₦airaland Forum

Didn't I say that sizable Yorba people are in support of him? Now who are these Yoruba elders?

We need legislation to eradicate rituals, cannibalism - Erelu Lola Ayonrinde -Raises posers on Oba Funso Adeolu’s corpse

Erelu Tunwase AyonrindeErelu Tunwase of Ode-Remo, Chief Lola Ayonrinde, who is the Otun Iyalode of Shomolu and Lagos District, and also the Yeye Akinrogun of Ikeji-Ile Ijesa was twice Mayor of the London Borough of Wandsworth. She talks to AYO-LAWAL GBENOBA on her campaign against human sacrifice and cannibalism in Nigeria. Excerpts:

WHAT is your campaign all about?
The ‘Say No To Cannibalism In Nigeria’ campaign is aimed towards eradicating the ancient and obnoxious practice of mutilating the bodies of traditional rulers after death. The rituals and sacrifices parts of the body of a dead king, especially in Western Nigeria, are used for are barbaric and a disgrace to the country in this 21st century. The movement is out to stop these evil practices which are not in consonant with the will of God and against the fundamental human rights of the affected traditional rulers. When a king dies, they say they have to give his heart to his successor on the throne to eat. They explained that it will make the new king strong and courageous but, is that not deceit? How can eating somebody’s flesh give courage to another person? They mutilate the remains of these kings and engage in fetish and obnoxious activities which add no value to anybody or the society in general.


Why do you need to feed an incoming royal father with the heart of a dead one? This cannibalism started with Christopher Colombus who believed that when a king ate the heart, or some other parts of a dead ruler, some major attributes of the dead was transferred to the new king. This is sheer cannibalism and has no place with God. And, I want the chiefs, the traditional rulers themselves and other stakeholders to know that any tradition that does not recognise God is doomed. The government must put a stop to this cannibalism going on in some parts of Nigeria because, it is even against the constitution of Nigeria. Section 38 subsection 1 of the Nigerian constitution gives every citizen the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, while section 17 subsection 26 declares that the sanctity of the human person shall be recognised and human dignity shall be maintained and enhanced. Where is the sanctity of the human person in all these? Where is human dignity?


What motivated this campaign?
I was very close to the late Alaye of Ode-Remo, Oba Funso Adeolu, the popular Chief Eleyinmi of the rested Village Headmaster soap opera. Few months after his death on August 21, 2008, he started appearing to me and I had months of traumatic haunting. In his lifetime, Oba Adeolu was a Christian and he made it known that he did not partake in anything fetish during his installation as king. He explicitly, several times, demanded that when death came calling, his corpse should be handed over to his family so that he could be given a proper Christian burial. However, his corpse was not released to the family. After his death, he appeared to me several times, and kept telling me about many things. He said his corpse was handed over to the ‘odis’ (slaves) who treated it like that of a criminal. They took bits and pieces of his remains for their own use while some parts were distributed to the four corners of the town.


It was while going round that I discovered what happened and I met some chiefs who confessed what happened but asked me to forget it because there was nothing we could do about it.


All the ‘odus’ of Ifa do not approve using human beings as sacrifice, the constitution does not approve and to crown it all, God Almighty frowns at this practice, they are doing it to appease whom? Some of the kings today are enlightened and those who are born again Christians, like Oba Adeolu, are renouncing these things. So, why hold on to an obnoxious and barbaric act? Oba Adeolu believed he would be given a decent burial and that is why his ghost has refused to rest. Even in Ijebuland, these things were abolished years ago and Ijebuland under the Awujale agreed they would bury kings according to their religion.


So, how do you hope to stop the practice?
We are canvassing that our traditional rulers should be buried whole, without being mutilated and it should be in the open. There is secrecy because of the evils attached. It is untenable scientifically that the heart is eaten for so and so reasons. To start with, let us have the installation of kings in the open, no aspect of the installation should be shrouded in secrecy. It should be a celebration of our culture so, why should it be shrouded in secrecy? When everything becomes transparent, it will even help younger ones to know more about our culture and we will be able to restore some of our societal values. Why should obas be laid to rest in a paganic manner? If a governor gives staff of office to a king, giving him recognition and authority, that king is under the governor so, why should the government condone barbarism in this age? The ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs should do something about this, if not, the government is endorsing cannibalism. True that some of the kings went through these rituals during installation but those who opted out should be given that grace of opting out of the rituals in death. They should be buried according to their faith. The practice is a disgrace to the whole of South West because it is common there.


