oyetola’s political fallout has continued to heat up Osun, with security agencies appearing to take sides

Interior minister Rauf Aregbesola has accused his estranged political godfather and APC national leader Bola Tinubu of double standards in Osun’s party affairs, vowing to thwart Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s bid for reelection. 

According to the ex-Osun governor, Mr Tinubu orchestrated former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s failure to seek reelection, with the party against his second-term bid. 

“That was how it was sometime in Lagos when a governor rejected by the party wanted to contest a second term. The party refused. It is the same today, and familiarity will not stop that from happening,” Mr Aregbesola said to a group of party faithful in Ijebu-Jesha ahead of the party’s primaries slated for Saturday ahead of the July 16 governorship election. 

Mr Oyetola enjoys the support of Mr Tinubu, amid Mr Aregbesola’s faction of the APC in Osun is kicking against Mr Oyetola’s candidacy.


The governor’s camp has not responded to statements by his predecessor. But on Monday, the commissioner for information and civic orientation Funke Egbemode described the convoy of Mr Aregbesola as an invasion of Osogbo, to forcibly continue “a long lost influence.” 

“We have credible reports that some misguided cowards have invaded Osogbo, the Osun state capital, with armed thugs to foment trouble. These miscreants and their kingpin started shooting as they raced through the town,” claimed Ms Egbemode. “Their interest is simply to attempt to thwart the peace of the state and create fear in the minds of the good people of Osun counting on a long-lost influence.” 

Mr Oyetola’s government had warned that there “are no sacred cows” and “no one is above the law here regardless of their past glories or future aspirations.”

Ms Egbemode warned that security agencies had been “well briefed about the activities of these mischief-makers, who have set themselves on a collision course with the law.” 

Meanwhile, Messrs Aregbesola and Oyetola’s political fallout has continued to heat up Osun, with security agencies appearing to take sides as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) contradicted the Nigeria Police Force’s claim that Mr Aregbesola’s security escort recklessly fired gunshots to terrorise Osun residents.

The civil defence claimed that unknown hoodlums attacked the convoy of the ex-governor at about 6:40 p.m. around the Old Garage area in Osogbo.

Reno Omokri, former media aide to ex-president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has alleged that the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu is sick and cannot be Nigerian President.

Reno stated this in a fresh video on his YouTube channel while reacting to the viral motion picture which emerged on social media at the weekend, showing the former Lagos State Governor having a wet cloth.

The former presidential aide, who revealed that the had earlier alleged that Tinubu was suffering from enuresis disease, said the ailment could be caused by an enlarged prostate or cancer.

He said it could also be a sign of diabetes.

He called on members of the ruling party to expose the health status of Tinubu for the betterment of the country.

He said, “I did a video yesterday and I told you guys about Bola Tinubu’s ailment and I showed you video evidence. The second video was even a surprise to Tinubu’s loyalists because it was given to me by members of his camp who are actually in support of Osinbajo.

“This man has health issues and I gave you guys video prove. He is suffering from some form of enuresis which is the inability to control your urination. This man, if he becomes president and he goes to White House, he is going to be representing you and I.

“Is this the kind of person that we want? Someone who obviously has serious health challenges?

“In elderly men, enuresis could be caused by enlarged prostate or cancer, it could also be a sign of diabetes.

“In America, if you are a presidential aspirant and you have a health issue, you must of necessity release your information to the people so that they know what they are voting for.

“In Nigeria, it is not been done like that. Till today, we don’t know what President Muhammadu Buhari is suffering from.

“I’m asking those in the APC to expose this man. This is somebody went to London few days ago and then return again only for us to see this. We need a healthy leader.”

DAILY POST recalls that a pro-Bola Tinubu coalition, the Support Groups Management Council had in a statement, said that the viral video was manipulated, insisting that the APC national leader is healthy and ready to challenge and win the 2023 presidential election.

The Governor Abdullahi Ganjude-led Kano government approved the destruction of over 3.8 million bottles of assorted beer, said the state’s Hisbah board commandant, Harun Ibn-Sina.

The religious police boss said that the alcoholic drinks were confiscated in the last few months.

He said the state government approved the destruction of the intoxicants, hence the conduct of the exercise.

”This paved the way for the board to secure a court order from Chief Magistrates’ Court, Kano, to damage all the seized beer in its custody,” Mr Ibn-Sina said at the destruction site at Tudun Kalebawa, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area on Wednesday.

Mr Ibn-Sina explained that the board is winning the fight against drug abuse, intoxicants and all other societal vices.

“The sale, consumption and possession of alcoholic substances are prohibited in the state,” Mr Ibn-sina, added.

He commended the state government for the dedication towards mitigating societal problems and ensuring that Kano competes with others globally.

In the same vein, Mr Ganduje, has reiterated the state government’s commitment to the welfare of the board’s personnel.

The governor was represented at the event by the member, representing Albasu Local Government in the State House of Assembly and the Chairman, House Committee on Religious Affairs, Sunusi Usman-Batayya.

Mr Ganduje said that Kano is one of the most peaceful states due to the tireless efforts of the state government and other relevant stakeholders.

The governor urged the general public to support the government’s efforts by inculcating good moral values in their children to maintain a crime-free society.

“Kano is the first state to establish a ministry for religious affairs in the country which has gone a long way in promoting peaceful coexistence.

“Hisbah personnel should maintain the tempo as miscreants had devised new tactics of smuggling beer and hard drugs into the state”, Mr Ganduje said.

(NAN)

A foreigner just arriving in Nigeria, and learning about the six zones of our political system, must assume that Yorubaland is the second most favoured zone under the All Progressives Congress, APC. A casual glance at the list of occupants of elected and appointed officials would seem to back up that claim.


A Yoruba man is the Vice President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives is a Yoruba man, the Minister for Works and Housing is a Yoruba man, the Minister of Interior is a Yoruba man, and Minister of State for Health is a Yoruba man. The National Leader of the party is also reportedly from Lagos State. Finally, the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum is one of our own. With the exception of the North-West, which has grabbed the lion’s share of important appointments, no other zone comes close.

The South-East is so marginalised, the few top level appointees are even forced to defend an administration which actively cheats them. The Yoruba should feel comfortable with this government. Surprisingly, most of us are not. The obvious question is: why? The simple answer is: the people cannot point to any tangible benefit of having so many officials in the top posts. There is a need to elaborate.

