The Arewa Youth Alliance, AYA, a coalition of socio-political groups on Friday has warned the organisers of the June 12 protests to steer clear off the northern part of the country.
The coalition reiterated its resolve to protect the north and northerners from any external aggression by anti-northern forces in any guise.
A statement by the National President of AYA Mohammed Bello Doka in Maiduguri on Friday said the country was yet to recover from the destruction caused by #EndSARS protests.
“We have noticed with dismay the plan by some anti-North and Anti-Nigerian anarchists to not only heat the polity but also to destabilize the country in another effort of a smear campaign.
“Just like the #Endsars anarchy that resulted in the death and destruction of lives and property of innocent Nigerians who are doing their legitimate businesses across the southern part of the country.
“We, therefore, use this medium to call on these anarchists and merchants of sorrow, tears and blood to steer clear from the north and avoid using the said platform to harass Northerners and or Northern interest,” he said.
He equally called on the Northern brothers and sisters to dissociate themselves from the said protests which are just another antic of mischief makers and enemies of the North to smear the North and a government they perceived as Northern government.
“We assure them that this time around there will be an equal and opposite reaction from the North. We are also ready for self-determination and we are making efforts to pursue our goals without unnecessary bloodshed but as earlier pointed out we are ready for every eventuality.
It looks like only self-proclaimed activists are criticizing the Nigerian government for suspending Twitter, cos from the tweets I have been reading online, especially those of Non-Nigerians, people are not happy with Twitter at all.
Bruno Maçães, for example...
This seems like a reasonable decision. No sovereign country should be inclined to place Twitter above the head of state or head of government
It was perhaps tolerable for a US internet platform to determine what can or cannot be said by the US president, but how did anyone ever think the model could apply globally?
A foremost media rights group in Africa known as Media Rights Protectors has thrown it’s full weight behind the decision of the Nigerian government to ban the activities of Twitter in the country.
In a statement released to newsmen by the group’s Director of African Affairs, Dr. Michael Warungu in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital on Friday night, the group said, Twitter has deviated from promoting free speech, deepening democracy and encouraging balanced and objective journalism to dabbling in to Africa’s domestic affairs by promoting regime change across the continent.
The group recalled the unfortunate role of Twitter in Uganda during it’s presidential election early this year which made President Yoweri Museveni to ban Twitter in Uganda.
As media rights protectors, we believe that the media shoud not be an agent for destabilization but a tool for deepening democracy and promoting good governance in Africa.
The group also accused Twitter of ruthlessly promoting it’s commercial interest in Africa than promoting developmental projects, democracy and it’s institutions in Africa.
While Social Responsibility Press Theory was recommended for advanced democracies in Europe and America, Development Media Theory was recomended for Africa and other third world countries who are undergoing a transition from underdevelopment and colonialism to independence and better material conditions but often lack the infrastructure, money, traditions, professional skills and even the audiences needed to sustain media exposure.
That was why in our presentation at the African Union Summit in 2019, we advised African media to concentrate more on development communication so as to attract foreign investments as well as change the African narrative before the world because African stories can better be told by Africans.
Therefore, we commend the Nigerian government for banning the activities of Twitter and we encourage other African countries where Twitter is interfering with their developmental plans to do same.
It’s time to reinvigorate the spirit of Africa by telling African stories the right way.
Operatives of the Imo State Police Command have arrested one Henry Chukwumakpa, suspected to have been involved in the 25 May attack on Orji Police station.
Chukwumakpa, 32, was apprehended on 2nd June at his hideout by the command’s quick response team, in a joint operation with officers of Ikeduru Police Division.
The suspect apart from confessing to have been part of the attack on Orji Police station also confessed to being part of other violent crimes in the past.
Henry revealed that he deals in illicit and hard drugs also as a means of sustenance.
Some grammes of substance suspected to be cocaine were recovered from him.
Imo State Police PPRO, SP Bala Elkana disclosed in a statement on Thursday that investigation is still ongoing as efforts are being intensified to arrest other gang members and recover their firearms.
The suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded, Elkana said.
The suspect, he said, is a native of Iho in Ikeduru Local Government Area but a resident at Orji area, Owerri.
The Commissioner of Police Imo State, CP Abutu Yaro, FDC has commended the efforts of the teams in living up to the constitutional responsibility of the Police in securing the lives and property of the citizens.
A Nigerian activist, Aisha Yusuf has slammed the River State Governor over threats to kill members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB in the state.
DAILY POST had reported that the governor on Tuesday during the commissioning of construction work at the Ahoada Campus of the Rivers State University and the dualization of the Ahoada-Omoku Road in Ahoada Town said the IPOB members allegedly threatening the peace of the state would soon meet their “funeral”.
He was alleged to have said, “So, when people say, ‘IPOB, they’re carrying ‘Juju’, I say no problem. What’s happening, are they not dying? Let nobody deceive you with that juju.
“If you don’t repent, your funeral has come. You’ll die, your parents will not bury you. We’ll bury you like vultures. Either your hands will be cut off or we’ll blow your head off”.
Reacting, the popular female activist described the threat as “absolute nonsense” saying that those around the governor would have booed him while he was making such a comment.
Her reaction was contained in a recent tweet on her verified Twitter handle.
The tweet reads, “How many have you killed and buried? What absolute nonsense is this? The audacity to threaten people and even brag about killing and burying!
“The people were there smiling sheepishly instead of booing him off. The arrogance of these low-grade rulers is irritating”.
He listed the affected areas to include Ologbo, Okhuae, Igbanke, Iguolaba, Abudu in Edo
The Nigeria Police Force has discovered some cells allegedly belonging to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB in Edo State.
Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the South-South Zone of Operation Restore Peace, DIG Moses Jitoboh disclosed this at a stakeholders meeting in Benin City on Thursday.
He listed the affected areas to include Ologbo, Okhuae, Igbanke, Iguolaba, Abudu in Edo South senatorial district and Igueben and Ubiaja in Edo Central senatorial district, according to Vanguard.
He said: “There is no way police can be effective without the support of the people, especially the traditional rulers.
“Vigilante is one thing the society needs, we cannot do without them, there must be synergy between the police and the vigilante.”
Bandits have attacked a Fulani settlement on the outskirts of Anka town along the Bagega-Anka Road in Zamfara State.
Sources told Channels Television that the armed men stormed the area at about 5pm on Wednesday and began to shoot sporadically.
But the bandits were engaged in a gun duel by the policemen who were stationed in a mining company along the road, an eyewitness said on Thursday.
He stated that no life was lost in the attack, but the bandits rustled an unspecified number of cows belonging to members of the community.
The witness said a motorcycle belonging to the leader of Fulani in Anka was also set ablaze by the armed bandits.