We are appealing to the traditional rulers who were installed through cannibalism to renounce it publicly and declare they don’t want their hearts to be eaten or other parts of their bodies to be used for any form of ritual. Abolition of slave trade took place years ago. So, why do we still have some people in Ode calling themselves slaves (‘odis’)? We need legislation to stop the barbaric act and we are appealing to our lawmakers to rise up to this task of eradicating cannibalism in Nigeria. There should be a law backing a king to opt out of fetish installation and burial and it should become an offence for anyone to tamper with the remains of a king, for whatever purpose, or to give the body to the ‘odi’ for rituals. The penalty should be without an option of fine so that the perpetrators would know how grave the offence is. The ‘odi’ in Ode can be given money to buy goat, ram, cow, or whatever they need for sacrifice, if they must, but there must be total abolition of human sacrifice in the country. Efforts are being made by some Ogun State traditional rulers to stop it but some feel the fetish practice must be protected. The government must detach itself from it.


Internationally, human sacrifice, cannibalism, witchcraft and sorcery are illegal so, why should it be done with impunity in Nigeria, a country that is known as the giant of Africa? Infact, politicians should begin to include the abolition of cannibalism in their campaign programmes, and party manifestos by 2010.


What efforts have you made so far to network and get people involved?
We give glory to Almighty God. I have spoken to so many kings who secretly don’t want it and we are telling them that they should make an open declaration against these evil practices. The campaign would be boosted if they do because people believe they all knew and agreed to these evil practices before being installed. We now call on the royal fathers again, in the name of Almighty God, to declare publicly that they don’t want these fetish practices to continue. I have carried the campaign to the international level so that Nigerians of affluence who are in diaspora would lobby the lawmakers and get a legal backing for the campaign to eradicate human sacrifice and cannibalism in Nigeria. A number of international media like the BBC have aired my interview on the campaign and some Nigerian people abroad are involved in the lobbying for a legislation to stop the obnoxious practices.


We call on the ‘oluwos’ and ‘odis’ in Ode to review the entrenched ill that has no value to the society. We appeal to them to accept cows and goats and allow our royal fathers to be buried according to their beliefs. Then, it was about time that the royal fathers are constituted into the House of Royals, like the House of Lords, so that they would have more power, say and patnership in governance. This would help them to contribute meaningfully to issues affecting them and the society at large.

3 killed, village head flees over 73 year old land dispu

Alhaji Amubieya Salami is no John Rambo. In fact, he has never seen any of Sylvester Stallone’s movies. But in his team, he is a warlord. A neigbour says his favorite soap is Fadeyi’s “Arelu”.

Like a warlord, he allegedly invaded the peaceful Sukuru village in Lagelu local government area of Oyo State with 18 members of his team sometimes in July 2007, and the residents have not known peace since then. The armed mercenaries, after hours of ruthless attack on the villagers, left several wounded, including the Baale of the village,Chief Olusungbemi Rufai Okunola, properties worth loads of money destroyed, and, sadly, three people dead.

In the wake of his mission to allegedlly take back the land,which several courts between the 1920s and 1940s had declared was not his family’s,many have been dispersed to neighbouring villages.

The Baale is currently in hiding.

To these villians,their mission was accomplished. But the gods of the living,and the dead villagers, were not asleep. The Baale identified two of them. These two,and 16 others, initially taken in for interrogation at the Divisional Headquaters,Iyana-Offa,Ibadan,are now running around free. Their mission then was to forcibly take over the over 5,000 acres of land that belonged to the Oke Baale Lalupon, the Baale’s forefather.

In their ruthless frenzy, the trio of Olaboye Ajani(72),Joseph Adelowo(70) and Mrs. Morenike Oladepo(65),were bludgeoned, axed, and shot to death, while the Baale,was matchetted on the head.

Fight for the acres of land began legally way back in the 1930’s when one Ali, the grandchild of the Obigade family, charged Oke Baale Lalupon to the Judicial Council of Ibadan on April 9, 1936, in an effort to recover a piece of land situated at Malafawa.

Ali had claimed his father, Fasina, was the owner of the disputed land, while Oke Baale Lalupon responded that the land belonged to his family.

