₦airaland Forum

Benikuuse:
Those who are insulting the government for this are very stupid. What will the federal government do when the illiterate unconscious delta boys are bombing pipelines and putting the country's economy to a stop

kozmokaz:
will d money bring bk the dead?

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court has imposed a fine of $3.3 million on Nigeria for the extra-judicial killing of eight citizens in the Apo District of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.
The regional court ordered Nigeria to pay a compensatory damage of $200,000 to each of the families of those killed, and $150,000 to families of those injured by a combined team of soldiers and operatives of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) during a raid of an uncompleted building the Apo Area of Abuja.

The eight Nigerians were killed when the security personnel opened fire on them on allegations they were linked to Boko Haram.
They were later found to be commercial motorcycle (Okada) riders who were taking living in the uncompleted building.

A non-governmental organization, The Incorporated Trustees of Fiscal and Civil Right Enlightment Foundation, had on behalf of the deceased dragged Nigeria, the Army and Department of State Security Services before ECOWAS Court.

In its ruling delivered by presiding Justice Friday Chijioke Nwoke, the court found Nigeria liable for brutally killing defenceless citizens contrary to the provision of the local and international law on the fundamental rights of citizens to life.

The panel of three Justices headed by Justice Nwoke condemned the killing as barbaric, illegal and unconstitutional and a breach of the fundamental rights of the deceased to life.

The court rejected the plea by Nigeria that its security personnel killed the deceased in attempt to defend themselves adding that there was no iota of evidence that any of the deceased carried knives or guns against the security men when they invaded their house.

Justice Nwoke said the action of the security personnel constituted a serious abuse of power and misuse of firearms against innocent citizens, because there was no conflict that should have warranted opening fire on defenceless citizens.

“There is no evidence of any attempt that the deceased and the survivors attempted to harm the security personnel. There is no evidence of recovered guns. There is no evidence of bullet or pellets recovered from the deceased and tendered before this court to prove the claim that the Nigerian security personnel acted in self-defence when they storm the house of the deceased,” the judge said.
“Rather the evidence abounds that the victims were unharmed while the security personnel were the one that open fire on the innocent and the defenceless citizens.”

• FGN saves N4.5bn monthly as 43,000 ghosts disappear
Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun has given a glimmer of hope on the economy, saying it is on the way to recovery.
Things are beginning to look up regardless of the current hiccups, she said at Sagamu, Ogun State, shortly after monitoring the Biometric Data Capturing exercise for members of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Friday.
Mrs. Adeosun said old investors were returning to the country gradually, adding that despite the drop in oil prices, the fundamentals about the economy still remained strong.
The programme was organised by the Police authorities and the Office of the Accountant -General of the Federation to facilitate direct and prompt payment of salaries into officers’ accounts, eliminate ghost workers and multiple payments among others.
The Federal Government, Adeosun said, was determined to turn the momentary painful period into advantages, remove wasteful spending and effectively tackle corruption so that the economy would not only recover, but government’s spending would also become beneficial to the majority of Nigerians.
“Old investors are coming back gradually and we have said that in a year’s time it will be a different economy it may be slow and painful but we would get there,” she said.
“Nigeria is going through a change and because of the decline in oil prices, the fundamental things about the Nigerian economy remain strong.
“What we have to do is to make sure this painful period is used to our advantage by removing the wasteful spending, stopping the corruption so that when money spent by government is spent very effectively to the benefits of the people and that is what is going to make this economy recover.”
Giving an update on the war against ghost workers, the minister said the number has now reached 43000 and the discovery has made it possible for government to reduce its wage bill by N4.5bý monthly.
She said none of the brains behind the fraud would go scot free.
Adeosun said the Biometric Data capturing exercise would be conducted for every employee of the federal government.
She said: “So far we have reduced what we pay monthly by N4.5bý and it has been increasing every day because those that are not supposed to be on the pay-roll are been removed.
“And we would keep doing that until we are sure that everybody receiving salary from the Federal Government is valid, and the only way we can do that is to pay salary directly into their accounts and we can also verify by using BVN to ensure that no multiple payments and that the people are alive. We are in talks with the EFCC and they are going to start the prosecution very soon. In fact, some people died and no one told us about their demise but through this exercise such kind of people will be discovered, but when people are fraudulent they should be prosecuted.”

