From the burning of police stations and the high court to the killing of policemen and the maiming of citizens, Ebonyi state has been rocked by violent attacks over the last few months.
In the past, a major source of such violence was rooted in discord over land ownership rights. However, the attacks have now transcended into bloodshed between the present-day communities of Effium and Ezza-Effium in Ohaukwu LGA in the state.
Both warring parties claim that the first attack which resulted in the communal crisis that began on January 22, 2021, was triggered by the opposing side.
While some residents attribute the recent spate of violence to a leadership tussle involving members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state, some say it’s a result of the age-long dispute over land ownership. According to data from the Council on Foreign Relations, over 120 deaths were recorded between January and March 2021 in Ebonyi state.
In this documentary, TheCable brings you first-hand testimonies, while uncovering details of the communal clash which led to the deaths of many residents and displaced several others to neighbouring states like Benue, where communal crisis, banditry, and other security challenges are predominant.
David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi, had decried the spate of killings and lack of peace in parts of the state.
“Evil men have infiltrated our state to kill, maim and kidnap but God would deliver us,” he had said.
Pregnant women, children, the elderly, youths, religious leaders, and traditional rulers in both Effium and Ezza-Effium communities have become victims of the conflict.
Speaking with TheCable, Ekpe Jacinta, a nine months pregnant woman, narrated that the school where she and other displaced persons were camped had no doctor, midwife, or health official to help deliver her baby.
“This is my ninth month. My plans? Let the will of God be done because I have nothing. I live in this school. There is no doctor, no midwives; it is only God that protects me,” she said.
Despite the harsh tales of survival, endangered lives, destroyed properties, and shallow graves which now characterise the conditions in Effium and Ezza-Effium communities, TheCable found that there is still distrust among several residents.
FOLLOWING renewed hostilities in Effium community, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Governor David Umahi, has revoked the bail earlier granted his appointees and other stakeholders in the area.
Recall that there were intra-communal clashes in the Effium community, which led to the killing of many persons and destruction of property worth millions of naira.
Umahi had ordered for the arrest of his aides and major stakeholders during the peak of the violence in the area.
They were arrested for allegedly paying lip service to efforts at ensuring that peace returned there.
The PUNCH had reported that the stakeholders were released on the promise that no crisis would ever erupt in the area again.
But Umahi, in a statement, signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation in the state, Uchenna Orji, revoked their earlier bail and ordered for their arrest.
He accused them of undermining efforts at stopping the killing of innocent people in the community.
The statement read in part, “Governor Umahi has directed that the bail granted to the stakeholders of Effium/ Ezza Effium be revoked since all the efforts of the government to stop the killings of innocent people in that community are being undermined.
“The governor, therefore, directs the Commissioner of Police to immediately proceed to arrest, detain and prosecute all those under bail from Effium/Ezza Effium community.
“Effium/ Ezza Effium people are one people and the government is not heeding to the idea of separating them as they are one people who have lived together in peace for donkey years. The government will continue to sue for peace and co-existence between these two brothers.
“The governor warns that all text messages aimed at instigating crisis are being followed up and monitored and culprits must face the long arms of the law. The government is already trailing a number of such text messages that are trying to escalate the crisis. The public is advised to allow peace to reign in these communities.”
A driver with Hartland Construction Company, simply identified as Buhari was on Tuesday shot dead in Benin, the Edo state capital, by gunmen believed to be kidnappers.
Two police operatives on guard duty were also shot at by the gunmen, before kidnapping an expatriate worker.
The police operatives however survived the attack, with their service rifles intact, in the incident that occurred at the notorious Ahor village, on the Benin-Auchi highway.
It was gathered that the driver and the police operatives were coming from the Benin airport, where they went to pick the expatriate, when the gunmen suddenly appeared from the bush and opened fire on their vehicle.
The driver was said to have died on the spot while the two police officers sustained injuries, just as the expatriate was whisked into the bush by the gunmen.
The expatriate whose identity was yet unknown, has been on leave but returned to the country on Tuesday to resume work, before he was abducted.
The driver who hails from Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state, was immediately taken home for burial according to Islamic rite.
The State Commissioner of Police, Philip Ogbadu, who confirmed the incident, said the two officers, however, survived the attack.
“It happened yesterday, the driver conveying a white man being escorted by two policemen were shot at, the driver died but the officers held on to their riffles and they survived.
“The only thing is that the white man was taken away,” Ogbadu said.
He explained that the kidnappers now use the style of opening fire immediately they sight a vehicle, to force the vehicle to a stop.