Police authorities in the state have confirmed the attack, saying the bandits were swiftly repelled by security operatives who recovered the rustled cattle from them.
In a statement on Thursday, the spokesperson for the command, Shehu Mohammed, explained that police tactical operatives deployed to Anka were alerted that many bandits had stormed the Fulani settlement to attack and rustle cows.
“A combined police team in collaboration with the military mobilised to the scene where they engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel.
“As a result, they scampered to the forest and escaped with possible gunshot wounds,” Mohammed said.
He added, “All the rustled cows were recovered for the Fulani community members. Rigorous confidence-building patrol is being sustained to avert any attempt by the bandits to regroup for another onslaught.”
In his reaction, the Commissioner of Police in Zamfara, Hussaini Rabiu, commended the joint security operatives for their prompt response to the incident and urged them to sustain the tempo until peace was restored in the state.
He also called on the residents to continue to support the police and other security agencies in the current fight against bandits and other criminals in Zamfara.
The north-eastern state which has been the epicentre of over a decade insurgency, beat 19 other states including Osun, Imo, Benue and Kaduna.
Borno is better prepared for health emergencies than over 50 percent of Nigerian states — according to SBM Intelligence, Nigeria’s geopolitical intelligence platform.
The SBM, in the second edition of its Health Preparedness Index (HPI), ranked Borno as the 17th most prepared state.
The HPI is a ranking of Nigeria’s 36 states showing how equipped each of the states is for a major disease outbreak.
The report uses six indicators — doctor-to-population ratio; infant mortality; human development index; proportion of state’s budget spent on healthcare; state’s budget per capita, and average household size.
The north-eastern state which has been the epicentre of over a decade insurgency, beat 19 other states including Osun, Imo, Benue and Kaduna.
Overall, Borno is the third most prepared state in northern Nigeria, coming after Kwara and Kogi.
In November 2020, the Borno state government began the construction of Borno State University Teaching Hospital and College of Medical Sciences.
Babagana Zulum, the state governor, said the development was to enable the Borno State University to start awarding degrees in medical programmes.
The state recently uncovered 21 health workers with fake academic certificates operating in the state.
The report ranked Lagos, Ondo, Cross River as the three top prepared states in Nigeriawhile Zamfara, Jigawa, Kebbi are the least.
Lagos toppled Cross River to rank first while Niger which was ranked last in the maiden report overthrew six states to take the 30th position.
“This year’s Health Preparedness Index was put together against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. All 36 states had to revise their budgets due to the impact of the pandemic on state revenues,” the report said.
“Health budgets were not affected by these cuts, for the most part, so the share of healthcare spending as a percentage of the overall budget grew.
“Put together, the 36 states spent an average of 8.26% of their budgets on healthcare in 2019, compared with over 11% in 2020. In fact, only 11 states allocated above 10% on healthcare in 2019. In 2020, that number rose to 20.”
As insecurity rises at an alarming rate around the country, some prominent Nigerians have lost their lives to the cold hands of death following being shot dead by unknown gunmen.
Vanguard brings you a list of prominent Nigerians, some businessmen, others politically-inclined personalities who have been killed by unknown gunmen in the past 48 hours
Former Special Adviser on politics to President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Owerri, Imo State. Naija News reports that Gulak was killed in Imo State on Sunday morning while on his way to Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri. Before his untimely death, the Muslim-born political adviser to former the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, served as the chairman of the APC Committee that conducted the governorship primaries in Imo state few years after he declared himself the national leader of PDP.
The former Judge of the Enugu State High Court, Justice Stanley Nnaji, was also shot dead by unknown gunmen. Naija News gathered that the former Judge was dragged out of his car by three assailants and shot three times. Before death, the former Judge served at the Enugu State High Court until he was dismissed following his role in removing Governor Chris Ngige, the then Governor of Anambra State, in 2007 via a questionable ex-parte order.
An Igbo businessman, popularly known as Linus Owuamanam, was killed by unknown gunmen along Premier Hotel-Sango Road in Ibadan, Oyo State. Linus Owuamanam, a billionaire businessman, was killed around 8 pm on Saturday night. Naija News learnt that Linus was in his newly acquired Toyota bus with his secretary when the assailants stopped his vehicle and shot him. When the gunmen discovered that he was still alive, they used a knife to stab him in the chest to make sure his heart stopped beating.
Chief provost of the Nigerian Immigration Service in Imo, Okiemute Mrere was killed on Saturday night along Owerri- Port Harcourt Road in Owerri, and his remains discovered in a bush on Sunday morning. The immigration officer was riding an Immigration Hilux van when he was attacked by the gunmen and shot at close range. Naija News learnt that the assailant did not take any valueable item from the van, and his service pistol was found on him when his body was discovered the next day.
The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested six suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and recovered five locally made pistols with 12 live ammunition from them.
The Police spokesperson in the state, DSP Loveth Odah, said this in a statement on Tuesday.
Odah said the suspects were arrested during operations on Monday to disperse hoodlums enforcing the sit-at-home order by IPOB.
According to her, the police neutralised three suspected armed robbers, recovered three expended cartridges, a jackknife, an axe, a cutlass and some charms from them.
She explained that following a distress call that some hoodlums had barricaded Ogbaga road, attacking and setting vehicles ablaze, operatives were swiftly deployed to the scene.
“The hoodlums on sighting the police opened fire.
“In the exchange of gun battle that ensued, two members of the gang were fatally wounded while others escaped with bullet wounds into the nearby bush,” said the statement.
Odah said one locally-made shotgun, one locally-made revolver pistol with five live cartridges, one jack knife, one axe and some charms were recovered from them.
“A Toyota Picnic was set ablaze by the gang, including five motorcycles of different brands.
“Innocent citizens were attacked because they refused to obey the ‘sit-at-home’ directive of the IPOB.
“The traumatised victims are currently responding to treatment at Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital,” she said.
Odah explained that two of the IPOB suspects on a surveillance mission were intercepted in front of the police headquarters in the state.
“One locally made double barrel shotgun with four cartridges was recovered from them,” Odah said.
Ahmed Gulak, the murdered chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was advised against going to Owerri, Imo state capital, for the public hearing on constitution review, TheCable can report.
TheCable understands that despite being warned against the trip, Gulak insisted, noting that “we are all Nigerians”.
Gulak was the lead consultant on the public hearing in Owerri, the host city for Imo and Abia states.
“Nobody was interested in being deployed to Owerri but Gulak offered to go. He was initially meant to go to Gombe but he decided against it when it appeared no one was keen on going to Owerri,” an insider told TheCable.
“We prevailed on him not to go, but he was hellbent on carrying out the assignment, despite the fact that consultants from the south-east turned down the assignment.”
Gulak was shot dead by gunmen on Sunday while returning to Abuja from Owerri.
