₦airaland Forum

The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the death of an Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) loyalist in Abakaliki, the state capital.

Police spokesperson, DSP Loveth Odah, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the hoodlum was killed in a gun battle with operatives on Monday.

The deceased was among hoodlums intimidating and forcing people to comply with the sit-at-home order issued by IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The IPOB members were intercepting motorcycles, molesting, threatening and shooting into the air to scare people from engaging in their normal activities.

Odah added that the police had secured the area and embarked on a “show of force’’ to maintain law and order in the state.

“One of the hoodlums lost his life when they opened fire on our men”, the officer confirmed.

Kanu, in a broadcast, threatened that those who move about from May 29 to 31, may lose their lives.

IPOB had declared May 31 as Remembrance Day to honour those who died in the 30-month Nigerian civil war.

BombAttack:
To all Igbos on Nairaland, lets keep doing our good work here.

Our enemies are in severe pains and agony.

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The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has advised the Southeastern youths to end the war against security operatives in the region.

DAILY POST reports that scores of security operatives in the region have been killed recently following the face-off between the operatives and members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Several security formations and other government properties, including some offices belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and court buildings have been destroyed.

However, in a statement on Sunday, HURIWA urged the assailants to embrace peace stressing that “only an insane child will put his father’s house on fire over certain grievances caused by external forces who stay far away from his father’s house”.

“Can we in all honesty identify those causing the destruction of strategic assets built in the South East which are there to serve the interest of the South East of Nigeria? Can we all work to put an end to this insanity of killing police officers who are mostly our own people? Can we stop the destruction of government facilities which belong to the South East of Nigeria?”

The statement also condemned the alleged mass arrest of youths by the Imo State Police Command at the scene of crime particularly when the unknown gunmen attacked a certain area in the state.

HURIWA described the arrest as “outrageous, reprehensible, despicable and intolerable”.

The rights group lamented that in the twenty-first century, the Commissioner of Police who ought to be a professionally trained operative, can be heard confirming that indeed he sent out his armed operatives to the market square to round up any able-bodied men and boys seen within the vicinity of the crime scene in which two operatives of the Air Force were killed in an unprovoked and callous manner.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Anambra State has paraded a 48-year old plumber, Thomas Igbo, for allegedly raping his three underage daughters.

The ages of the three defiled children are eight years, three years, and one and half years.

David Bille, the commandant of the corps in the state, also paraded a man, Solomon Isaac, for jumping into the NSCDC premises at night.

Mr Bille told journalists on Thursday in Awka that some civil society officials on May 25 reported that Mr Igbo raped his three underage daughters.

“When we got the report, we arrested one Thomas Igbo, a plumber, residing in Enugwu-Ukwu town in Njikoka area of the state.

“Our medical personnel later conducted tests and uncovered that the children were being abused sexually.

“The suspect confessed to the crime and very soon, we will conclude the investigation and arraign the suspect,” Mr Billie said.

The suspect admitted that he had sex with only one of his three daughters – the one that is eight years old – and that it was just once.

“I had sex with my eight- year- old daughter once, others I only used my fingers to penetrate their private parts when I am bathing them,” he said.

Mr Igbo, from Ikoloani Igboetiti area of Enugu State, claimed that he acted under the influence of alcohol the day he had sex with the daughter.

In the case of Mr Isaac, caught jumping into the NSCDC premises on the night of May 24, the 28-year-old man claimed he was pursued by cultists. He said he scaled the fence and got into the agency’s premises for safety.

Laura Ugwuanyi, the state coordinator of National Human Right Commission, who was at NSCDC office during the presentation of the suspects, expressed worry over the upsurge in rape cases in Anambra State.

She advised residents to always report such ills whenever they get to know about it as a way of fighting the menace.

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested and paraded Okorie Chukwuma, a member of vigilante group in Abia State who allegedly killed his boss, Eyinaya Ogbonna.