In a document signed by one S.O Lajumoke (AJCC) on 22 May,1936, the council declared that “the disputed land belongs to Baale Lalupon as it has been in the possession of his father for long”. In a phone conversation,Alhaji Amubieya said he had not seen any document stripping his family of their land.”The land belongs to my fore fathers.It has been so for ages”,he insists.

The late Baale Lalupon had once obtained judgement for this land in 1912 before Mr. Francis Keaton Rosedale, the then Resident in case between him and the late Olofa, and as such, “we are not prepared to alter it. Ali must give up his claim to it at once without further trouble”, the document read.

Disappointed that he didn’t get a favourable judgement from judicial council, Ali appealed to the D.O’s Appeal Court, Ibadan division, in June, 1936. Again, his appeal was dismissed, “The plaintiff (Ali) cannot be allowed to upset a 24 year old judgement,” said the document signed by LRC Sunner (D.O) on October 1,1936. Yet again, Ali was not satisfied, so he appealed to the Resident, Oyo-Province, on April 7, 1937. A document signed by the Acting Chief Commissioner, Southern Province in Enugu on June 3, 1938, caused the case to be re-heard before the High Court.

The High Court of Ibadan Judicial Division before Clifford Claude Francis, in suit no: 1/59/1938, in judgement, stated that “the land amounts to 5,000 acres more or less and includes a number of villages of varying sizes.

“In his evidence, the Plaintiff (Ali) has described with reasonable precision the boundaries of the land, but it calls for comment that this action relates to an area of land considerably in excess of that claimed by him in the Native Court. Be that as it may, the discrepancy did not become apparent until the close of the hearing, which in my view, was too late to order an amendment.

‘’A number of witnesses was called, and much evidence was given by both sides, which, strictly speaking, was inadmissible as being hearsay.

“I refer principally to the evidence of witnesses who repeated what had been told them by their fathers and grandfathers.

“Having regard to all the evidences before me, I’m unable to hold that the Plaintiff has succeeded in establishing that which was held by the Full Court to entitle him to the declaration of title. I, therefore, dismiss this action”, Judge Francis pronounced on 27th of March,1942.

Again, Ali appealed. This time, and finally, to West African Court of Appeal, Lagos, where, finally too, Donald Kingdom, President, ordered that the Appeal, lodged on the 15th day of April, 1943, at the Court, be dismissed with costs assessed at 25 Guineas in favour of Oke Baale Lalupon.

Long gone, the children and grandchildren of Ali have taken up their grandpa’s course, this time outside of the courts.

Not satisfied with their invasion of Sukuru village in 2007, some thugs, allegedly chased Baale Rufai out of the village in efforts to take over the disputed land.

In Sukuru where Sunday Tribune spoke with one Toafeek Olagbesan, a relative of the embattled Baale, he said they have refused to take the law into their hands, but want the police to protect them and other villagers from incessant attacks from hired thugs.

Reacting,Amubieya denied sending thugs to the village,claiming he was a man of peace.”’I have been living in my village peacefully with my people. Why will I want to fight over a thing that is in my possession?, he querried.

Taofeek claimed that most of the villagers, out of fear, had left the village, “that’s why the village is now a ghost- town. These guys threatened to kill our Baale, that was why he ran to Ibadan”, he said. He also claimed that they were about 8,000 before the invasion,but now about 1,800.”

Deacon Jibola Oribogunje, who blamed the police for the exodus, said they had expected the police to end the attacks on innocent villagers, “but they’ve been dilly-dallying”.

The Commissioner for Police,Alhaji Baba Bolanta,said it was not true that the police was taking sides as the force wouldn’t condone such lawlessness.” ”I am aware of the case,but it has not been officially reported to me.My predecessor must have been on it.But you have my word that I shall make sure that an investigation is carried out once the file gets here”’

These words, however, did not sooth the exiled Baale‘s nerves who insisted that the police was protecting Amubieya as they have allegedlly stalled further investigation into the matter. “I was matchetted on the head.This was in my report at the station in Iyana Offa,the nearest police station to the place of attack,but was shocked when signal came from the Area Commander’s Office in Agodi that the case be transferred to Agodi Testing Ground Station.”

A Police report dated October 1,2009,signed by Olanrewaju Stephen (CSP),DPO,Iyana Offa,confirmed that the matter was ”immediately reported at Iyana Offa police station and the DPO sent his men to the scene but before the investigation could commence,there was an intervention from Agodi Area Commander that both parties be brought before him.Hence the case was transferred”.

