₦airaland Forum

“An army marches on its stomach.”

Right now several millions of Nigerians’ stomachs are empty; and movement has virtually stopped. Unfortunately, it is not only the scarcity of food and high prices which are slowing us down, scarcity of all the things which make life worth living in the new millennium imperil us. Fuel is scarce; and will remain so indefinitely. The Minister of Power is powerless and can seldom supply beyond 4,000MW per day. The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, after the initial attempt to force down exchange rate, is now tired and bewildered.

Everybody in Nigeria, including its authors, apparently, has forgotten there was once a document titled Renewed Hope. Pervasive scarcity was predicted by Vanguard Newspaper in December 2023. We were preaching to the deaf. Indisputable and punishing truths now stare us in the face. Because, for me, food comes first, permit me to give the floor to a real victim of on-going famine in Nigeria. It is heart-rending.

The story appeared on the back page of the Weekend Trust, written by Dr Fatima Damagun, titled, ‘‘Nigeria’s hunger crises’’. I was tempted to ignore it. After all, what else can be said about the subject? But, Fatima is an engaging writer and her articles are must-read for me. For somebody passionate about the food crisis, I was shocked to the bone marrows. Please read.

“On days when they cannot afford to eat rice or tuwo for dinner, the wife treks to a nearby village where women like her pick a type of leaf called Tafasa Senna Tora. The plant grows wild in most of the tropics and is considered a weed in many places. When the plant is not available, his wife usually buys it at N200 per bowl and then takes it home to prepare it. The leaves are washed and mixed with oil, maggi and pepper and consumed as a local salad.

Those who have eaten this leaf attest to its foul taste. No amount of maggi or pepper can mask its foul taste. It is eaten solely to subdue the pangs of hunger.”

Merely reading the story about a family in her community was enough to make one throw up. The fact that this foul-smelling leaf had been commercialised provides conclusive proof that other families and individuals are now forced to swallow it. That should also warn all of us about the food calamity which lies ahead. Only God knows how many of us are now compelled to eat from other peoples’ dust bins.

There are more dangers ahead. Here is why.

More floods expected nationwide

“Declare emergency on flood, ravages states, N-HYPPADEC begs FG” – Vanguard news report on September 3, 2024.

The report by Wole Mosadomi, pointed out why the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) is making this needless appeal to the Federal Government – which is blissfully unaware that Tinubu’s food security programmes are in shreds on account of floods in about 29 states.

Specifically, the Commission drew attention to loss of lives in Niger and Kebbi states; 634 communities and 30,000 farmlands affected in Benue; 6,959 households and 10,000 farmlands in Kebbi state.

Before N-HYPPADEC raised its own alarm, reports from Yobe and Adamawa states indicate widespread flooding in the North-East before the release of water from Lagdo dam in Cameroon – which inevitably brings disaster every time. Obviously, the worst food tragedies are still ahead of us. The temporary relief provided by the drop in food prices of perishable food items like tomatoes and peppers might lure us into a false sense of progress – when indeed the reverse is the case. This year’s harvest, in the aggregate, might still be the worst ever in a long time.

Time to think out of the box

“Impress it on the mind of any man that he can do no wrong; and he will soon convince you of your mistake.” – Joel Barlow, 1754-1812

Presidents and Governors always announce that they “want all hands on deck”. In reality, the only hands they want to see on deck are those of sycophants and boot-lickers. They invariably prefer the “Yes-men”; who assure them that they can do no wrong. Their appointees falsify reports; stifle the truth from reaching them; and when it finally does, shift the blame to political opponents –until the man leaves office and can do nothing to correct the mistakes made.

The biggest mistake being made right now concerns the efforts to achieve sustainable food security for Nigeria. At the federal and state levels, our leaders still assume that all governments have to do is to provide inputs and farmers can go to farms to produce what we need. Nothing can be more fallacious. States which have launched tractors; provided fertilisers and other inputs, are now confronted with banditry, floods and drought. Of what use are combine harvesters when the crops shrivel on account of drought or are washed away by flood, or stolen by bandits? Obviously, a new approach is needed; based on shifting more agricultural activities upland and to more secure urban/suburban areas. Yet, nobody is working on this.