According to the police, he left his hotel for the airport without any security personnel, after which six “armed bandits” ambushed his car at Umueze Obiangwu in Ngor-Okpala LGA and shot him.
Bala Elkana, Imo state police spokesperson, had said the perpetrators are members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) — an IPOB security outfit.
Elkana said the intelligence response team (IRT), mobile police force, and tactical units from the command trailed and killed the attackers.
IPOB has since denied the allegation and challenged the government to set up an independent panel of inquiry to investigate the incident.
“We, therefore, state without equivocations that IPOB knows nothing about the said assassination. In the first place, what threat did the late Gulak constitute to our cause to warrant his elimination? We had nothing in common with him and could not have in any way killed him,” Emma Powerful, IPOB spokesman, had said.
NOT HIS FIRST ASSIGNMENT IN IMO
The public hearing on constitution review was not the first high-profile assignment Gulak would be undertaking in Imo state.
He was the chairman of the APC electoral committee for the Imo gubernatorial election in 2018. Hope Uzodimma and Uche Nwosu — the anointed candidate of Rochas Okorocha, former Imo governor — were the main competitors at the primary.
Nwosu had been announced the winner before the party’s national working committee (NWC) cancelled the exercise and Uzodinma was recognised as the candidate.
Gulak was declared missing during the primary but he later came out to say he was “kidnapped” and that he was offered a $2 million bribe by an unnamed person to influence the outcome of the exercise.
He had also alleged that Okorocha forced members of the electoral panel to declare Nwosu as the winner of the primary election.
POLITICAL ASSASSINATION?
Gulak’s death has, on one hand, been linked to the insecurity in the south-east, while some have described it as a political assassination.
“Someone must have trailed him from the hotel to the airport. That is exactly why his gruesome murder appears to be a clear case of political assassination,” he had said.
In response, Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, said it is too early to describe it as a political assassination.
Wike asked Uzodimma to allow security operatives to conclude their investigation before attributing the murder to politicians.
He also wondered why Gulak would come to the south-east “incognito”, given the security situation.
“I mean, one will ask questions, knowing today the security situation in Nigeria and even the one in the south-east and not to talk of in Imo state. We all know what is going on in Imo state,” Wike said.
TheCable understands that Gulak, while putting himself up for the responsibility, had said “little challenges should not work against our progress”.
Claim: A Twitter user claimed operatives of the Nigerian Army were arresting male students of the Imo State University (IMSU) from their school and tagging them members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the process.
Following reports of unrest in the South-East, there has been military intervention in the area which, rather than solve the problem, has continued to raise concerns in some quarters.
On May 18, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, launched a new special operational action plan code-named, Operation Restore Peace, to quell the problem of insecurity in the region.
The police said in a release that the IGP launched the special operation at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu as part of efforts targeted at returning “the South-Eastern region to its historical pride of place where its people are known to be peaceful, tolerant, innovative, industrious and entrepreneurial.”
It was also stated that "the special operation has become necessary to engender all-inclusive security actions to roll back the murderous attacks, violence, proliferation of weapons and other threats to law and order occasioned by the separatist agenda being heightened by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the South-East region."
Also, there have been confirmed reports of clampdowns on leaders of the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Eastern Security Network by the Nigerian Army and Police Force.
In a statement on April 24, the Nigerian Army confirmed its attack on IPOB’s operational headquarters.
The statement signed by the Army spokesman, Brigadier-General Mohammed Yerima, said the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Police and DSS team, along with troops of 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, had been on the trail of the group since the attacks on the Imo State Police Command headquarters and the Owerri Correctional Centre on April 5.
It said the intelligence team later “tracked the IPOB/ESN top leader to his exact location in Awomama village where he (Ikonson) and the commanders were hibernating and plotting dastardly acts against the Nigerian state.
“On noticing the presence of the joint operations team, IPOB/ESN terrorists brought a heavy volume of fire on the raiding team who swiftly responded and overwhelmed them with superior firepower that neutralised Ikonson and six of his top Commanders."
This has increased tension in the South-East region.
Screenshots of Jessica's Twitter post and others by different Twitter users making reference to the said arrest of Imo State University students by military men were making the rounds, prompting SaharaReporters to verify this claim.
She wrote, "They’ve started picking up IMSU students and tagging them IPOB members. Oraifite has been on fire since morning, everyone is mostly indoors."
A Twitter user @DJJBATICS, however, debunked the claims, stating that the said area was never on fire. He said it was false information as he had just left the area some few minutes ago.
In our quest to verify the claims, SaharaReporters placed a call across to the institution's Students Union Government President, Oguike Arinze Collins, who said there were no arrests made on Sunday.
According to him, the institution has no hostels but lodges called 'alliance'. He stated that he had contacted the head of each alliance and had got confirmation that the students were not under any form of attack.
He said, "Let me categorically say that as of yesterday, there was no invasion by any security outfit concerning Imo State University students.
"Imo State University is a non-residential school; about 98% of the students live outside the school, there is nothing like male students. What we have are two female hostels located inside the school and there is no way a security outfit can enter there.
"I have been seeing the news online and noticed that Imo State University has been trending for a while on Twitter. All those things you are seeing are fake news, they are lies from the pit of hell. The only place I can confirm to you that there was an arrest is at third gate alliance.
"The areas where students stay are called alliances and they are divided into five to six alliances. We have the first gate alliance, Bishop's court alliance, Ogwuratta alliance, Orji alliance, etc. The only place there was an arrest was at the first gate alliance and that was last Monday.
"Policemen arrested six students of the university and we were not told of their crimes. Our pleas to the police to make sure the students were released, was not granted. They were meant to be charged to court last Tuesday but due to the attack on Orji police station, the mobile court didn't proceed and these students are still there.
"As I speak to you, they are still there for a crime that they know nothing about. Apart from this, there has not been any military invasion in any part of Imo State University.
"I stay at Okwuratta alliance and I can confirm to you that no student was arrested. I have been able to make contacts with the alliance heads of other locations, no student was picked up.
"I know as of yesterday (Sunday), people were running helter-skelter but because of the tension at this period, just a slight sound similar to a gunshot is making people frenzy, even if it is not a gunshot, even if it was just a fire cracker, people will start running.
"There was no military invasion anywhere around the school. We have to clamp down on any kind of fake news on social media, I have been seeing them, IMSU is trending on Twitter for this and it is very unfair. I am saying it now that students should try as much as possible to confirm any report before they give out information."
Also, some other Twitter users had debunked the claims that male students were being rounded up and arrested in a bid to reduce the male population.
Conclusion
SaharaReporters' findings show the alleged military invasion of male hostels on Sunday is false. There might have been arrests in other parts of the town but not within the university community.