•Says no reprieve for those behind $2.1b arms deals
•Draws battle line with militants, kidnappers
•Admits being under pressure over Naira free fall
•Accuses Jonathan of wasting N9b on National Conference


President Muhammadu Buhari says he is ready for probe over his 2015 campaign funding or any corruption-related allegations at any time.
And he is not prepared to spare any suspect implicated in the $2.1billion arms deals because the cash was illegally drawn from the public funds in the custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
The President, in a wide ranging interview with select newspaper editors as he concludes his first year in office, vows to deal with militants in the Niger Delta and kidnappers holding the nation hostage.

To him, the National Conference organized by the Jonathan Administration, is nothing more than a waste of N9billion, and admits he has not even bothered to touch the report of the confab.
The report may end up in the archives, he says.
On the fate of the Naira, he says he has been under pressure on how to save the currency.

He prays God to continue to protect him from doing anything that will soil his image and explains that even if he has immunity from prosecution now that he is in office, nothing stops the anti-graft agencies from probing leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) suspected of abuse of campaign funds.

His words: “I don’t know whether I have some official protection. If I don’t have it, why haven’t you started the investigation? I see, very good. But then, it doesn’t extend to all the executives and party leaders and the party leaders are there.

“If anybody has received $100 million to give to the party, I think he should be asked to tell us where he got the $100 million. I know those we would eventually successfully prosecute, they wouldn’t leave it, neither will they let their friends leave it. We do not believe if we were so reckless we would get away with it. I don’t believe it.

“Do you remember the three and half years when I was in charge of the petroleum ministry, have you forgotten the $2.8 billion (issue)? If you have forgotten, I haven’t. Have you forgotten the PTF (Petroleum Trust Fund)?

“In the PTF, at one stage we had more than N53 billion at a time, we planned and spent it. It was investigated subsequently.

“So I assure you that I feel perfectly safe. But nobody is perfect, only God is perfect. But let me tell you, from being governor of the six states (the old North Eastern State) which was only for seven months, to the petroleum ministry, to Head of State, and to PTF, I tried not to expose myself, and I hope God will continue to help me.”

On the $2.3billion arms scandal, the President said his administration will not give up in fighting against graft.

He said: “How can you take $2.1 billion meant to fight insurgency and share among yourselves and think that nothing should happen? Not to talk of when political money is being raised for elections and the Central Bank of Nigeria, NNPC, Customs funds are where the funds are collected from.

“We’ve made some progress in recovering this money, which I promised I will tell the nation in the next two or three days, just to show Nigerians that we haven’t given up and have no intention of giving up. We’re giving the people the opportunity of fair trial.

“They took the money and paid into some persons’ accounts, and there are signatures of some persons who admitted that they had taken the money.

Somebody comes and calls another, saying ‘you’re a member of this party?’ The other person responds by saying ‘yes’. Then, he’s told ‘take a N100 million to go and keep,’ and the other person doesn’t ask any questions. You take a N100 million and disappear, and subsequently you complain that you have received money for doing nothing?”


On militants and kidnappers he said: “Nobody would invest in an insecure environment. Those who had been in Nigeria for so many years can conduct feasibility studies. But why do they put money paying militants or paying for corruption? This means with all the goodwill we are winning, we may not be able to benefit in the long run because of the kidnapping and the actions of the militants.

“So it is a top priority for this government to address. Once we settle down to make sure that we deal with militants, we will deal with kidnappers also. We will secure this country.”

On the free fall of the Naira, he said: “I challenged Nigerian economists to tell me what benefits Nigeria has earned from the devaluation so far. How many factories have we built by killing the Naira? I have to reluctantly give up because the so-called Nigerian economists come and talk things to me, and when I raise issues they talk over my head instead of inside my head.

“For us to lose over N300 (every year we’re losing the value of the currency by N100), what for? Let them tell me how many factories they’ve built. I find myself in a very difficult state because the economists cannot tell me why we should continue to devalue our Naira. People say import, and we find out that we are just importing food! We’re now planning to stop importation of rice, wheat, maize in three years’ time.

