₦airaland Forum

Vanguard’s man of the year, Borno Governor, Babagana Zulum has announced N50 million, 5,000 bags of rice and 5,000 gallons of cooking oil to members of Civilian JTF and hunters.

Zulum while addressing leaders of the volunteer security groups in Maiduguri on Monday, said he invited them to appreciate the personal sacrifices made to complement security agencies in the state.

“Let me convey my deep appreciation to members of CJTF and hunters for complementing the efforts of security agencies in the state. I call you to extend my appreciation for your efforts in repositioning the security of the state,” he stated.

He said the money was support for all the CJTF members and hunters to celebrate Eid Kabir with their families.

He however noted that no amount of money could pay for the sacrifices made by the volunteers to bring relative peace to the state.

CJTF Chairman, Baba Lawan thanked the governor for the gesture and assured of their continuous dedication to their volunteer security watch.

Men of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested one of the hoodlums who allegedly kidnapped a military personnel last Friday at the Alagbado area of Lagos State.

The suspect, identified as Waliu Oloyede was arrested on Sunday at the Odo Pako axis of Ota, in the Ado-Odo/Ota local government area of the state, while attempting to impersonate the army personnel whom he had earlier abducted the previous day.

The command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the development to journalists yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital said Oloyede, alongside others now at large had at about 11: 30p.m Friday the 16th of July, 2021, abducted a military personnel of the rank of a Warrant Officer 2 (W/o2), took him to their hideouts in Alagbado where they stripped him of his uniform.

Oyeyemi explained that the hoodlums collected the W/o2’s identity card and his three ATM cards and phone before he eventually escaped from them.

The suspect, however, met his waterloo when clad in the stolen military fatigue, made a failed attempt to snatch a dane gun from a vigilante operative at Pako area of Ota.

The development compelled the Vigilance Group to make a distress call across to the police at Sango Ota, thereby forcing the Divisional Police Officer in charge, CSP Godwin Idehai to lead a team of the security operatives to the scene where the suspect was arrested.

“On interrogation, the suspect could not give a satisfactory account of himself and was also unable to give an account of how he got the military uniform, or address of the unit where he is serving, hence he was detained for impersonation”.

“While in detention, police got an information that it was their victim’s uniform the suspect put on to commit another crime before he was arrested”.

The Ogun PPRO however, stated that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Edward Ajogun has ordered that the suspect be transferred to the Anti Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for further investigation, while he also ordered for a massive manhunt on his other accomplice with the view to bring them to justice.

The police in Kano State confirmed the arrest of eight men and two women for allegedly belonging to a syndicate that specializes in hacking individuals’ accounts to withdraw money.

The Public Relations Officer, DSP Abdullahi Haruna-Kiyawa, disclosed this in a statement in Kano.

“On July 14, at about 23:50hrs, a team of policemen led by DSP Kabir Wali working on credible information arrested the suspects in a hotel in Kano metropolis.

“The suspects are Umar Aminu, Muhammad Muhammad, Kabiru Idris, Salim Sani, Umar Muhammad, Yusuf Ibrahim, Aminu Lawan, Jibril Aliyu, Hauwa Abubakar and Aisha Abubakar.

“They all reside in Sheka quarters, Kano and were arrested in connection with electronic card-related fraud,” Haruna-Kiyawa said.

He said that the suspects confessed to hacking various individual’s bank accounts and withdrawing various amounts of money.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Sama’ila Shu’aibu-Dikko, he said, has ordered for discreet investigation into the matter.

He added that the suspects would be charged to court after investigations.

Abductors of 121 students of Bethel Baptist High School, Kaduna have freed one student on the basis of ill health.

The student, it was stated, was returned by two of the abductors, Daily Post reports.

A source disclosed that the released student had since been taken to the hospital and is gradually recuperating.

The source said the freed students narrated that the bandits were treating them well, adding that the leader of the abductors directed that none of the abductees be molested.

The source added that the released student said their abductors always allowed them to observe their religious obligations.