Suspected Fulani herdsmen on Sunday, attacked and killed over 30 Igbo speaking indigenes of Ado Local Government Area of Benue State.
James Oche, the Local Government Area Chairman, confirmed this in a Facebook post on Monday, sharing videos and photos of the incident.
The suspected herdsmen were said to have attacked Ndigwe, Ataloga, Odokem, Ekile, Nduobasi, Ekpufu, Obakota and other nearby villages in the LGA.
He called on the people of the area to defend themselves, adding that the era of arms folding is over.
The LGA boss wrote, “Yesterday, no fewer than 30 Igbo speaking indigenes of Ado Local Government lost their lives to attacks by Fulani herdsmen and their mercenaries on Ndigwe, Ataloga, Odokem, Ekile, Nduobasi, Ekpufu, Obakota and other nearby villages.
“We have a situation of nearly 5000 internally displaced persons in addition to the destruction occasioned by the assailants. It took the concerted efforts of Operation Whirlstroke after we informed them, to repel the attacks.
“The era of lip service and arms folding is over. The people of Ado must rise up to the occasion in self-defence. In whatever way possible, our people must be empowered to defend themselves. Enough of the killings, we are not cowards.”
In recent times, reported cases of ritual killings have surged in many parts of the country. Law enforcement agencies have arrested many suspects of ritual killings — with gory pictures of human skulls and dismembered bodies.
Aside from the arrest and parade of suspected ritualists by the police, the Nigerian social media space has become a place where users mobilise members of the public to help find missing friends, colleagues, and family members.
As a result of this trend of missing persons, Enough is Enough (EiE), a civil society organisation, created a website alongside social media platforms to document cases of missing persons.
“Nigerians are reported missing daily. But most often, there are no records of these missing people, it is our mandate to document these records and make it easy to find those who are lost and missing,” an excerpt on the website’s front page says.
In most cases, some of these persons declared missing are found but many remain missing — with the hope of getting found by their families and friends dimming every passing day.
The trend of missing persons and the police’ arrest of suspected ritual killers suggest that many of those declared missing may have been victims of ritual killers.
Although reported cases of ritual killings show that the incident happens in all regions of the country — media reports suggest that the south-west accounts for a large percent of the killings.
TheCable analysed some of the media reports published in the past few years on ritual killings in the south-west region of the country.
On March 24, 2014, the nation was thrown into a moment of confusion when a kidnappers’ den was discovered in Soka community, Ibadan, Oyo state.
The den was discovered by some commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as ”okada”, who were searching for two of their colleagues after they took two passengers to the community without returning.
After the den was busted, human skulls, dried human parts alongside malnourished victims which were reserved for ritual purposes, were discovered.
Personal items like bags, shoes, and identity cards which appeared to be victims’ belongings were also seen at the den.
Since the 2014 shocking discovery at Soka, there have been multiple revelations of suspected ritual killings, especially in the south-west of the country.
On May 6, 2015, the decomposing body of Precious Kessington Omorodion, a 23-year-old, was recovered in a kidnappers’ den at Ota, Ogun state after 18 days of disappearance.
The police also rescued a 28-year-old woman found in the uncompleted building.
In 2016, the Ogun police discovered a ritualists’ den located within an abandoned filling station at Iyana-Ilogbo axis of Sango-Ota of Ogun state, following a tip-off from a member of the community.
The police arrested two suspected ritualists in connection with the activities carried out in the den.
On August 30, 2017, two people were killed by a mob in the Mushin area of Lagos state over alleged involvement in kidnappings and ritual killings.
The incident was said to have happened at Challenge bus stop, Mushin, after a vulcaniser sighted a suspected mad man discussing with someone in a tunnel at the bus stop.
On October 7, 2017, the Ogun police arrested six members of a syndicate allegedly involved in killing people for ritual purposes at different locations across the state.
The police said two members of the syndicate were caught with a bag containing fresh and dried human parts.
On August 20, 2018, the Lagos police arrested Taiwo Akinola, a suspected cult member, for allegedly attempting to kill Alice Akinola, his mother, for money rituals.
It was reported that the assailant attacked his mother by hitting a plank on her head at their residence at Raji Ajanaku street, Alaja road, Ayobo axis of Lagos after he had sent his nephew to go and buy a white handkerchief and a pack of cigarette.
On November 27, 2018, two brothers identified as Saheed Obadimeji and Ayodeji Obadimeji were said to have beheaded a teenage boy at an uncompleted building in Sapati town, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.
It was reported that the suspects cut off the boy’s head for the purpose of selling it for N200,000.
The suspects have been remanded in prison.
On January 18, 2019, the Ekiti police busted a ritualists’ den in Odo, Ado Ekiti, and arrested two suspected ritualists, after a tip-off from members of the community on suspicion of ritual activities in the area.
On June 20, 2019, Dotun Ogunlade, a prophet popularly called ‘Arole Jesu’, was arrested in Igboora area of Oyo state for the alleged murder of Bosede Ogunlade, a 25-year-old housewife for ritual purposes.
The prophet was said to have lured Bosede, who hailed from Ilorin in Kwara state, with the promise of providing solution to her economic and marital problems.
On October 5, 2019, the Ogun police arrested two men, Emmanuel Aro, aged 25, and Anu Olofinju, aged 25, with a human skull along Ijoun road, Eggua axis of the state.
The two suspects were said to have been sighted at a cemetery, digging the grave of the mother of one Amoo Bankole.
In June 2020, residents of Akinyele LGA in Oyo state were thrown into panic over the series of rape and murders that occurred in the area.
Within one month, three young ladies — Grace Oshiagwu, Barakat Bello, and Azeezat Somuyiwa — were murdered in their residences located in Akinyele LGA in a pattern that suggested ritual killing.
On the Akinyele killings, the police arrested one Sunday Shodipe, a 19-year-old suspect, who confessed that he received food and N500 for each of the six persons murdered in the area.
He said he was sent on the mission by a 50-year-old herbalist, whom he claimed was his master.
“Anytime I’m to go for the killing, baba (referring to the herbalist) will give me some charms and also teach me some incantation to be recited so that nobody will see me at the scene of the crime,” he said.
On August 14, 2020, the Ondo police arrested one Festus Adebayo, a 65-year-old pastor alongside Gbemisola Olufusi for alleged involvement in ritual activities.
The duo was accused of using the menstrual pad of one Oluwasemilore Iluyomade, a 20-year-old girlfriend of Olufusi for ritual purposes.
On 29 October 2020, Rotimi Olukoju, a guard with a microfinance bank was reportedly killed by suspected ritualists and his head cut off at Okia area of Oka-Akoko, Ondo state.
The deceased met the suspected ritualists on his way to the farm.