Palliatives advertise failure and are unsustainable for long. People in any nation are not fed by being given food. They are best fed by being encouraged, even forced, to produce food.

Fuel prices officially gallop

“Anxiety as pump price of petrol races towards N1,405/litre.” – Vanguard Newspaper, on the same day, brought Nigerians more bad news. After experiencing queues for weeks, the pump price in some states was approaching N1,405; and the next day, all the news media were reporting official rise in pump price of petrol ranging “between N930 and N1,350/litre”. Predictably, confusion engulfed the fuel market. Still the fuel was not available everywhere. It was ironical that a week after the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, ordered traders to crash prices of commodities or face the wrath of government, fuel prices have galloped faster than any other commodity. Will Mr Tunji Bello, the Chief Executive of FCCPC, order the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, to crash price and return to N610/litre? It is doubtful.

The sudden rise of petrol prices and FCCPC’s previous ill-advised order reflect a totally confused government – which is not in control of the situation.

However, because price is an instrument for crowd control, the new price, whatever it might be, has kicked some consumers out of the fuel market. One of my acquaintances, a hotelier, struggling to keep the place running despite dwindling patronage, has retrenched all his staff. Revenue no longer covers the cost of running generators alone; he intends to convert the hotel to residential building. As he said sadly, “Let the tenants worry about how to buy fuel for their generators. I am out of it”. Twenty people are now jobless.

Power deception

“Power generation hits 5,313MW, first time in three years.” – News report.

Just in case you think that Nigeria is making progress on power generation and before the spin doctors take over, please remember this. Nigeria was once alleged to be the largest economy in Africa with GDP estimated at $510 billion. Now, the GDP is closer to $270 billion; and we are now number four. Here is one reason: South Africa produces 244,383 GWh of power, Egypt, 209,677GWh, Algeria 83,390 GWh, Morocco 42,561 GWh and Nigeria 36,037 GWh. FG failed again.

jmoore:
https://www.tvcnews.tv/2024/09/tanker-explosion-in-minna-leaves-30-dead-50-cattle-burnt/

ivandragon:
Surveillance drones would also greatly help to track smugglers so the security forces can intercept.

Nigerian parents are complaining as they grapple with rising costs of tuition, transportation, and basic goods that have put pressure on household budgets as schools resume on Sept. 9.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, some parents expressed their frustration as they prepare for the new academic session amid economic hardship.

Mr Chimuze Eze, a banker, said that last year’s increase in school-related expenses had continued this year, worsening the situation.

“Last year, we experienced an increase in school fees; transportation to schools was almost doubled. Now, we are also faced with the same challenge.

“The recent increase in the price of petrol will impact on transportation, and just like every other thing, it is a ripple effect.

”It is going to affect food prices, tuition fees, everything will go up,” Eze said.

According to him, in the next few days, when students and pupils are going back to school, it will be a really tough time for the parents.

“To be honest, we are not looking forward to those tough days. We just hope that something happens urgently,” he said.

Jessica Nana, a mother of two, decried the high cost of preparing her children for school.

“Things are very hard. My children are going to resume school next week, and I can not boast of getting everything they need,” she said.

Nana noted that the cost of school fees and transportation had surged, making it harder for parents to cope.

“The bus fare is now very high. We are hoping that the price of things will come down. If not, it is going to affect school resumption because everything has tripled.

” We are praying and hoping that things will get better,” she said.

Mr Joseph Okoh, a businessman, said that he had to move his children to a cheaper school that was affordable for him.

” I have to take this decision so that I can meet up with other essentials of life that have also doubled.

“The cost of transportation and feeding alone is high. It is almost impossible to provide proper meals these days.