“On the value of the Naira I’m still agonizing over it, that the Naira should be reduced to such a disgraceful level over the last 30 years. I need to be educated on this. But I’m not ruling this country alone. I’m under pressure and we’ll see how we can accommodate the economists.”

Regarding the report of the National Conference, Buhari said N9billion was wasted by the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

Tinkinguy:
”In any case, when President Jonathan met with the ACN and other political parties, we (ACN) told him clearly what the government had to do before contemplating fuel subsidy removal, if at all there is a subsidy. We said existing refineries must be made to work while new ones must be built, so we can stop exporting expertise, technology and jobs with crude oil. He promised to get back to us before taking any decision. He never did. Therefore, is anyone still wondering why the citizens here don’t trust their governments?” the party queried.

Tinkinguy:
ACN said it remains convinced that fuel subsidy removal is not in the interest of Nigerians, hence will not support it, and that – based on informed analysis – the average true price of a litre of fuel is 34.03 naira, which means Nigerians have been overpaying for the product.

tuale4u:
The first budget in 16years with clear vision, goal and deliberation. Very purposeful and ambitious budget.

jmichlins:
This man made it impossible for igbos to smell the office of the presidency for atleast next 24yrs. Kids and children will say whatever they want but men who knows the political equation that makes it possible for a region to produce a president understands perfectly what am talking about

LadyExcellency:
Ngige never held any pensionable political office hence his rants are inconsequential.

The supreme court called Ngige usurper who should in no way claim to be a former Governor.

The people of Ukpabi Nimbo, a community in the Uzo-Uwani area of Enugu State, which was attacked by Fulani herdsmen on Monday, have blamed security agencies for failing to act on “credible” information they provided before the attack.

The villagers, who said this when the Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, visited the community on Tuesday, stated that they were abandoned even after they alerted security agencies to the plan to attack them.

The General Officer Commanding, 82 Division, Enugu, Major General Attahiru Ibrahim, and the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State, Nwodibo Ekechukwu, were also in the village on Tuesday.

Security was beefed up in the community during the visit, with heavily armed military and police personnel positioned at strategic locations.

A community leader, Dr. George Ajogu, who spoke on behalf of the people of Ukpabi Nimbo at the village square, said the villagers were not taken unawares by the attack.

A corpse of one of the victims of the herdsmen’s attack, which was uncovered in the bush on Tuesday morning, was displayed in a police Toyota Hilux van at the event.

The corpse was said to be that of a secondary school teacher, who was reportedly abducted from his home and killed in the bush by the herdsmen.

Our correspondent observed deep machete cuts on the corpse.

Ajogu added that more corpses were being uncovered in the bush after more than 20 dead bodies were recovered on Monday.

He noted that the attack would have been prevented had the security agencies acted on information made available to them by the villagers.

In an emotion-laden voice, Ajogu stated, “Had it been that security agencies responded appropriately, this would not have happened.

“They (Fulani herdsmen) did not take us unawares, we knew they were coming.

“We are not happy; we have been crying for more than two weeks that our community is under threat. Now, over 20 people are dead.

“We are still discovering corpses; we discovered one corpse this morning and so many corpses are still in the bush.

“We have been shouting and crying but the security agencies did not come to our aid; only one police patrol van comes to this community.

“Because we lack security, the Fulani come here and tell us the land is theirs. They tell the farmers to kneel down and they rape the women in front of their husbands.”

Ajogu noted that due to the location of the village on the border between Enugu and Kogi states, residents of Ukpani Nimbo community were always under attacks from herdsmen, whom he stated sought to turn the villagers’ farmlands into grazing fields for their cattle.

Urging the federal and state governments to come to the assistance of the community, the spokesman said security should be beefed up in the village to forestall future attacks.

He also urged the security agents, who were deployed in the village to restore normalcy after Monday’s attacks, to remain in the community.

“Please don’t leave, if you leave now, they will return to attack us again.

“They (herdsmen) have been killing and raping our people for some time now,” the community leader added.

The Caretaker Chairman, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Mr. Cornel Onwubuya, said he personally alerted the governor, the commissioner of police and heads of other security agencies after he received a confirmation from some Fulani leaders in the area that the herdsmen were going to attack the community.