Recall that Miss Ella Williams, a Masters degree graduate in Architecture from Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, who was traveling to Ekpoma to collect her call-up letter, was killed on Monday in similar manner, along the same route.
Inside Rivers Primary School With No Roof, Windows, And Where Pupils Learn With Faeces On The Floor | Sahara Reporters.
According to one of the indigenes, the school is the only state-owned primary school in the community which has been left to rot.
The government of Rivers State has allegedly abandoned the community primary school in Mgbede, Egbema Kingdom of Ogba Egbema Ndoni local government area of the state.
According to one of the indigenes, Lukeson Oguchi, the school is the only state-owned primary school in the community which has been left to rot.
Oguchi told SaharaReporters that aside from the dilapidated state of the school buildings, which resulted from a lack of maintenance, the classrooms have also turned to makeshift public toilets for residents and visitors.
He stated that the governor, Nyesom Wike, had promised the community people in 2014 to address the issues but since he came into power to date, there has been no intervention in the academic facility.
He said, “This Community Primary School in Mgbede, Egbema Kingdom is now in ruins. It has been long abandoned by the government and it is a state-owned primary school. Students learn in classrooms that are already falling apart, some of the classrooms have no roof, and some walls are ripped. The place is in shambles yet there are students at the school.
”Some of the students do not have chairs, they sit on the floor to receive lectures. In some of the classrooms, there are human faeces on the floor, in a learning environment!
“Meanwhile, the Rivers State governor Nyesome Wike, in 2014 promised the people that he will address most of these issues even before he became the governor of Rivers State but that was just a promise because ever since he became the governor, he has not even visited the community.
“He celebrated his birthday and Valentine’s Day in the community in 2014 during his campaign, trying to get people's support but now his aides don’t even want to meet with anyone coming from our kingdom.
“The Egbema people has long been forgotten even with our massive economic contributions to the entire nation. Egbema people seem to be the most hit by bad governance.
”The Egbema Kingdom is made up of three communities namely: Mgbede, Aggah, and Okwuzi communities. We share a common border with the Egbema Kingdom of Imo state.
“There used to be 16 communities under the Egbema Kingdom during the old Eastern region era before the political Balkanization that took 13 communities to Imo state, leaving 3 communities for Rivers state. Since then, our people have become a minority in Imo state and even in Rivers state.
“People from these communities are gradually clamouring to join their brothers in Imo state since Rivers state has not favoured them for decades now."
According to Oguchi, the community also lacks a functional government-owned hospital.
He stated that the only government-owned hospital in the kingdom is the General Hospital, Okwuzi which has also been abandoned for over 20 years.
“The hospital has been long abandoned with just the mortuary slightly functioning probably because the government is very sure the people are subjected to conditions that should kill them in their numbers daily,” he said.
He also alleged that some road repairs done in the community through a Memorandum of Understanding reached with Nigeria Agip Oil Company Limited since 2000 have gone to ruins, as a result of lack of maintenance.
Oguchi said at every election period, contractors try to repair the major road linking the communities to the rest of Rivers state, but the project gets abandoned immediately after the elections.
He alleged, “I believe that the contract for the construction of that road (Egbema-Omoku-Ahoada Road) may have been awarded up to three times with the monies meant for it going straight into private pockets.
There may be a synergy between government, oil companies, and a few persons in power from the region to short-change the people. Nyesom Wike has awarded the same contract for that road for the past 3 years but has not gone beyond 40% completion even though it has been published to have gone over 70% completion."
He also alleged that a member of the House of Representatives representing the constituency, Prince Uchechukwu Nnam-Obi never visited the kingdom after the 2015 general elections but later came back to the community during the 2019 elections.
Please ignore Reno Omokri and his co-fake-news-purveyors spamming the social media with a ridiculous and unsubstantial claim that the #LagosIbadanRail project was initiated and started by the GEJ government. Please ignore the puerile lie! PMB started and completed the project!
God bless President Muhammadu Buhari.
Beware of Fake News.
The #LagosIbadanRail project was started and completed by the @muhammadubuhari administration.
Negotiations for financing took place in 2016, Construction began in 2017 and was Completed in 2021.
Billionaire Ned Nwoko has announced that he is in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s ban on Twitter.
“On the current issue with Twitter in Nigeria, I wholeheartedly support the position of the Federal Government,” he said.
Nwoko said this while speaking at a June 12 lecture organised by the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Abuja Council.
According to him, social media needs to be controlled and regulated in countries.
“There should be a measure of control and regulation for social media in countries where they have a presence,” he said.