” Things are more expensive than before, and I only hope that things will get better soon,” Okoh said.

Mrs Funmilayo Ade, a resident of Nyanya, said that the financial burden on parents was now more pronounced.

“It has been hard for us because no matter how much we save; it is never enough.

” We are hoping to get enough money to buy necessary things for schools’ resumption and then another increase in fuel price which further worsened the situation,” she said.

Ade appealed to the Federal Government to look into the fuel price, which had multiplier effect on the economy, and act on it to save Nigerians. (NAN)

Many Nigerians invested hopes in the Dangote Refinery and thought it would bring stability to Nigeria’s chaotic petroleum industry. But on the cusp of its coming on stream, it began to be dogged by regulatory and other kinds of puzzling troubles from the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.

Why is a refinery that is supposed to be a shining light of domestic investment stymied by needless state-sanctioned controversies?

We sought answers to our question on August 31 during an impassioned and insightful two-hour discussion in the third edition of the Diaspora Dialogues, a monthly discussion show organized by Dr. Osmund Agbo, Professor Moses Ochonu, and I, which attracted scores of attendees.

My colleagues and I are by no means experts in the oil industry. That was why Professor Ochonu, who anchored the discussion, first did extensive documentary research to establish the background to the issue and later invited contributions from the audience. Although more than 10,000 people watched the discussion from my Facebook livestream, our Zoom could only contain 100 people at a time.

In response to multiple requests from people who missed the show, I offer a summary of the conversation in this week’s column in light of the continuing centrality of the issues we discussed, especially as Nigeria grapples with yet any steep petrol price hike amid availability struggles in spite of the coming on stream of the Dangote Refinery.

The Dangote Refinery began test production this week and was, according to Aliko Dangote, ready to roll out its petrol right way, but it still faced the challenge of securing enough crude locally to feed its 650,000-barrels-per-day-capacity refinery.

Prof. Ochonu, in his background to the issues, pointed out that one or more possibilities could explain why the Dangote Refinery was stuck in prolonged gestation: the NNPC and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) wanted to withhold crude from Dangote to sabotage the refinery, or they wanted to punish him on behalf of the present administration for allegedly supporting Tinubu’s rival during the 2023 presidential election, or they didn’t have the crude to supply to Dangote and wanted to use the ludicrous and false excuses and propaganda of “substandard products,” “no license,” and non-completion to cover the fact that they were not able to supply crude to Dangote.

It also seemed, Prof. Ochonu added, that the NNPC and International Oil Companies (IOCs), NNPC’s joint venture partners, are not able to guarantee supply of crude to Dangote for even more tragic reasons.

He pointed to the fact that two successive APC governments have mortgaged much of Nigeria’s 1.5 million bpd production to secure so-called crude-backed loans running into billions of dollars, which have to be repaid with future crude production. It started with Buhari and continues with Tinubu.

Ochonu’s research revealed that the NNPC and the NUPRC wanted to continue exporting crude because such transactions are done in dollars and are shady dealings involving middlemen, bribes, cuts, and layers of profiteering.

Even though the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) mandates the NUPRC to ensure the supply of crude to local refinery as a priority over export, the NUPRC claimed that they could not compel the IOCs to supply Dangote because the IOC’s had signed prior crude supply contracts with buyers overseas, some of whom financed their crude extraction operations in Nigeria. The IOCs, the NUPRC claimed, would be in violation of those contracts if they supplied Dangote with crude.

Mr. Dan Kunle, a respected oil industry expert and former Senior Technical Adviser to a past Minister of Petroleum Resources, in his contribution, said perhaps the reluctance of the NNPC and NUPRC to supply Dangote crude stemmed from their hope that it would derail the refinery because if Dangote started production, they’d no longer have a reason to export the 450, 000 bpd set aside for local refineries, which has been exported since the local state refineries stopped functioning over a decade ago.