It was learnt that the deceased was a US-based Nigerian, who came to build a gas station in the State, PM News reports.

Thd late Eyinaya Ogbonna employed him through the Abia State Vigilante Service and he was working for him, and suddenly the suspect developed animosity for the US-based business man. The Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police command, SP Nnamdi Omoni said, while parading the suspect.

“On one fateful day, the deceased went to the gas station and was shot and killed by the suspect in company with his vigilante colleagues who conspired and used their pump action gun to shoot the deceased and steal his white Venza car with registration ABJ 276 BF."

Chukwuma, during an interview with journalists said he was arrested when he came to sell the Venza car of his boss in Port Harcourt after killing his boss.

Meanwhile, the Rivers and Abia state police commands noted that the white Venza car, some other belongings and the pump action gun used in killing the deceased were recovered.

When Farouk Yahaya was moved from the Nigerian army 1 division in Kaduna state to oversee the wars against Boko Haram in the north-east, he pledged to ensure “total peace and sanity” in the troubled region. He may not have achieved that completely, but things improved under his watch going by available records.

Data obtained from the Council on Foreign Relations show that from April 1 when the major general took charge of the war against Boko Haram, till Thursday when he was named Nigeria’s chief of army staff, the number of civilians killed by insurgents dropped by 17 percent, while the number of Boko Haram members killed shot up by 46 percent.

The data, gathered from media reports, show that 946 persons were killed by the insurgents from when he was appointed theatre commander of the recently renamed operation Hadin Kai till May 2021, compared to the 1,137 that died in the previous 14 months.

On the side of the Islamist extremist group, 2,122 members were reportedly killed during Yahaya’s reign, compared to the 1,449 that were killed within the previous timeframe.

Notwithstanding, the insurgents launched a number of audacious attacks while Yahaya was in charge in the north-east, such as in late April when they forced thousands of residents in Geidam, Yobe state, to flee to Niger Republic during an attack that lasted for days.

NIGERIAN ARMY’S OLIVER TWIST

In his various roles in the Nigerian army, Yahaya has often demanded more from the personnel under his watch. His watchword was a continuous improvement with no room for slacking.

When he took over from Mohammed Mohammed as the general officer commanding (GOC) 1 division in Kaduna, he told the soldiers and officers at the division that they must be guided by the rules of engagement.

“I expect nothing less but more,” he had emphasised. “I urge you all to remain steadfast. We should be apolitical and be committed to our areas of responsibility. You must conduct yourselves well and be professional in the discharge of your duties.”

On February 5, when more than 50 Boko Haram insurgents were reportedly killed, Yahaya told the troops not to back down as ‘the party’ was just getting started.

“You must not give room for laxity and assumptions. When you see the terrorists, deal decisively with them. Pursue them, don’t spare their lives,” he had told them.

SPEAKS SPANISH, LOVES CRACKING JOKES

The incoming army chief, who is from Sokoto state, is aged 55 and is of the 37 regular course of the Nigerian army. According to his curriculum vitae, a copy of which was obtained by TheCable, he speaks and writes four languages including Arabic and Spanish.

The incoming army chief, who is from Sokoto state, is aged 55 and is of the 37 regular course of the Nigerian army. According to his curriculum vitae, a copy of which was obtained by TheCable, he speaks and writes four languages including Arabic and Spanish.

He was commissioned as a regular combatant on September 22, 1990, and has since then attended nine military courses, including the national defence course in Chile. He has also been promoted on seven occasions — the last time was in September 2017 when he became a major general.

Yahaya has also held various key positions during his service which spans over three decades, including as deputy military secretary; principal general staff officer, ministry of defence; commander of the 4 brigade and 29 task force; military secretary, GOC, 1 division and commander, headquarters of the theatre command, operation Hadin Kai.

He has also been laurelled on at least 10 occasions, including the Economic Community of West Africa States Monitoring Group medal, field command medal, general operations medal, silver jubilee medal, and golden jubilee medal.

