₦airaland Forum

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… Counts real cost of a fratricidal Boko Haram war

By Soni Daniel with UN report

Eight years after Boko Haram launched a senseless war that has claimed over 20,000 lives and displaced over 1.8 million people now scattered in IDP camps across North Eastern Nigeria, the real cost of the fratricidal war now beckons: 8.5 million people are in urgent need of life-saving assistance, 5.2 million are in dire need of food security interventions and 3.4 in urgent need of nutrition assistance. But the fund for all of this is not readily available, putting the fate of the victims in the balance and their future in uncertainty.


Halima, three, is sitting on the bare floor close to her 21-year-old mother, Sadiatu, and they are actively muttering some words to each other. The time is about 2pm on a Tuesday and they have not yet had their breakfast due to the fact that there is no food in their new abode and the money to do so, is not available.
Boko Haram

Their abode, known as Bakassi IDP Camp, in Maiduguri the Borno State Capital, is holding them and thousands of other persons violently displaced from their ancestral homes and communities in many parts of the state and thrown into despondency, fear and distress by the Boko Haram terrorists, who have since 2009 been killing, maiming and kidnapping people in pursuit of an agenda: the declaration of a Caliphate where western education would be outlawed.


As a reporter gets close to Sadiatu and her daughter to figure out the reason for their pensive mood, the mother offered a clue: “We don’t have anything in this house and we don’t know where our next meal will come from,” Sadiatu lamented.
As she narrates her jeremiad to a team of reporters, other occupants of the make-shift camp- a housing estate planned by the Borno State Government but hurriedly converted to a holding camp for the displaced victims, many other IPDs gather around to describe their pitiable situations.


Adamu Shehu, 12, an orphan, is moving from one hut in the camp to the other in search of any form of provision, having lost her two parents to the Boko Haram terrorists when they struck Gwoza over three years ago. Beyond the violent killing of his parents, Adamu said their home was razed by the insurgents and other members of the family killed, wounded or taken away to unknown destination.

Sadiatu, Halima and Adamu are just a few of the thousands of IDPs squatting at the Bakassi Camp provided by the Borno State Government and receiving material and logistical support from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UNOCHA. No fewer than five of such camps have been provided by the Borno State Government to provide temporary accommodation for the IDPs and protect them from further exploitation by their tormentors.
The three are among the 1.8 million victims of the Boko Haram insurgency, which has claimed no fewer than 20,000 lives and destroyed many hitherto flourishing communities and displaced their inhabitants across the six north east states of Nigeria, sparking one of the world’s worst refugee scenarios.


According to OCHA, the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria’s Northeast and the Lake Chad region is one of the most severe in the world today with 8.5 million in need of humanitarian assistance in 2017 in the worst affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe with the war now in its eighth year, showing no signs of abating.
Beyond the 8.5 people in need of humanitarian assistance, no fewer than 1.7 million according to OCHA, are internally displaced in the three states, with 80 percent of them in Borno State alone, the epic centre of the crisis and over half of them living outside IDP camps in local communities, who are themselves said to be among the world’s poorest people.

Aside that, 6.1 million people in the area are in need of protection while no fewer than 4000 women and girls are reported to have been abducted since 2009 by the insurgents.
UNOCHA in its latest update on the crisis entitled, Northeast: Humanitarian Review, noted, “Civilians continue to bear the brunt of a conflict that has resulted in widespread forced displacement, violations of international humanitarian and human laws, severe protection concerns and a food and nutrition crisis of massive proportions.


“Insecurity, especially in swathes of Borno State, continues to hamper humanitarian operations. However, through coordinated logistics and civil-military coordination efforts, humanitarian teams can now access some areas that were previously inaccessible. This has revealed new depth of devastation and humanitarian need,” OCHA said.
The atrocities of Boko Haram is that in most cases whole communities have been destroyed, farmlands set ablaze and the inhabitants killed or kidnapped while women have been serially raped and turned into sex machines and suicide bombers.
The situation is dire! Food is no longer coming from the farms of those communities destroyed by the insurgents while those left behind, if any, are too scared to go their farms for any kind of cultivation. This has brought about a serious threat to food security and opened the potential for starvation and malnutrition across the northeast.


The lingering threats and attacks by the insurgents have also blocked accessibility in some of the states in the northeast to humanitarian assistance providers. According to reports, the prolonged humanitarian crisis has already had a devastating impact on food security and nutrition in the North-eastern part of Nigeria with 5.2 million people currently in need of food assistance in the three most affected states and 450,000 children under five in need of nutrition support.
OCHA, whose officials are already working in the worst affected areas, says that the food situation remains precarious. It notes: “Rapid food assessments were recently carried out in eastern Borno and high food deficits and high food prices remain pronounced across the three areas surveyed in Banki, Gwoza and Pulka.
“In addition, access to vulnerable populations has been limited since July due to insecurity and the rainy season, resulting in convoy delays and an inability to reach some locations,” the agency reported.


The humanitarian situation in the Northeast has become pronounced and caught the attention of the United Nations Secretary General, who recently raised the alarm that at least 20 million people in Nigeria’s Northeast, Somalia, Yemen and South Sudan are facing devastating levels of food security and asked for urgent intervention to avert the disaster.

For instance, in August 2017, the United Nations said that due to insecurity and other access constraints, over 337,000 beneficiaries could not be reached in Borno’s Ngala, Gwoza, Dikwa and Monguno. Insecurity, it was gathered, has also hampered crop assessments and delivery of agricultural inputs in areas like Mobbar, Abadam and Marte local government areas of the state.
The absence of basic facilities for the IDPs and their continued displacement from their comfort zones resulted in cholera outbreak last August. As at August 31, 2017, there were 125 suspected cases of cholera in Maiduguri, Dikwa and Mongono and eight suspected cholera-related deaths.

But apparently in a move to properly organise humanitarian assistance in Nigeria and give succour to the IDPS in the northeast, UNOCHA has scaled up its operations in Nigeria with the launching of Nigerian Humanitarian Fund, NHF, a country-based pooled fund managed by the UNOCHA in support of life-saving humanitarian and recovery operations.
As a result of the launch of the fund, over 90 humanitarian organisations have aided about 4.5 million of the IDPs with nutrition, food, shelter, health, education, protection, water and sanitation support.
UNOCHA has also strengthened its humanitarian leadership in Nigeria with the appointments of new Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Edward Kallon, a veteran in humanitarian work, for Nigeria in addition to the naming of a Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator, Peter Lundberg, to take charge of the epic centre of the Boko Haram insurgency in Maiduguri.


Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, whose state has borne the main brunt of the Boko Haram violence, is certain all the efforts being geared towards solving the problem triggered by the malevolent elements, will produce positive results for the people.
Shettima, who describes himself as an incurable optimist, believes the state will never and can never surrender to the terrorists.
“We will certainly defeat the terrorists and create a conducive atmosphere for the displaced people to return to their communities to re-start their lives,” the governor vowed.
With a war that started as a child’s play, now in its eighth year, taking a toll on the very people who once lived, married and interacted as brothers and sisters, now turning into pogrom, kidnapping and displacement of thousands of households and the animosity generated by it further widening the gulf between the terrorists and the rest of the people and the end not of the onslaught not yet in sight, there is urgent need to strategise on how to put an end to the crisis and save the people.



https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/11/20m-now-face-devastation-un-ranks-nigeria-somalia-yemen-south-sudan/

tesppidd:
and so that makes their testimony automatically true? common sense should tell you that after being found guilty their only chance of leniency or reducing their punishment would be to say it was their oga that ordered them to kill. the court has judged the matter and passed the verdict, buhari or apc did not judge the matter. make una dey get sense abeg.

The same common sense didn't tell you that Ibraham Danjuma will deny that he never gave such order?.

Yes, Buhari and Northern judge hv passed their verdict but a supreme judge will look into Danjuma's matter now or later.......

bakila:
Where is you authority that he ordered the ruling. Where is the lawful infact village square authority to shoe that he ordered the shooting?

Seems you don't know how police and other security agents work or you're just bn ignorant here b'cos he's a northerner. The officers that shot them testified that Ibrahim Danjuma (their Oga) gave them the order to shoot. What else do you want to hear?.

BafanaBafana:
Let's have facts before we pick faults.
Of the 5 policemen involved in the case, 2 were found guilty and sentenced to death whlie ACP Danjuma Ibrahim with 2 others were set free, discharged and acquitted by the court.
So what's the fuss about the police reinstating an officer who was dismissed for a crime but was later found to be "innocent "?

The Two that were found guilty testified that their oga (Ibraham Danjuma) directed them to kill some, while he Danjuma strangulated some.... why will you sentence them for carrying out the order of their Oga and exonerate their Oga?. If the said Danjuma were from the SOUTH, would he have bn set free?.

Unitedabby:
So wetin com concern am abi na im papa money we take dey invest am?#Idiot

When you grow up you'll understand.

By Emma Ujah

Those investing in virtual currency or bit coins are gamblers, the Deputy Director of Research, Policy and International Relations (RPIR) of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Dr. Sabo Katata, has said.


He spoke at the NDIC workshop for Business Editors and Finance Correspondents, in Kano, yesterday.
His words, “Digital currency is for gamblers. If you want to invest in bit coins you can go ahead, for that is what you are.
“If you want to buy bit coins you can, but your are doing so at your own risk. The regulators will not come and protect you.”


Dr. Katata presented a paper: Financial Disruption of Digital Currency and it’s Consequences on the Banking System and Deposit Insurance System”.
He noted that even the Bank of Egland has identified about 70 risks associated with digital currency and warned the Nigerian public against unmitigated risks.


In his remarks, the Director of RPIR, Alh. Mohammed Umar Yayangida, stressed that the Monetary regulators in Nigeria, namely the NDIC and the.Central Bank of Nigeria don’t have any control over digital currencies .
He added that those who venture into such highly risky invesments must note the risks therein.
He revealed that an inter-agency committee has been raised to work on the development in order to respond appropriately to it.
The committee consists of officials from NDIC, CBN, Department of State Services (DSS), Police, Securities and Exchange Commiission (SEC).


Dr. Katata presented a paper: Financial Disruption of Digital Currency and it’s Consequences on the Banking System and Deposit Insurance System”.
He noted that even the Bank of Egland has identified about 70 risks associated with digital currency and warned the Nigerian public against unmitigated risks.

In his remarks, the Director of RPIR, Alh. Mohammed Umar Yayangida, stressed that the Monetary regulators in Nigeria, namely the NDIC and the.Central Bank of Nigeria don’t have any control over digital currencies .
He added that those who venture into such highly risky invesments must note the risks therein.
He revealed that an inter-agency committee has been raised to work on the development in order to respond appropriately to it.
At the opening, the Managing Director (MD), Alh. Must Ibrahim, urged closer stakeholder collaboration


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/11/investing-bit-coins-gamblers-ndic-chief/

Mugabe ‘granted immunity’ from prosecution
Zimbabwe’s former president Robert Mugabe was granted immunity from prosecution, sources close to the negotiations said on Thursday.

According to the source, Mugabe was assured that his safety would be protected in his home country as part of a deal that led to his resignation.

Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe for close to four decades but stepped down on Tuesday after the army seized power and the ruling party turned against him.

He led Zimbabwe from independence in 1980.

Emmerson Mnangagwa, the former vice president, is set to be sworn in as president on Friday.

A government source said Mugabe, who is 93 years, told negotiators he wanted to die in Zimbabwe and had no plans to live in exile.

“It was very emotional for him and he was forceful about it,” said the source, who is not authorised to speak on the details of the negotiated settlement.

“For him, it was very important that he be guaranteed security to stay in the country…although that will not stop him from travelling abroad when he wants to or has to.”

Mugabe’s rapid downfall was triggered by a battle to succeed him that pitted Mnangagwa against Mugabe’s wife Grace.




http://headline.naijaray.com/mugabe-granted-immunity-as-part-of-resignation-deal-sources/

Stevens Millancastro could face up to two and a half years in jail
An office worker ejacuated multiple times into his colleague's honey jar, which she then ate from regularly over a two month period, police say.

Californian Stevens Millancastro is also alleged to have masturbated into the woman's water bottle and smeared his semen on her computer mouse.

The 27-year-old faces charges of battery and attempted vandalism, and could be jailed for up to two and a half years if found guilty.

Millancastro has worked with the victim since 2014 but he only began to contaminate her food and drink with his seminal fluid in November 2016, according to the Orange County District Attorney.