Tinubu’s directive to the NNPC to sell crude to Dangote in naira is a welcome development if implemented, but the key questions are: 1) Where is the crude (650,000 needed by Dangote) going to come from when export contracts and crude-backed loan obligations have already been signed by government and its oil industry entities? 2) Will the NNPC comply with the directive, which reduces its lucrative crude export business?

The show raised several pertinent questions that arise from the accusations and counter-accusations between Dangote and government entities trying to sabotage his refinery:

One, how much of Nigeria’s daily crude production has been committed to creditors who loaned the Buhari and Tinubu administrations billions?

Two, how has the 450,000 crude set aside for domestic refining been handled over the years? According to Mr. Kunle, the NNPC exports these 450,000 barrels because local refineries are currently comatose.

In what they call crude swap deals, the crude is then refined abroad and resold to Nigeria as petrol. But as Kunle asked during the show, apart from the petrol derived from it, what’s been happening to the other derivatives from the refining process—diesel, kerosene, etc.? The NNPC has never given Nigerians an account of these derivatives. If they’re sold, to whom are they sold and how much has been realized over these decades?

Three, how much fuel do Nigerians consume daily? The NNPC and its subsidiaries bandy around outlandish figures that are disputed by industry experts. Kunle said during the show that one of the potential benefits of Dangote’s refinery is that it will reveal the true, accurate numbers regarding Nigeria’s daily fuel consumption/demand, which will potentially expose one layer of fraud in the fuel importation regime, where many industry experts have long suspected that the importation cabal have been inflating Nigeria’s daily fuel needs to submit false invoices that rely on the bogus consumption claims.

Four, why would Nigeria’s oil law, the PIA, not trump and supersede whatever other contracts and laws NNPC and IOCS have entered into? The PIA clearly authorizes the NNPC to prioritize the crude needs of local refineries such as Dangote and other smaller ones, whose combined daily crude need is put at 597,700 barrels per day (bpd)?

Five, when will the allegedly refurbished Port Harcourt and Warri refineries commence operations (the NNPC has postponed the commencement of operations three times now, with the last postponement done to the end of August), and where will the crude come from and at what price (dollar or naira, subsidized or prevailing international price?)

Professor Ochonu pivoted to the possible motives and identities of people who might have a personal or business investment in killing the Dangote Refinery. He named three.

The first, he said, are the honchos at the NNPC and oil regulating agencies. Their motive, he pointed out, is to maintain the status quo of lucrative and fraudulent fuel importation and crude export businesses.

The second, he pointed out, is the Tinubu government. The motive might be to sabotage a businessman who allegedly funded Tinubu’s opponent during last year’s presidential election.

Another motive, Prof. Ochonu added, might be to protect the rapidly expanding midstream and downstream dominance of Tinubu family-owned OANDO in the Nigerian oil industry. Dangote would be a direct and massive competitor.

The third entities Prof. Ochonu identified were a conspiracy of international oil refineries and a crude-buying and fuel-marketing cabal. He called attention to a report by investigative journalist David Hundeyin that blew the lid on a campaign by a Western oil cabal against Dangote refinery.

The oil company offered to pay Hundeyin and perhaps local journalists to write stories against Dangote using a prepared script of environmentalism and environmental protection, which is a clear ruse to hide their true motive of wanting to maintain the status quo of their purchase of Nigerian crude, refining it poorly below European standards, and re-exporting it to Nigeria at massive profits.

A US-based Nigerian engineer and industry expert by the name of Dr. Muhammad Kabir Hassan, corroborated Hundeyin’s claims during the show.

The final issue tackled in the show had to do with the scandal of NNPC retail (NNPCL) purportedly purchasing a company named OVH (OANDO, Velar, Helios)

The OVH scandal is related to what is happening to Dangote because, after allegedly purchasing OVH (for how much, no one knows and commenters on the show said NNPC owes Nigerians an explanation and the transaction numbers), the NNPC then turned around and inexplicably asked a judge to dissolve its retail arm (NNPCL-Retail) and then, in a move that should be a first in history, turned over all of its retail operations (fuel stations and depots all over the country) to OVH to run.