One interesting thing stands out in his CV though: He loves cracking jokes — and listening to local music.

HUNTED SHEKAU WITH THE AID OF CNJTF

In November 2020, the Nigerian army command in the north-east declared Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram leader who is now reported dead, wanted alongside 85 other members of the group.

Unlike in the past when the army often hunts the Boko Haram leader all alone, Yahaya enlisted the CNJTF as partners in the fresh hunt, with clear guidelines for their operation and conduct.

He had said such a move would “harness the skills and competence of the personnel in terms of the terrain” of the north-east, particularly the Sambisa forest area, the insurgents’ key hideout.

‘NOT WORRIED BY CHARMS’

During his stint as the commander of the 4 brigade in Edo state in May 2016, the army had arrested 10 members of the Niger Delta Avengers suspected to be responsible for attacks on oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta region.

While they were being paraded, Yahaya dismissed reports that some of them might be using charms in the attacks.

“We are not worried by voodoo. It did not stop the suspects from being arrested and others that have been arrested before now,” he had said.

“Operations that led to these arrests and recoveries were conducted professionally, guided by our mandate, operation orders, code of conduct and rules of engagement. Our operations are strictly targeted against perpetrators of all criminal acts in our area of responsibility and not innocent citizens.”

With the announcement of a new chief of army staff on Thursday, Yahaya will replace Ibrahim Attahiru, who died in a military plane crash alongside 10 other officers last Friday.

Congratulations to Major General Yahaya on his appointment as Nigeria's new Chief of Army Staff.

Now is the time to take the battle to the gates of the enemy and utterly crush them. Godspeed!

Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister has reacted to the appointment of Major General Farouk Yahaya as the New Chief of Army Staff, COAS, by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Fani-Kayode urged Yahaya to take the battle to the enemy as he assumes his new role.

Congratulating the new COAS, the former minister urged him to “crush” those behind insecurity in Nigeria.

In a tweet, Fani-Kayode wrote: “Congratulations to Major General Yahaya on his appointment as Nigeria’s new Chief of Army Staff.

“Now is the time to take the battle to the gates of the enemy and utterly crush them. Godspeed!”

Yahaya was a former General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army and the incumbent Theatre Commander of the Counter-Terrorism Counter Insurgency military outfit in the North East, codenamed Operation HADIN KAI.

His appointment was disclosed by Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Acting Director Defence Information, Defence Headquarters, in a statement.

Yahaya was picked to replace Ibrahim Attahiru who died in an air crash on Friday alongside 10 other senior military officers.

What fuels an insurgency? The combustible mixture of ideology and ignorance. If a clump of uninformed people has an ideology they can die for, they will do the illogical for it. The intercourse of ideology and ignorance does not follow logic. Insurgency ignites and thrives in the residence of seductive dogma.

The Igbo hold life dear. The sacrality of life is ensconced in Igbo cosmology. ‘’Igbu ochu’’ (murder) is considered the most deadly sin in Igbo land. In fact, in the old days where murder is committed, the community will have to proceed on many days of cleansing of the land and atonement for the crime. But what changed?

It is also popularly assumed that the Igbo are natively non-belligerent and that they cannot in any circumstances resort to taking innocent lives violently. Really, the Igbo are a peaceful people, but recent events in the south-east have cast a doubt on this assumption.

Without a doubt, there are genuine grievances regarding the south-east and national government relationship, but these grievances, whether injustice or inequality, are not circumscribed to the south-east. Every Nigerian is aggrieved. Every region — north, south-west, south-south — has a bone to pick with the leadership. All the regions in the country are marginalised as regards the equitable distribution of resources to the people.

To put it clearly, every region is marginalised. But a more factual statement will be ‘’all Nigerians at the bottom rung of the social ladder are marginalised’’. Nigerians are victims of the carnivory of the elite. It does not matter whether they come from the north or the south. We are all victims of elite conspiracy regardless of where we come from.