On two occasions towards the end of last year, he is accused of entering her office and discharging his semen into her personal honey jar.

She then consumed the contaminated spread every other day between 24 November and 13 January this year. She had no idea it contained his seed.

During the same period, Millancastro is also accused of ejaculating into the victim's water bottle three times.

She never drank from the bottle because she noticed the water's cloudy appearance. On the third occasion, she notified her supervisor, who installed CCTV near her office.

On 13 January, the victim sat down to use her computer but recoiled when she touched her mouse and found it covered in ejaculate.


The victim ate the honey regularly (file photo)
She notified her supervisor immediately, who confirmed that Millancastro was seen on CCTV entering the office before the incident.

The unnamed victim reported her experiences to the La Palma Police Department, who investigated the matter and arrested Millancastro on 21 November.

Millancastro, from Palmade, is charged with two counts of battery and three counts of attempted vandalism. The charges are enhanced by the fact that police say he committed the crimes for his own sexual gratification.

If guilty, he will face two and a half years in prison and have to sign the sexual offenders register for life. A court date has not yet been settled.



http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/office-worker-ejaculated-colleagues-jar-honey-which-she-then-ate-regularly-two-months-1648412

Emeka Ojukwu, son of late Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu, says he was driven to join the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, by his belief that his home South-east region must belong in national governance and the political decision-making process of Nigeria.

Mr. Ojukwu said this when he was formally received into the APC by the party’s leadership, led by its National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun.

With Mr. Odigie-Oyegun at the event at the APC national secretariat were the Deputy National Chairman (South) Segun Oni, National Vice Chairman (South-East), Emma Eneukwu, National Auditor George Moghalu, and Chief of Staff to the chairman, Edwin Ikhinmwin.

Mr. Ojukwu earlier declared for the APC from the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Awka at a rally ahead of the November 18 Anambra governorship election.

“I decided to lead by example. I have been talking about this for a while and I decided it was time to take the step forward,” he said on Wednesday.

“It is a challenge, there are some people that will not be happy about that. But you have to be bold, take a step and let people understand where you are coming from and why you are doing what you are doing,” he said.
“APC has been seen in our part of the country as the ‘other’ and I believe we are now showing that the APC is a party that can contend equally with any other party in the South East and do just as well.

“We now know that Igbo people are part of the APC, the APC are part of Igbo and Igbo are valued part of the Nigerian nation.”

“We hit around the 25 per cent mark in terms of votes in the Anambra election, which is not bad given where we are coming from. I think in the future, we are going to do a lot better.”

“Let me say this about my father: we shouldn’t take our history and our past to be shackles that hold us in one place. Rather they should be stepping stones and building blocks to get us moving towards the future.

“When my father came back from exile, he had the option to join an ethnic-based party but he chose to move to the centre and there was a reason for that.

“You need to be at the table where decisions are being made. If you are not there, you will always get the short end of the stick, you will be marginalised. That is the message I want to help to propagate.

“This is a much bigger party than the one I came from, so I put myself at your service to help us achieve our dreams. For me, anyway that I can help to push this message forward, I am ready,” he told the party leaders.
Formally receiving Mr. Ojukwu into the party, Mr. Odigie-Oyegun said his entry would be a major asset in the APC’s ongoing drive to mainstream the South-east in national governance and political decision-making process in the APC.

“I thank you for choosing the APC, a family that is practical in its political orientation. It is significant that you chose the platform of the final rally at Akwa to make your very significant statement,” Mr. Odigie-Oyegun said.

“I noted particularly the interpretation of your illustrious father’s interpretation of joining the NPN and the significance of being part of the party’s decision-making process, such that for anybody who seeks to represent a large group, nationality of that nature, it is critical that he seeks to be where decisions that may affect his people are made.

“I hope the lesson went home, it is a lesson we will continue to propagate, particularly in the South-east because we hold the region very dear.

“I have no doubt that your appearance there (Akwa) also contributed significantly to the progress we have made in Anambra State and we are looking forward to being able to propagate that to the other South-east states as we start approaching the next set of elections.”

The APC chairman said despite losing the recent Anambra governorship election, the party’s performance showed that progress was being made in terms of the party’s appeal and inroads in the region.

“I consider that we have made a lot of gains, in spite of not winning Anambra State. But it is clear if people interpret properly that the APC, given the base from which we were starting, given the kind of intense propaganda that goes out there that the South-east is against the APC – whether it is religion, ethnic or even historical – we have made some progress.

“But we are not resting on that. We are immediately setting up a team to study the elections, to look at whatever significant issues it has thrown up, to find ways in which we can improve our performance as we spread into the rest of the South-east, basically to tell us what we did not do right in Anambra State which we need to correct as the electoral processes begin in the rest of the South-east.

“We hope it will throw up valuable lessons that will help us perform much better in subsequent elections in the South-east.

“I truly welcome you, there is no question at all that your name is an asset, what you stand for is an asset and we hope that in the next few months you will be much more closely integrated within the party structure at national level and of course in the South-east.

“For people to join us at this time is a clear indication that they understand what is going on and are ready to put their names, reputation, energies, and resources behind our effort to rebuild the country and be part of this process of change.

“This is a struggle that we must win. The nation cannot afford to lose, because greatness beckons and unless we get our act right, we are not going to get there,” Mr. Odigie-Oyegun said.



https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/250282-i-joined-apc-ojukwus-son.html

Abuja – The Nigerian Army has ordered all personnel to learn the three major Nigerian languages Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa in one year just as it introduced a new Language Policy with emphasis on officers and soldiers ensuring that they speak the three major Nigerian languages of Hausa, Yoruba and Ibo.


Recruits undergo training at the headquaters of the Depot of the Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna State in northcentral Nigeria, on October 5, 2017.
The Army noted that “The study of foreign and local languages is world-wide practice among armies, in which officers and soldiers are encouraged to be multi-lingual”.


It disclosed that “The Policy will foster espirit-de-corps and better communication with the populace to enhance information gathering, civil-military relations, increase understanding between militaries when operating abroad and assist officers and soldiers to perform their duties professionally.


Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Usman in a statement disclosing the new policy said, “It is to be noted that English remains the official language in the Nigerian Army” adding that “Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa languages could be used during Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) activities or interrogation”.


“Therefore all Nigerian Army personnel have been given one year to learn the three major Nigerian languages”, he said.
“Invariably, by December 2018, all Nigerian Army personnel are expected to learn the three major Nigerian languages”, he added.