This means that OVH staff and managers have replaced NNPCL staff at all NNPC fuel stations, which have now been rebranded as OVH. OVH, of course, emerged only a few years ago as a result of a merger involving OANDO, Velar, and Helios (hence the acronym). All three were small players in the retail (downstream) sector of the Nigerian oil industry, but with tentacles in fuel importation.

Dr. Hassan enjoined Nigerian journalists to investigate the true ownership of OVH at the Corporate Affairs Commission, the amount NNPC paid for OVH, the terms of the sale, and what, if any, benefits are accruing to OANDO, Tinubu’s family business, from NNPC’s purchase of OVH and its surrender of its sprawling retail business to the acquired entity.

The people of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa have expressed shock and disappointment over the increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the NNPC Retail Management.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NNPC Retail Management had on Tuesday approved an upward review of the pump price from N617 per litre to N897 litre, effective from Sept. 3.

This is amid economic hardship and persistent fuel scarcity.

Checks by NAN revealed that the NNPC retail stations immediately adjusted their pumps and totems (price boards), reflecting the new PMS price of N897 as against N617 perlite.

Many residents in Maiduguri, Yola and Damaturu, who spoke to NAN said that it was more worrisome that the product was not even available at the cost of N897, forcing them to buy a litre from the black market for between N1,000 and above.

In Maiduguri, most filling stations have no fuel, while the few with fuel are selling from N1,100 and above leading to an increase in transport fares by about 30 per cent.

However, Borno Government mass transit taxis and buses are still conveying passengers within Maiduguri at the old prices of N100 per drop for taxis and N50 for buses.

Yakubu Baba, a civil servant said it was unfortunate and insensitive that the increase was coming when the government was yet to implement the new minimum wage.

“Its sad we continue to experience a series of increases in prices of things despite the non-implementation of minimum wage by the Federal and most state governments.

“Such development looks more like punishment for workers and other Nigerians.”

In Yola, the capital of Adamawa where the commodity sells for between N1,100 and N1,200 per litre, transport fares have been increased by 30 per cent.

Malam Buba Ali, a driver, said the situation had paralysed both intra and interstate transportation in the state.

According to Ali, it has made the transport business to be more of survival than profit.

“Our fear now is that prices of spare parts and other commodities will increase,” he said.

Dahiru Buba, the Adamawa Chairman of Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), also condemned the increase which he said could push some of his members out of business.

In Damaturu, the capital of Yobe, residents said already there was fuel scarcity in the state which was worsened by the hike.

Alhaji Baba Dan’Iya, a businessman, described the increase as a “double blow” to the already struggling economy and pockets of many Nigerians.

“We are still grappling with the aftermath of insurgency in the state, and now this fuel hike, which is further exacerbating our challenges,” he lamented.

Malam Bukar Modu, a commercial driver, said the hike had significantly increased his operational costs.

“The increase in fuel prices has forced us to raise transportation fares, which has affected our customers,” he said.

Alhaji Faruq Mamman, a farmer, expressed fears that the hike would lead to a surge in the prices of agricultural inputs and food items.

“Farmers rely heavily on transportation to transport their produce to markets. With the increase in fuel prices, we anticipate a corresponding rise in the cost of food,” he said.

Mr Suleiman Sani, a civil servant, advised the government to rethink and address the hardship caused by the fuel hike.

“We understand the economic challenges facing the country, but the burden should not be borne solely by the common man,” he said.


NAN reports that most filling stations in Damaturu remained closed due to the scarcity of fuel.

The few stations that opened were selling the product at exorbitant prices, ranging from N1, 450 to N1, 500 per litre.