It is agonising that the scions of the south-east are turning their region into Aleppo in Syria. Who brings violence and war to his own home? As of 2019, the south-east was reputed to be the safest region in Nigeria. It was also buoyant and fared well on the development index. All of that is tumbling down.

The killing of police officers — some of them Igbo — the targeting of northern residents; the destruction of property and arsoning of police stations are tragedies that should have never been allowed to happen. This cancer was fed and allowed to metastasise. The Igbo nourished this beast that is now gnawing at their groin. When the serial murder of police officers began, some applauded the effort of their killers on the inscrutable assumption that the police are in cahoots with criminals to destroy Igbo land. Now, the destruction of the region is not by the hands of some herdsmen or bandits, but by the might of the sons of the land. How is irony defined?

Igbo citizens who hold contrary opinions to the ‘’group sentiments’’ are threatened with violence. This puts a disturbing aspect to the secessionist agitations – if all views must be unitary. The Igbo have never been known to be herded or conscripted into a tyranny of opinions and actions. The Igbo are known to be republican; open to robust arguments and subjecting every thought to scrutiny. But what changed?

The killing of police officers in the south-east has been unmitigated and security agencies appear to have left the people to their own fate. Armed robberies have returned at scale. There are lamentations everywhere. A lady shared an experience of how a mechanic she paid upfront to fix her car in Anambra absconded with the money and automobile, and even threatened her while bragging, ‘’there is no more police in the south-east’’. Cultists and street lords have assumed control of interest areas in the region. There is fear and chaos everywhere. Life has become nasty, brutish and short in a once peaceful region.

As a matter of fact, we are on a familiar path albeit a treacherous one. The signs are ominous. A Nigerian born in 2000 can tell how Boko Haram started in the north-east. Security agents and formations are often the first to be targeted by militant groups. When they are taken out, the people become defenceless and a new order of violence by armed gangs reigns. Security operatives are being killed and security facilities destroyed in the south-east now. After the security scaffold is decimated, innocent residents and even those gloating over the revelry of blood may become the next victims.

Already, there are displaced persons living in IDP camps in parts of Ebonyi state — displaced as a result of internecine clashes among communities. And with the prevailing savagery by the secessionist group, there is bound to be more refugee problems in the south-east – if the attacks persist. Where does that leave a people whose preoccupation is buying and selling?

We cannot end this barbarity if we do not agree. If some choose to keep native sympathies for those taking innocent lives, how then can the bloodletting stop?

It is all in our hands.

Katsina Governor Aminu Masari has thrown his weight behind Southern Governors on ban of open grazing, describing the practice, which encourages herders to move from one location to another as ‘’un-Islamic’’

Masari, who spoke to select reporters at Government House Katsina as part of activities to mark second year of his second term in office, argued necessary infrastructure on livestock farming should be provided in States for ranching as against open grazing.

He said: “This is something we have to do through development, provide necessary infrastructure that will make the herders not to move. Why should herders from Katsina move?

‘’The herders’ movement is essentially in search of two things: water and fodder. If we can provide these two items why should they move?

‘’This roaming about I don’t think. For us its un-Islamic and is not the best. It is part of the problem we are having today. I don’t support that we should continue with the way open grazing is’’.

On devolution of power through restructuring, he argued States urgently need resources to implement what should have been implemented at the Federal level

According to him: ‘’ I support devolution totally, the federal government is trying. But the states need to have resource to implement what should have been implemented by the Federal Government.

‘’If today the States will support the Police, the Police system will go up. If the states withdraw their support to security agencies, they won’t be able to move from here to there.

‘’So, I absolutely support devolution in totality. So as a Government of Katsina we should be allowed by the Constitution, within the Constitution to decide on many things that are peculiar to us’’.

‘’The Federal Government should have a benchmark and people should not operate beyond this mark. Lagos State is generating up toN4bn and something billion, while Katsina State is just generating N2bn.