Onwubuya disclosed that acting on the report, Ugwuanyi convened a state security council meeting on Sunday night.

According to Onwubuya, the said security council meeting lasted till the early hours of Monday, shortly before the herdsmen struck.

He added, “We had a security report that this was going to happen and I convened a meeting with Fulani stakeholders in Enugu State.

“Some Fulani leaders told us that the herdsmen were camped very close to our community. I informed the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State, who assured us that the attack would be stopped.

“He (Commissioner of Police, Enugu) said he would get in touch with the Commissioner of Police in Kogi State to prevent the attack.

“The information we got was credible but unfortunately, they still attacked us.”

On his part, Ugwuanyi, who said heads of the various security agencies in the state assured him that the attack would be failed, described the incident as a sad moment for Enugu State.

Ugwuanyi noted that even as the governor, he was not in control of the security agencies.

He said, “At the emergency security council meeting, which I convened, we were given all the assurances that the attack would not happen.”

He also disclosed that information available to the government revealed that the attack was initiated from Kogi State.

Two lorry loads of herdsmen landed in parts of Kogi State before the attack, he added.

The governor urged the Federal Government to address the menace posed by the herdsmen.

“The Federal Government should do the needful, but as the governor, I call for peace and prayers.

“Until the Federal Government decides to address this situation, this will continue to happen,” he said.

The governor also disclosed that his administration had to restrain restive youths, who wanted to carry out reprisal on northerners in the state.

Ugwuanyi announced a donation of N5m to the community, adding that the government would foot the medical bills of the injured.

He urged the people to embark on two days of fast and prayers, assuring that necessary measures would be taken to beef up security in the area and other parts of the state.

The governor visited the injured in various hospitals where they were receiving treatment.

Injured villagers recount ordeals

One of the injured victims, Patrick Eze, just finished his National Youth Service Corps programme.

Eze sustained severe cuts on his ankles and other parts of his body.

Another victim, Mr. Kingsley Ezeugo, a former local government councillor, said he only survived because the herdsmen left him for dead after inflicting severe machete cuts on him.

Several victims in critical conditions were observed in various hospitals in the Nsukka area.

A youth, who spoke with one of our correspondents, said the herdsmen stampeded the villagers out of their homes by shooting at houses.

“Those who were caught were taken into the bush and slaughtered with machetes,” the youth said.

Our correspondent observed that the community appeared deserted with several villagers leaving the area with their luggage.

Meanwhile, the Enugu State Police Command said it was investigating the incident.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, who said this on Tuesday, however, said six persons died in the attack.

NLC, Afenifere, MASSOB warn of dangerous consequences

Organised labour has, however, warned that the incessant attacks on communities by Fulani herdsmen across the country have the capacity to plunge the country into a worse security situation than the raging insurgency in the North-East if not tackled immediately.

The labour movement also berated security agencies for not living up to standard in securing the lives and property of Nigerians.

The General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, and the President of the Trade Union Congress, Mr. Bala Kaigama, made the comments in different telephone interviews with The PUNCH on Tuesday.

Ozo-Eson, who described the reported clashes between the Fulani herdsmen and their host communities as worrisome, urged the Federal Government to address, without delay, the factors responsible for the current migratory crisis.

Ozo-Eson believed that if land needed for grazing cattle was the issue, the Federal Government should address it quickly to stop such killings and destruction which were not recorded even in countries reputed to be major exporters of meat.

He said, “It is worrisome, we think whatever the push factors are that are leading to this situation need to be dealt with very quickly because we are trying to get out of a major security situation, the insurgency in the North-East.

“And if we allow a situation, in which these clashes allegedly between Fulani herdsmen and various communities and farmers to continue this way, we could actually have a more serious security threat on our hands than even the North-East situation because this is becoming a reoccurring issue across the country.

“There are clashes in Benue, the South-West, South-East, Enugu now, and various other places that are not even reported.

“So, I think that government needs to take this very seriously and do something quickly either by promoting a culture of ranches or whatever other interventions so that these clashes can be avoided.”