Further giving reason for his support of Twitter ban in Nigeria, Nwoko stated that the social media platforms must pay taxes to governments and provide employment for some Nigerians for the over 100 million population that subscribed to their services.
Recall the Buhari-led government suspended Twitter indefinitely in Nigeria citing the persistent use of the platform for activities capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.
The government noted that social media platforms must also register and obtain licences to operate in Nigeria.
A group that calls itself “Disciples of Jagaban” flooded the streets of the Federal Capital Territory on Sunday to campaign for Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Members were seen, with colourful pictures of Tinubu and campaign posters, at areas which include highbrow Maitama District, the Central Business District.
They were also seen around the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress.
Some of the posters carried inscriptions such as “TinubuNe”, “Happy Democracy Day, Tinubu Advocates Group,” “Jagaban Nigeria” among others.
Members chorused that they were determined to drag Tinubu into the 2023 presidential race.
They said Tinubu was the most suited person to succeed Buhari.
The national president of the group, Abdulhakeem Alawuje, who spoke to reporters in Abuja, said, “The peace, love, unity, and harmony of this country has never been disturbed like this.
“All this is happening just for those crooked politicians to disorganize us, but unfortunately for them, we have gone far ahead of all their evil strategies.
“We are supporting Tinubu and calling on him, begging him, inviting him to contest the 2023 presidential election for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians.
“You can believe me that Tinubu has laboured so much for the development of this country. We all know how he laboured to give us President Muhammadu Buhari.
“We need continuity. We need somebody that will continue and consolidate the achievements President Buhari is making. We need somebody that knows the house, and that is Bola Tinubu.”
Islamic Group, MURIC Compares Buhari With Jesus, Says June 12 Protesters Ungrateful After Being 'Healed' | Sahara Reporters.
MURIC also criticised the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for joining the June 12 protest in Ibadan, the state capital.
An Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has said the June 12 protesters were ungrateful to President Muhammadu Buhari after he recognised June 12 just the same way nine lepers were ungrateful to Jesus Christ.
MURIC also criticised the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for joining the June 12 protest in Ibadan, the state capital.
The organisation also knocked the South-West region for joining the June 12 protest against President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Nigerians in various parts of the country had on Saturday, particularly in the South-West, marked the June 12 Democracy Day on Saturday, with demonstrations.
MURIC argued that the protesters had no moral ground to protest on June 12 since it was President Muhammadu Buhari who gave official recognition to that day when all past rulers had refused to do so.
The organisation’s position was contained in a statement signed by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola on Monday.
Akintola said, “Some Nigerians in the Southern part of the country, particularly the South West marked Independence Day on Saturday, June 12, 2021, with demonstrations. Although in negligible numbers, the protests took place in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan and a few other places.
“We commend the police for handling the protests with maturity and professionalism as no casualties or brutalities were reported. However, the protesters exposed themselves as certificated ingrates, unrepentant rebellious subjects and articulated enemies of peace.
“June 12 should be a day for all Nigerians to celebrate Chief M.K.O. Abiola for his sacrifices on the altar of democracy. He was the man who paid the supreme sacrifice after winning the presidential election held on June 12, 1993, which was criminally annulled by the military.
“The Nigerian civil society, including MURIC, had been clamouring for the official recognition of that day as Democracy Day but none of our past rulers listened, not even Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who hails from the same city of Abeokuta like M.K.O. The former had all the chance in the world to declare June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day having ruled for eight years (1999 – 2007) but he bluntly refused to do so.
“It was a northerner, a Fulani, President Muhammadu Buhari, who eventually proclaimed June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day. It is our contention that for that alone, the people of the South West should show gratitude to Buhari. But what do we see?
“It was demonstrations galore. The most shameful, most reprehensible and most preposterous was the open participation of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State who marched on the streets of Ibadan with protesters chanting ‘Buhari Must Go’.
“It is most naïve for a sitting executive governor who came into office riding on the back of democracy to join a group seeking the removal of a democratically elected president through undemocratic means. It was a great disservice to the memory of M.K.O. Abiola. Seyi Makinde is an ingrate nulli secundus. He should apologise to Nigerians for his immature behaviour.
“Those protesters definitely missed the point and lost their bearing because Nigerians, particularly people of the South West, should be showing gratitude to Buhari for declaring June 12 as Democracy Day instead of partaking in an unnecessary protest.
“The Qur’an gives immense honour to those who appreciate goodness. Allah says, ‘If you are grateful, I will increase my favours on you. But if you disbelieve, certainly my punishment is indeed severe’ (Glorious Qur’an 14:7).