“I expect with proper restructuring, states should own the reflective of what they earns from within their State.”

The Arogbo Ijaw Patriots (AIP) have condemned the “imposition” of the Oduduwa anthem by Ondo Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.

The group said the state government forced Ijaws to recite the anthem during the conduct of a promotion examination for senior civil servants.

A statement by the Coordinator and Secretary, Fidelis Soriwei and Bibisa Kekemeke noted that Akeredolu’s order was a flagrant violation of the rights of the Ijaw ethnic minority.

Akeredolu, via a memo signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Teaching Service Commission, Tolu Adeyemi, made it compulsory for the anthem to be sung in all secondary schools.

AIP said the development was absurd and disturbing, insisting that the Ijaws speak their own language in consonance with their distinct ethnicity and would like to keep that identity.

They want Akeredolu to “respect the rights of the marginalized Arogbo Ijaws to a dignified existence in Ondo as provided for by the constitution”.

The organization said the state comprises two ethnicities – the Yoruba occupying 17 Local Government Areas and the Ijaws who occupy 1 LGA.

AIP lamented that Ondo State Civil Service “took further steps in the abuse of the law to ask people including Arogbo Ijaws to sing the anthem in a promotion interview at the Governor’s Office Civil Service Matters”.

The statement advised Akeredolu to “display the expected consciousness on the need for fairness to note the fact that Ondo State is not like the homogenous South-West State where every citizen is Yoruba”.

Stressing that the Ijaws are not opposed to agitations of whatever form, the group condemned “the brazen unfair, irresponsible expansionist attempt to make them assimilated Yoruba people”.

AIP said the Ijaw territory which became part of Ondo State in 1976 is not a vassal territory and should not be treated as such.

They urged the Ijaw National Congress, the Attorney General of the Federation, and Nigerians to prevail on Akeredolu to stop “his disdainful treatment of the Ijaw minority”.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) on Wednesday lamented that Yoruba Muslims may face persecution in the Southwest if Oduduwa Republic is actualized.

MURIC, an Islamic rights group, alleged that Muslims in the Southern part of Nigeria were suffering marginalization.

The group was reacting to a Muslim parent who withdrew his daughter from the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, following harassment by a female lecturer for wearing a hijab.

MURIC called on the authorities of OAU to investigate the circumstances that led to the incident.

A statement by the group’s Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said the harassment was an indication of what Muslim students go through with Christian civil servants and lecturers in the Southern part of the country.

The group described the harassment as an ugly situation that has dented the image of OAU.

The Muslim Rights group accused one of the lecturers of the University of harassing the female students.

The statement reads: “One of the Obafemi Awolowo International School (OAUIS) teachers, Mrs. Adeyemo, has allegedly harassed a female Muslim student of the school. The intimidation has made the girl’s parents to withdraw her from the school.

“The girl who was in the habit of using her hijab from home and removing it at the school’s gate was harassed by Mrs. Adeyemo.

“This is another example of the persecution of Muslim children in the hands of overzealous and intolerant Christian civil servants and teachers in the South West. It is interesting that Mrs. Adeyemo bears a Yoruba name. The female Muslim student is also a Yoruba girl.

“Will Yoruba Muslims not face worse persecution in the hands of Christians if the Yorubas eventually succeed in their plan to secede?

“Will the Muslims of Yorubaland enjoy any religious freedom if the proposed Oduduwa Republic becomes a reality?

“The interesting thing is that Muslims only suffer like this in the southern part of Nigeria.”

Lately, there has been some measure of controversies surrounding the use of hijab by Muslim students in the Southwest.

The Anambra Police command on Sunday night killed four of the gunmen who invaded the state.

Three operational vehicles of the hoodlums were recovered by the gallant policemen who repelled the attack

Though Police Commissioner, Chris Owolabi, said no policeman was killed during the attack, unconfirmed reports indicated three of them may have been killed during the shootout with the gunmen in Awka

But the collection office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Six of its vehicles were set ablaze by the hoodlums

The gunmen stormed the capital city in three hilux vehicles, shooting repeatedly at about 9.30pm to disperse residents.