The reasons, from random interviews with hundreds at all strata of Yoruba society, are as shocking as they are understandable. They also pose threats to the presidential ambitions of those now in the race. It is possible that in a free and fair election, none of them will receive 50 per cent of votes. In more than sixty years of watching Nigerian politics, I have never experienced so much resentment of Yoruba political leaders as now. The accusations can be summarised as follows:

SELFISHNESS


Mention any name; and a trope of maledictions follows from people who have not been fortunate to be close to them. The pervasive impression is that the top politicians are now in business for themselves and their families and close associates alone. They don’t give a damn about the masses of Yoruba people. Invariably, the older Yoruba people will refer to the Free Education policy started in the Western Region under Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the Action Group government. Awo is today next to God worshipped by my own generation. His government devoted such a large percentage of the annual budget to Education – in all its ramifications – and gave the Western Region (including Edo and Delta) a huge advantage which we still enjoy till today.

Yoruba people are the leaders in any legal profession in the country. The collateral advantage, for Nigeria, of Awo’s strategic vision, was the competition it induced in other regions to educate their own children.

By contrast, none of the Yoruba leaders in government today has demonstrated that sort of vision. None is leading advocacy for any initiative that could mobilise millions of people or solve problems for Yorubaland. Free education was not elitist. Awo did not know me or any of the millions of beneficiaries personally before conferring a benefit on us which has lasted us a life time. The closest to Awolowo’s legacy by any politician was the Low Cost Housing concept embarked upon by the late Alhaji Jakande – a former Governor of Lagos State. Not as tidy as free education in every way, but, even now Jakande’s low cost housing units can be seen everywhere.  Travel through all the six South-West states today and you can hardly point to any lasting legacy of Yoruba political leaders since 1979.

We spent years in the opposition at the Federal Level; and, understandably, our states were mostly deprived of the dividends of democracy; despite the fact that we led the struggle for Civil Rule. But, we are now in office. Where is the evidence of power sharing in Abuja?


The government which gained power in 2015 could not have succeeded without some well-known Yoruba leaders. Many supporters of the National Leader frequently remind us that he was the Kingmaker. We agree totally that he made it happen. But, look around the South-West today, almost seven years after that election, and ask yourself this question: Are the people of the South-West in general better off today than in 2015, when the VP, Speaker of the House, and top Ministers did not come from our zone? In other words, are Yoruba people benefiting from having so many people in top posts in the APC government? Do we owe them any sense of gratitude and for what?

“Morning shows the day”.

Buhari made it very clear, even before he mounted the saddle, that he was embarking on swindling the masses of Yorubaland who trooped out to vote for him. His first twenty appointments included only one person from Yorubaland – Femi Adesina. And all the appointments were made without consultations with Yoruba leaders who contributed to his victory at the polls. Nobody complained. One Abubakar followed a Mohammed into high office in 2015, no Tunde or Iyabo. Yet, no Yoruba political leader had the guts to protest. Nobody was man enough.

The only objections, oddly enough, came from the media. Several columnists in southern papers were the first cry foul. Southern politicians who were the victims of the political daylight robbery could not talk. Everybody was waiting for the next round of appointments in the hope that it would favour them. Individuals who were regarded as “pillars” of the party all became supplicants – like dogs waiting under the masters tables, wagging their tails, waiting for crumbs.

If Buhari held any consultations before selecting his Ministers, it was definitely not with Yoruba APC leaders. Granted, he appointed Ministers from the SW; but, that was based on a constitutional obligation. A few of those he liked were asked to nominate candidates; and they were appointed without consideration of merit. But, all the Ministers appointed from the SW owed their portfolios to no one else. The National Leader was serially by-passed when the appointments were made.

It was only when second-tier positions were to be filled that Lagos State got the Federal Inland Revenue Service. For a state which contributed the bulk of the finance, the media support and the largest southern votes in 2015, that was a kick in the teeth. Marginalisation was so boldly written that anybody with a modicum of commonsense should have seen where all the lack of courage would lead us. Still nobody complained.

HERDSMEN BECAME LANDLODRS IN YORUBA LAND

“Ancestral attachment? You can only have ancestral attachment when you are alive. If you are dead, how does the attachment matter? The National Economic Council that recommended ranching didn’t just legislate it; there were recommendations…What will the land be used for if those who own it are dead at the end of the day?”

In 2018, something absolutely terrible happened to the Yoruba people. As mentioned earlier, Femi Adesina was the first person to be “invited to come and eat”. Three years after, he made that statement about ancestral lands – obviously including his own family’s lands. It was all in a bid to get Yoruba people to surrender their lands to rampaging Fulani herdsmen. Mental self-slavery has never been so openly declared by any human being since I have learnt to read. Worse than Adesina accepting, with gratitude, the attempt to enslave Yoruba land owners was the total silence of the Yoruba APC leaders at the time. Some have woken up from their slumber.

But, those who hope to receive Buhari’s nod for the presidency are still not men enough to raise objections to the fact that every state in Yorubaland has been invaded by armed Fulani herdsmen and terrorists with tacit approval from above. Yoruba people were landlords in their own land until 2014/5 when Yoruba APC political leaders brought Buhari to us and assured us we were safe in his hands. Today, Fulani herdsmen are the masters in several areas – ably assisted by the Army and the Police under Fulani heads. Still none of those running about preparing to run for the presidency has spoken a word about our predicament.

The leadership in this regard has been provided by others. I don’t believe we have reached the break-up point in Nigeria. But, I totally agree with them that Yorubaland has been violently seized by Fulani herdsmen and our President is doing nothing about the situation. Worse still, our Yoruba leaders in APC are afraid to talk. All they want to do is to drive us like cattle on Election Day to go and vote for someone who has spent the last seven years ignoring our plight out of political expediency. This approach to leadership cannot work for us.

They better start talking; otherwise, they might discover that apart from the very few they have helped, most of us are not keen on voting for cowards…

To be continued…

LAST LINE: Yoruba people were led to believe True Federalism was part of the APC agenda. Now they are talking from the two sides of their mouths. We need a clear statement. Wait for Part 2.

Former militant leader, Asari Dokubo has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of supporting the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Dokubo who spoke on Facebook live video on Wednesday, February 9, alleged that Obasanjo is encouraging IPOB to kill people in the Southeastern region of the country.