“On his way to Jerusalem, while passing between Samaria and Galilee, Jesus (may peace be upon him) was met by ten lepers who begged him to heal them. Although he cured them all, only one of them, a Samaritan, a ‘foreigner’, came back to show gratitude and he was asked, ‘Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?’ (Luke 17:11-17).
“MURIC calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore those who are ungrateful to him. He should continue his good work. We ask him to reflect on the words of Allah where He said, ‘What does Allah stand to gain if you show gratitude and belief? Allah is the One who shows gratitude (i.e. Allah is the One who knows how to reward good deeds) and He knows everything’ (Glorious Qur’an 4:147)."
A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha jet conducted airstrikes around Genu town in Niger State at the weekend.
The aerial bombardments eliminated many bandits fleeing in a convoy. Herds of rustled cows were also killed.
The fighter aircraft was scrambled from a military base in Katsina State.
One of the bombs allegedly strayed towards a wedding party in an adjoining community.
An eyewitness said they saw a jet dropping bombs on bandits and one hit a wedding event in Argida village.
“Two villagers were killed unfortunately. We gathered that several others who were guests at the wedding feast, sustain injuries.”
NAF Director of Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet told PRNigeria that the airstrikes at the axis were very successful.
“We have no information on any civilian casualty. Our mission is against armed bandits in that Genu axis, after we got intelligence on bad elements planning to terrorise the people”, he said.
The Ekiti State Police Command has once again noticed false information circulating on social media that some Hausa/Fulani men were found around Agric Olope Housing Estate in possession of dangerous weapons including AK-47 rifles with the intention of unleashing terror on the Community.
The Command wishes to state that; on Friday 11th June, 2021 at about 0730hrs, the Command’s Rapid Response Squad(RRS) received a distress call that some suspected Fulani herdsmen were arrested with dangerous weapons around Agric Olope Housing Estate. The RRS Commander immediately deployed Operatives to the scene where they actually arrested the suspects with their Mini Truck containing their properties and brought them to the Station.
During investigation, it was discovered that they were all personnel of MESSRS ZALHAT TRADING AND CONSTRUCTION NIGERIA LIMITED comprising different Artisans such as Bricklayers, Carpenters and Labourers who were brought in to Ado-Ekiti for the construction of 3 Bedroom Bungalows at a site in Agric Olope.
Items found with them are: wheel barrows, empty paint rubbers, diggers, shovels, planks and other Bricklayers, Carpenters and Labourers tools, including mattresses.They have however, been handed over to MR OTEGBADE ALBERT OLADIRAN, Controller, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, after confirming them to be innocent and personnel of ZALHAT TRADING AND CONSTRUCTION NIGERIA LIMITED who were in Ado-Ekiti to execute a project given to them by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The Command therefore, calls on all and sundry to disregard the fake and fictitious information, adding that it was mischievously intended to cause rancor and undue apprehension in the Society.
The Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, CP TUNDE MOBAYO, while imploring members of the public to always verify the source and veracity of every information they receive via the social media, warns against fake and unverified formulation, publication and spread of information that could be detrimental to the peace of our dear Society.
ASP ABUTU SUNDAY PPRO FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE EKITI STATE COMMAND
There is relative calm across Kogi State despite the widespread anxiety over the June 12 nationwide protest.
DAILY POST reports that some strategic locations in Lokoja the Kogi State capital on Saturday had no sign of protests.
People were seen going about their daily activities peacefully as our correspondent who monitored the situation in the state reports.
However, some streets visited in Lokoja such as Ganaja junction, Zone eight, Barrack, Gadumo, Felele, Lokongoma, Adankolo, and Nataco, showed a very thin population in terms of human and vehicular movement as many decided to stay indoors.
At the Lokoja Confluence Stadium, sports Men and Women were seen playing football and doing other fitness exercises.
It was also the same in Ajaokuta Local Government and other parts of the state as security forces were on patrol in a motorcade, blaring sirens.
DAILY POST reports that the State Government had on Friday warned those planning to stage a protest to desist or face the wrath of the law.
The State Security adviser Commodore Jerry Omodara at a news conference said no group of persons indicated interest to protest in any part of the state.
Anthony Adeyinka, an aide of Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said Police in Ojota fired tear gas to disperse hoodlums, not June 12 activists.
Adeyinka, who is an SSA on sports, explained that the hoodlums were on course to hijack the protest at the Gani Fawehinmi Park in the Ojota area of Lagos State.
He commended the police officers on how they managed the June 12 protest across the state.
“I was impressed with the way the police handled that situation. It was not the activists, it was the hoodlums that wanted to hijack that protest”, he said in a newspaper interview.