They torched the charge room of the B Division of the Nigeria Police office, opposite Chief Jerome Udoji Secretariat in Awka while a Sienna vehicle parked outside the outpost was riddled with bullets.

An eyewitness, said they drove from ifite road to Dr Alex Ekwueme square before moving to the INEC office shooting non- stop, like in a war situation

The CP, while briefing newsmen at the INEC office Monday, maintained there was no casualty on the side of the State Command

He said normalcy had been restored to the State, urging residents to go about their normal businesses without any fear

Owolabi said: “it was a 95 percent success for us on Sunday because God is on our side. The attack on our charge room at B Division was a decoy to attack INEC office

“We mobilised and waited for them. My men were in their element. We demobilised their three vehicles, recovered six pump action guns, one AK -47 and one General Purpose Machine Gun from them.

“It was unfortunate that they succeeded in burning collection centre of INEC and four vehicles, but it was a huge success for us. We didn’t record any casualty but investigations are still going on and after it, we give you full details.”

However, one of the Senior Police Officers told The Nation three of their men had been taken to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital in Awka

The source said nobody knew whether they were dead or alive, adding the Command got information of the planned attack Sunday morning, which was why the hoodlums did not commit more damages.

Another eyewitness, said the attack lasted for about two hours with gunshots.

Midnight fire suspected to be set by hoodlums has razed an Independent National Electoral Commission’s, INEC, headquarters at Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State, Monday.

It was gathered that the suspects who stormed the premises of the INEC at about 12 Am, scaled the perimeter fence before torching the facility.

Vanguard equally gathered that personnel of the Neighbourhood Watch group in the council area who were alerted by the incident rushed to the scene and saved the facility from being totally destroyed.

Confirming the incident, the Chief Press Secretary to the local government chairman, Nkem Ossai, said “It is true that the INEC headquarters in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State was torched by unknown hoodlums. However, it was not totally burnt down. Only one room was burnt and personnel of the Neighbourhood Watch in the council area were quick at securing the official documents in the office before they were burnt.

“The watch personnel scaled the fence to put out the fire before the arrival of fire service workers from both Udenu and Nsukka Local Government Areas. The hoodlums could not get access to the INEC facilities because the premises were locked.

“The suspected miscreants set the facility on fire around few minutes past 12 am on Monday morning and ran away. I can tell you that no casualty was recorded.”

We believe in one Nigeria and we want everyone to be one. I’m about going to marry an Igbo girl from Enugu. Then these people shouting Biafra will see that the leader of Miyetti Allah has become their in-law. A Rivers State man is married to my aunt and they have ten children – some of their names are Kate, Ndidi, Kingsley, etc. If I go to Rivers State, nobody can chase me out because I have cousins there. But it should be pointed out that Igbo and Yoruba cannot stop Fulani from grazing their cattle in their areas.

Simplyleo:
SATANICALLY, is this true?

The Federal Government has released a total sum of N7 billion for the completion of the East-West highway dualisation projects.

The government, while releasing the money to the contractors handling the projects, urged them to comply with the directives in order to complete and hand over the project to the people of the region before the end of the First Quarter 2022.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Omotayo Alasoadura, disclosed this at the inspection of the East-West road from Section II Sub Section II, Ahoada – Kaima, to Section II Sub Section I, Eleme Junction – Ahoada, and Section IIIA, Eleme Junction – Onne Port Junction, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Sen. Alasoadura inspected various sites to ascertain the progress of work on the East West Road. At Ahoada – Kaima Section II Sub Section II, he observed that due to the bad terrain, huge volume of earthwork is ongoing to stabilize the soil to accommodate suitable materials for road construction, while Sub-section l is near completion. He projected that Ahoada-Kaima Section II is expected to be commissioned soon.