According to the source, the student said, “We sing choruses and pray loudly without molestation. The leader of the bandits said we must be allowed to worship our God.”

The source explained that the abductors even asked the students to pray for them each time they were leaving the camp either for operations or market so that they will return safely.

Also according to the source, the church is doing everything possible to meet the conditions laid out by the bandits for the students to be released.

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Igbo amaka

Aloy Ejimakor, the Nigerian lawyer of the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, says the separatist is cheerful in the custody of the Department of State Services.

He made this known in a tweet after meeting the IPOB leader in the DSS custody.

According to him, Nnamdi Kanu stressed the importance of unity and tolerance on all sides.

The lawyer said the meeting lasted about four hours.

“Today, I met with Onyendu at the DSS. We spent nearly four hours. My interaction with him was fulfilling.

“He’s cheery and looks forward to overcoming this predicament sooner than later. Again, he stressed UNITY and tolerance on all sides. He has you all in his thoughts,” he tweeted.

Kanu, who is facing an 11-count charge of treason, treasonable felony, terrorism and illegal possession of firearms, among others, jumped bail in 2017 and left the country.

The former London estate agent disappeared in 2017 after being released on bail, only to re-emerge in Israel and then in the United Kingdom.

He was re-arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja and ordered to be remanded in the custody of the DSS, while the case was adjourned till July 26 and July 27.

The Federal Government said security and intelligence agencies were on the trail of Kanu for over two years before he was re-arrested, adding that the head of the outlawed IPOB movement was detained again on Sunday – without giving details on the location of his arrest.

Kanu was initially arrested in late 2015 after calling for a separate state for Biafra, in South-East Nigeria.

His detention sparked mass protests and clashes with security services.

Election offices have also been attacked by suspected members of the group. However, IPOB – which agitates for a separate Igbo state – has denied being behind the violence, accusing the government of a smear campaign.

The PUNCH gathered on Thursday that Kanu’s Nigerian lawyer Ejimakor delivered two forms to the IPOB leader on Wednesday during a visit to the office of the Department of State Services, where he is being detained.

Ejimakor told our correspondent that the development would open up a new chapter in the trial of Kanu, adding that the Nigerian government would be served with summons to bring him to the United Kingdom, where another case would be heard over the manner of his rendition to Nigeria.

He said, “I went to visit him on Wednesday and went with two forms. One was the consular consent form that the British High Commission required that he signs to consent to consular assistance.

“There was also a form from his counsel in the UK. The firm is known as Bindmans, one of the largest law firms in the UK.

“The forms will open a whole new chapter of legality, including the filing of a Writ of Mandamus against the Nigerian government in a UK court to compel it to produce Kanu, because his detention is illegal under the British law.

Prophet TB Joshua has released the video of a prophecy for Nigeria which he gave almost seven years ago on July 27, 2014.

In the video, the Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN) general overseer predicted that Nigeria would be covered by a cloud of “crisis, murder, killings, destruction”, but would not break up.

“Nothing will happen to Nigeria. Nigeria will remain one,” Joshua assured the congregation during a service at SCOAN.

The video’s release comes amid sustained calls for Nigeria’s breakup by both the proponents of a Biafran government and other aggrieved persons and organisations, following worsening terrorism, kidnapping and banditry.

“Beyond this crisis, Nigeria is beautiful. Your prayer now is that you should witness it so that this crisis will not take you away,” the cleric declared.

“It is decreed that this nation will be reckoned with as a powerful nation,” he continued, adding that his prophecy would become a point of reference many years later.

However, he warned members of the ‘political class’ of impending repercussions for their contributions to the crisis.

“Huge trouble is coming and no human being will withstand it unless you don’t have hand in that trouble,” he boldly declared.

“There is a cloud that covers Nigeria… the cloud of crisis, murder, killings, destruction covers Nigeria. The cloud will go; Nigeria will remain.”

Joshua then questioned the rationale of those who are “interested in power that cannot give them peace”.

The family of the re-arrested leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has demanded access to the detained self-determination agitator who was arrested last Sunday.