He challenged security agencies to ensure that those behind the killings and destruction of property were brought to book in a transparent manner as that remained the only way to earn the confidence of the people.

The TUC boss said, “The performance of the security agencies is below our satisfaction because the security agencies are supposed to wake up to their responsibilities and provide security for Nigerians.

“We cannot go into jungle justice. That is why we are holding the government responsible so that it will not degenerate. We cannot tolerate a situation where innocent souls are being killed like fowls. Government should know that life and property are its duty to protect.”

In a similar vein, the Afenifere has faulted the silence of President Muhammadu Buhari and the state governors on the attacks of Fulani herdsmen on farmers across the country in the recent time.

This was contained in the communique issued at the end of the monthly meeting of the association, held at the home of its leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Tuesday.

In the communiqué, read by the Publicity Secretary of the association, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, Afenifere said the Federal Government had a duty to protect the lives and property of the citizens of the country.

The association added, “We are worried that Federal Government seems to have maintained indifference to the wanton killings going on across the country against the provisions of the constitution.

“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to speak up on this matter and take urgent action to restore the security of the people of Nigeria, especially in the South and Middle Belt.”

The group also asked the state governments and members of the National Assembly to speak out on the matter before it got out control.

“We also reject the statement of the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, that the Federal Government is working silently on this matter. Several killings cannot be going on and the Federal Government working silently.

“It is unfortunate that that statement is coming from the Federal Government of Nigeria. There can’t be any silent working over these killings and the action of the Federal Government must be open,” Afenifere stated.

In its reaction, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra warned that the herdsmen would no longer be allowed to get away with the destruction of lives and property in the South-East.

MASSOB National Director of Information, Mr. Samuel Edeson, who spoke to one of our correspondents, said, “We condemn the attack on helpless villagers by heavily armed Fulani herdsmen.

“The destruction of lives and property by herdsmen has got out of hand even though we are peace loving people, we cannot allow this to continue in Igboland.”

In the same vein, the Enugu State Chapter of the Social Democratic Party said the Federal Government must speak out to condemn the activities of the herdsmen.

“We call on the Federal Government to speak out against the brazen and atrocious killing of innocent villagers by herdsmen; the Presidency has been silent on this matter for a long time now. The silence seems to be given impetus to the herdsmen.

“We urge the government to condemn the murderous invasion of communities in the strongest terms, and as interim measures, halt the movement of herdsmen from the North to the South until a permanent solution is worked out,” the state chairman of the SDP, Mr. John Nwobodo, said.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 11, Mrs. Kalafite Adeyemi, has advised farmers to always report the destruction of their farms and other atrocities of herdsmen to the police.

The AIG said this while speaking in an interview with journalists during her visit to Kunnike International School, Osogbo, Osun State, on Tuesday.

Adeyemi, who expressed surprise at the facilities in the private school, said the police had ensured that compensation was paid to some farmers, whose farms were destroyed by herdsmen, saying resorting to self-help would worsen the crisis.

The AIG added, “We can reduce the attacks. Those whose farms are destroyed should report to the police. Some of the herdsmen were made to pay damages in the past.”

An Islamic organisation, Muslims Against Terror, has called on the Federal Government to declare Fulani animal herders involved the killing of farmers around the country terrorists and insurgents.

Signed by Dr. Ahmad Amadi Jnr., the statement called for unrestrained condemnation of the herders' violent activities. ‎

"We urge the government of Nigeria to condemn these wanton acts firmly and declare the perpetrators terrorists and an insurgency according to the law and deal with them with the full power of the military," the group demanded.

It explained that Islam forbids killing and teaches, unambiguously, in the Quran, which states:"That anyone who kills a human being- it shall be as though he has killed all of the mankind; if anyone saves a life, it shall be as though he has saved the lives of all mankind."

The group also expressed sympathies to those affected by the menace of the herdsmen. "We express our condolences and sympathize with the people of Benue, Enugu, Delta, Anambra, etc. and government of Nigeria and the families of the victims killed by the 'Fulani herdsmen.'

"We stand with the victims in solidarity during these difficult times.

We pray for Allah to expose the sponsors and the real perpetrators of these "Fulani herdsmen" and they must face justice," it added.