On December 7, 2020, Osun police uncovered a ritualist den allegedly operated by two siblings identified as Monsuru Tajudeen and Lawal Tajudeen, located around Yemoja area in Iwo, Osun state.
The suspects were arrested after a phone belonging to a missing person was tracked to one of the suspects. Corpses were also discovered in the suspects’ house — a development that made angry youths in the area raze the building.
On January 17, 2021, an elderly man, who according to residents, usually acts like a mentally unstable person, was arrested by the police for alleged kidnapping and ritual activities in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state.
The police discovered some items belonging to his victims like cheque books, wigs, and ATM cards in an abandoned uncompleted building adjacent to the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital, where the suspect lived.
On April 12, 2021, a woman — identified as Iya Elekuru — was murdered in a building by suspected ritualists in Ile-Ife, Osun state. Her killers were said to have lured her into the building under the pretence they went to buy food from her.
When her corpse was discovered, the head and hands had been cut off.
RIGHT TO LIFE
Every Nigerian citizen is entitled to the right to life as enshrined in section 33 of the 1999 constitution (as amended). The right to life can only be denied if such a person is sentenced by the court when found guilty of a criminal offence.
Those who engage in ritual killings risk heavy punishment when convicted by the court as states have legal provisions to punish ritual killers and kidnappers.
Despite the legal provisions against ritual killings and other related capital offences, ritual killings still persist.
Happy Children’s Day to all Nigerian children. President @MBuhari spent this morning with a group of visiting children, at the State House. A giant Card, a Cake and lots of flags and fun! #HappyChildrensDay #ChildrensDay2021
Communities, especially those living in Nigeria’s Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi and Katsina states in the Northwest and North-central have been at the receiving end of armed banditry for several years now.
According to the Assessment Capacities Project ACAPS, about 21 million people living in these states have been exposed to insecurity from activities of bandits.
About 35 out of 92 local government areas in the 4 states are said to have been affected even as the discovery of gold mines and the activities of illegal miners competing for the control of gold reserves have served to further intensify the existence and activities of armed groups in the northwest.
Armed banditry violence assumed a new dimension as a farmer/herder conflict in 2011 and intensified around 2017 to 2018 to include; cattle rustling, kidnapping for ransom, sexual violence and killings. However, some analysts have traced its origin to the outcome of the Nigerian Civil War of 1967-1970.
CIVIL WAR FACTOR
Kabiru Adamu, a security management and intelligence specialist, traced its origin to the civil war and what he termed, the inability or failure of the government in place then to carry out an effective demobilization programme.
“Yes, there was the 3Rs programme but the component of demobilization was not effective enough in mopping up the arms supply that could have been a very certain way of responding to the civil war. Those weapons were left in circulation,” he said.
Adamu also attributed the menace of banditry in Nigeria to the effect of the war in neighbouring countries such as Niger, Chad and the ‘kwanta-kwanta’ phenomenon in Borno State’ where armed individuals crossed the border into Nigeria and perpetrated the banditry.
“Unfortunately, other parts of the North, especially locations that are close to Niger and Chad were also affected. Therefore, a combination of internal and external factors, I would say, is the origin of armed banditry in Nigeria,” Adamu said.
EXTORTION BY SECURITY AGENTS
Another factor, which is the more recent, is the ineffective component of law enforcement of the state, especially the allegation of extortion by the police which meant that individuals instead of seeking redress with the law were allegedly extorted and resorted to arming themselves through armed banditry.
Professor Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, a lecturer in the department of Political Science and International Studies of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria has identified some immediate and remote causes of armed banditry in Nigeria, particularly in the north.
“One major factor was the decision of the Zamfara State government to clear large forests and cattle grazing reserves in its part of the Kuyanbana forest and Gidan Jaja areas of Maru and Zurmi Local Governments for farming. The policy resulted in the dislocation of many Fulani hamlets between Dansadau area and Maradun to Zurmi axes.
“The Fulani hamlets in these areas have existed for over 500 years. It is interesting to note that the Maradun area is famous for its position in the middle of Zamfara. Long before this policy of evicting pastoralists from their ancestral lands, injustices contrived by corrupt district heads in collaboration with farmers, corrupt police and corrupt judges had subjected the Fulani cattle herders in these areas to serial extortions. Over the years, these created an embittered group of dispossessed Fulani of dubious social and economic identities,” Mohammed said.
But to Dr. Tukur Muhammad Mukhtar of the Department of History, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, banditry is a kind of offshoot of other criminal activities that the country had been facing.
According to him, bandits took advantage of the general security situation in our country to perpetrate their criminal activities.
“I am telling you this banditry didn’t start today. So go back to the last ten years and find out what happened with our governance. With our societal structures and situation then we will now understand how the banditry began. In the beginning, they were ordinary criminals that stole cows and whatever. But it took a different dimension because it later became a lucrative business.
“Now coupled with the porosity of our borders they got hold of arms, light weapons, and whatever. So this thing affected the rise of banditry activities. Now how could it be possible for a bandit to operate within the Gundumi forest? I always question myself when I pass through this forest, that three kilometers away from the main road, you can see whoever is there from both sides. Then how do they operate successfully,” Mukhtar lamented.
CONSEQUENCES
Suffice it to say that armed banditry has come with telling consequences in Nigeria. “While the fundamental element of every society, including security, safety, livelihood, standard of living have become crippled as a result of armed banditry, it also contributes to the weakening of the state; especially the sovereignty of the Nigerian state to provide for its citizens as enshrined in the constitution and the social contract and in the long run it would lead to collapse of the state,” said Adamu.
While underlining the political, economic and social dimensions to the effect of banditry in Nigeria, Adamu said: “No matter how you look at it, it leads to a weakened state and a drop in the standard of living and all other functions of state. In the long run the respect which the country is being given in the comity of nations is gradually eroded. Consequently the possibility of the collapse of the state too cannot be excluded.”
It has also been estimated that by March 2020, more than 210,000 people have been internally displaced while over 35,000 refugees have crossed communal borders to Maradi in Niger Republic by the beginning of March 2020.
Aside displacement, the banditry violence has hampered agricultural activities and heightened the risk of acute food insecurity. Also, livelihoods have been disrupted, while fear and insecurity among the population have intensified. Concomitantly, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and host communities are scrambling for scarce resources such as water, land and food.
Armed men in the early hours of Sunday attacked a police division in Ebonyi, killing one mobile police officer, an official has said.
The gunmen were, however, repelled by the police officers who suceeded in killing one of the attackers, the Ebonyi police spokesperson, Loveth Odah, said in a Sunday morning statement.
“At 1200hrs of Sunday, hoodlums, numbering about 20 in a Mitsubishi L300 Bus, and some others on foot, came in through the back fence and attacked one of our divisions at Ugbuodo Divisional Headquarters in Ebonyi Local Government Area of the state,” Ms Odah said.