“The people were at Ojota peacefully. The activists were addressing themselves that what they want is a peaceful demonstration but the hoodlums, the miscreants as we all know them wanted to hijack the peaceful demonstration.
“But the police rose to that occasion and made sure the thing was put in order.”
Adeyinka added: "The youths in Lagos are ready to work in synergy with the state government.
“The last #EndSARS showed how hoodlums hijacked a peaceful protest but we give thanks to God that the youths are able to come together and work together with the governor and make sure there is peace in the state.”
In anticipation of a breakdown of law and order during the proposed June 12 protest, businesses and shops within Osogbo, the Osun State capital, were shut.
DAILY POST observed that many shops around some areas in the capital city were under lock and key including the popular Osun Mall located in the Fakunle Area.
It was also observed that the major roads were deserted while there was no interstate travel.
Intrastate travel was however ongoing as buses plying Ife and Ikire were observed in road side motor parks.
Security agencies in patrol vans were also observed in convoys patrolling some of the major streets of the town.
A driver plying the Ife route told DAILY POST that the protest was only visible in Osogbo and did not extend to other parts of the state.
He explained that though passenger turnout was low because of the warning by the security agencies, some vehicles have departed the park to other destinations within the state.
Generally, the atmosphere in the state capital has been peaceful as there has not been any reported incident of breakdown of law and order.
As at the time of filing this report, life is gradually returning to Osogbo as most residents have started to come out for their daily business in some areas.
Transport minister Rotimi Amaechi says the extension of the Abuja-Kaduna rail line to Kano wll begin this June.
He disposed this during the official commissioning of the facility on Thursday in Lagos.
“We have about three or four projects. This month, we will start Kano-Kaduna and then we will also start Port Harcourt to Maiduguri which also is CCECC and then Kano-Maradi” he said.
Mr. Amaechi also called for the maximum utilisation of the commissioned Lagos-Ibadan rail facility.
“The celebration is not enough, it is the impact that works have on the economy; the goods and services, the personnel it would have to move in record time” he said.
He also decried the delay in the loan facility to complete the Ibadan-Kaduna rail line.
“While we are celebrating that, we are not happy that up till now the China Exim Bank is yet to approve the loan for Ibadan to Kano because we need to start that and complete it quickly because that is my fear” he said.
“We are grateful that the Chinese government through the China Exim bank was able to give us the loan at a concessionary rate to construct from the seaport down to Ibadan. We hope that we get money to be able to construct from Ibadan to Kano so that we can complete the track and make sure that business takes place” he noted further.
He noted that: “We got money from China Exim Bank, we paid counterpart funding. We did put pressure on CCECC and delivered on time. In terms of quality, what we have is of good” he assured.
Funny Americans have hijacked the Twitter suspension hullabaloo to mock Nigerians, particularly the fraudulent ones...
Side note: "Nigerian Prince" is a euphemism for fraudster...
See funny tweets..
@natashas2708
How will my Nigerian Prince ask me for money if he can't access twitter ��
@GasLightPolitic
RATZ!
Nigeria has just suspended Twitter.
How in hell will that Prince ever figure out where to send all of that money now?
@bleusharque
Nigeria suspends Twitter?
Gee, I hope that won't stop that nice Nigerian prince from sending me his Corsican Lottery winnings. ������
@j_ml234
Bleep. There was some Nigerian prince who said if I sent my bank details over twitter he would send £1mil ):
@LadyNishaaa
Nigeria suspended Twitter.
Power of Money.
"Nigerian Prince" bahut Rich hai. Everyone knows that from those "Emails".. ��
@IArticl
I was in the middle of helping a nigerian prince damnit twitter
@KJTwitty
Let them know you just found out you're related to a Nigerian prince, and you should be able to pay off your debts in about a week.
Side note: I mention that your're related to a Nigerian prince, and minutes later Nigeria suspends twitter indefinitely. �
@gtvansivlen
Great, now expecting messages that a Nigerian Prince has money locked in their Twitter account and they need my help.
@srsheboi1
@Twitter and jack have verified the accounts of the Nigerian Prince who bequeaths minions of dollars like s0nu s00d
@Devinscat1
Deny him access to Twitter because secretly he is a Nigerian prince hiding under cover in exile in the US.
@TheGayMetalHead
So... No prince who wants to send me millions?!?! ���� I've only had 14 Nigerian Prince's who wanted to send me money... 1 more and I would have had the complete set...