Kalu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, who spoke with Sunday Vanguard in Umuahia, lamented that since the IPoB leader was “bundled” back to the country, his family hasn’t had access to him.

Emmanuel, who said the family had been traumatised over the events of last week, expressed deep worry over his health condition.

“I hope he is not tortured? I hope his right to human dignity is not being violated? How can you abduct somebody and keep him in custody without access to his family and lawyers? This is inhumanity!” he lamented.

He said the federal government should allow the family unfettered access to their son who he said: “is by law presumed innocent until proven guilty.”

“Why can’t we see him? The federal government should allow us to see him because he is our son. He should have access to his lawyers and family,” Emmanuel added.

ORDEAL

The family called on the British government to show more interest in Kanu’s ordeal since he is a British citizen.

Prince Emmanuel wondered why Kanu, a British citizen was “ kidnapped and bundled to Nigeria and Britain is still keeping quiet.”

According to him, “it is still not clear to us how Nnamdi, a British citizen would be abducted and bundled to Nigeria. If at all there is any reason to arrest him, why not take him to Britain where he is a citizen?

“Britain hasn’t done enough. Britain should be able to stand firm and demand explanations for those who abducted her citizen and bundled him to Nigeria. Kenya should also explain all it knows about this crime.”

Insisting that Kanu did nothing to deserve the arrest, Prince Emmanuel urged his supporters to remain calm and watch events unfold.

He expressed confidence that his brother would eventually triumph in the end.

CRIMINAL

“It happened before. This is his second missionary journey. We shall prevail because my brother is not a criminal.

“He has not killed anybody nor has he asked anybody to kill. He is only fighting for the freedom of the people which is their fundamental human right.”

Asked if the family had any regret having anything to do with the agitation for Biafra autonomy considering what it had been through including the death of his parents allegedly in the aftermath of the raid of their house by security agents, Prince Emmanuel said they had nothing to regret identifying with the Biafra cause.

He urged Ndigbo and lovers of democracy and justice to unite behind his brother who he said “is only fighting a just cause”.

RESIDENTS

Meanwhile, many residents of Umuahia are still bewildered about the reality of Kanu’s re-arrest.

Although many people were reluctant to comment on the matter publicly, some advised the federal government to tread with caution.

Some of the residents who preferred anonymity wondered why government had not deployed the same amount of zest and vigour it deployed in tracking and arresting Kanu in crushing bandits and killer herdsmen.

They accused government of insincerity and bias in the war against terrorism, challenging it to deal with all Nigerians equally irrespective of ethnicity and religion.

Speaking with Sunday Vanguard, immediate past-Chairman of Umuahia North Council of Traditional Rulers, and the Traditional Ruler of Oriendu Autonomous Community, HRM Eze Philip Ajomuiwe, advised government to tread with caution on the matter.

The monarch said arresting, killing, or jailing Kanu would proffer no solution but worsen Nigeria’s woes.

He strongly advocated national dialogue and engagement of all agitators to permanently address their grievances.

DIALOGUE

“My frank advice is dialogue. Government has to dialogue with Nnamdi Kanu and other self-determination agitators. If you kill all the people who are you going to govern?

“Kanu is my subject because I was the Chairman of Council of Ndieze during the days of his father. We don’t want anything funny to happen to him.

“Where there is a problem, there must be a solution. Government should treat the foundation of the problem through dialogue.

“Killing or jailing Kanu won’t bring any solution but create more problems. Government should be careful how it handles this matter.

“ I don’t support violence either from IPoB or government. Government should call everyone for dialogue now. Let us discuss how to move our beloved country forward. Nigeria belongs to all of us.”

In the same vein, the paramount ruler of Abriba Ancient kingdom, Eze Kalu Kalu Ogbu (Enachioken Abriba), said arresting Kanu would not proffer any solution to Nigeria’s problems.

The monarch advised federal government to engage Kanu for a dialogue on how to solve some contentious national issues.

His words: “Can one look at Kanu as Nigeria’s problem or a solution to Nigeria’s problems?

