The draws for the 2022 FIFA Under 20 World Cup were held yesterday night and the Super Falconets of Nigeria were drawn in group C along with France, Canada and Korea. The tournament will be held in Costa Rica from the 10th till the 28th of August, 2022.
Nigeria's first match will be against France on August 11th, it's second match will be against Korea on August 14th and its final group match will be against Canada on August 17th.
The Super Falconets have gotten to the final of the competition on two occasions. In 2010 Nigeria lost 2-0 to Germany in the final via an Osinachi Ohale own goal and a goal from Alexandra Popp (this was the set of Desire Oparanozie, Ebere Orji and co). Nigeria again lost to Germany in the 2014 edition, via a lone goal by Lena Petermann (this was the set of Asisat Oshoala, Courtney Dike and co).
Gunmen Set Vehicle Ablaze In Ebonyi Day After Buhari’s Arrival
By Joshua Odeyemi Fri, 06 May 2022 09:31:43 GMT
Gunmen suspected to be enforcing a two-day sit-at-home allegedly declared by yet-to-be identified dissident group in the South-East attacked Ebebe Junction in Abakaliki metropolis, Ebonyi.
The attackers, who struck around 6:20 a.m on Friday, set a vehicle ablaze while a motorcycle operator escaped death by a whisker.
Mr Anayo Chukwuemeka, a resident of the area, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that the attackers fired several gunshots that got residents panicking and scampering for safety.
“It happened in a flash. But when the gunshots died down and we came out, we saw that a vehicle has been burnt beyond recognition.
“The driver of the vehicle, who managed to escape, told us that the gunmen said they are enforcing the sit-at-home declared in protest of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Ebonyi.
“A motorcycle operator, who also escaped the attackers’ gunshots, told us that they fired at him but he miraculously dodged the bullets,” Chukwuemeka said.
Also, Mr Simon Onwe, a shop owner in the area, told NAN that the attackers came in a vehicle without a number plate, shot sporadically in the air and immediately fled.
“I was still inside my shop because I slept there; I heard the gunshots but I discovered later that they left a vehicle burnt beyond recognition while a motorcycle operator told us that he narrowly escaped their bullets.
“It’s so unfortunate that we witnessed such an ugly incident in this area that is usually very peaceful and with business activities, especially in evening periods,” he said.
Meanwhile, a combined team of men of the Nigeria Police and the Ebubeagu Eastern Security Outfit, Ebonyi Command, have cordoned off the area.
Mrs Loveth Odah, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebonyi command, when contacted for reaction, said that she was yet to get a report of the incident.
“I’m just getting the information from you; I’m not aware of the attack,” Odah said.
Meanwhile, an officer of the command at the scene of the incident told NAN on condition of anonymity that the police have organised a manhunt to apprehend the armed criminals.
However, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist group agitating for the independent state of Biafra, had in a statement signed by Emma Powerful, its media and publicity coordinator, said that the group has not declared any sit-at-home in the South-East.
Buhari arrived in Ebonyi on Thursday on a two-day state visit.
The President is expected to interface with leaders and stakeholders of the zone. (NAN)
UK makes U-turn, recognises IPOB as terrorist group excluded from asylum
TheCable MAY 5, 2022 10:29 PM
The government of the United Kingdom has made a U-turn on its treatment of members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), recognising Nigeria’s classification of the group as a terrorist organisation.
In a May 2022 update of its asylum policy, seen by TheCable, the UK government excluded members of the group from seeking refuge in England.
TheCable had reported in April 2021 that the UK was planning to grant asylum to persecuted members of the separatist group, as part of its refugee policy published at the time.
The policy, at the time, was for asylum to be granted to “persecuted” members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB)”.
The UKVI, a division of the Home Office, directed its decision makers to consider if a person “who actively and openly supports IPOB is likely to be at risk of arrest and detention, and ill-treatment which is likely to amount to persecution”.
If the person can prove persecution, then the IPOB member or supporter could be granted asylum.
UKVI TAKES DOWN POLICY NOTES
A few days after the policy notes were published, the UK government took it down, following complaints from the Nigerian government.
In July 2021, an updated policy on asylum was seen by TheCable, with no clear mention of IPOB, but more emphasis on Nigerians fleeing Boko Haram’s onslaught.
The UK said at the time that it would offer protection to “women, LGBTI persons and non-indigenes” who “may face additional discrimination which prevents them from being able to access effective protection”.
The UK government said Nigerians could now claim asylum in the UK if they face “fear of persecution and/or serious harm by members of Boko Haram because of” their “actual or perceived opposition to the group”.
UKVI RECOGNISES IPOB AS TERRORIST ORGANISATION
In its May 2022 policy update seen by TheCable, UKVI referred to IPOB as a terrorist organisation to be excluded from its asylum programme over alleged links to violence in the south-east.
“IPOB is proscribed as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government, and members of the group and its paramilitary wing – the Eastern Security Network (created in December 2020) – have reportedly committed human rights violations in Nigeria,” UKVI said in its policy notes.
It added that “MASSOB has been banned, but is not a proscribed terrorist group in Nigeria. It too has reportedly been involved in violent clashes with the authorities”.
UKVI went on to tell its decision makers that “if a person has been involved with IPOB (and/or an affiliated group), MASSOB or any other ‘Biafran’ group that incites or uses violence to achieve its aims, decision makers must consider whether one (or more) of the exclusion clauses under the Refugee Convention is applicable.