The ex-leader said Southwest leaders couldn’t use Sunday Igboho to cause cause ‘war’ in the region but are showing support for Kanu to destroy Southeast.

Reacting to a recent claim by an unnamed member of IPOB that many of his loyalists were killed by some unknown gunmen in Imo state, Dokubo said it was all lie.

Naija News understands that an IPOB member had last week alleged that the Governor of Imo state Hope Uzodinma contracted Dokubo to combat IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).


The individual alleged that Dokubo trained many boys, put them on N150, 000 monthly allowances, and sent about 79 of them to battle IPOB/ESN in the forest.

According to him, unknown gunmen struck and killed many of Dokubo’s foot soldiers, prompting the former militant to flee to the Benin Republic.

However, Dokubo on Wednesday evening during his social media broadcast, claimed he instead, killed IPOB and ESN gunmen.

He said: “It is a lie. No single boy of mine died. It is your people (IPOB) that I sent to Satan (killed), their master” Dokubo said.

“Your people know. All of them know how they run past their houses, past their forest. So they danced and went to attack Nigerian Army at Ihiala (in Anambra state),” the former militant added.

Dokubo vowed to kill more IPOB members and their supporters if he ever encounter any of them.

Residents in a community in Oyo town have uncovered activities of suspected ritualists in an uncompleted building in the area.

Our correspondent gathered that those living close to the building, which is along the Oyo-Ilora Road, in the Oyo West Local Government Area, Oyo State, started combing the bushes after perceiving a foul odour.

They were said to have stumbled on decomposing human parts in the uncompleted building.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the discovery was reported at the Oyo West Police Station.

A resident, who identified himself simply as Lanre, told our correspondent on the telephone on Tuesday that he was there when a police team visited the building, adding that some suspects had been arrested.

He said, “Three days ago, there was a stench from an uncompleted building and residents thought some persons were defecating in the place. But when they searched the area, a complete human arm was found and some other items that suggested that some persons had probably been killed there.

“The case was reported to the police in Oyo and they came and arrested some suspects. We were disturbed because the policemen that came did not allow us to take pictures of the human parts discovered there.

We don’t want the case to be covered up. Many things are happening now. Human beings are daily being killed for rituals and if such a thing is discovered, I believe the police should do everything possible to expose those behind it.”

Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that human bones and the school uniform of a child were found at the site, adding that the discoveries raised suspicions that the act might have been going on for a while.


He said, “Those living close to the site said they used to see a man riding a motorcycle to the place. They said the man used to work with a shovel in the building; they thought he was clearing debris, but did not know he was carrying out criminal activities there. Somebody later said that he knew the father of the motorcycle rider. The police came, saw those things and took them away. They also arrested some suspects.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, did not take his calls which rang out.

He had also yet to reply to a text message and chats sent to his telephone line on the matter as of the time of filing this report.

However, the Commandant of the Amotekun Corps in Oyo State, Col. Olayinka  Olayanju (retd.), confirmed the incident to our correspondent in Ibadan, the state capital.

He said, “The information is true. I was told by my people that it was a decomposing body that was found there. The corpse was dismembered and the police arrested some suspects. I was not told that a school uniform was found there. The dismembered body was not fresh.

“Our men went there, but the suspects were arrested by the police; they are not with us. Since the body was dismembered, it suggests a ritual killing.”

Can you recall when the Fulani herdsmen got to Oke Ako?

 They had been around in our forests since. I got to know them even when my father was alive. But then, they were friendly, until like over 10 years ago when they started causing problems.

What kind of problems?

 They destroy our farms with their animals. At the same time, they do not allow our people, who are predominantly farmers, continue their farming activities on the farms. There was a time they came to town, attacked our people and killed two persons. These are some of the problems that they cause. They consistently destroy farms products.

But why are they attracted to the community?

It is mainly the dams. We have five dams constructed by Oodua Investment in the Chief Obafemi Awolowo days. During the dry season, when there is no water around for their cows, it would be only in Oke Ako that they can get water, so they will come for the water. They come from far and near to get water here. They come from even Kogi State to get water for their cattle.

Do they stay back whenever they come like that?

Some will stay, some will stay for few days and go back. But they will still come back. There is always influx of herders with their cattle from different places to take water and graze. Whenever they come like that, we pay dearly for it with our farm products which their cattle destroy. In the process of passing, their cows ravage our crops.

As the regent, what efforts have you made to resolve the problem?

We have made a lot of efforts. There was a time the government invited us to Ado Ekiti, the state capital, during the first term of Governor Kayode Fayemi. They invited some people from the North as well maybe they could have dialogue and see the way we could be living together in harmony without any crisis. We tried to know them so that they would register so that we would not continue to deal with faceless people. We tried our best so that we could be friends, but the more we tried, the more they cause problems.

What are the problems and how are the activities of the herdsmen affecting Oke Ako and neighbouring towns?

Their activities are affecting us socially, physically and economically. Our farmers no longer have farm produce as it used to be. Before, our people produced agric products in large quantities. They were harvesting yam in bulk, but now, we no longer have enough to eat, there is no yam to sell again. When our people cultivate their lands and plant there, the herders would take their cattle there to destroy them. Because of this, people are leaving the community, Ebira farmers as well are leaving to look for where they can get farmland to do their own activities in peace. Again, they threaten the lives of people. When they come to town, you will see them with guns and machetes. The purpose of the guns and machetes is to instill fears in the people’s minds and to threaten them. There were instances when they attacked our people.

How are women in the community coping?

The women have not been able to go to the farms again. If a woman has to go to farm, she has to hire someone to go with her. They had even attempted to rape some of our women, but we thank God that we have not recorded cases of rape here. It is in view of this that the women don’t go to the farms again.

How do you feel whenever you get the hint that Fulani herders were planning to attack your community?

Such alerts are rampant and we are disturbed, we live in fear. Our people cannot sleep with two eyes closed. Whenever we get the hint that herdsmen are coming to attack us, we resort to security and we always place the local hunters on the alert. However, the community is confronted with the challenge of fund for security. It is difficult to raise funds to finance the security and local hunters. At times, we don’t get anything or enough when we attempt to raise funds from the people.

How do you cope in such circumstances?

We are just managing ourselves. Because of that, the security and hunters have not been functioning well. We have not been paying our local hunters well, we don’t have enough to maintain them.