Oh well, the majority on twitter are homophobic, if they get banned, they get banned ��♂️��♂️��♂️��♂️
Nigerians of Igbo extraction have taken to social media to express concern over the timely manner it took the government to respond to the one week ultimatum given by ex-Niger Delta warlord, Tompolo, wondering why such an "honour" wasn't extended to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
According to @iAGB4REAL,
The Govt shits in their pants when Tompolo and Other Niger Delta movements coughs because they are not afraid to brand their sophisticated Arms.
But the IPOB is always the whooping ass each time the make demand for self determination.
@EricEsoimeme to @iAGB4REAL..
Please do not compare. Tompolo and other Niger Delta movements are always willing to sit and negotiate. They always articulate their demands. IPOB miscreants on the other hand are like weapons of mass destruction. They just want to burn down South East except they get BIAFRA.
@ubedison
With IPOB there's no middle ground or moderate views. Moderates amongst them are regarded as saboteurs."sabo", to be executed or burnt.
More reactions...
@_terry2020
This is the achilles heel of the Biafran movement, they don't allow moderate opinions. If you are not extreme, you are a Saboteur
@nevergiveupYNWA
Foolish talk, show me where the govt has called for a meeting and dialogue with IPOB and they refuse to negotiate
@Winnie_Zubby
Niger delta militants have sophisticated weapons and they have 70% of the oil we all depend on. That's the difference. IPOB needs to up their games and FG will listen
@BankoleMr
Tompolo has leverage a can hold FG by their balls,IPOB don't. That's the different
@mcgeorge007
But IPOB is already on their balls. but which leverage are you talking about?
@Great0_A
Tompolo can disrupt pipeline which will be a huge calamity for Nigeria that is the leverage he has, ipob doesn't have such leverage.
@ejirogh3ne
You sound as if the east is anything to write home about. Go & tell your Governors to pay salaries and secure lives then we can have a conversation.
@raymond_alete
Power pass power IPOB need to align well and May be try to stop the abuse on ND. They re brothers together ND & IPOB would defeat UAR easily. All they need to do is to lobby with sincerity. Once they step in UAR is over
The Police Command in Enugu says operatives attached to `Operation Restore Peace’ have arrested 10 criminal suspects for alleged kidnapping, armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearm and fighting in the state.
The operatives recovered two firearms, four live ammunition of .9mm calibre, one expended cartridge, two vehicles, one tricycle, one machete and other incriminating items.
The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement on Thursday in Enugu that the feat was in pursuance of `Operation Restore Peace’ mandates.
Ndukwe said, “On May 28 at about 7am, operatives attached to Nimbo Police Division in synergy with Neighbourhood Watch Group, arrested Nnamdi Okweli, 26; Victor Nwakor, 23 and Chisom Nwankpa, 22 for suspected kidnapping, while others escaped.
“Their arrest is sequel to the receipt of reports alleging that the trio and others at large are responsible for the kidnapping of farmers in the area. The suspects confessed to the crime, while discreet investigation is ongoing’’.
The police spokesman said that on May 26 at about 7.30am, the operatives attached to Ogui Police Division arrested Daniel Okoro, 21 and Nzekwe Michael, 24, while others escaped.
He said that the duo and others at large, operating in a yellow-coloured Daihatsu Hijet Commercial Mini Bus with registration number: ELU 366 XJ, were alleged to have robbed their victims of N200,000 at gunpoint on May 25.
Ndukwe said that the suspects confessed to the crime, while the said minibus was recovered. A manhunt had been launched to apprehend the fleeing members of the criminal gang.
“In another development, acting on a distress call, operatives attached to Udenu Area Command in synergy with Neighbourhood Watch Group on May 26 at 4.30am rescued and arrested two suspects from an angry mob in Eha-Alumona community in Nsukka Local Government Area.
“One locally-made chief revolver pistol with four rounds of .9mm calibre of live ammunition was recovered from the suspects.
“Their rescue and arrest is sequel to a report alleging that the duo and gang members at large robbed their victim on May 15 at 1am in Amundi Village of the same community,’’ he said.
He said that in yet another development, operatives attached to Enugu Area Command and law-abiding citizens, on May 23 by 9pm, arrested Abdul Ayuba, 20 and Sati Sampson, 25, both of New Artisan Market, Enugu.
The police spokesman said that the duo was arrested while fighting at the said location and upon a search conducted on them, one locally-made pistol with one expended cartridge was recovered.
Ndukwe said that all suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations on their matters are concluded.
He said that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Aliyu, had reassured the Command’s unwavering commitment to actualise the mandates of `Operation Restore Peace’.