He stated further: ”A signal acknowledging the receipt of the case from Iyana Offa was sent by the Area Commander to Compol ‘B’ OPS,Ibadan,where he mentioned that traditional rulers from the affected area had been brought before him to explain their roles in the disturbance”.

Narrating his ordeal in the hands of the thugs,the Baale said “The woman killed was my brother’s wife. Olabosoye was my father, while Joseph Adelowo was my brother.

“Prior to their July 7,2007, invasion, Amubieya had pasted flyers on our lands, claiming that the land not only belonged to them, a claim they’ve been making since the 30’s, but that it was now vested on him and one Prince Sijuade Mukadas. That was in March. It was three months after that my village was attacked.

“Of course I was afraid and confused. When I saw them(names witheld) kill people, I shouted out their names calling them killers.

“We were herded in like goats and I was matchetted on the head, while others were axed, hit with dangerous weapons. I have been in hiding since. They even traced me to an old friend’s house and threatened to kill us if we didn’t give up the land.

“That was why I moved here again. The police have not done anything to protect us, rather, it is our attackers that they are protecting”, he alleged.”’It’s not true,I didn’t send thugs to harm anybody.

I already told you this.They also alleged that I have bribed the police.How many officers can I bribe?

They don’t have any case”, Amubieya insisted.

Tired of running around, the displaced Sukuru indegenes hired Barr. Gbenga Ojo who has petitioned the Inspector General of Police in July, demanding a thorough investigation of the murder of three family members.

In it, Ojo stated that “the families had lodged a complaint with Oyo State Police Command in Agodi, but one Alhaji Amubieya, who had been using his connection with some Policemen to circument proper investigation, had prevented the command from doing its job.

“This unfortunate situation makes it possible for the attackers to enjoy immunity and freedom from prosecution “,the lawyer expressed.

The Commissioner of Police, and the A.I.G, Zone 11, Osogbo, were copied.

The new Area Commander,Mr.Peter Olanrewaju (ACP) has confirmed to Sunday Tribune that the case has been transferred to the Command as admitted by DPO,Olanrewaju.

He,however,instructed the Station Officer,Mr.Sunday Ezekiel,to supply the file to him by Wednesday. The SO later informed Sunday Tribune it would take a few hours for the file to be found since it had been transferred to the SID being a murder case.He directed Sunday Tribune to come back two days after.

When the reporter got there on Friday as instructed,after being kept waiting for over an hour,Mr. Ezekiel said it would take another hour,which the reporter couldn’t spare as it was nearing production time.

On the information by Ojo that the Inspector General of Police,Onovo, had been petitioned on the lackadaisical attitude of the officers involved, the Principal Staff Officer II to the IGP, ACP Murtala U. Mani, confirmed that “a letter had been written to the Deputy-IG ‘D’ Department, instructing the Police to take necessary action”.

Not sure of his safety,and that of his extended family,the Baale has asked everyone to flee for dear life.”They found me in my first hiding place five days ago.I had to hide in a bush for hours.I can’t reveal my new place because they may injure my host.”,he appealed.

As for the Baale though ,the new CP has promised that no more lives would be lost,nor properties destroyed,as efforts are in place for adequate security for all Oyo State residents

Ogun state is number 3 in armed robbery and the house of assembly has no clue what to do

Lawmakers ask robbers to declare temporary ceasefire

By Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji

October 29, 2009 01:50AMT print email

The Ogun State House of Assembly on Wednesday appealed to armed robbers operating in the state and neighbouring ones to suspend their activities in the light of the junior World Cup going on in the country.

The Assembly reminded the robbers that any of their operations during the period of the tournament will give the country a bad name, as several foreign visitors are in the country now. Ogun is one of the states hosting teams in the competition.

The lawmakers agreed to beg the bandits during deliberations on the floor of the House, at their Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta complex. A member, Edward Ayo Odugbesan had raised an alarm that the Isheri bridge, which links Ogun with Lagos State, has become a den of bandits.

Mr. Odugbesan said there is a need for the men of the underworld to suspend their operations in the interim, because of the on-going mundial. The Ijebu-Ode International Stadium is one of the centres being used for the competition.