Recently, Ekiti State Government took the measure to register herders and farmers with a view to knowing them. How has that affected your area?

The herdsmen here did not come out for registration. They don’t want it because they have hidden agenda. They don’t want to register, they don’t want to be known. That effort has not been fruitful.

Why were you unsettled over the coming of additional herders to settle in your community on Saturday?

We know what we have been facing in the hands of Fulani herdersmen, so we have to prevent any addition. Our prayer is for those around to leave, so we have to be worried. That night, we heard that there were three trucks conveying herders into our land. When we got the message, we drew the attention of the local hunters. On getting there, they were over 60 Fulani herders who had been offloaded from the vehicles with their food and other things. That was how we alerted other neighbouring communities. We then drew the attention of some of the leaders of Fulani. I insisted that those trucks that brought them there should move them and their belongings out of the community and indeed the area immediately. It was then I heard that the Onirele of Irele, the traditional ruler of the neighbouring community, said they should come so that he would address the matter. I instructed Oke Ako chiefs to ensure they were returned to where they came from. I learnt they said they brought a letter from a top police officer which served as a pass for them. They said the letter stated that they were going to a town in the Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State. The name of the town does not even exist here. They also had another letter from one of our indigenes who asked them to come to Oke Ako forest, claiming there is land for them to settle. When we invited the person involved, he took responsibility. He said that he collected money from them and asked them to come. I then reiterated that there was no land and that he should ask them to return from where they came from.


What is the sanction for the insider?

He was arrested alongside one other collaborator and taken to Ado Ekiti. In conclusion, the two persons that collected an undisclosed amount of money from the herdsmen were asked make a refund and as well ask them to leave.

With all these done, why did women in your community still protest?

Nobody wants Fulani herdsmen to continue to stay here to constitute problems, hence the women protested. They protests was as well extended against the two persons from here that collected money from the herdsmen. There is this aspect of our tradition whereby if somebody does something that is not good, they will pluck leaves and put it in front of the person’s house. So that Saturday, the women protested and put leaves in front of the houses of the two individuals that collected money from the herdsmen.

What is the implication?

It is a taboo. It can cause evil for that person.

Have the two men apologised to the community?

I have not seen them, but I have sent to them to ensure that the people that they brought leave.

The implication is that some insiders are collaborating with the Fulani herders – what advice do you have for your people?

My advice to them is that they should not take laws into their hands again. They should not take any step that will be inimical to people’s lives. If they want to accept any stranger, they should let me and the council of chiefs know so that we can give them advice and let them know what should be done.

Does that mean the two Oke Ako men did not know or they are less concerned about the destruction of your people’s farm produce and the threat to their lives that you complained of?

They know and they understand. But I want to believe that they were deceived by the way the Fulani presented themselves to them. The Fulani were said to have told the two natives that if they stayed here, they would assist the community to stop all those coming to destroy their farm crops. I think they were deceived by that.

How is Oke Ako Market faring now?

The market is a victim of the activities of the herders. The menace of the Fulani herders has not been allowing people to get what they can sell in the market. It is only when we get bountiful harvest that the market can be buoyant. For now, the herders’ herds graze our crops. When there was food production, people from different states were coming to buy in the market. But for now, our people don’t get enough to eat, much more sell. So, the market has been idle even throughout last year.

What is the general feeling of your people?

We are not happy. We are feeling bad and angry.

So, what do you think government should do to secure Oke Ako and neighbouring communities?

During the time the government visited here, they deployed army here, but recently, the military men left, with what happened on Saturday, we are appealing to government to order them to return. We also want a standby joint security force comprising army, police, civil defence, Amotekun and local hunters here. We want them to be here on standby so that the herders will know there is security presence and that will serve as a check on their destructive activities. Again, the absence of police in this area is worrisome. Some of the strangers living with us here are leaving because of insecurity. Those of us that remain do not have a place to go. This is our community, that is why we are still here. People who have option, people who have other places to go have left. It has affected us enormously.

The Leader Of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, on Sunday, released fresh prophecies for some African countries, including Somalia, Libya, Angola, Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, and Sierra Leone.

In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele gave spiritual warnings to these African countries.

He spoke on the presidential elections which will be held soon in some of those countries.

Starting with South Sudan, Primate Ayodele revealed that he foresees another coup in Africa if the country’s government doesn’t take the right step now.

He made it known that a new rebel group sponsored by the country’s enemies are warming up to destabilize the smooth transition to democracy in the country.

“If the government doesn’t take the right step now, another coup is coming up in Africa because a new rebel sponsored by enemies of the country are warming up to destabilize the smooth transition of the country to democracy.

“This will cause the government a lot and there is a need to put the economy in order. Let the government work on ethnicity crisis, movement of immigrants, fight the new rebels with other rebels, they will lose at the end of the day.

“South Sudan needs divine intervention in order to end the long time war and crisis. Meanwhile, the president and government officials must be very careful of bomb blasts. They should also pray so a prominent person will not die in the administration. There will also be troubles in reviewing the constitution in South Sudan,” he said.

In Somalia, Primate Ayodele revealed that he foresees an attack on the government house and that the coming election will cause rancour and instability in the country.

“There will be a serious crisis that will involve an attempt to attack the government house. In the coming election, the opposition will kick against whoever wins and this will cause rancor and instability in the country. Let them pray against a massive protest,” he said.

For Sudan, Primate Ayodele revealed that there will be a change of government which will ‘shock’ the present administration. He advised that they fulfill agreement to the rebels to avoid instability in the country.

“There will be a change of government in the country which will shock the present administration. They should work on so many contended issues. The government should also fulfil the agreement with the rebels otherwise there will be instability in the country,” he prophesied.

In Angola, the man of God noted that the present government will still retain the seat of power.

“The present government in Angola will still retain the seat of power. They must pray against crisis,” he revealed.

In Libya, Primate Ayodele prophesied that Gadaffi’s son, Saadi, would win the election without the international community’s interference. He revealed that there will be a plot against the prime minister of the country, Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah

“Without the interference of the international community, Saadi Gadaffi will win the coming election, they will plot against the prime minister of the country. Let them pacify each other to avoid another war in Libya,” he said.

Speaking on the coming election in Kenya, Primate Ayodele made it known that the deputy president of the country, William Ruto is not playing his politics well and that except he strategizes well, Raila Odinga will win the election. He advised him to choose Musala Mudavadi as his running mate if he wants to win the election.