“The attackers entered and immediately opened fire, shooting sporadically at policemen on duty but were swiftly challenged and repelled in a gun battle that ensued. One of the attackers was killed.
“His AK47 rifle, GSM Phone and Jackknife were recovered while others escaped with bullet wounds. However, one Mobile Police Personnel paid the supreme price.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi Command, Aliyu Garba, has visited the division for an on the spot assessment of the situation.
“He has also ordered a manhunt for the fleeing hoodlums with a view to arresting them for prosecution,” she said.
The Ebonyi incident is the latest in a series of attacks on police officers and facilities in the South-east and South-south states.
PREMIUM TIMES has reported how dozens of police officers have been killed in the past two months in the two regions.
The police have blamed the attacks on an outlawed group, IPOB, which seeks an independent Biafra country from the two regions.
Many IPOB members have also been killed or arrested for their alleged roles in the attacks.
The group has, however, denied any responsibility for the attacks.
If the recent Instagram post by content creator/ fashion/beauty blogger and influencer, Fanti Tukuwei is anything to go by, the sensationally beautiful Bayelsan girl may have delisted herself from the list of feminist, independent women who claim they can take care of themselves without help from men.
She writes, “ I just want to relax and be taken care of. I have washed my hands off anything concerning independent women. I’m not a party to that anymore.”
Fanti Tukuwei known on Instagram as @Curvygirljournal, once revealed her ordeal with men in a chat with Potpourri, saying, “Anytime a guy tries to get my attention or asks me out and I don’t bulge, I end up receiving insults from that guy and these are well-respected guys. The first time it happened I thought it was a mistake, then another guy repeated it and then another, so I’m out here confused. Is it just me or does this happen to other women too?”
Fanti doesn’t name her Instagram handle ‘Curvy girl journal’ for nothing, she’s an embodiment of ‘sexy’. She’s a perfect example of the phrase ‘figure 8’ for her hourglass shape. She graduated from University of Lagos where she was the Miss Curves UNILAG in 2013.
“We have been praying over the years and even observed special prayers during the just-concluded Ramadan for divine intervention and it seems God has answered our prayers."
Some residents of Maiduguri, Borno State have expressed delight over media reports on the death of a Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau.
A cross-section of residents who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday said they were excited with the news and prayed it was true.
“I am happy like others in Borno about this news and pray it’s real.
“I also pray that the development will serve as a major breakthrough that will facilitate the end of this crisis,’’ a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), who simply identified himself as Lawan, said.
A student, Sadiq Ibrahim, said the news signified that something positive was about to happen for the people who had been praying for an end to the insurgency.
“We have been praying over the years and even observed special prayers during the just-concluded Ramadan for divine intervention and it seems God has answered our prayers,’’ Ibrahim said.
Bala Musa, a driver, said that the news was a big relief to the public who yearned for an end to the insurgency.
“People are happy about this development and we hope it’s true.
“If you observe, wherever you see a group of excited people discussing when the news broke out, the issue of discussion by such groups is Shekau’s death.
“We hope our security forces will seize this opportunity of the conflict among the insurgents, to further degrade them,’’ Musa said.
The Federal Government is not in a hurry to increase the pump price of petrol, according to Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.
Sylva said this while reacting to the recommendation of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) that fuel price should be between N380 and N408.5 per litre.
At a virtual meeting on Wednesday, the governors called for the full deregulation of the downstream sector and the immediate removal of fuel subsidy, saying the current subsidy regime was unsustainable, and only smugglers and illegal marketers benefit from it.
The recommendation of the governors had triggered anger and resentment across the nation as many Nigerians said it will increase the hardship in the land.
But in his response, Sylva assured Nigerians that there would be no increment in pump price of fuel in June.
“It has become necessary to assure Nigerians that despite the huge burden of under-recovery, the Federal Government is not In a hurry to increase the price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) to reflect current market realities.”
“The current price of petrol will be retained in the month of June until the ongoing engagement with organized labour is concluded. This clarification becomes necessary in the light of recent reports regarding the resolution of the Nigeria Governors Forum to increase the pump price of petrol.
“In this regard, I would like to strongly urge petroleum products marketers not to engage in any activities that could jeopardize the seamless supply and distribution system in place while calling on members of the public to avoid panic buying, because the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has enough stock of petroleum products to keep the nation wet.”
Women and teenagers were among the fighters who confronted Abubakar Shekau, leader of the Boko Haram sect, in one of the toughest battles of his life.
Sources in the know of the offensive told Daily Trust that the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) used fighters between the ages of 12 and 30.
Both sides were said to have suffered casualties in the battle but Shekau’s camp recorded more loss as the brutal leader reportedly killed himself or sustained severe injuries which made his chances of survival minimal.
The ISWAP fighters were said to have been trained in Libya, Somalia and other countries abroad.
They were said to have planned very well for the offensive against the man who has led his camp with brutality for years.
“They {the fighters} are actually children of some ISWAP members killed over time,” one of the sources said.
“Others are youths sourced during raids on multiple islands around the Lake Chad. The ISWAP carefully selected the youths. It was therefore much easier for recruitment as some of the youths willingly joined the group and others were forcefully conscripted.
“Some of them were born during the wartime and others were very young when their parents joined the group around 2002. After their parents died because of illness or confrontation with Nigerian troops, the children naturally took over and when the group split into two in 2016, those that moved on their own or forcefully taken to the shores of Lake Chad under the umbrella of ISWAP had an upper hand in terms of training because they were taken to Libya for training in guerrilla warfare and other purposes.
“Others were sent to Syria and Somalia… They were taken to many countries abroad for training. However, those that came back especially between March and April this year took active part in confronting Shekau in the last few days. They launched a serious offensive alongside other top commanders and fighters already on ground and they succeeded in taking over.
Another source said some of the 300 youths were trained as “medical doctors, paramedics, engineers, IT specialists, bomb specialists and mechanics.”
He added that among them were women “who serve as nurses or cooks while others have gun-handling skills, meaning they can partake in combat operations.”
The US State Department has said the Islamic State in West Africa Province will not get the $7 million bounty it placed on Abubakar Shekau, leader of the Boko Haram sect.
Responding to reports on the death of the terrorist leader, the State Department said the bounty is not meant for a group under ISIS.
“News reports today indicate that Boko Haram terrorist Abubakar Shekau blew himself up in a confrontation with ISIS affiliates. Hey, ISIS guys. To clarify: no – you are not eligible for the reward for information on his identity or location. That’s not how the program works,” the US State Department for justice tweeted.
On June 21, 2012, the U.S. Department of State designated Shekau a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224.
One year later, a $7 million bounty was placed on him.