“I want to appeal to the men of the underworld to suspend their actions and operations in the interim because of our foreign visitors currently in the state,” he said. “Then they can resume thereafter, because there is nowhere in the world where robbers and robberies could be stopped from their work.” He then called on his colleagues to support his call on the armed bandits to soft-pedal because the situation is becoming worrisome.

“If foreigners witness the robbers’ attacks at this point, it would send a bad signal to other nations,” he said.


Police wake up

Reacting to Mr. Odugbesan’s call, the Speaker, Tunji Egbetokun, called on the police leadership to intensify efforts in ensuring that security is maintained in the state.

“I want to use the opportunity to call on the police to intensify efforts in checkmating criminals. They should please not relent in the efforts,” he said.

In a related development, the Assembly ordered the head of the Local Government Administration of Obafemi-Owode to appear before it next Wednesday for clarification on the budget and expenditure of the council. The local government official was said to have dodged previous invitations over the past three months – a development which the Assembly faulted at its session yesterday.

The lawmakers, therefore, directed the Clerk of the House, Demola Badejo, to write the official on the matter and direct him to report before it.

234next.com

Lawmakers ask robbers to declare temporary ceasefire

By Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji

October 29, 2009 01:50AMT print email

The Ogun State House of Assembly on Wednesday appealed to armed robbers operating in the state and neighbouring ones to suspend their activities in the light of the junior World Cup going on in the country.

The Assembly reminded the robbers that any of their operations during the period of the tournament will give the country a bad name, as several foreign visitors are in the country now. Ogun is one of the states hosting teams in the competition.

The lawmakers agreed to beg the bandits during deliberations on the floor of the House, at their Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta complex. A member, Edward Ayo Odugbesan had raised an alarm that the Isheri bridge, which links Ogun with Lagos State, has become a den of bandits.

Mr. Odugbesan said there is a need for the men of the underworld to suspend their operations in the interim, because of the on-going mundial. The Ijebu-Ode International Stadium is one of the centres being used for the competition.

“I want to appeal to the men of the underworld to suspend their actions and operations in the interim because of our foreign visitors currently in the state,” he said. “Then they can resume thereafter, because there is nowhere in the world where robbers and robberies could be stopped from their work.” He then called on his colleagues to support his call on the armed bandits to soft-pedal because the situation is becoming worrisome.

“If foreigners witness the robbers’ attacks at this point, it would send a bad signal to other nations,” he said.


Police wake up

Reacting to Mr. Odugbesan’s call, the Speaker, Tunji Egbetokun, called on the police leadership to intensify efforts in ensuring that security is maintained in the state.

“I want to use the opportunity to call on the police to intensify efforts in checkmating criminals. They should please not relent in the efforts,” he said.

In a related development, the Assembly ordered the head of the Local Government Administration of Obafemi-Owode to appear before it next Wednesday for clarification on the budget and expenditure of the council. The local government official was said to have dodged previous invitations over the past three months – a development which the Assembly faulted at its session yesterday.

The lawmakers, therefore, directed the Clerk of the House, Demola Badejo, to write the official on the matter and direct him to report before it.

234next.com

Fake millionaires of Nigeria. No Igbo involved

Infact if you remove the alaba/idumota/balogun/tejuosho/ASPAMDA Igbo small boy millionaires who helped to increase the % non-poverty for Yoruba, then Yoruba poverty level will rise to 55%. Gbam.

nolongTing:
This is a classic display of Jealousy, ignorance and stupidity; which central bank govenor allowed all of this borrowing to take place? Oh its that Igbo man Mr Soludo who is going to turn Anambra into ? Your Idol saw nothing wrong with their borrowing did he now? Anyway I am not as stupid as you so I know your views do not represent most Igbo peoples views you are just an isolated fool.


Secondly, Dangote was listed as being worth £3.3 billion by forbes but the financial times (you probably have not read it before) stated that it was a gross underestimate, hes actually worth $10 billion and they were being cautious.  BAM!!! Dangotes bank account has just earned another $100,000 dollars in interest as we speak, so you keep yapping all that false information and Dangote will contunue his wealth accumulation.  I am not Hausa but I am proud of him, the same way I am proud of Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala shes a genius.

Then if we look at Otedola he borrowed around 10% of hes net worth of $1.3 billion (responsible borrowing), take it from me I got A*s in Maths and Physics while you was scratching your head on your way to failing your O level maths. Finally, Adenuga dipped in his pocket and paid $150 million to silence the new CBN boss -They borrowed and they will easily repay it.  Thise guys are so rich they could walk into any bank on this planet and just on name recognition alone, they would get a loan EASY!