“If William Ruto doesn’t re-strategize, Raila Odinga will become the next president of Kenya. Ruto needs to play his politics very well. Let us pray against bomb explosion in Kenya. If Ruto wants to win, he should pick Mudavadi as his running mate,” he said.

In Sierra Leone, Ayodele prophesied a second term for the president if he works well.

“The president has done so well but they will fight him for his second term though God has promised to give him a second term if he works his strategy well. He will win but let them pray against calamity, disaster in the country. The government will fight corruption seriously,” he stated.

The Federal government has blamed the upsurge in crime amongst youths in the country on parents faulty upbringing.

It lamented the rate at which young people engaged in the ritual killing under the pretext of looking for quick wealth.

Minister of the Interior, Rauf Aregbesola who said this in Akure while hosting the 1975 set of his secondary school, Akoko Anglican Grammar School Arigidi Akoko lamented youths engagements in drug abuse, rape, cultism and ritual killings.

Aregbesola said “the upbringing of students should not be left for teachers but should be a joint effort with parents, old student associations and tiers of government.

The former governor of the state of Osun, therefore, called on teachers and parents to be more committed to the upbringing of children for a better society in the country.

According to him bringing children in a good manner would go a long way in taking good care of youths, preventing vices and any wrongdoings ravaging society.

“What is obviously lacking is insufficient parental guardiance. Let us address parental issues, parents must be encouraged to properly groom their children and grooming is not just about discipline, it goes beyond that. It involves correcting any vices, malpractices, misbehaviours among others.

“When parents are sensitive to what their children need to the company they keep, definitely we are going to have well-groomed and disciplined children.”

Speaking on his alma matter, Aregbesola said, “I am joining the other old students to see how we can support, develop, fund the effort of the government in making our Alma mater functional for the current students.

The Minister added that “It is obvious now that the government alone cannot attend to the needs of those institutions, particularly in terms of good infrastructure and this led me to join my other old students to support and assist in providing infrastructure and rehabilitating the old structure at once and to motivate the current students.

However, the protest which started as a peaceful one, took a violent turn when an unidentified man rushed to the school to inform other protesters of a machete cut.

Some Muslim parents on Thursday stormed Oyun Baptist High School, Ijagbo, in the Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State to protest against the rejection of their wards in the school. 
 
However, the protest which started as a peaceful one, took a violent turn when an unidentified man rushed to the school to inform other protesters of a machete cut.

This triggered an angry reaction from the protesting Muslim parents as they looked around for various weapons to defend themselves. However, police officers swiftly dispatched them.

NAN reports that the police fired warning shots into the air and also used teargas to dispatch the protesters in order to control the situation as unidentified persons from inside the Oyun Baptist High School, were seen throwing missiles at those outside the premises.

Meanwhile, several persons have sustained varying degrees of injury.

For instance, a man in his early 20s was seen being rushed to a nearby hospital for reportedly being shot at.
 
Normalcy was however restored by a combined team of police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The Public Relations Officer of the Kwara Police Command, Ajayi Okasanmi, said security personnel had been deployed to the scene to restore peace.
 
Okasanmi said normalcy has returned to the school and that security operatives would remain there until the area was safe for the residents.
 
The controversies surrounding the use of Hijab in schools have rocked Kwara State, particularly in schools which have identified as missionary schools. 

On January 25, the government restated its policy and directed management of schools in the state to allow the use of Hijab by willing Muslims without forcing it on anyone or turning them back for using it.

Some Muslim parents and their wards were seen on some major streets of Ilorin on Wednesday protesting against the management of Oyun Baptist High School for turning back some students for wearing Hijab.
 
A government delegation, led by the Commissioner for Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Kawu, had twice visited the school to resolve the matter.

Another delegation led by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mohammed Saifudeen, also visited the town for the same reason on Thursdays

Bandits on Thursday morning stormed Daddara village in the Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State where they killed six people, including the village head.

The assailants also abducted five other residents, Daily Trust reports.

SaharaReporters Media
Katsina and other North-West states are being terrorised by bandits and other criminals.

Similarly, in August 2021, some bandits attacked villages in Musawa and Matazu local government areas of Katsina State, killing a village head and some others, while several houses were burnt.

They stole hundreds of animals and burnt down some houses, and then proceeded to Dugul village where they killed the village head, Mallam Rabiu and four others.

CHAIRMAN,  Senate Services Committee, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, All Progressives Congress, APC, Niger East has condemned in very strong terms, separate attacks between Friday and Saturday in Shiroro and Paikoro local government areas of Niger State.

The fresh attacks carried out by elements of Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa( ISWA) led to the killing of  11 security agents and several peasant farmers were attacked and wounded with wanton destruction of property, just as residents of the areas said at least 32 persons were killed overall across the affected communities.

In a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, Senator Musa who described the massive killing and wanton destruction of property as too many, disheartening, sad and unfortunate, called on the Armed Forces to re-strategise and double their operational methods.

The APC National Chairmanship frontrunner who reiterated his call on the Federal government to come to the rescue of the state called on the affected communities in Galadiman Kogo and Kuchi in Shiroro and Munya local government areas to always provide security agencies with credible information in order to nip the menace in the bud. 

Musa who  urged  the Federal Government, Security Agencies and  the State Government should not leave  any stone unturned in their efforts at ridding Niger state of crime,  said, “What is happening to us in Niger State in terms of insecurity is beyond our power and this is why we are calling on the Federal Government to come to our rescue immediately as I also call the armed forces to re-strategise their operational modes and the Military needs to wake up and do the needful.”

 Senator  Musa who also called on the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Usman Alkali and other Security Agencies to intensify their efforts by investigating the masterminds of the killings and make them face the full wrath of the law in order to serve as a deterrent to others, said, ” I wish to most heartily on behalf of the people of Niger East condemn these dastardly acts of taking the lives of innocent people and destruction of property and to console with the families of those who have lost their loved ones in the course of these senseless attacks.

Recall that the Niger State Government had said that bandits killed 11 security agents and several villagers in separate attacks between Friday and Saturday in Shiroro and Paikoro local government areas of the state.

Residents of the areas said at least 32 persons were killed overall across the affected communities.
Governor Abubakar Bello spoke on the attacks on Tuesday through a statement issued by his media aide, Mary Noel-Berje.