“I don’t think Kanu is Nigeria’s problem. Rather, he is coming with a solution to the problem bedeviling Nigeria since 1970.

SECOND CLASS CITIZENS

“What gave rise to the emergence of the likes of Uwazurike, and Kanu is the treatment of Ndigbo as second-class citizens by the Nigerian government.

“What they are saying is that the exclusion and suppression of the Igbo are enough. They are saying that Nigeria is pressing hard on our neck and we can no longer breathe.

“So, arresting Kanu won’t bring any solution. What the federal government should do is engage him for dialogue. This is time for a national dialogue on how to carry everybody along and move the country forward.”

The monarch further advised against using the method applied in the case of the late founder of Boko Haram, Yusuf, who allegedly died in police custody.

“Government should not repeat the mistake it made in the case of Yusuf, the founder of Boko Haram. I hope it doesn’t repeat the same mistake.”

The monarch also advised government to follow due process in trying the IPoB leader if there are sufficient grounds to do so.

“Recall that Kanu was arrested in 2015 and kept in custody without trial despite public outcry. In 2017, he was arraigned and granted bail by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“He was still enjoying his bail when the federal authority came for his jugular: His father’s palace was raided and desecrated by security operatives. Many people were killed during the raid and he had to flee for his life.

“So, now that he has been re-arrested the rule of law must be applied. If government feels he has violated any law he should be taken to court. He should be given a fair hearing.

“But I’m afraid whether the laws will be obeyed. Didn’t the Constitution say nobody should be taken to court in fetters? Was Kanu arraigned in handcuffs? How do you reconcile all that?

“There must be justice and fairness in his trial, otherwise if it’s mismanaged I wouldn’t know how people will react to that.”

He urged government to devote equal amount of zeal and resources deployed in tracking Kanu to crushing bandits and terrorists.

“There are many flashpoints in the country. If government devotes the number of resources it devoted to trailing and arresting Kanu to tackling Boko Haram and Fulani bandits, the Buhari administration will score a big credit,” the monarch added.

The world's rarest zebra, Tira was spotted at Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya in 2019.
It is believed to have a genetic mutation called pseudomelanism. It is polka-dotted.

A 28-year-old Commander of the Eastern Security Network, ESN, the armed wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, that has been accused of killing security agents as well as destroying private and government property in the South East and South South regions of the country has revealed how his group went on killing spree in the regions.

The suspect, identified as Emeoyiri Uzorma Benjamin, alias Onye Army, was arrested by operatives of the Force Intelligence Response Team, IRT, over his alleged involvement in the attacks and killing of security operatives and the destruction of government and private property in Imo State also confessed to some of the attacks on security operatives on the alleged instruction of their supreme leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

When Vanguard interviewed Onye Army, he revealed how he was recruited into the ESN.

Onye Army also confessed that he was part of the group that attacked the Owerri Correctional Center and freed the inmates and the attack on the country home of the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzordima, in retaliation to the killing of Ikonso, who he described as his top commander.

He revealed that the heads of 10 girls who they caught in Imo State, were used in preparing charms to fortify them against police bullets.

HIS CONFESSION.

“I am Emeoyiri Uzorma Benjamin also known as Onye Army, I am from Uzombe Town in Uguta 2 Local Government Area of Imo State, I am 28-year-old and I only attended secondary school. But I left school without writing my SSCE exams in 2014 because my father had no money.

“So, I started doing menial jobs and buying Nigeria Army forms and that of the Nigerian Navy, but I was not recruited because I was using my brother’s result. I had the intention of writing my own exam and get my own result when I get recruited into the army.

“I also went to Lagos where I secured a job as a security guard with a company that dealt in building materials. I did that job until 2017 when I relocated to my village where I engaged in carpentry jobs.

“While I was in the village one John, who is from my town met me and told me he knew I was trying to join the military but advised me to join IPOB in 2019 so I started attending IPOB meetings in Orlu every Sunday. We used to have the meetings in a building close to the Teaching Hospital.