“The commissioner has enjoined residents of the state to keep assisting the police with credible information required to further clamp down on criminal elements and stabilise security and order in the state,’’ he appealed.
Omolayo Ojo, the official of Chimola School, Akure, Ondo State, who was whisked away after gunmen hijacked a bus on Thursday morning, has been freed.
Speaking after the incident, Ojo said the gunmen threatened to harm her if she did not cooperate with them.
She said she obeyed all their instructions and was released when they said she was innocent.
The victim said she was taken to an unknown destination and she found her way back to Akure after asking for directions from people she met on her way.
A former Special Assistant to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), on Assembly Matters, Abdurrahman Sumaila, says right-thinking Nigerians won’t endanger their lives to support the candidature of any South-East politician vying for presidency in 2023.
Sumaila made this known in a statement he issued to newsmen in Kano on Thursday.
“With these atrocities committed by the South-East people on record, how can Nigerians entrust them to govern us? I am sure not a single right-thinking Nigerian will endanger his life to support the candidature of any South-East politician contesting for presidency come 2023 general elections,” he said.
He also noted that it has now become clear that the motive behind the attacks is to turn the country into anarchy, regretting that “the perpetrators of the attacks must understand that if the country is turned chaotic, then nobody including the perpetrators can escape”.
He, therefore, urged elders in the South-East to publicly denounce the ongoing attacks by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra or be considered complicit in the dastardly act.
The ex-presidential aide said until the Southern elite make their position definite, Nigerians would consider them part and parcel of the attacks being carried out in the region by armed militia.
“The elite in the South-East should borrow a leaf from their northern counterparts such as Arewa Consultative Forum and Northern Elders Forum, who have been persistently condemning the activities of Boko Haram fighters and bandits in the North,” he said.
The Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa has declared that the Nigerian Government will not bow to the demands of those he described as ‘insurgents’ in the South East.
According to him, the Southeast had tried separating from the country before which resulted to a civil war, wondering if they(South East) want to take the same route again, warning that Nigerian government will have no choice.
According to him, the government will fight them and give them what they want.
Adamu also believes that the killings, kidnappings, banditry and agitations are all prelude to the general elections in 2013, insisting there would not be zoning of the presidency because it is undemocratic and unconstitutional.
“There are people who feel democracy is not good enough for them and they want to devise their own means of belonging to this entity called Nigeria and if they don’t have their wish, they’ll let Nigeria go to pieces,” he said on Channels Television.
“So is that anything that the constitution allows or encourages? So they’re absolutely outside the realm of the constitution.
“They’re just rebels, arsonists and criminals in short. So, what are we going to consider to even give them a chance to come and say their wish and let Nigeria tremble and bow before them and say ‘okay, we’ve granted you your wish.’
“Those insurgency in the Southeast, they’re all claiming that they want their own country called Biafra right? If that is the case, is it by killing people that they’ll get their country?
“They’ve tried it before, do they want us to go back to the same route? I don’t think so. But if they do, if that’s what they choose, has Nigeria got any choice?
“Will we just allow them, bow and say, ‘we’ll grant you your own wish?’ No. Nigerian government has to stand out, fight them and give them what they want.”
The South-East have been clamouring to be given the opportunity to produce the next President of the country come 2023, but Senator Bulkachuwa pointed out that politics is a game of number, adding that political parties should be allowed to present the right candidates from any zone for Nigerians to pick from.
“I believe these banditry, kidnappings, agitations and killings are all prelude to the 2023 election,” he added.
“I don’t even believe in zoning. I believe the right candidates should be fielded by all the parties and then let Nigerians choose from the best among them.
“And those who have the number, who believe in the same candidate will obviously win. Unless you don’t want that which is against the norms of democracy, then, I don’t know, you can devise your own means.
“I don’t believe zoning is democratic. I don’t believe zoning will produce the best president for this country.”
Bomb Threat: Lagos Police Deploy Explosive Experts, Others To Markets Dominated By Igbos | Sahara Reporters.
This was contained a statement on Wednesday, signed by the Command's spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has deployed personnel of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit to marketplaces dominated by Igbo traders in the state, to detect and detonate any combustive substance that could be planted there.
This was contained a statement on Wednesday, signed by the Command's spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi.
According to the statement, the move followed a video that went viral on social media where traders, especially those in Alaba International Market, Ojo, were warned of an impending attack on the market by some unknown persons.
In the video, traders were instructed not to treat the information with kid gloves but to be at alert.
Odumosu, according to the statement, met with leaders of markets dominated by the Igbos in Lagos, on Wednesday, at the Police Officers Wives' hall, Ikeja.