The governor had said “the terrorists, numbering over 100 invaded the community in broad daylight, killing about 11 Joint Security Taskforce members, several villagers and leaving many injured.

He said that scores of the gunmen were also said to have been neutralised, adding that the attacks on Galadiman Kogo and other villages in the Shiroro council area could have been averted if the locals had alerted the security forces on time.

The Ooni, in a statement, through the Lowa of Ife, Abraham Ademola, had ordered restriction of movement in the town since Saturday night.

The Ooni of Ife, Yoruba’s foremost traditional ruler, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has ordered a restriction of movement in Ile-Ife, Osun State, from 11pm to 5am over incessant criminal activities.

The development was reported to have forced the traditional council members and some local security to keep vigil in some areas through the night, last Friday.


The Ooni, in a statement, through the Lowa of Ife, Abraham Ademola, had ordered restriction of movement in the town since Saturday night.

“The Imperial Majesty, Oba Ogunwusi, has ordered lockdown from 11pm to 5am in Ife township from today (Saturday). No vigil, no night party, night prayers in all churches and mosques, among others.

“This is because robbers and bandits’ presence in Ile-Ife is on high which is causing the community sleepless nights.

“The police with the local securities are now in the community to ensure security. Anyone caught within these hours will be treated as such. The restriction is till further notice.”

But the Secretary to the Osun State Government, Wole Oyebamiji, said in a statement that there is no restriction of movement in any part of the state.

He, however, cautioned residents to avoid reckless movements especially at odd hours of the day.

“The Government of the State of Osun wishes to inform the public that there is no curfew of any nature in any part of the state,” the statement read.

“The government is assuring citizens that Osun remains safe regardless of the activities of a few criminal elements. This government has never and will not fold its hands while a few criminal elements decide to violate the rights of other citizens.

“Those found culpable of disrupting the peace of Osun will face the full weight of the law if apprehended. Anyone who has found delight in being a trouble maker has the option of relocating elsewhere if they cannot do without fomenting trouble.

Governors and top leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, are split over the presidential aspiration of the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The division is affecting zoning of National Working Committee, NWC, and National Executive Committee, NEC, offices ahead of the February 26 National Convention.

A top party source told Vanguard, weekend that contrary to perception, Asiwaju Tinubu is not desperate to become president in 2023 but wants agreements to be honoured.

“Top founders of the party know that President Buhari promised to hand over to Tinubu in 2023. Now if they don’t want to fulfill that promise, they have to  sit down with Tinubu and discuss.

“Tinubu has to be respected. You can’t treat him as nobody and expect him to keep quiet and do nothing. He is a democrat,” the source said.

Although the APC governors have taken charge of the party, they are yet to agree on Tinubu and a chairmanship candidate. “Some of the governors are for Tinubu and are watching to see how things unfold.”

According to the source, President Buhari is not averse to a South-easterner succeeding him and may be eyeing a minister from the zone as his successor.

President Buhari, penultimate week, said his choice of ‘favoured successor’ would shock people, a reason he said he would keep the identify of the person secret.

Likely successors’

Some names have been mentioned as the likely favoured successor. They include former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan; Transportation Minister, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi; Labour and Employment Minister, Dr Chris Ngige; Dr Akinwunmi Adesina; Timipre Sylva and Mr Emeka Nwajiuba, among others.

On 2023 presidency, the source said the party must find a way to assuage the feelings of Tinubu and some founders of the party, who are gunning for the presidential ticket because “promises were made to them during the formation of the party.

“If the party cannot fulfil the promises in 2023, the party has to meet and plead with them.

“If the party treats them with contempt, they are ready to stand their ground and it will affect the party in 2023 elections.”

APC no longer a political party, but election platform, ex-PGF DG laments

Meanwhile, the immediate past Director General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum PGF, Salihu Moh. Lukman, has lamented the dwindling democratic fortunes of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, saying the party was now more of an election platform without any ideological bent.

Lukman in a statement in Abuja yesterday, described the reality as very disturbing, noting that “APC today, wasn’t the APC of the period 2013 to 2015.”

He said outside President Muhammadu Buhari, there were very few elected leaders in APC who were still committed to the founding vision of the party to provide leadership to change Nigerian politics.

He said:  “Given where the nation is coming from under PDP, changing Nigerian politics would require departure from requiring citizens to be blindly loyal to elected leaders.

‘’It should require that citizens and party members are free to disagree and criticise elected leaders.

“In other words, politics of change should produce elected leaders who should be highly tolerant and where possible even accommodate disagreements and criticisms as part the process of decision making.

“These may sound like wishful thoughts. The truth however is that our dear APC is being held captive by some few leaders whose interest is only about imposing themselves as candidates for elections.

“So long as that is the case, it means what we have as APC today wasn’t the party negotiated and produced out of our legacy parties.

“Rather than the envisioned party, which allows for internal debates and disagreements among party leaders and members, based on which there could be negotiations and agreements, APC today has been diminished to only an election platform, which is what the founding leaders and members wanted to change.

‘’The commitment to change the profile of political parties beyond being election platforms was precisely part of why Nigerians supported the APC in 2015″, he stated.

He said unlike the case of the PDP, APC was extremely lucky to have a leader in President Muhammadu Buhari who does not meddle in the affairs of the party.

Lukman added:  “Sadly, this became the license for party leaders to abuse the trust of both the President and majority of party leaders and members.

“Overtime, this has damaged the profile of the APC to the point whereby, based on the conduct of leaders and some elected representatives of the party, it is difficult to associate the APC with its founding vision of change.

‘’Problems of intolerance to disagreements and criticisms, with some leaders expecting members to be blindly loyal is becoming a common attribute.

‘’Views of party leaders become dominantly decisions of party organs.

“Even when consultations take place and there is a clear decision, so long as the decisions are not what some few party leaders want, those decisions will not be implemented.

‘’It doesn’t matter whether President Buhari was part of the consultations, and in agreement with the decision.

“Propensity to disrespect decisions and party leaders, including the President, is very high today in APC.

“Every founding leader and member of the APC must rise to challenge of arresting the drift in the party.

“Few individual leaders of the party must not be allowed to continue to impose themselves and destroy a party with potentials to provide the needed democratic platform for negotiated resolutions of all the problems of Nigeria.

‘’As it is today, APC is the only party where contestation is taking place. Again, thanks to President Buhari who is providing unbiased leadership to the party, it is possible for ordinary members to express themselves, including disagreeing with decisions of leaders of the party.