“Abubakar Shekau is the leader of Jama’atu Ahl as-Sunnah il-Da’awati wal-Jihad, more commonly known as Boko Haram. Boko Haram, which means “Western education is forbidden,” is a Nigeria-based terrorist organization that seeks to overthrow the current Nigerian government and replace it with a regime based on Islamic law. The group has existed in various forms since the late 1990s. There are reported communications, training, and weapons links between Boko Haram, al-Qaida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), al-Shabaab, and al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, which may strengthen Boko Haram’s capacity to conduct terrorist attacks,” read the statement Rewards for Justice issued when a bounty was placed on Shekau.
In this story, Daily Trust detailed how Libya-trained ISWAP fighters conquered Shekau.
Remember Jesus Christ our Lord was also denied by Judas and other followers when things got bad and Igbos should not be suprised at the atitude of some Igbos who are like Judas and are denying their Igboness. After all Eastern Germany denied that they were Germans, untill Germans became strong again and the are back now and same thing with Koreas and Japan etc. Once you lose a war or facing obstacle in life your family and friends will deny you.
This is the lies and misinformation against the Igbos, because of hate and inability to contain the Igbos in nigeria for their self help effort under the suffocating nigeria situation from origin of false nation nigeria, which you do not really know, but I hope you will sleep well after reading this privileged information below. If you are a real Igbo man think and do not say much as time will tell and the just will prevail.
Igbos of core South East did not start the civil war, because at that time we had no reason to fight, because despite some problems in the North and other parts of nigeria Igbos were leading and controlling the military, education, commercial and economic power then and so we had no reason to go to war, because we were already winning and leading. It was the disgruntled elements and people with selfish reasons that wanted the coup of january 15, 1966 lead by Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu, Anioma Igbos and their Yoruba and Ijaw friends and this truth is self evident but it is being covered by corrupt nigeria.
Obi Modestus Emeka Nwaka, a Prince of Ibusa and President Ohaneze Ndigbo, Delta State, also executive member Anioma State Movement. SUN NEWSPAPER OF APRIL 7, 2010
"This unfortunate behavior is unexpected of a man of his age and caliber. For us to deny our Igboness is to stab our brothers across the river on the back, knowing fully well that they had to endure a 30months of near hellish suffering as a result of the revolutionary tendency of one of our own, Col. Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. I am not trying to bring back the sad historical moment or playing on emotion to score a cheap political point. But, I think it’s wise and necessary to reflect on what transpired before, during and after the Nigerian Civil War, in order to disclose the unity of purpose of Igbo people worldwide.This is nothing but falsehood and a damaging betrayal of our Igbo brothers from South East who found our son His Excellency Amb. Raph Uwechue worthy to head the very Ohaneze which he tried to ridicule.That will tell you that what Chief (Col.) Mike Nduka Okwuechime (Rtd) said is absolute fallacy of what Ohaneze stands for. I intentionally pronounced his names in full in order to show you that he is totally and entirely an Igbo. It is a pity that Okwuechime and his likes are allowing themselves to be used to subvert the Ohaneze and what the Igbo nation stands for in all ramifications"
The 1966 coup that started the civil war was planned and conducted by 8 Yoruba high level military officers and 12 Anioma high level military officers among many Yorubas and Anioma officers who became evident before the war, and as the war was going on after the killing of General Aguiyi Ironsi in Ibadan, and from information gathered by the Nigerian governemnt and Biafran governement after the coup and I will list all of the coup planners, as I get more names as I am still researching right now and these are known information to Nigeria, but Nigeria hides this information and was the cause of killing and masscre of 3 million Igbos.
You see Nigeria will never sleep in peace, since Nigeria thinks that telling lies against the 3 million dead Igbos will go well. As long as those 3 million igbos did not sleep in peace nigeria will not sleep in peace and it is happening untill nigeria atone and tell the truth about what happened and why .
1966 COUP PLANNERS:
Major, Chukwuma Nzeogwu - Anioma Igbo Major, Emmanuel Ifeajuna - Anioma Igbo Major, chukwuka - anioma igbo Captain, Adeleke - Yoruba Lieutenant, Fola Oyewole - Yoruba Brigediar, Victor Banjo - Yoruba Major, Wale Ademoyega - Yoruba Lieutenant, Fola Olafimiha - Yoruba Lieutenant, A.N. C Azubougor - Anioma Igbo Lieutenant, A.A.O Egbikor - Anioma Igbo Colonel, Nwawo - Anioma Igbo Colonel, Cyril Iweze - Anioma Igbo Colonel, Nwajei - Anioma Igbo Colonel, Mike Okwechime - Anioma Igbo Major, Albert Okonkwo - Anioma Igbo Captain, Henry Igboba - Anioma Igbo Major alale - Ijaw man
From records, you are our brother, Anioma Igbo, in delta state formerly midwestern region before and during the war. Let me give you answers about why Ojukwu or Igbos of the South East did not start the war and as such Dim Ojukwu did not start it.
It was our Anioma Igbos our brothers and Yorubas friends that started the war, as there was no hardcore South East Igbos who were privileged at the time was part of it, but becaue of hatred and lies South East Igbos were blamed for the sins of our Anioma and Yoruba brothers, and we suffered terribly and still suffering for what we did not cause, and to add injury and insult to it some of our anioma brothers and sister turn around after our defeat in saving them turn around to say that they are not Igbos like retired colonel, Mike Okwechime and others is doing today, but before the war he was Igbo and he planned the coup with Major Nzeogwu as Igbo of Anioma.
Dim Ojukwu was a young man who just came back not too long from studies in England where he studied and graudated in History and International Affairs, and his father was a millionaire ( the first millionaire) in africa then and he was privilege and had no reason to gain anything. He had everything life can give and offer.
The coup of January 15, 1966 termed (operation damisa -leopard in hausa) was led by Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu and his Anioma brothers and Yoruba friends. It was Anioma Igbo and Yoruba agenda. The Igbos of South East came into the war to defend Major Nzeogwu and their Igbo brothers after the bad decision and mistake has taken place, because the Hausas started killing every easterner and any person with Igbo name be it Anioma, Ogwasiukwu, Ikwerre, Etche, Ohaoda, Okirika, Calabar, Easterners and Midwesterners etc. And it is still happening today.
There was no South Easterner( Igbos) in that coup despite that South Easterners (Igbos) held some of the highest position in the Nigerian Army at the time in all divisions in the Army, Airforce, Navy, police and in all the security agencies in Nigeria military and political leadership, and also South Eastern Igbos were engaged and highly placed in all the economic, educational and society index in Nigeria. Igbos held the highest positions and leadership in every sector of Nigeria then, and now we are now getting back to lead gradually in the economic, educational and commercial sector. - kunie kunie we are coming back small small.