Continuing Usman said, “The standard of proficiency to be attained is the basic level.
“Certificated proficiency level will attract Language Allowance.


“The ability to speak the 3 major Nigerian languages will be an added advantage to those applying for recruitment or commissioning into the Nigerian Army.
“Therefore, prospective candidates are encouraged to learn Nigerian languages other than their mother tongues.

“Before now, the Nigerian Army officially encouraged the learning of French, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese and Swahili.
“French language is an assessed subject in some career courses and examinations for Nigerian Army personnel.”


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/11/nigerian-army-orders-personnel-learn-yoruba-igbo-hausa-one-year/

A Nyanya Customary Court in Abuja on Tuesday dissolved a 22-year-old marriage of a driver over his wife’s habit of cooking only once in a week.
familycourt presided over by Mr Jemilu Jega granted the request of Mr Garba Pakachi, ruling that the union was irretrievable.
“This court has tried everything within its powers to resolve the issues between the parties, but all efforts proved abortive.
“The irreconcilable differences between the two parties showed that they are no longer compatible; therefore, the marriage is hereby dissolved,’’ Jega said.
He gave the custody of three of the four children of the marriage to their father and granted their mother, Martha, the custody of the last child, aged six years.
Jega ordered the man to pay N20,000 monthly for upkeep of the child.
“Because he is the biological father of the child, he must provide N20,000 for the upkeep of the child,” he said.
He also directed that Garba should take responsibility for education and healthcare of the child.
Earlier, Garba, told the court that Martha cooked for the family only once in a week.
He submitted that Martha could not spend time with the family but gave all attention to her business.
Responding, Martha denied the allegations, but said she was no longer interested in the marriage.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/11/court-dissolves-marriage-wifes-poor-cooking-habit/

Sitting quietly on the wooden bench and resting his head on the wall in front of his master’s shop, Monday sure had a lot running through his mind, given the way he suddenly sprang to life when our correspondent said hello.

Two weeks ago, he had a taste of the brutality of the policemen at Pen Cinema police station in Agege area of Lagos State. And up till now, Monday, who runs a shop in Ogba, had been battling to stay alive and strong as the pain inflicted on him by the policemen-turned-attackers had yet to fade away, several days after.

With face swollen, eyes looking red and signs of torment in his shaky voice, it was obvious he must have gone through hell in the hands of the policemen, who invaded Anthony Ojekere and Bishop Hughes streets at about 8:30 pm and unleashed serious terror on everyone they came across.

Monday, who appeared to be in his mid-30s, told our correspondent that he was thoroughly beaten to the point of death for committing no particular offence. His submission was echoed by his neighbours who said it was by grace that he didn’t lose his life that night, given the way the policemen, about three of them – all in mufti – pounced on him.

Barely audible, he recalled, “It was on Friday night, two weeks ago. That should be October 27. It was around 8:30 pm. We were two in the shop and we were closing the shop already. As we were about locking the doors, three yellow buses suddenly pulled over in front of the shop.

“Immediately, three men jumped down and rushed to where I was standing. My colleague was able to escape, thinking they were thieves, but they dragged me on the floor to the bus and started beating me. I even thought they were armed robbers because everywhere was dark and they all wore black T-shirts.

“When one of them said they were policemen, I was shocked that policemen could be so inhuman. So, I asked what my offence was and then I told them to allow me to close my shop. But that angered them the more. They started beating me again until I could barely see anything. They used everything in sight to beat me. They pushed me into the bus where I met a crowd – people they also picked up at different places. The bus was full already and we had to sit on one another.”

Monday said by the time they got to the Pen Cinema police station that night and everybody was forced down from the bus, they were about 150 to 200.

After detaining them for some time and taking down their names, they were later released to go home around 11 pm, but not without some scars and bitter experiences. Some, like Monday, lost their phones and others lost other valuable items. It was such a terrible time for most of them.

Whether in the past or recent times, there have been series of reports and allegations of brutality and maltreatment levelled against policemen attached to the Pen Cinema police station.

The already bad impression people seem to have about the police station was further exacerbated in 2012 when the serving divisional police officer at that time, CSP Femi Fabunmi, killed a protester, Ademola Aderintola Daramola, during the protest in Lagos against the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

Apart from the manslaughter charge, the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere also found the DPO guilty of shooting three other persons – Alimi Abubakar, Egbujor Samuel and Chizorba Odoh, during the protest, thereby causing them grievous bodily harm.

He was arraigned by the state government on a seven-count charge bordering on murder, attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm. Thus, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2015, a decision that was upheld by the Appeal Court in December 2016.

Fabunmi, who was a Chief Superintendent of Police, has been dismissed from the police force and he’s currently serving his term.

But according to some Lagos residents and some persons who live around the police station, not much seemed to have changed about the police station. Our correspondent gathered from some people around the station that victimisation of innocent Nigerians is a regular occurrence in the station and that anyone brought into the station could only be set free by luck.

Across the length and breadth of the police station, including some motorists who ply the road regularly, they said police authorities in the state needed to monitor policemen in the station closely.

To some of the victims of the “violent” raid that night, the ranking of the Nigeria Police Force as the worst police organisation globally could not have come at a better time

The World Internal Security and Police Index International gave a pass mark to Singapore, Finland and Denmark as the first, second and third best respectively, noting that of all the 127 countries that were assessed, Nigeria police was the worst.

The report partly read, “There are 219 police officers for every 100,000 Nigerians, well below both the index median of 300, and the Sub-Saharan Africa region average of 268. This limits the capacity of the force to measure up to its law and mandate.

“In terms of process, legitimacy and outcomes, the story is not different; which makes the Force fall short of the required standards.”

Meanwhile, still on the same night when Monday was nearly killed for committing no offence – at least he wasn’t confronted with any throughout his travails in the hands of the policemen, some other victims of the raid also shared their “unpalatable” experiences with Saturday PUNCH.

One of them, who preferred to be identified as Ola, told our correspondent that the way he was beaten that night marked the worst experience of his life and that since then, he had not been able to sleep well because his body still ached.

He explained that he was on his way from work when he quickly delivered some drugs to his ailing dad and stopped to buy noodles from a mallam (aboki) on Bishop Hughes Street at Ogba. He said he had barely placed his order when the policemen suddenly stormed the shop and arrested all of them, leaving one person behind.