‘’This unique leadership of President Buhari has helped a lot to sustain the hope of both party leaders, members and Nigerians desirous of political change.

“Beyond the unbiased leadership of President Buhari, there is the need for all party leaders and members committed to the politics of change to ensure the emergence of party leaders at the February 26, 2022 National Convention who must be tolerant to criticisms and disagreements and should not expect members to be blindly loyal.

‘’Above all, if APC is to return to its founding vision of driving the process of change in Nigeria, it must produce leaders who would be able to compel elected representatives produced by the party to be accountable to Nigerians.’’

Anambra State governor-elect, Prof Chukwuma Soludo has said that in order to promote domestic brands, his official vehicles when he assumes office would be those manufactured by the Innoson Vehicle Motors (IVM).

Soludo who visited members of the inauguration committee stated this in his speech to the committee members.

The governor-elect also said it was not a coincidence that he had been wearing local fabrics known as Akwete, saying it was part of his intentional to support local brands and to make a statement with it.

He said: “My akwete dress is not just dress, it’s a statement. I want to make a statement with it. You know, in the entire south-east, this is the only textile thing alive, and it’s handmade, by the women of akwaete in Abia State.

“Igbo land is one and we must protect it. We want to bring back the zeal of patronising our own. I have said it even during campaigns, and I meant it, that if I win, the official car of the governor of Anambra State will be Innoson Vehicle.

“The dresses I will wear are those made here (south-east). We must protect the things that are made in our place. Something is about to happen in Igboland, and together we will get there.”

On his upcoming swearing-in, Soludo said there would be no ceremony to mark the event, stressing that no amount would be spent on it.

He said the day was simply to mark his first day at work, saying even though it is a weekend, he would spend eight hours of the day working.

“I have made a wish that not even one kobo of Anambra people’s money will be spent on that swearing-in ceremony. It is a wish, and I mean it. What are we spending money on? Just few people coming to the inauguration and witnessing it, then I will open office and get down to work immediately.

“I do not wish any event, dancers or players and all that. I just want to show up for work, like every first work day. Though it is going to be a Friday, which is weekend, but I’m going to work for over eight hours that day.

“No ceremony, no event, no party, nothing. Not even 10 kobo will be spent. So the people who are saying N20 million has been budgeted should go and tell us where they will get that money. It is going to be work, work, work, and that is what we epitomise.

Air Peace, Nigeria’s leading airline, has announced the deployment of its brand new Embraer 195-E2 and Boeing 737 aircraft on the Anambra route.

Spokesperson of the airline, Stanley Olisa, confirmed the development in a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the development followed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCCA) recent approval of the Anambra Airport to operate B737-700 and its equivalent aircraft.

Olisa explained that the airline has also increased flight frequencies on specific domestic routes, including Anambra.

He noted that the airline’s brand new Embraer 195-E2 and Boeing 737 aircraft, with more passenger capacity, would be deployed on the route, adding that frequency had been increased to daily flights for Anambra.

“This new development means more flight availability for passengers flying the route, which is reflective of the airline’s resolve to ease the burden of air travel in the country.

MACBAN had on Sunday said the welfare of its members would improve with Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as president in 2023.

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) on Wednesday denied that it had endorsed the 2023 presidential ambition of former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu.

According to the association, the position of individuals on who succeeds President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 should not be regarded as a general one.


MACBAN had on Sunday said the welfare of its members would improve with Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as president in 2023.

During a meeting held at the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute, Abuja, the association had reiterated its commitment to better the lifestyle of its members.

The meeting had drawn the Fulani leaders from the 36 states and the FCT, Abuja.

Ya’u Haruna, convener of the meeting and a former chairman of the Jigawa chapter of MACBAN, had said the association was paying attention to those who had shown their interest in contesting the 2023 presidency, including Tinubu.

However, MACBAN National Secretary, Baba Ngelzarma, on Wednesday issued a rebuttal, stressing that the association respected the ambition of all aspirants and was yet to pitch its tent with any of them.

“The attention of MACBAN headquarters has been drawn to claims that we have endorsed the presidential aspiration of Sen. Ahmed Tinubu.

“We want to make it clear that the association has not endorsed any candidate. Those who endorsed Tinubu are doing so as individuals. MACBAN should not in any way be dragged into the politics of endorsement at this stage,” Ngelzarma said.

VOICEofORIENTAL:
so do we continue to run NIGERIA the way its presently run?so what's your intention on how NIGERIA can work?

The protesters expressed their anger over the incessant attacks on their community by bandits.

Residents of Nahuche Community in the Bungudu local government area of Zamfara state have taken to the streets to protest the rate of insecurity in the region.

The protesters on Sunday expressed their anger over the incessant attacks on their community by bandits.


The protesters, who carried placards with various inscriptions besieged the entrance of Zamfara State Government House, Gusau, insisting that they had lost prominent personalities in their communities, including one Alh. Hadi Baban Geme to a reckless armed kidnapper even after payment of N35million as a ransom.

They also claimed that the people of the Nahuche community had paid money worth over N200million as ransoms to the kidnappers, and yet, were not allowed to enjoy peace.

After the demonstration, a former chairman of Bungudu local government, Alhaji Musa Manager Nahuche, told journalists that people in the town no longer slept, saying, “many people were kidnapped from the village last Saturday and are still in captivity.”

He further said many people of the community had been with the kidnappers for a long time adding that on Saturday another set of people had been kidnapped.

The actress, who was in the car with her daughter, escaped death narrowly.

ANollywood actress, Bimpe Akintunde, has lamented the rate of insecurity in the country after she escaped an attack by suspected bandits at Onigari along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Akintunde on Saturday took to her Instagram handle to issue a warning to other drivers along the road.


According to her, the bandits numbering about 10, were all dressed in military uniform, shooting directly at all vehicles coming to Lagos from Ibadan.

The actress, who was reportedly in the car with her daughter, escaped death narrowly.

She wrote on Instagram, "Let's be careful on Ibadan Express Road, I escaped bandit attack at around after 5:00pm this evening after Oni-Garri on my way to Lagos.

"They were shooting at all of vehicles coming from Ibadan. They were like 10 in army uniform shooting directly at us.

“God saved me and my daughter...like they were shooting directly at us. 