“I attended the meeting until November 2020 when Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, formed the ESN and said he didn’t want any security agents in the South East and that all he wanted was just ESN operatives providing Security in the South East.

“I volunteered to join the ESN and I was trained in a camp close to the Niger Bridge, but I don’t know the name of the village. I spent two weeks in that camp with several other people who came for ESN training from several parts of the country.

“Some people had been in the camp before I joined them but I spent just two weeks in the camp. Before I went to the camp however, I was at a Sabbath Church in Orlu owned by one Alewa Nnwachuku, in Okporo area of Orlu.

“While at the camp, we were given military training and our phones were taken from us. We were not talking to Nnamdi Kanu directly but we were receiving his instructions from the leaders of our camp. After our training we were given boots and uniforms and were asked to go back to our state commanders.

“My state commander was late Ikonso, who was in charge of Imo State before his death. We were not given any money, we returned to our commanders with just the uniforms and the boots. When we got back to Imo State I reported back to the Sabbath Church which served as one of our camps at that time.

“Then Nnamdi Kanu ordered that he didn’t want to see any police or military check point in the South East. The order was given through radio and all the ESN State Commanders asked their fighters to comply with the orders.

“Nnamdi Kanu said we should dismantle all checkpoints and even kill the security agents manning the checkpoints because they were killing Igbo people. I believed him and obeyed the order because I had taken an oath to obey Nnamdi Kanu, who is the supreme leader of IPOB.

“During our first attack, Ikonso brought two AK47 rifles while two of our members brought two locally made guns which we used to attack a police check point in Orlu where we killed a police officer.

“Two of our members were also killed but the police officers ran away abandoning their vehicle which we burnt and took away one of the police rifles. After the operation, we all returned to the Sabbath church owned by Alewa but the police came and attacked the place.

“We then relocated to a farm belonging to one of our members in Eele area of Awidemili, Anambra State. From there we attacked several other police stations and checkpoints.

“Then Ikonso, Engineer Mike and Temple organized the attack at the Owerri Prison and Imo State Police Command, where several inmates were freed and more than 50 police rifles were carted away on the instruction of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, because he said no body deserved to be in the prison

“We came with over 100 fighters, but on our way back to our base, some soldiers attacked us and many of our fighters were killed at Ukorji area of Imo State. We carried out other attacks on security formations in Imo and Anambra states before Ikonso was killed. I was in his residence on the night he was attacked by security agents. I fought with my own Ak47 rifle, but I abandoned it and escaped through the back gate when I expended all the bullets in the rifle.

“After the death of Ikonso we went and burnt the governor’s house and killed a security man in the house in retaliation. It was Engr Mike that led us. I was part of those that shot at the gate.

“We also burnt a house in Amowmama, belonging to someone who was believed to have given the security agents information on Ikonso. Engr Mike then took us to his village in Awedemili where we attacked a house belonging to someone he said was against our struggle and we killed two persons there.

“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu also directed us to bury Ikonso with 2,000 human heads but we have killed only 30 so far. I then relocated to Temple’s camp and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu ordered us to attack Orlu Police Division and free our fighters who were arrested and detained there.

“We went in 10 vehicles, over 50 fighters and we had over 30 rifles with us. I was in a white sienna and late Dragon was in a red colored car, but before we got to the police station we did a shooting display that was circulated on the social media on the day we went to attack Orlu police station.

“The white and red cloths we tied on our bodies in the video were charms which we call local bullet proof and we prepared charms with the heads of 10 young girls.

“Before we proceeded to attack the Orlu Police Station, Temple and Mike brought the suggestion that we should get the girls we used for the charms and we got them here in Imo State. But before we got to the Orlu police station, a police armored vehicle attacked us and killed 12 of our fighters and injured four.

“After we escaped from that attack, we went to our camp at Idiato to relax waiting for further directives. They are not paying us any money, they said we are freedom fighters.

“Most of the police officers I killed were also Igbo people. I am happy that Nnamdi has been arrested. But I am begging for amnesty from the Federal Government.”