At Obikwere flyover, the site contractor informed the Minister of the failed drainage system which has caused constant water retention around the corridor, adding that the proposal to correct the anomaly would be sent to the Ministry for approval.

In inspection of Section IIIA, the Minister said that the contract was awarded to ensure safe and efficient movement of traffic along the already dualized 15KM stretch of the Highway from the Onne Port Refinery, Eleme Petrochemicals and other industries along the highway by eliminating traffic bottlenecks and ensuring well drained and durable road.

Senator Alasoadura added that the completion of the East-West road is a major priority of this present administration to see to the end of the completion, a project which was awarded 20 years ago even if it involves borrowing.

While inspecting, the Minister decried the alarming state of the Aleto Bridge in Section IIIA of the East-West road and sought urgent attention to fix it, before it collapses.

“We have to put all our resources, energy and goodwill together to ensure that it is urgently reconstructed for the movement of goods and services that will benefit the people of region and the nation at large”, he added.

Responding to the Minister, the Chief Engineer, Reynolds Construction Company Nigeria Limited, RCC, Zavontenik Igor, said the Contract was awarded in December 1st, 2014, at the Contract sum of N43, 869,381,730.23 with a completion period of 24 months as additional works to the dualization of the East-West road of Section III Contract using direct procurement method but nothing was done before the present Administration took over.

Speaking further, he maintained that fund constraints and increase of the overhead costs has caused the slow pace of work. He therefore assured the Minister that the project will be completed within the stipulated time if the company is mobilized on time with the required capital.

The President-General of the Ogoni Youths Federation (OYF), Comrade Legborsi Yamaabana, appealed to the Minister to order the Contractors in charge of the project to speedily commence payment of compensation to affected families during the cause of expansion and dualization of the East-West road for peace to reign.

Over the years, Nigerians have been tagged as lawless, notorious, and fraudulent in Nigeria and other parts of the world because of crime.

This bad image has affected the country and law-abiding citizens in the Diaspora.

MyNigeria TV engaged some members of the Nigerian community in Ghana, who said they are in the country to make an honest living.

They encouraged locals to treat them with respect and be given the needed opportunities to thrive.

Ike, a phone seller at Kwame Nkrumah Circle, stated that it is unfair that the 'bad nuts' in their country make Ghanaians see all of them in a bad light.

"Normally, I don't feel okay with it, and I don't feel comfortable with it because whatever affects a nation also affects the individual. Whatever is affecting the country, Nigeria is also affecting me. It's like a family; if your family has a bad name, even if you are the good ones in the family, it will affect you in your area of life. Many Nigerians are not doing well when they leave the country, and it is affecting the people doing legal businesses."

Another Nigerian, who deals in mobile case trade, added that many Nigerians who come into the country are indeed involved in Internet fraud.

"The bad image is not helping us at all because as a Nigerian, before you get a job here, it's not easy. Most Nigerians here involve in 'yahoo yahoo' because things are not easy," he said.

Abaeze, a father of two, stated that he feels Ghanaians genuinely hate Nigerians.

"We are one family; Ghana and Nigeria are one family, but the way I'm seeing things now, I am not happy. What I see now is that Ghanaians hate Nigerians," he says.

According to Chibuike, Nigerians are good businessmen, good scholars, and good all-around, so they should be treated as such.

A Nigerian laptop seller in the area also added his voice by saying that Nigerians in Ghana are doing legal businesses and are struggling to earn their daily bread.

"I won't say that Nigerians are not committing any crime here. There are honest-hearted ones that are doing genuine business. Many Nigerians are here hustling for their daily bread, but it is unfortunate that the Ghanaian government just closed Nigerian shops for no reason," he lamented.

Atttacks in the Catholic Churches & Hotels in Sri Lanka and similar attacks anywhere in the world are inhuman and also not representing Islam.
We sympathise with the families of the victims, and also pray to Allah to expose all the perpetrators
#PrayForSriLanka - Isa Pantami

The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has dismissed claims by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that President Muhammadu Buhari harbours a terrorist sympathiser in his administration.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju, and Secretary, Cassidy Madueke, the group said that the opposition party is lashing on fake news to further its disinformation agenda.