DANGOTE

PRESS STATEMENT

NNPC YET TO LIFT OUR PETROL

Our attention has been drawn to a headline "NNPC lifts Dangote Petrol, sells at N897 per litre" published in the BusinessDay Newspapers of Wednesday, 4 September 2024.

We would like to state that NNPC has not commenced lifting of refined Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, from our Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

Therefore, the issue of fixing the price of petrol lifted from our refinery does not arise, as we are yet to finalize our contract with NNPC.

The PMS market is strictly regulated, which is known to all oil marketers and stakeholders in the sector, hence we can not determine, fix, or influence the product price, which falls under the purview of relevant government authorities.

We urge the public to disregard the headline as it is misleading and does not represent the true position in this matter. We are guaranteeing Nigerians of exceptionally high quality petroleum products that will be readily available all over the country.

Anthony Chiejina Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer
04 September 2024

Gabriel Idahosa, President and Chairman of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, has said that Dangote Refinery does not have business with the price Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) is sold at the filling stations.


Idahosa disclosed this on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television monitored by DAILY POST.

His comments come amid the latest increase of petrol pump prices to N897 and N855 per liter by Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited retail outlets at the same time Dangote Refinery announced the rollout of PMS.

Reacting to the development, Idahosa explained that it is not the responsibility of Dangote Refinery to determine the prices of petrol in filling stations.

According to him, it is the NNPCL and other petrol marketers that determine the product price.

“Dangote is not a petroleum retailer. It does not have a petrol station. No refinery has business with the price petrol is bought at the filling station.


“Dangote is a factory and has an ex-factory price.

“Whosoever wants to buy whether NNPCL or anybody can go to Dangote Refinery to buy.

“Dangote Refinery has no business announcing any price to anyone. It can only communicate to interested buyers whether NNPCL or any buyer.


“We should stop putting Dangote in a situation he should not be”, he said.

Recall that on Tuesday, the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote upon commencement of the petrol rollout announced that the price of the product would be determined by the Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council.

JAOS:
Nigeria-China sign MoUs on power, rail construction

Suspected bandits have ordered the residents of M.I Wushishi Estate in Minna, the Niger State capital, to vacate the estate or get killed.

The bandits suspected to be miners were said to have invaded the estate when most of the male residents had gone to work breaking cars and windows of houses.

A resident who pleaded anonymity on Monday said the attack came after residents had gone to report the matter at a neighbourhood police station.

The resident said, “Hoodlums we suspect are miners in the neighbourhood have asked all the residents of MI Wushishi Housing Estate in Minna, the Niger State Capital to vacate their homes or get killed.

“These guys invaded the community in broad light, breaking window glasses. several cars were also damaged.”

He added, “You will know that the attack came after residents reported to the police how illegal miners in the community have caused damage to our homes.

“These guys told us that they were coming for us and they came. They came after most men had gone to work. Many top civil servants, including directors and permanent secretaries, live in the estate.

“I know of many people who have moved out of the estate this evening for fear of the attacks. Nowhere is safe in the state. If bandits and terrorists are not chasing people from their homes it is hoodlums and miners. Where is government for the Sake of Allah.”

When contacted on Tuesday, the Niger State Police Command spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the attack but noted that peace had returned to the estate.

“On 02/09/2024 at about 1400hrs, a distress call was received that suspected illegal miners, miscreants/thugs engaged in a fight and were attacking houses at M.I Wushishi Estate, Minna.

“Police patrol teams led by DPO Maitumbi moved to the scene and the miscreants were dispersed, however, one person among the gangs whose identity is yet to be known was killed by the hoodlums, and was taken to the general hospital morgue.

“Meanwhile, normalcy was restored, investigation is ongoing to arrest the assailants and the patrol teams have been positioned in the area to forestall reoccurrence,” Abiodun stated.

The corpses of 37 villagers killed by Boko Haram insurgents have been evacuated from Mafa, a town in Tamuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State.

Sources told Daily Trust that the remains of the victims were moved to Babbangida General Hospital ahead of mass burial which will take place by 10 am.