He said, “I left my dad’s house around 8 pm so the drama happened around 8:30 pm. I was on a call when I entered the shop, but shortly after, I saw that people started running. Before we knew what was happening, we saw that three big yellow buses suddenly pulled over in front of the shop. They didn’t come in their van and they were not in uniform, neither did they introduce themselves. It was later we knew they were policemen.

“They told everyone to go on the bus. They said we were under arrest. So, I was still telling the person I was talking to on the phone that we would talk later when one of them gave me a slap in the face for “making calls.” He said I was reporting them. That was how they started beating me. All of them pounced on me. They even wanted to collect my phone but I was able to resist.

“When I entered the bus, it was filled to the brim. In that bus, we wouldn’t be less than 50 because people already sat on one another’s laps. And that was the situation in the other buses.”

As if that was not enough, Ola said they started picking people on the street as they drove towards the station.

“From Bishop Hughes Street, they entered Anthony Ojekere Street, where they arrested Monday and some others. The way they beat Monday, all the pain I was feeling disappeared. It was as if they meant to kill him. I had to look away because I couldn’t bear it. No, that guy is lucky to be alive today. They went to the other side of his shop and carried someone that was lying down on a bench, maybe due to the heat inside the house. They carried him like a dead man and he was wearing only boxer shorts.

“A couple that was walking on the road were accosted and thrown into the bus. They stopped a tricycle on Oba Ogunji Road close to their station and packed everyone in it into the buses. That was how they picked many other people. I tried to call my brother but unknowingly, I called my dad and I didn’t know one of them was watching me.

“He started finding his way to where I was and he was saying he would kill me. He said he would show me hell when we got to the station. I’m sure my dad heard that because I had not dropped the call and that was how he knew that I was being taken to the police station. For that call, the policeman beat me mercilessly.”

On getting to the station, he said they were all locked up in the cell and others had to stay in the passage.

By the time Ola’s brother and his ailing dad got to the station, some other relatives had also arrived, pleading for the release of their relatives.

Ola’s brother, who joined the conversation, said, “When the pleas and protest became too loud for them, they used tear gas, which landed my dad at the Ifako General Hospital. The DCO came out and saw my dad on the floor, saying they should carry him away. I know how much we paid to take care of him that night. Some persons called their lawyers and some people they knew. A woman who was visually impaired was also there to seek her son’s release.

“If police can’t protect us, why can’t they leave us alone, because if it were to be armed robbers, they suddenly wouldn’t have fuel and if they did, they would come after the robbers had left? They would give all manner of excuses, and if you make a report, they demand money. I mean is this a country?”

Ola said when the situation became heated, they were all released to go home at about 11 pm. “Even though I didn’t pay them, the trauma was too much and they must have thought they would make some money from us because I found out that after we were released, they picked up another set of people,” he added.

“I blame myself for waiting to buy the food that night; I could have cooked in my house but I felt it was too late to start cooking. They used to say police is our friend but they are our real enemy. I could neither sleep nor eat that night. I’m tired of this country.”

While policemen attribute all their raids to investigation, findings by Saturday PUNCH had revealed that a number of the raids were meant to exploit, extort and harass innocent members of the public.

A recent report by Saturday PUNCH, published on August 19, 2017, detailed how some policemen have turned raids to intimidation techniques and money-making ventures, as well as extorting and abducting at will while leaving low-profile and high-profile cases unsolved.

The owner of the noodles shop where Ola was arrested escaped being arrested, but he told our correspondent that it wasn’t the first time policemen would invade the area and arrest people indiscriminately. He said they did the same thing about two months ago and that till date, no reason had been adduced for the harassment.

“It was just as if they used us to do exercise. They didn’t arrest me but they promised to come back,” he said, adding that they took the phone of one his workers, which they had yet to return till date.

“My phone is still with them,” the owner of the phone said, adding, “When I went back for my phone, they said the person with it was not around. Since then, the number has not been available. My boss also went there, but they threatened to deal with him.”

Another victim of the raid, who introduced himself as Daniel, said, “They came suddenly and started beating people. We would be up to 200 when they took us to the station that night. We had to sit on ourselves in the bus. They packed us like fish in a sardine. Some of them were armed while some were not. Nigeria policemen are wicked.”

When asked if they noted the name or force number of any of the policemen, they said they could not as the policemen all wore mufti. They were also too distressed to pick the number plate of any of the buses.

The brutality of some policemen seems regular as the passing of each day. The experience of a newlywed couple in the hands of policemen attached to the Maitama police division in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, a few weeks ago was yet another sad tale of policemen’s inhumanity to the people they were paid to protect.

Two policemen were engaged in a fight in the public when one of them cocked his gun and started shooting sporadically. In the process, one of the bullets hit the left leg of the husband who, in company with his wife and a friend, was leaving the premises. One of the policemen was named Akpabio Daniel, while the couple had only been married for two months.

As of today, the leg had been amputated, while the man had been confined to the hospital bed, still writhing in pains. Even though the DPO of Maitama police station where the policemen are attached to, gave N150,000 to the family for treatment, the wife of the victim said they had spent over N1.6m on hospital bills.

As of today, the FCT Police PRO, Anjuguri Manzah, said the policeman who fired the shot had been arrested and that investigation had been ongoing since then. Nothing had been said about the shooter or what the police would do for the victim, who has lost his leg.

When contacted about the raid at Ogba, the Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos State, Olarinde Famous-Cole, said the police carry out raids from time to time based on complaints and intelligence reports, but that their men had been warned not to harass innocent persons in the process.

He said the DPO of the station pointed out to him that a lot of complaints, bordering on armed robbery, were received from the residents in the area raided by the policemen from the station.

“He confirmed that they raided those black spots and that since that raid, they had not received any such negative report again. He said there was no form of assault and that among the men arrested were screened, some were released while some were further interrogated.”



http://punchng.com/notorious-lagos-police-station-where-no-one-is-innocent/

The alleged billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, has told an Ikeja High Court, Lagos that the prison authorities, where he is currently been detained, has refused him food and has starved him for three days in a row.

Evans raised the alarm during an unfriendly argument between him and prison officers immediately he was led into the courtroom in handcuffs.

Evans was arraigned alongside five other suspected members of his gang, identified as: Uche Amadi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Chukwunonso Aduba and a woman, Ogechi Uchechukwu.