The police boss dispelled such news, saying there is no cause for alarm in the state as all hands are on deck to neutralise any form of attacks in any part of the state.
He stated that such an information would never be treated lightly, whether it turned out to be true or false.
As a first step to ensuring that none of the markets was attacked, he said the Police had begun a Show of Force across the state, in collaboration with other security agencies.
Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, Odumosu said, “We are aware that about 72 hours ago, a video went viral wherein somebody alleged that the Alaba International market will be attacked, especially the electronics section.
”Because it was said to be a particular group, we decided to extend the meeting to all the major markets, not only the Alaba International market alone. We have those from Trade Fair where we have the concentration of the same set of people. We have them at Ladipo market, Computer Village and part of the Island.
“The purpose of the meeting is to let them know the preparedness of the command, should any security breach come up and that they should go about their lawful businesses without any fear of any attack.
“We have heard of the areas where they said they needed assistance, like manpower, police stations and posts. I advised them on how to enforce their own regulations within their markets, to empower their own officers because we know at their markets they have their own task force that enforces their regulations.
“We told them to empower them (task force ) and that they must not ascribe it to any tribe and that they must not allow any form of disunity among them because they need to close ranks so that collectively they will fight any external aggression if there is any.
“Some of the resolutions reached to include the need to illuminate the market because in darkness crime strives; that nobody should be allowed to sleep in the market at night; that they should have a holding bay where goods are kept because If they allow them to load at night, some people may cash-in in on that.
“It was also agreed that combustive substances should not be sold in the market; that all electricity gadgets must be put off before leaving the shops to avoid fire incidents and the need for them to say something if they see anything and we have given them our telephone numbers to that effect.
"Our strategy won’t be disclosed but one thing is that as part of our proactive measure, we started a show of force at the Alaba International market and across the length and breadth of Lagos to mobilise our resources, to let the criminals know that we are ready, as well as to let law-abiding citizens know the Police are there to protect them.
“We are not just having covert patrol. What we have is increasing our presence. The EOD personnel are already out. They are everywhere. In fact for the past two months now, we have been been having training and retraining of all the officers of the command right from Area Commanders, DPOs and others. All are part of proactive measures to prepare the police for any eventuality.”
In their reactions, the markets' leaders pointed out some areas where the command and the Lagos State Government should focus and improve on, especially, on the installation of CCTV cameras at major markets in the state and regular deployment of police personnel and other security agencies to the markets.
Nigerian Army troops operating around Sabo Birni border town of Sokoto State neutralised 3 gunrunners and recovered weapons on 1 June 2021.
This was made possible following a credible information of gunrunners moving weapons on foot from Niger Republic into Nigeria around 11pm.
The highly vigilant troops mounted a successful ambush along the suspected route close to Garin Naimaimai Village and neutralised the 3 gunrunners. Items recovered include RPG bombs and RPG chargers, machine gun, AK47 assault rifle and other accessories as well as different calibre of assorted ammunition.
The Chief of Army Staff Maj Gen Faruk Yahaya commended the efforts of the troops and urged them to sustain operational in dominating all the illegal routes around the border areas with Niger Republic to frustrate any movement of weapons and ammunition into the country.
MOHAMMED YERIMA
Brigadier General Director Army Public Relations 2 June 2021
The Northern Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has commended the police Operatives for the arrest and elimination of the IPOB/ESN terrorists that allegedly masterminded the assassination of Barr Ahmed Ali Gulak, a chieftain of the APC, while assuring their Igbo brothers and sisters living in the Northern part of Nigeria of security and wellbeing.
NYCN made this known in a statement signed by its president Comrade Abubakar Isah noting that the “proactive approach of the joint security operation has in no small measure calm the already frayed nerves in the Northern region, especially among the youths and renewed people’s confidence in the ability of the Police to stamp out criminal elements in the country if they are supported and willing to do so.
The statement read “we withdraw our early threat on Governor Hope Ozodinma whom we issued an ultimatum for immediate arrest and apprehension of the culprits.
“We also call on the Police and other security agencies to deploy similar energy in tackling other act of criminality across the nation including kidnapping, banditry and terrorism among others.
“The way and manner the police responded to the concern of the elites, they should also demonstrate the same on the plight of peace-loving downtrodden masses who want maximum security
“We aresending out heartfelt condolences to the Family, friends and associates of Barr Gulak, we wish to call on calm and warn against any form of reprisal as our security agencies are on top of the situation”.
Politics › The Bloody Ebonyi Communal Clash That Has Displaced Thousands - TheCable by SATANICALLY(op): 8:33am On Jun 18, 2021