Yobe State Deputy Governor, Hon Idi Barde Gubana, will lead top government officials to attend the burial at Babbangida Emir’s palace, headquarters of Tarmuwa LG.

Sources from the affected community told Daily Trust that at least 87 people were killed by the insurgents.

“We can categorically say that they killed at least 87 people. We could not show you the remains of the victims because some of them died in the bush, even the military failed to find them.”

“So far, 37 corpses are in Babbangida General Hospital after military evacuated them from the affected community while the decomposed corpses would be buried at the scene.”

Boko Haram terrorists were said to have killed many villagers, mainly farmers, and set houses and shops ablaze at Mafa.

Sources told Daily Trust that the insurgents attacked the village around 4pm when residents were returning from their farms.

Last month, two persons were killed and 475 households displaced in an attack by Boko Haram which reportedly affected over 2,390 people across four communities within Mafa ward.

A source said the attack might be a retaliation against the villagers for allegedly providing information to the military, which led to the killing of several insurgents last month.

“In July, some residents provided intelligence about the terrorists’ activities to the military, which resulted in a successful operation against them. This likely angered the insurgents, leading to the recent attack,” the source said.

The spokesman of the Yobe State Police Command, Dungus Abdulkarim, confirmed the attack in a phone call with Daily Trust, but noted that details were still unclear due to the network failure in the affected area.

“We cannot yet confirm the exact number of casualties, but the attack occurred around 4 p.m. in Mafa. The insurgents arrived on over 50 motorcycles, setting shops and houses on fire and killing several people. They also left behind some fliers with Arabic inscriptions,” Abdulkarim said.

Special Adviser to the Yobe State Governor on Security Matters, Brigadier-General Dahiru Abdulsalam (Rtd), also confirmed the attack.

He said military personnel had been deployed in the area and that normalcy had been restored.

Mafa village is near Shekau village, hometown of the late Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau.

Gunmen have reportedly killed one policeman and a vigilante on patrol in Sokoto State.

It was learnt that the incident occured around 3am on Monday at Kwanan Milgoma along Sokoto-Bodinga road.

Although the Spokesman of the Sokoto Police Command could not be reached at the time of filing this report, a senior police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the attack to our reporter.

According to him, the operatives were caught unaware by the gunmen who came in a white Hilux.

“The gunmen met the operatives at a checkpoint along Sokoto-Bodinga road and opened fire on them. They killed one policeman and a vigilante and went away with two AK-47 rifles.

“Their bodies were deposited at the mortuary of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital,” he said.

Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents looted and set ablaze shops and houses in Mafa village in Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State.

DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, the Yobe police Command Spokesman, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu, the state capital, on Monday.

”We are yet to ascertain the number of lives lost in the incident, which occurred at about 4pm, on Sunday, in the remote village.

”The incident was reported to the Tarmuwa Divisional Police Station by Babagana Goni and Bako Ibrahim both residents of Mafa.”

“Suspected Boko Haram terrorists armed with rifles and RPG’s attacked Mafa ward on more than 50 motorcycles and set ablaze many shops and houses.

“The terrorists also killed many people, but we are yet to ascertain the actual number of the casualties,” the spokesman said.

He said that the gunmen also dropped some fliers with Arabic inscription.

NAN reports on Friday, terrorists also attacked a private school in neighbouring Geidam, killing three students and injuring one.

Bobloco:
https://punchng.com/no-individual-can-destroy-pdp-party-tells-wike/#google_vignette

A group under the aegis of Igbo National Council (INC) Worldwide has revealed that about 98 security checkpoints exist in the five states of the Southeast region.

It also lamented what it described as incessant harassment and extortion from citizens and motorists by the security personnel manning the checkpoints.

In a press statement issued by its National Coordinator, Chilos Godsent, he revealed that Abia State topped the list with 37 checkpoints followed by Imo State with 23 checkpoints.