"Where are we going in this country? Broad daylight attack! God came through for us. I turned back, followed one way and alerted other drivers.”

This comes barely a week after gunmen attacked a commercial bus along the same route.

SaharaReporters had reported last week how gunmen suspected to be of Fulani extraction allegedly launched an attack on a commercial bus and abducted five passengers, including a woman at the Oni-Garri axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Highway.

The incident, which was said to have occurred two Saturdays ago, resulted in the death of the driver identified as Oluwatosin Aruwajoye.

One of the passengers, Ibrahim Tiamiyu, who was shot in the thigh, however, managed to escape.

The passengers reportedly boarded an eight-seater ash colour Toyota Sienna bus with registration number MUS 493 HH from Ibadan, Oyo State, and were on their way to Lagos State when the kidnappers suddenly emerged from the bush at the Oni-Garri axis and shot sporadically at the vehicle.

It was gathered that the driver, who sensed their presence and tried to manoeuvre his way through, was immediately shot dead at close range, while Tiamiyu was shot in the thigh.

On getting information about Tiamiyu, the brother of the injured victim reported the case at the Toll Gate Division of the Nigeria Police Force.

Police operatives from Oyo State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad and the Toll Gate Police Division were said to have moved to the scene immediately they got the information and rushed the injured victim to the hospital for treatment.

Operatives subsequently combed the bush in a move to rescue victims and apprehend perpetrators.

The driver’s corpse was also deposited in the mortuary at Adeoyo State Hospital, Ring Road.

Meanwhile, the kidnappers have demanded N30million as ransom for the female victim.

Irate Youths of the Irigwe extraction in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State on Friday attacked the Palace of their Paramount Ruler, the MBRA NGWE IRIGWE of IRIGWE KINGDOM Rev. Runku Aka.

The Youths who trooped out in numbers were set the Palace building and cars ablaze.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the Irigwe Development Association for details was unsuccessful, however a source within the community, James Israel told AIT that the angry youths were not satisfied with the way the traditional ruler handled the recent attack in their community where 18 people were killed by suspected herdsmen.

Spokesman for the Special Task Force Operation Safe Haven Major Ishaku Takwa, while confirming the development said troops of the Special Task Force have been deployed to the scene to calm the situation.

The Yoruba leader said Nigeria was living on oxygen but could only be saved when the government restructures into regions.

The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, has again insisted that unless Nigeria is restructured, it is on the verge of collapse.

The Yoruba leader said Nigeria was living on oxygen but could only be saved when the government restructures into regions.

Adams who spoke during the celebration of the 4th anniversary of his installation as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo said having the country restructured would also douse the growing agitation and tension across Nigeria.

He further suggested that 25 per cent of the country’s resources can be allocated to the Federal Government while the remaining 75 per cent should be accordingly distributed to the regions.

Adams said, “If we don’t want Nigeria to break we must restructure it into regions. This is what everybody has been clamouring for so that everyone will have a sense of belonging.

“Niger Delta people that are fighting for resource control are also part of the call for restructuring. I will be the last person to be against this agitation because it is their right. Before the existence of Nigeria, the people of the Niger Delta had been existing; likewise the Yoruba nation.

“We in the South West benefitted immensely during the regional government headed by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. We could remember the level of development and healthy competition across Nigeria,” he said.
Commenting on the forthcoming general elections, Adams said Nigerian politicians were all the same.

He said, “We can’t because of the interest of one person or a few individuals, continue to destroy our future. The office of the Aare ona kakanfo is mostly driven by the vision to transform the traditional institution and change the ugly narratives.

“What is most important for us is to be committed to the ideals of the institution. We must focus our strengths on the vision of the office of the Aare ona kakanfo of Yoruba land.

“We will continue to forge ahead, using our God-given talents and ability to bring about the desired change and transform the Yoruba traditional institution desire. I will use my influence and network to build the Aareonakakanfo Institute of Culture and Tradition.”

A popular Nigerian cleric, Pastor Adewale Giwa has asked Nigerians to look beyond the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and former Lagos State Government, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ahead of 2023.

Pastor Giwa who is the Senior Pastor of the Awaiting the Second Coming of Jesus Christ Ministry, Akure, Ondo State, emphasised that Tinubu cannot make a good leader for the country over what he described as an error on his part to package President Muhammadu Buhari for Nigerians in 2015.

While calling on Nigerians to be determined ahead of 2023 on who becomes the President, Pastor Giwa maintained that none of those vying for the country’s plum job will make it if there is no restructuring.

“Tinubu brought a bad product in 2015, and there is no how he can be a good product Nigerians can rely on.

“Someone who doesn’t see anything wrong with President Buhari’s administration cannot be a good leader.

“Nobody out of those aspiring can be a good leader unless they reorganise the whole system of Nigeria, beginning with the 1999 constitution. Let them give us true federalism.

“The electorate has lost confidence in politicians, so Tinubu cannot be a good President.

“Ahead of 2023, Nigerians should be determined, focused and prayerful because it is God that can choose a good leader. From 1999 to date, Nigeria has not produced a good leader we can vouch for.

“So, Nigerians should be prayerful, they should cry to God to give the country good leader like the Israelites who cried to God and He gave them Samuel, and Samuel was a successful leader during his time.

“We need a leader that can feel the pain of the masses. We need a leader that can be able to listen to the cries of the people not a leader who doesn’t care about the feelings of the people.”

At least 18 people have been reportedly killed following an attack on Ancha community in Bassa LGA of Plateau state. 

The attackers who invaded the neighbourhood on Tuesday night also set fire to several houses.

Danjuma Auta, national secretary of the Irigwe Development Association (IDA), told journalists that 18 persons were killed in the attack.

Ubah Ogaba, police spokesperson in the state, confirmed the incident to TheCable on Wednesday.

Ogaba, however, said the command had not confirmed the number of people killed, but added that officers have been deployed to ensure calm returns to the area.

The Nigerian Army also confirmed the attack in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Ishaku Takwa, army spokesperson of operation safe haven, said troops are currently on the trail of the attackers.

“In the late hours of Tuesday, Jan. 11, troops of OPSH received a distress call of an attack on Ancha community in Bassa Local Government Area,” the statement reads.

“The troops responded swiftly and mobilised to the village, but on reaching the community, the attackers had fled the village.

“Houses were destroyed and some villagers lost their lives during the attack.”