                                            Simply put these guys earn more in a minute than your entire family do in a year


And all this masses stuff? you need to take those figures to the joke section,  Don't get your facts twisted and [size=13pt]stop lying[/size]

Dangote or Otedelo are not equal to Hausa or Yoruba population. If anything they represent 0.0000001% of those populations. Get this simply fact into your thick skull. There is  16% more poverty in Yorubaland than in Igboland. Dangote is an hausa yet  there is absolute 100% poverty in his backyard. Forbes ko farabis ni. Those are borrowed money. Let them pay their debts and we see how much they are worth.

Rivers =145 (note that by far not all Rivers is Igbo)
145 + Igbo total = 441
Yoruba total= 596

Igbo still better

Add Kogi (50% Yoruba) and Kwara (70% Yoruba)
Yoruba total now even far more

sjeezy8:
lol dont do the math  cause it goes by states, regions not by tribe.
You are using information to bash Lagos when previously you said igbos are 40% of Lagos population.
Of course poverty in SW increased when there's an overwhelmingly amount of migration from all over Nigeria (the west is more hospitable). The study was done by region so those igbos in Lagos are part of what effected the increase of pverty in the SW.
As population increases from outside migration in an area so does poverty and criminals practices. DUH
Lol population in the SE is probably the smallest in Nigeria, so its expected to have less poverty(but i still dont know why everyones kidnapping) from your fact you posted

lol its funny how you dont add Rivers to your list of armed robbers when you people said 80% of it is igbo or whatever and it was among the highest in the country. hypocrites

Nigerians love to use reports made by the Government, they believe it when it favors them and call it a lie when it doesn't. What about the report from the igbo senator that said igbo birth rate is on decline, maybe hes telling the truth since you believe this cbn is accurate and true.

If we add Rivers to Igbo, then we add Kwara, Kogi, Benin Republic and Togo to Yoruba list. The Igbo senator did not conduct any scientific survey on the birth rate. CBN, WHO, UNDP and FOS conducted scientific surveys on poverty rate. That is the differece, buddy

Download it and resize it to suit your eyes

Attached is Punch (Yoruba newspaper) analysis of poverty level in Nigeria as at 2003

Aloy~Emeka:
You are very foolish. Do you have any evidence that an armed robbery in Yorubaland is perpetrated by only Yorubas?. Are you telling me there are no igbo and hausa armed robbers in Ibadan or lagos?. I still remember of a yoruba armed robber that made people in the east tremble during early 90's. he was later captured and was shot in public. What if somebody brings up that issue and accuse igbos of his crimes?. You guys needs to quit tribalism so that a sense of logic can be reinstalled in your brain.

Incompetent nincompoop,

OPCMAN wanted data and I presented one to him. Base on you warped logic, how are we sure that the Yorubas in the east are not armed robbers as well?
At least the greatest known robbers in Nigeria: Oyenusi (Yoruba) Aneni (Edo) Shina Rambo (Yoruba) are not Igbos

Further anlysis of armed robbery as per above data

Igbo states
Abia = 89
Anambra = 96
Ebonyi = 51
Imo = 176
Enugu = 40
Total = 296

Yoruba states
Oyo = 224
Ogun = 107
Ekiti = 85
Ondo = 58
Osun = 51
Lagos = 70
Total = 598
Conclusions: Yorubas are FAR more into armed robbery than igbos

OPCMAN
The data is looking at you
from CBN, WHO, UNDP NDDC, federal office of statistics etc the story is the same

Ekiti is highest producer of hemp in Nigeria  

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://current.com/items/89110611_africa-ndlea-rates-ekiti-high-on-marijuana.htm

VICTOR OGUNJE, ADO EKITI

EKITI State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has rated the state as a leading producer of Marijuana a.k.a. Indian hemp on the African continent.

The Agency also threatened to prosecute any landlord who fails to monitor his tenants’ means of livelihood.

NDLEA also revealed that a landlord was now helping it to trace the whereabouts of his tenant who allegedly stocked 34kg of Indian hemp at the popular Fayose market, located at the Ajilosun area of Ado Ekiti.