According to the alleged kidnapper, the prison authorities deprived him of food, declined access to having a bath nor changing clothes since Wednesday.

Evans, while blasting the prison officers, said lamented, “This is unfair, I have not been given food neither have I been allowed to change clothes. They refused me from even bathing since Wednesday. I’m seriously hungry now.

“They locked us in one place, no food, no bathing.

Evans’ lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje and his fellow suspects also confirmed the claims.

Although a senior NPS official denied the allegations, Ogungbeje, who was felt livid ought permission to go and procure food for his clients, pleading that only a living person that can stand trial.

However, during yesterday’s proceedings, counsel to the sixth defendant, Emmanuel Ochai also concurred with the claims of all the defendants while adding that they had not been fed or allowed to have their bath for the past three days.

Commenting on the allegations, the presiding judge, Justice Hakeem Oshodi, raised concerns about the welfare of the defendants.

The judge said, “the Director of Public Prosecution should please investigate these allegations. A defendant is innocent until he is proven guilty by a competent court,” he said.

In her response, the Lagos State Prosecutor, Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey, told the court that the prosecution would promptly investigate the allegations.

Earlier during the proceedings, Justice Oshodi dismissed an application by the female defendant, Ogechi asking to be released on bail.

In his ruling, Justice Oshodi said he found no merit in her application for bail, adding that the defendant has no concrete base in Lagos and would constitute a flight risk.

“The 6th defendant claims that the police only arrested her because she is the wife of one of the defendants. But according to the prosecution, the No 21, Ishaye street, Igando apartment where the victims of the kidnapping gang were allegedly kept, was rented in her name.

“In her statement, she claimed that her husband and the 1st defendant were business partners who deal on drugs; a claims which need to be proved before this court.

” I hereby find no merit in this application, and the defendant should be kept in custody for her own safety due to the severity of the case,” the judge ruled.

Meanwhile, Due to the absence of the legal representation for the 4th defendant, the matter could not go proceed further.

Justice Oshodi thereafter adjourned the matter till January 19, 2018 for cross examination of the first witness and continuation of trial.




https://newtelegraphonline.com/2017/11/breaking-3/

ABUJA – The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Thursday, prayed the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit seeking to compel him to produce the ‘missing’ leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.


Buratai and Kanu
A team of lawyers representing the embattled IPOB leader had in the suit, prayed the court to order Buratai to produce their client either dead or alive.

The lawyers who were led by Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, told the court that they have not seen or heard from their client since September 14 when the Nigerian Army invaded his house “on a murderous raid, where life and mortar bullets were fired on unarmed and defenceless populace, leaving 28 persons dead and abducting many”.

Pursuant to section 40 of the Federal High Court Act, F12, LFN 2005 and section 6(6) (1) (4) of the 1999 constitution, as amended, Kanu’s lawyers applied for “an order of Habeas Corpus ad subjiciendum, commanding the Respondent (Buratai), to produce the Applicant in Court”.

However, in a counter-affidavit he filed in opposition to the suit, Buratai told the court that Kanu was never in custody of the Nigeria Army.

He maintained that contrary to claims in the suit, soldiers who were deployed to the South-East for ‘Operation Python Dance II, did not have any contact whatsoever with Kanu on September 12 or 14, or anytime thereafter as alleged.

The Chief of Army Staff told the court that the Nigerian Army did not at any time arrest or take Kanu into custody within the period the military operation lasted, even as he denied allegation that soldiers invaded the IPOB leader’s house in Afara-Ukwu Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State.

A colonel attached to the Chief of Army’s office in the Army Headquarters, Abuja, Col. A.A Yusuf, who deposed to the counter-affidavit on behalf of Buratai, said the alleged invasion of Kanu’s house was totally false.

However, the Army boss told the court that his men only chased a truck he said was laden with arms and explosives of different kinds, into a compound he said was later discovered to belong to Kanu and his father.

The counter-affidavit read in part, “That the applicant (Kanu) is not and has never been in his custody or in the custody of any person, officer or institution receiving instruction directly or indirectly from him.

“That the applicant was not at any time whatsoever arrested, taken into custody or detained by the Officers and men of the Nigerian Army.

“That the officers and men of the Nigerian Army did not have any contact whatsoever or confrontation or any operational engagement with the applicant on September 12 or 14, 20l7 or any other date thereafter, contrary to the allegations in the affidavit in support of the application.

“That the allegation of invasion of the South-Eastern part of Nigeria by officers and men of the Nigerian Army, especially the applicant’s home and or residence is totally false.”

He told the court that during “a peaceful movement” that formed part of Operation Python Dance II, soldiers, on September 14, pursued a truck loaded with arms and ammunition into a compound which was identified in the suit as jointly owned by Kanu and his father.

He alleged that the fleeing truck and its occupants ran over Army barricade and defied soldiers’ order stopping them to be searched.

Buratai insisted that soldiers that chased the truck into Kanu’s house did not fire any shot, saying it was the occupants of the fleeing truck that deliberately ignited the ammunition they were carrying.

“That while on a peaceful movement on the said September 14, 2017, the soldiers randomly conducted stop-and-search operations as are necessary and it was during one of such exercises in Umuahia, Abia State, that it flagged down a truck, which as it turned out later, was loaded with arms and ammunitions of varying degrees and descriptions.

“Rather than comply with the stop order, the driver and other occupants of the truck recklessly ran over the barricade mounted on the road by the soldiers and sped off, whereupon the soldiers at the point gave a hot chase and called for reinforcement to enable them pursue and arrest the fleeing vehicle. The soldiers did not fire any shot at the fleeing truck in order to prevent the loss of lives.

“That the truck loaded with the arms and ammunition was pursued into a compound which has now been described in this application as belonging to and under the control of the applicant (Kanu) and his father.

“That it was the legitimate attempt by the officers and men of the Nigerian Army to arrest the fleeing occupants of the truck and impound the truck that precipitated the deliberate igniting of the ammunition in the truck by persons now believed to be IPOB members.

“That the act of the IPOB members resulted in sporadic explosions within the said applicant’s compound”, the affidavit further stated.

Buratai said his men that participated in the operation, complied with Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct that prohibit any form of human right abuses, denying that they killed scores of IPOB members during the military exercise in the South East.