“We are actually not surprised that PDP and its leaders seek to make political capital of an issue that began with false claims that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, was on a United States terror watch list.

“What we find surprising however is that the opposition party and its sympathisers still latched on to it even when the news medium that ‘broke the story’ had recanted and apologised.

“One would have thought they had substantial fresh facts on the matter, but it was a resort to their usual blackmail tactics that have never worked.

“Yes, the minister had admitted making comments in the past which were in line with general views of many Islamic clerics and scholars at the time, but, like the Biblical Apostle Paul, he has since had his ‘Road to Damascus’ experience based on new evidence.

“This had seen him leading the public charge against fundamentalist groups including Boko Haram, as a preacher, across Northern Nigeria for which a fatwa (death sentence) was passed on him.

“As a matter of fact, the Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau directed terrorists in Nigeria and across Africa to target Pantami for daring to block insurgents’ phone lines through the policy on linking SIM cards to NIN, as well as his anti-terrorism sermons.

“For us, it’s either PDP was being mischievous or it doesn’t have enough presence in the North, contrary to its claim, to know that Isa Pantami had, for some time now, been at the forefront of deradicalising thousands of young men who were hitherto enamoured of Boko Haram’s heretic teachings on Islam.

“So, we make bold to say that President Buhari is not harbouring a terrorist sympathiser in his cabinet, contrary to PDP’s mischievous claim,” it added.

BMO also argued that there is no way the minister could have scaled through security screening when he was named as a cabinet member if he indeed was a terrorist sympathiser.

“Does PDP indeed think that a terrorist sympathiser would be cleared by security to even appear before the Senate for ministerial screening?

“Is the party also calling to question the integrity of security agencies across the world, especially as Pantami has been travelling across the world since he became Nigeria’s Communication minister on official duty?

“We consider it disingenuous of PDP to even speak about international concerns about Pantami when even the news outlets that made claims of a US terror watch list had recanted its unverified report and apologised to the minister.

“What we know however is that the minister has been doing the job President Buhari handed to him in 2019 well, to the disenchantment of certain vested interests, and this reflected in the performance of the sector he oversees in the GDP figures of Q4 of 2020 when Nigeria exited the COVID-19 induced recession,” it said.

The group urged Nigerians not to be confused by the antics of individuals and groups who are not comfortable with President Buhari’s effort at leaving the country better than he met it.

The late President Idriss Déby was a fighter. Deby, who drew his last breath on Tuesday, had sustained injuries in a gun battle with rebels who have been terrorising residents.

He never recovered from the incident.

Exactly a year ago, Deby led his men on an offensive against Boko Haram fighters in their stronghold of Sambisa forest.

The operation codenamed “Operation Wrath of Bomo,” came after terrorists dealt a heavy blow to the Chadian military by killing over 90 soldiers.

“We launched the “Wrath of Bomo” operation. We must defeat terrorism to allow our people and especially those of Lake Chad to live in peace. This is the whole meaning of the fight that our valiant soldiers are waging against Boko Haram,” Deby had said in a tweet.

The Chadian soldiers were also said to have stormed Kelkoua bank in the Lake Chad axis and Magumeri in Borno State.

The Chadian army destroyed several Boko Haram bunkers, recovered cache of arms and arrested Boko Haram fighters, including a commander of the sect.

Commenting on the operation, Deby had said: “In Baga-Sola, I visited soldiers injured this afternoon during the operations launched against the Boko Haram enlightened. They are proud to have accomplished a sacred mission in the service of their dear homeland.”

Tributes have been pouring in for Deby, who was seen as a dictator on one hand and a leader who laid down his life for his people.

Below are pictures of the 2020 battle he led against Boko Haram.