The Command had also launched a manhunt for one Bunmi Adeleye, who was said to have fled after being caught with 2.2kg of substance suspected to be a dangerous weed

Making the disclosures yesterday in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, the state Commander of the anti-drug body, Mr Ben Ikani had declared that the largest seizure which was discovered in the state last April had made the state to be recognized by the United Nations Anti- drug department as one of the areas vulnerable to drug abuse

Operatives of the NDLEA had made a landmark record, through the seizure and destruction of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, worth N84million by conservative estimation of the Agency.

Ikane disclosed the Agency would be collaborating with the state government on the need to sensitize the public to reduce the scourge of drug abuse in the state, even as he solicited for useful information that would enable the Agency to be more efficient in its duties

According to him "We are in dire need of information because we need it to perform. We are not magicians, so we can only nab the perpetrators of this dastardly act if we have useful information from people.

"Though, a lot of programmes are on Radio and Television to get the people acquainted with the evils behind drug abuse and bad name attached to it. So, I assure, no efforts would be spared to make the state Drug free", he said

On the warning to the landlords to be wary of the activities of their tenants, Ikani disclosed that the law establishing the Agency empowered it to prosecute a landlord as an accomplice if he fails to promptly report the activities of his tenant.

Ikani said those now at large could not be declared wanted at present, clarifying that such order must come from the Headquarters of the Agency in Abuja.

He said, the culprit, Adeleye, who had escaped had not been arrested when he had fled, saying he managed to escape when his men had laid an ambush for him during a night operation

On the success recorded by the Agency in its efforts to rehabilitate some victims of drug abuse, the Commandant revealed that no fewer that four persons had been rehabilitated and some were still receiving treatment to bring them to normal life.

^^^^^^
Further anlysis of armed robbery as per above data

Igbo states
Abia = 89
Anambra = 96
Ebonyi = 51
Imo = 176
Enugu = 40
Total = 296

Yoruba states
Oyo = 224
Ogun = 107
Ekiti = 85
Ondo = 58
Osun = 51
Lagos = 70
Total = 598
Conclusions: Yorubas are FAR more into armed robbery than igbos

Oyo, Imo, Ogun, others lead in armed robbery
By Yusuf Alli Published Today News Rating: Unrated
Armed robbery cases are more pronounced in seven of the 36 states, it was learnt yesterday.

The states are Oyo, Imo, Ogun, Kano, Cross River, Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The crime figures, which are contained in the 2008 Report of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), are based on cases reported to the police as at the end of 2007.

The breakdown of the armed robbery cases in the seven states, as at 2007 ending, is as follows: Oyo (224); FCT (172); Imo (176); Rivers (145); Cross River (137); Kano (108); and Ogun (107).

But while Lagos State recorded a drastic fall in armed robbery cases from 300 to 70, eight states had less than 28 armed robbery incidents.

The states are: Gombe(27); Benue(27); Plateau(26); Kwara(25); Sokoto(24); Jigawa(16); Kebbi(20); and Yobe(20).

The ratings of others are: Abia(89); Adamawa(96); Akwa Ibom(88); Anambra(96); Bauchi(41); Bayelsa(52); Borno(41); Delta(63); Ebonyi(51); and Edo(79).

Others are Ekiti(85); Kaduna(40); Katsina(31); Kogi(41); Nasarawa(36); Niger(32); Ondo(58); Osun(51); Taraba(80);

Although it could not be ascertained why the 2007 figure for Enugu State was not listed, a source said: "we had 44 cases for the state as at 2006."

The source in the NBS, who spoke in confidence with The Nation, said the figures are "the current official records/data which any institution or person could work with."

"We based our statistics on the five-year data provided by the Nigeria Police Force and the period in question had covered 2003 to 2007 for comparison. But the latest figure will be that of 2007 which we have produced as a report that is already in circulation in government and public.

"We got far-reaching statistics from the police including the numbers of persons arrested; those prosecuted for robbery; suspects awaiting trial; civilians killed by armed robbers; armed robbers killed by the police; the injured robbers; and cases pending investigation.

"The statistics is not meant to ridicule any state but it will assist those with high crime rates to improve on their security network. For the police in particular, it would allow them to take stock and strengthen their operation in flash-points," the source added.

The report said: "The Data on public order are sourced from the Nigeria Police Force. They cover crimes, road accident cases and casualties, armed robbery cases and involvement, vehicles stolen and recovered, court cases, juvenile cases and bank frauds."