He said: “Throughout the duration of the Operation Python Dance II, officers and men of the Nigerian Army obeyed the Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct to the letter as there was no reported case of indiscriminate shooting, unlawful arrest, detention or torture, contrary to the wild, bland, untrue, incorrect, bogus and insipid allegations contained in or oozed out in the affidavit of Prince Mandela Umegborogu Esq.

“The allegations of firing of live bullets on the applicant’s relatives, killing of scores of persons, wounding and arrest of many, attack and invasion of applicant’s home, barricade at Isialangwa, arrest and torture of civilians by officers and me of the Nigerian Army, as stated by the deponent, are a figment of his imagination as same are not true.”

Meanwhile, Justice Binta Nyako will commence hearing on the suit on Friday.

The lawyers had in the suit they filed Kanu’s name, told the court that, “On the 12th September, 2017, the Nigeria Military Soldiers acting under express command handed down by the Respondent, violently invaded the Applicant’s home in Afara-ukwu Ibeku, Umuahia Abia State, wherein scores of his relative were brutally wounded and many killed.

“On 14th day of September, 2017, the Nigerian Military led by Soldiers of the Nigerian Army invaded the Applicant’s house on a murderous raid, where life and mortar bullets were fired on unarmed and defenseless populace, leaving 28 persons dead and abducting many.

“The Applicant, who was in the house during this bloody onslaught by the Soldiers, has not been heard from or seen after this bloody attack in his home by the Agents of the Respondent since the 14th day of September 2017.

“That the invading Soldiers in their desperate bid to ensure that the Applicant is caught in the attack climbed stairs to his bedroom upstairs to shot him; walls of his bedroom were riddled with bullets.

“The invading Soldiers who had direct contact with the Applicant on this fateful day (14th day of September 2017) should be in a position to produce the Applicant before the court. It is either the Respondent’s rampaging Soldiers abducted the Applicant during this raid or must have killed him in the process”.

Besides, in a supporting affidavit that was deposed by one Prince Mandela Umegborogu, he said that he was told by Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel, that on September 12, “Soldiers of Nigerian Army, numbering about 200 ( two hundred) fully armed to the teeth invaded the residential home of the Applicant in Afarauwku- Ibeku, Umuahia, in Abia State”.

“That the invading Soldiers were deployed to the South-Eastern part of the Country by the Respondent in a covert operation tagged Operation Python dance II (Egwu eke II), an exercise exclusively under the Respondent’s command and control.

“That the Soldiers who also drove in a purpose-built sophisticated armoured personnel carrier, fired live bullets on the relatives of the Applicant, leaving scores brutally wounded, and arrested many.

“That the said Military deployment to the South-East was approved, without any history of arms resistance by the Applicant’s members or combatant attacks on Military personnel and installation from the civilian populace.

“That during the bloody attack/invasion of the Applicant’s home, scores were killed and others forced to abandon their sleep and run for cover in nearby bushes, which include nursing mothers, pregnant women, children and the aged.

“That on that same day, September 12, dozens of supporters of the Applicant who were on a courtesy visit to him, were also barricaded at Isialangwa and tortured on the same day.

“That the Applicant was emotionally traumatized and visibly tortured on account of heavy causalities recorded in this unprovoked attack from the invading Soldiers.

“That on September 14, the Nigerian Soldiers invaded the Applicant’s home for the second time, unfortunately on a brutal but murderous raid that left 28 (twenty eight) persons dead, and over 48 (forty eight) arrested and taken away to an unknown destination.

“That the Applicant was sitting right inside his bedroom when the Soldiers invaded his home.

“That the Soldiers in their desperate efforts to ensure that the Applicant who is their main target is gunned down, climbed the stairs to his bedroom upstairs to shot him.

“That the wall of the Applicant’s bedroom is riddled with bullets holes till date. Attached and marked as Exhibits EK1, EK2, EK3, EK4, EK5 EK6, EK7 and EK8 are photographs showing with sufficient clarity the impact of this assault on the Applicant’s home.

“That the by virtue of this contact the soldiers had with the Applicant in his room on this 14th day of September 2017, the soldiers must know where the Applicant is, his fate and state of health”.

He told the court that “the rampaging Soldiers”, busted into Kanu’s room in the course of the “bloody attack and shoot at everything on sight, including living objects”.

Attached and variously marked Exhibits EK9, EK10, EK11, EK12, EK13 and EK14, in the suit, were photographs and video footage the deponent said was evidence of the “dastardly attack on the home of the Applicant, including the bullets holes in his bedroom”.

He said: “That the trigger happy Soldiers shot sporadically into the air, for about forty minutes, before forcing their way into the Applicant’s house.

“That the Applicant only managed to alert his Lawyer- Bar Ifeanyi Ejiofor on the war-like deafening sounds of guns, being fired into the air, which shooting was targeted at the unarmed and defenseless members of the Applicant’s household, and IPOB members who were on a visit to the Applicant’s house.

“That his Lawyer Bar. Ifeanyi Ejiofor quickly issued a statement drawing the attention of the world to the bloody attack going on in the Applicant’s house, which statement was promptly published by reputable online media houses”.

According to the affidavit, the soldiers took away many dead bodies and arrested over 48 persons.

Kanu’s lawyers told the court that search so far conducted by the Applicant’s siblings had not been yielded any fruit, as the Applicant is still missing, adding that the palace of their aged father, housing the Applicant’s apartment, inclusive of the Applicant’s building, was shattered with mortar bullets.

They told the court that they have made several entreaties to the Respondent to direct his Soldiers to release the Applicant or his body for a befitting burial if he was killed in the onslaught, saying their effort has not yielded fruit.



https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/11/biafra-cannot-produce-kanu-trial-buratai-tells-court/

jamace:
Are the reverends in orthodox churches the poorest in the world?

I am not their account officer.

The National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Ike Oye on Wednesday described the defection of the first son of the founding father of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Late Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu as inconsequential, saying that he is a prodigal son who would be accepted on return.

Addressing a press conference at the party’s secretariat in Awka, Oye said that APGA is too big a family to worry about the loss of one person.

He said: “For now, Emeka Ojukwu Jnr is a prodigal son and for that we will accept him when he returns back. By the time APC loses this election, he would retrace his step. His leaving is inconsequential.

“It is not a must that a father and son would be in the same political party; it is a matter of choice and interest.