It further revealed that Anambra and Enugu have 15 checkpoints each, as Ebonyi came behind with 8 checkpoints.

The press statement said that the research was carried out by the directorate of human rights protection, a research department of the council with the mandate of checking human rights violations by various security outfits in the region.

It further stated that the council was propelled to embark on the task following a series of reports from members of the public on the humiliations they were encountering in the hands of the security personnel on a daily basis.

Godsent further stated in the press statement that some of the checkpoints are manned by a joint task force, comprising the military, police and civil defense, while at some blockades it will be either the military or the police.

He stated that even though the group was not happy with the rate of insecurity in the region, the security operatives should carry out their operations with human face.

The group pointed out that if the security personnel kept to rules of their professional engagement, it would build a healthy relationship between them and the civilians who also have responsibility of helping the security outfits in the fight against criminalities.

But the group, however, regretted that the checkpoints and outposts have allegedly turned to illegal toll gates and humiliation points against civilians who are the road users.

Nigerian Policemen At Gunpoint Extort N3million From Ghana Returnee In Bayelsa

A Ghana-based Nigerian, Liberty Kelechi Isaac, has urged the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to fish out some policemen who extorted N3million from him on a gunpoint on Monday.

Isaac who hails from Nguru Nworie autonomous community in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State spoke to journalists in Owerri on Friday.

He narrated that the policemen accosted him and two of his friends on Monday at Udi axis in Bayelsa State and forced him at gunpoint to transfer N3million to them after manhandling him and threatening to shoot him.

Isaac who said that he was in the country to attend a friend's traditional marriage ceremony in Bayelsa State, disclosed that the policemen forced him to unlock his phone and on seeing a N10million bank alert, started beating him and threatened to kill him if he failed to transfer N6million to them.

He said "My name is Liberty Kelechi Isaac. I am from Nguru Nworie autonomous community in the Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo state. I base in Ghana. I have not been to Nigeria for six years now. I came to Nigeria to attend a friend's traditional wedding in Bayelsa State.

"After attending the traditional wedding and we were driving back to Imo State and around Udi axis, some policemen flagged us down. We stopped and they asked me to unlock my phone. I asked them why and they said I must open my phone. I reminded them that the Inspector General of Police asked Nigerians not to allow policemen on the road to access their phones. Immediately I said that, they started beating me.

"They handcuffed me and drove us away and continued beating me. They threatened to kill me if I refused to open it. I asked them to take me to a police station but they refused. So instead of me to die I obeyed them. Immediately they accessed my phone, they went to my messages log and saw a N10million bank alert. Immediately they saw the alert they shouted "Na dem."

"At that point the beating increased. They said that if I didn't give them N6m they would kill all of us. Out of fear I started negotiating with them and at end of the day I transferred N3m to them in two bank accounts they provided and drove with us and stopped us at Ahoda in Rivers State and drove back.

"I have printed my account statements from my banks and these are the account details they provided which I transferred the money to. I transferred N2m to one Yusuf Mustafa of Moniepoint Microfinance Bank and I also transferred N1m to one Jerry Ventures of Moniepoint Microfinance Bank with the account number 8179664512.

"I have consulted a lawyer and he has written to the Police Public Relations Officer in Bayelsa state. All I need is my money to be returned to me and for the Inspector General of Police to fish out the policemen who are giving the Nigeria police force a bad image. I believe with these account details they can be fished out.

"I want justice. I want my money returned to me because it is for my project. I want justice. Let the policemen who did this to me be identified so that other Nigerians won't become their victims. I don't know if it is a crime for somebody to come back to his country. I don't do any illicit business. I am a law abiding citizen of this country. I want justice. Let the inspector General of Police fish them out because they said they are from the IG Squad."

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Bayelsa State Police Command, Musa Muhammed, said that he was not aware of the incident.

naijapikin2:
Check out this picture of a Man Dressed up with tubers of yam.

Is this FOOD ABUSE?