The report identified Jigawa and Kogi states as the least poor states. Others are Kebbi, Kwara, Yobe and Bauchi.

It states: "The poverty incidence by state reveals the differences in the well-being of the people across the states.

"For example, Jigawa has the highest poverty incidence (91 per cent), while Oyo State has the lowest (21 per cent). In addition, the first 11 states with the highest poverty incidence are from the North. As for the depth and severity, Kogi ranks highest, while Oyo has the lowest.

"The likely reasons for high poverty levels in Jigawa and Kogi are heavy reliance on agriculture, high level of unemployment and low level of human capital development.

"On the other hand, the low poverty incidence recorded for Oyo is basically from the lower cost of living when compared to other states of the country. Food prices, transportation fares and accommodation rents are relatively low in Oyo State, including Ibadan, the capital."

http://thenationonlineng.net/web/articles/8965/1/Oyo-Imo-Ogun-others-lead-in-armed-robbery/Page1.html

Again Yoruba leads

Ile Eru Jailed
By Akin Kuponoyi

A Lagos drug baron, Akindele Kumoluyi a.k.a. Ile-Eru is to spend the next 10 years behind bars.

The sentence was handed down this morning by the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos after the accused drug baron pleaded guilty to two count of criminal charges of importation of illegal drugs, and aiding and abetting a courier to import illegal drugs.

Initially, Akindele, who was standing trial before Justice Tijani Abubakar, pleaded not guilty to charges against him.

However, this morning he changed his plea from not guilty to guilty after the charges were read to him.

In the first charge, Kumoluyi was accused of importing 10 kilogrammes of cocaine while in the second charge, he was accused of aiding Abdul Fatai Olori, to import a consignment of illegal substances from Brazil.

The charge was filed by the NDLEA Director of Prosecution and Legal Practices, Femi Oloruntoba, who urged the court to convict him as charged.

In his plea for leniency, the counsel to the convicted baron, Wahab Shittu, said the court should be lenient because he lost his father during his incarceration.

The counsel said Ile Eru has an aged mother who is over 80 years, and she has been traumatised by this case, adding that the convict has had no contact with his wives and 10 children and that the children’s education has been affected.

Shittu further appealed to the court to be lenient. He cited Mathew 6 : 9, Mark 10 and likened the case of the convicted baron to that of a prodigal son.

In his own reaction, Mr. Oloruntoba told the court that the convict had no previous record of conviction.

In his judgement, Justice Tijani Abubakar said the allocutus of Shittu is unprecedented and asked when he became Pastor and Imam.

Consequently he sentenced the convict to 20 years imprisonment, five years for each count charge, to run concurrently from the day of his arrest.

He has already spent three years in prison.



http://thepmnews.com/article/863

Do the math, folks

Igbo poverty =27% of the population
Yoruba poverty = 43 % of the population.

That is whooping isn't?

Having one Adenuga or Otedola (crass bank debtor) does not make Yoruba rich. It is how the masses (99.9% of the population) fair that matters

CBN report

In a Central Bank of Nigeria document in 2007, then Governor Soludo showed that though most Nigerians are poor, the northern states are more ravaged by poverty. Poverty in Nigeria has a clear northern face as the 10 poorest states in Nigeria are all in the north, with Jigawa State having the terrible record of 95 per cent of its population living in poverty. The Central Bank data also showed that between 1980 and 2004, poverty increased from 13 per cent to 35 per cent of the population of the South-South, 13 per cent to 27 per cent in the South-East, and 13 per cent to 43 per cent in the South-West. Bad as these appalling trends in the south are, the situation in the north is far worse. In the North-Central, poverty ballooned from 36 per cent of the population in 1980, to 72 per cent in 2004. In the North-East, it went from 36 per cent in 1980 to 72 per cent in 2004. For the North-West, the trend was from 38 per cent to 71 per cent. These are frightening trends which have continued unabated. Even The Guardian of August 4, 2009 reported what UNICEF called a 'silent malnutrition emergency' in children in the northern states of Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina, Kano, Adamawa and Gombe. It is this unrelenting poverty and hopelessness which breeds fanaticism and bigotry like those shown by Boko Haram.


http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/editorial_opinion/article02//indexn2_html?pdate=100809&ptitle=Caught between <I>Boko Haram</I> and 'Governance <I>Haram</I>'

Igbo masses are richer than Yoruba masses by how many %?