The United Kingdom (UK) has called on Nigeria to take the constitution and the electoral act amendment bills seriously, saying that it will reposition the country ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The UK said the 2023 elections must be free and fair, adding that INEC must be granted financial autonomy to prosecute electoral offenders.

Speaking at the fifth meeting of the Conference of Presiding Officers of Nigeria Legislatures holding for the first time after 10 years, the Development Director, British High Commission, Dr Christopher Pycroft said the UK welcomed the constitution and the electoral act amendment, but added that it must be done based on the yearnings of the people.

“We are pleased with the National Assembly’s determination to pass the important legislation, the electoral act. The passage of the electoral act is important to future elections in Nigeria. The UK as a supporter of Nigeria’s democracy, the electoral act should be pass to guarantee free and fair election.

“We welcome positive amendment to the electoral act that will strengthen the financial independence of INEC to provide inclusive technology for the transmission of elections results and prosecute electoral offenders. We commend the efforts of stakeholders including the national assembly and civil society organisations in the development of the electoral act. The next general elections is in 20 months aways, we encourage the national assembly to ensure quick response and pass the electoral act,” Pycroft said.

According to him, “Nigeria stands at a crossroads. The challenges are not insurmountable. These provide an opportunity for the lawmakers to provide an electoral reforms and the constitution amendment which will champion the course of development in Nigeria. The UK stands with Nigeria at this trying times. We will continue to work with you to build the most secured, prosperous and united Nigeria.

“The constitution amendment provides an opportunity for the legislature to prioritize the need of the citizens. The presiding officers must respond to the Nigeria challenges to maintain development. The United Kingdom stand with Nigeria at this challenging times. The independent of the legislature is the critical component of the check and balances between the various branches of government,” he added.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the role of the legislator was always bundled together to mean the role of the Judiciary, executive and even the role of the private sector.

He said the misconception is not just peculiar to Nigeria, but all over the world.

The president of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, said public perception of the role of the legislature was misconstrued, adding that the leaking roof reports was a demonstration of the misperception of the lawmakers.

He said without the legislature, there won’t be democracy adding that traducers of the national assembly who have access to the media criticize the national assembly in the wrong way.

Seven herders were killed by gunmen in Chol Village in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, on Thursday evening.

More than 40 cattle were also killed in the attack.

The spokesman of the State Police Command, ASP Ubah Gabriel, confirmed the attack, explaining that, “On 1/7/2021, the Plateau State Police Command received a report of an attack at Chol Village Vwang District of Jos South L.G.A by yet to be identified armed men.

“Unfortunately, six persons and five cows were shot dead. Team of Policemen and STF sector 6 personnel were immediately deployed to the location to beef up security. An investigation is ongoing to trail the perpetrators of the act and bring them to justice.”

Chairman Coalition for Fulani Group in Nigeria, Abdulkarim Bayero, who was at Bukur Central Mosque, in Jos South where the corpses were brought for funeral, said both police officers and soldiers from sector 6 of Operation Safe Haven(OPSH), were present during the funeral, adding that the corpses were evacuated together with security personnel.

The attack comes six days after one herder was killed and another one injured in Byie village of Riyom LGA in the State.

Despite government’s effort to bring an end to violence and killing of innocent persons in the state, many attacks have been recorded.

Abdullahi Jubrin, the father of one of the deceased, narrated that the incident occurred when the victims were rearing their cattle.

He said suddenly a J5 peugeot vehicle got to the area and dropped some gunmen who started shooting sporadically.

The deceased tried all they could to escape the shooting but could not.

“The gunmen killed seven herders. Only a 15-year-old boy survived the attack. The gunmen also killed more than 40 cattle. They killed the victims for nothing because they were just grazing. The attackers left the scene of the incident after committing the atrocity,” he added.

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an Islamic rights group, has cried foul as Igbo and Yoruba names dominate the list for Sokoto State in the recent Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDIPB) 2019/2021 Replacement and Recruitment Supplementary List.