“In APGA, we give people space. We do not conscript people. Ojukwu’s defection is inconsequential. He is a prodigal son for now.”

Oye however hailed the Federal Government for returning the Aide-de-Camp to the Anambra State Governor, adding Obiano raised alarm because his fundamental rights were infringed on.

Oye maintained that APGA was not intimidated by the gathering of some elements "who are only bent on destroying the good works of the incumbent Governor."

His words: “How can people be saying openly that this election will be rigged? We cannot condone it.

“I am sure President (Muhammadu) Buhari will not subscribe to rigging of election in Anambra State. He has in the past eulogised our Governor; such a Governor should not be intimidated. Our Governor is a sitting Governor and his tenure will end in March, 2018.

“It will amount to a serious misnomer if the President should allow his name to be associated with rigging an election

“We are speaking as a responsible political party. It will amount to a charade if any other political party should take over this state. If that happens, then they are calling for anarchy in this state”

While calling on President Buhari to distant himself from such posturing as rigging, he called on the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmud Abubakar to ensure a credible, free and fair election in Anambra State next Saturday.

The APGA chieftain added: “It will amount to serious misnomer if Buhari should allow his name to be associated with rigging of election. Anambra is an APGA state and it is clear to everybody.”


http://www.newsexpressngr.com/news/46336-APGA-declares-Ojukwu-Jnr-a-prodigal-son-16

ok

Lordcenturion2:
Am not talking to but a poor 2 person who gave birth to Lordcenturion2.. Fucck ME
motherfucker,

Visit Yabaleft

jamace:
It is a sin to deceive innocent members to part with their hard earned money in order for a pastor to become wealthy. Not just wealthy, but privately wealthy at the expense of the organisation which he registered under the CAC that it is a non-profit making organisation.

Please, tell me what you feel seeing names of "pastors" on Forbes list of richest men in the world.

Please tell me how you'll feel if pastors are the poorest in the world.

Lordcenturion2:
What exactly this fool is talking, Mr animal kingdom

Address your parents this way.

LastSurvivor11:
And your stupidity still assures you that you will go to heaven by paying tithe not by doing good deeds..
By the way who told Evans don't pay tithes more than u.
Searching for ur senses bro

E pain am.

GavelSlam:
Not every slave wishes to be unshackled.
Enjoy your chains.

The same to you and your generation

jamace:
Hope you are not cutting corners in your office and business to accumulate the "God's blessing"?

Meanwhile, tell me the Pope's wealth rating by Forbes and what are the ratings of these tithes collecting pastors on Forbes rating?.....If you don't know, let me help you. See below:

21 Richest Pastors in the World

1) Eric Macedo $1.1b Brazilian
2) Keneth Copeland $760m American
3) Pat Robertson $500m American
4) George Foreman $250m American
5) David Oyedepo $150m Nigerian
6) E A Adeboye $130m Nigerian
7) Ayo Oritsejafor $120m
cool Hebert Angel $60m Zimbabwean
9) Chris Oyakilome $50m Nigerian
10) Benny Hinn $42m Israeli
11) Joel Osteen $40m American
12) Tshifhwa Irene $35m South African
13) Ray McCauley $30m South African
14)Creflow Dollar $27m American
15 ) Billy Graham $25m American TV star
16) Rich Warren $25m American
17) T D Jakes $18m American
18) T B Joshua $15m Nigerian
19) Mathew Ashimolowo $10m Nigerian
20) Juanita Bynum $10m Kenyan
21) Chris Okotie $10m Nigerian
...........................................
Compare these with Leaders of Other Churches and their Personal Wealth:

Pope Francis $0 ( Catholic)
Justin Welby $0 ( Anglican)
All other Leaders of Orthodox Churches have, at most, one home where they live , except Pope Francis who has no personal home .

Source: Forbes List

COPIED

Is it a sin for a pastor to be wealthy?

OBIGS:
see how gullible you are. Who told you if you don't pay tithe and directly impact someone life with that money God will not bless you more. Help the poor with your tithe. Help someone and stop helping your pastor live a lavish lifestyle with ur money. Can you even ask that what the tithe is being used for?

I help the poor and also pay my tithe. What's your business?. Freeze say that the disciples of Jesus didn't pay tithe, hope he know that they didn't divorce their wives also.

LastSurvivor11:
Seems foolishness is in ur DNA..
U think God blesses you because you pay tithe, what about Muslims n atheist who are more successful than you?
God says he blesses who he chooses not who pay tithes

Yes even Evans will claim that God blessed him.
You forgot that God's blessings is for everyone but Heaven is for those that are pure.

goodmanjustice:
If only you are the christian you claim to be, u would know that according to Ephesians 4:29, rotten speech should not come out of your mouth. You are here calling someone a fool; that is hardly unwholesome, my good friend. If we investigate you further, it is possible you engage in other VERY UNWHOLESOME activities, but think that with tithe paying you will arrive at a counterbalance. Freeze has been churning out verses after verses from the greatest book to support his claims, but all you guys do is just come here and say "I will continue to pay my tithe". I may not agree with Freeze, but that guy has a formidable biblical back up, anyone who wants to woo me to his side of argument should attack Freeze's points from the bible and not his person. Better still just keep mute and continue tithing, coming here to air a view presupposes that you have a backup for your claims.

Freeze is a fool

Olifiz:
This is unbelievable. Hebrews 7:5,12 & 18 made us to understand that the law on payin of tithe became null n Christians should stop. Jesus didn’t preach it. He’s apostles didn’t pay or collect tight. How will someone now be telling he’s sheeples to pay tight or be cursed. Have u forgotten we as Christians are to follow Jesus steps closely, by studying Gods word the Bible. It’s a shame now hearing u say u will keep practicing tithing. It’s a real shame. It means u don’t value the word of God

See you and obedient to the word of God, as if you have kept all the words of God. I will continue paying my tithe.

ok

Kenzico:
This dad freeze guy is so full of sense!

FOOL of sense indeed. He's only disgracing himself, if not that he's a fool he should have known that what this Pope did has been done over and over by so many pastors before now. Freeze is as useless as Robert Mugabe's excreta, a FOOL that came on line to brag buying jamb form for someone. Let him tell us how many people he has established.
He's fighting a lost battle. I must pay my tithe come rain come shine and if he wants me to stop let him tell God to stop blessing me.