“Persons who commit human rights violations must not be granted asylum,” the UK added.
The policy brief noted that anyone excluded in this manner is also “excluded from a grant of humanitarian protection”.
UKVI also advised that “decision makers must, however, still consider all claims on an individual basis, taking into account each case’s specific facts”.
Since the last update in July 2021, Nnamdi Kanu, leader of IPOB and a UK citizen, has been in the custody of the Nigerian government on the grounds of allegations, including treason.
In its 2022 new year message, the group said the Nigerian national anthem will no longer be sung across schools in the southeast.
Suspected IPOB members were also recently killed by the Nigerian Army in a gun battle on Orlu–Orsu road in April.
Obinoscopy: Wow that's true. I missed it when I first saw the video.
I think that's because the Daily Post video is not very clear. I had seen this same video much earlier, probably from the first person that posted it and this one is very sharp, clear and crisp, so you can see even more people carrying guns, cutlasses and sticks.
The leader of the Autopiloters faction of Ipob, Simon Ekpa, had previously declared that there will be sit at home protests on the 16th, 17th and 18th of May. Now Mr Ekpa has taken to Twitter to condemn the DOS for the enforcement of today's protest.
Simon Ekpa @simon_ekpa
IPOB led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu never enforce sit at home using rag gunmen. The picture you see circulating on social media are from the expelled criminals trying to sabotage MNK. Today, they were no sit at home anywhere in Biafraland. Sit at home is 16th, 17th & 18th May 2022.
Obinoscopy: I don't see any guns. All I see are guys either marching or protesting. Or am I missing something?
Actually, it's a mixture. Some of them are armed with guns, some are carrying cutlasses or machetes and some are unarmed. For example, look at the person on the left side at the front of the line (right beside the water tank), he is carrying a gun. The person behind him is also carrying a gun.
You should see the exchange of insults and threats between the DOS and the Autopiloters.
naptu2: Watch this very interesting and amusing video. It continues the theme from my last post.
This professor, who is a member of the DOS faction, is accusing "That thing in Finland" (he is referring to Simon Ekpa) of stealing Ipob's M-Branch idea. M-Branch is the "secret service" and intelligence arm of Ipob.
The professor says that Nnamdi Kanu has spoken about M-Branch since 2018 and yet "that fool in Finland" says that he is forming M-Branch in 2022. He is particularly angry that people that he has worked with, members of Ipob are listening to that "Buffoon in Finland". He says some of these people have been members of Ipob since 2013, yet this they are listening to this "fool who joined Facebook in 2020" .
In his anger the professor almost said that Simon Ekpa joined Ipob in 2020, then he remembered that he was not supposed to admit that Ekpa was a member of Ipob, so he quickly corrected himself.
The exchange of threats between Chinasa Nworu (of the DOS) and Simon Ekpa (of the Autopiloters). They were threatening each other.
naptu2: This action is the result of the dispute between the Autopiloters and the DOS.
The Directorate of State is the organisation within Ipob that was set up by Nnamdi Kanu.
Leader: It is led by Chika Edoziem.
Enforcer: The enforcer and head of the military wing (ESN) is Chinasa Nworu.
Spokesman: The spokesman is Emma Powerful. Some speculate that Emma Powerful is Emmanuel Kanu, younger brother of Nnamdi Kanu, while others say that Emma Powerful is just a name that anybody can use (similar to Jomo Gbomo).
The Autopiloters
After Nnamdi Kanu was arrested, Ipob (DOS) engaged a person to serve as director of Radio Biafra while Kanu was in detention. That person was Simon Ekpa. He took Kanu's place and he was the one broadcasting on Radio Biafra.
However, the DOS sacked Simon Ekpa shortly afterwards because they said that he refused to sign the code of conduct for personnel of Radio Biafra and he was not doing what they wanted him to do. Simon Ekpa refused to go quietly and he accused the DOS of selling out to the government.
Ekpa created his own faction of Ipob, called the Autopiloters (because he said that the Biafra struggle was now on autopilot) and he began replicating the structures in the DOS.
The original faction of Ipob has the DOS, so Simon Ekpa created the DOE (Directorate of Emissary). Simon Ekpa also created his own version of ESN and M-Branch (the secret service wing of Ipob).
There came an exchange of threats between Simon Ekpa and Chinasa Nworu. The DOS want Nnamdi Kanu released from jail, therefore they toned down their rhetoric and violent activities. However, Simon Ekpa said that the DOS had sold out to the government and that was why they were now tame. ESN kidnapped and killed the Labour Party candidate in Anambra (Agbasimalo) and Chinasa Nworu was angry about that and severely warned them. Simon Ekpa then made a video in which he threatened Nworu and said that he must stop threatening ESN members.
The bottom line was that a lot of ESN members declared their loyalty to the Simon Ekpa faction of ESN and they have been staging terror attacks in the South-East. This belligerence has made many Ipob members to abandon the DOS and switch to Simon Ekpa. The DOS want to show that they can also be hard and they declared this sit at home. The armed men you see in this video are from the DOS faction of Ipob, not from Simon Ekpa's faction. IPOB Announces 5th, 6th May 2022 As Another Sit At Home Protest
Politics › Re: South-east Leaders Barred From Meeting With Buhari by naptu2: 8:57pm On May 06, 2022