South Eastern Igbos had the population, the resources and power at the time to match any region in economic power, resources, education and military position and power, but the South Eastern Igbos knew that they can compete and prevail in Nigeria entity then, and thats why you had Igbos living and planting their roots in every part of Nigeria then in the 60s and 50s, and South Easterners never contemplated coup or war, because we knew we could beat every body in nigeria then and now and so why disrupt and start a war you are already winning by leading in all index?
The Anioma Igbos did not have the population, Anioma Igbos did not have the resources and they did not have the power to take on nigeria at the time.
Our Anioma Igbo brothers led by Nzeogwu was counting on the support of their big brother South Easterner Igbos, but you see they did not inform their big brother that they were planing a coup. When the coup failed and went bad the South Eastern Igbos came to defend and support them and their Yoruba supporters whose plan was to execute the coup and Igbos paid heavily for coming to the aid of their brothers who are today turning against them. Remember Jesus Christ was also denied by judas and other followers.
Thats how General Aguiyi Ironsi and other Igbo military leaders took over the government after a lot of the northern political leaders ( prime minister and others leaders from other regions) were killed in the coup and truly many and majority northern leadership were killed and jailed by Major Nzeogwu and his Yoruba friends. No igbo leader was killed in the whole process and thats what angered the Hausas and other tribes.
General Ironsi took over the government then after the coup failed and the North waited for him to take action against Major Nzeogwu and his Yoruba friends and when after six months he did not do anything, the Hausas Major Gowon, Major Danjuma etc staged a counter coup that killed General Aguiyi Ironsi and started the war when every Igbo in the north and elsewhere in Nigeria were hunted and killed, As long as they had Igbo names and are Igbos and easterners and midwesterners - anioma, ogwasiukwu, ikwerre, etche, ohaoda, okirika, calabar, etc. And it is still happening today.
That was when Dim Ojukwu and other Igbo military leaders saw the game plan and massacre and genocide and decided to form Biafra with the consent and consultation of Igbos and eastern region leadership of other tribes in present Cross River, Akwa Ibom, River and Bayelsa states.
Dim Ojukwu was a child of circumstances at the time because he was the governor of eastern region at the time, and any governor or leader would have done the same when you see that more than 300,000 (three hundred thousand of your people are being systematically massacred and killed in every part of the nation every minute and day and you keep seeing millions of Igbo refugees running back to eastern Nigeria and telling horror and horrible story of genocide and that when Ojukwu and Igbo leaders took action and formed Biafra and fight for their humanity which is the fight agains the fight black on black genocide in the world before Ruwanda, before Darfur, before Yugloslavia and before Sierra Leone and Liberia masscre and genocide..
Sheikh Haroun Ajah, Vice President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has said Islam is a religion and Igbo/Hausa are ethnic groups.
In an interview in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, Ajah condemned the persecution of Igbo Muslims in the South-East.
He said Igbo Christians in the SouthEast have refused to understand that Igbo Muslims in the North are not Hausas.
“When they see an Igbo Muslim, they label him Hausa. They refuse to understand that Hausa is a tribe, Igbo is a tribe and Islam is a means of spiritual relationship with the Almighty.
“They refuse to understand that we are Igbos, before becoming Muslims”
He added that Igbo Muslims in the East have been marginalised and denied access to civil and political appointments.
“Muslims don’t have access to the civil service. We don’t have access to political appointments, no access to anything that is being done by the government. If it were possible for us to be denied our daily bread, they would do that.”
Women in hijab mocked in the East.
Muslim women interviewed in Afikpo, Ebonyi, as well as Enugu, Abakaliki, Umuahia, Okigwe and Owerri, are called derogatory names such as ‘masquerades’ and ‘traitors’ when they are seen in hijabs publicly.
Halima Musa Ani in Enugu recalled a public attack she suffered last year when she joined a queue.
She said an attempt was made to remove her hijab.
On many occasions, Muslim women have been referred to as ‘Boko Haram’ and ‘slaves’, as revealed in Afikpo.
“Igbo Muslims are facing many challenges in the south east, even in the streets, especially the women, because we cannot go out without our hijab.
“When you go out, you will be addressed as ‘Hausa.’ Even a small child will call you ‘Hausa, ’and begin to chant ‘Hausas are passing. Hausas are passing.’ It’s just like a song,” she said.
Pressure leading to change of name
Umar Musa Ani said a young Muslim woman in Enugu will prefer to change her name from Aisha to Asisko, or from Maryam to Mary Anne, because of pressure from the society.
In a new twist to Hausa phobia, Igbo Muslims are accused by Igbo Christians of becoming Muslims, because they wish to gain material wealth from Hausa Muslims.
Comrade Ayuba Wabba, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has been declared wanted, according to Malam Nasir El-Rufai, governor of Kaduna State.
Wabba was last seen publicly in Kaduna where he led members of NLC on a protest against policies of El-Rufai’s administration.
NLC had led members of affiliate unions on a protest that crippled economic activities in Kaduna.
Banks, hospital, train station, airport were shut while the state was plunged into darkness as electricity workers also joined the mass action.
In a tweet on Tuesday, the Kaduna governor said NLC leaders had been declared wanted for economic sabotage and attacks on public infrastructure.
“KADUNA UPDATE: Ayuba Wabba & others of @NLCHeadquarters declared wanted for economic sabotage & attacks on public infrastructure under Miscellaneous Offences Act. Anyone that knows where he is hiding should send a message to @MOJKaduna KDSG. There will be a handsome reward!
Addressing members of the unions at the NLC secretariat on Monday, Wabba emphasised that the organised labour would not back down until the demands are acceded to by the governor.
“The decision has been communicated to all security agencies of the government. It is the beginning of the struggle of labour and we hope our politicians will cooperate with us to ensure we protect our democracy by delivering its dividends to the citizens including workers.”
“Organised labour is in Kaduna to tell the world the truth of what the workers, pensioners, students and other citizens in the state are going through besides the lies being peddled by media platforms on El-Rufai’s payroll.
“The situation of the workers in the state is so pathetic that thousands of them have been laid off from their sources of livelihood without the state government making any effort to pay them their entitlements.
“Worst still, El-Rufai has gone further to increase school fees in public state school thereby making the children of those sacked from their working place without payment to become dropouts.
“It is only Kaduna State out of the other states in the country that throws workers out of their jobs without any regards for the labour law and that is why we are here.”
KADUNA UPDATE: Ayuba Wabba & others of @NLCHeadquarters declared wanted for economic sabotage & attacks on public infrastructure under Miscellaneous Offences Act. Anyone that knows where he is hiding should send a message to @MOJKaduna. KDSG. There will be a handsome reward!
Politics › June 12: Steer Clear Off The North, Group Warns Protesters by JEWELofHELL(op): 9:31am On Jun 12, 2021