In a statement issued by Prof. Isaq Akintola, MURIC Director, on Friday, the group accused the agencies of shortchanging the state.

Recall that a list was released during the week containing the names of over 400 successful candidates in the 2019/2021 Replacement and Recruitment Supplementary exercise of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, CDIPB.

The group said it had discovered that out of 411 names on the list only five (5) are in the Sokoto State column.

“As if that was not enough, a closer look at the names spring another surprise. None of them appears to have come from Sokoto State (Abdurrazaq Adinoyi, Y, Mercy Chukwukeru, Nwauzor Peace, Ezema E. Emeka and Umar Tijani),” the group lamented.

MURIC said that this needed to be pointed out because of several issues and concerns being raised on federal character principle by some Nigerians who are leveraging on it as evidence in support of their allegation of Northern domination and caliphate hegemony.

According to the group, the indigenes of Sokoto may have been heavily short-changed in this arrangement.

MURIC called on the CDIPB to explain what it described as a glaring anomaly without delay.

Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State has said that Boko Haram terrorists and bandits are different from the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, because they don’t have a recognised and centralised leadership.

He said Kanu is a visible and central leader, based abroad and calling for the dissolution of the country.

Governor el-Rufai said this in an interview on BBC Pidgin monitored by Vanguard, on Friday morning.

el-Rufai made the comments while responding to a question bordering on Nigerians asking why the bandits and terrorists in the North are not being treated with the same swiftness agitators in the southern parts are dealt.

According to el-Rufai, “I was very happy (when Nnamdi Kanu was arrested) because, first he jumped bail, jeopardising his sureties.

“Secondly, a person that challenges the sovereignty and the authority of a state and incites violence; he refers to his own country as a zoo.

“This should be a message to all these separatists challenging the authority of the Nigerian State to be very careful.”

Asked about handling Boko Haram and bandits with the same swiftness, he said: “No! No! No! No! People are comparing apples to oranges.

“Nnamdi Kanu is the leader of IPOB, a proscribed organisation. He is identifiable, costably in constant communication and everyone knows where he is.

“Let’s take Boko Haram for instance. Shekau was in hiding and for the past 10 years and the military had been waging a war to get him.

“It is not like Shekau was in Saudi Arabia, sitting in one place, tweeting about the break up of Nigeria or asking Boko Haram to go and kill Helen and Nasir el-Rufai.

“Nnamdi Kanu is in one place while Shekau is waging guerrilla warfare. The insurgency is still going on and the Federal Government is not giving up.

“Regarding bandits, they are not centralised under one leadership. Who is the head of the bandits? Who is the equivanlent of Nmandi Kanu with banditry?

“Bandits are just collections of independent criminals. It is a business for them. It is not a case of Nigeria must break up.

“I want to challenge anyone to tell me the central leader of bandits in the same position as Kanu.”

The Kenya government has dismissed claims that it is linked to the arrest and eventual extradition of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu back to Nigeria, saying it could not ascertain whether the act took place in Kenya.

Kenya’s denial deepens the diplomatic crisis, given that Nigerian authorities had indicated they seized the activist in London before extraditing him to Nigeria, a claim the British government has since denied.

Mr Dean Hurlock, the head of communications at the British High Commission in Nigeria has denied the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was arrested or extradited from the UK and revealed that the British government was in the process of seeking clarification from Nigeria on the circumstances surrounding the arrest and extradition.

“We can reaffirm that Nnamdi Kanu was not arrested in the UK nor was he extradited from the UK,” Mr Hurlock said.

But yesterday, Mr Kanu’s family roped Kenya into the conflict when it sensationally claimed that the secessionist leader had been arrested in Kenya from where he was extradited to Nigeria.

Yesterday, the Director General of Immigration Services Alexander Muteshi dismissed the claims of Kenya’s complicity, arguing that it was not possible to tell whether Mr Kanu had entered Kenyan territory.

“I can’t know that,” Mr Muteshi told the Nation when asked whether the claims made by the family were true.

SNEAKED INTO KENYA

“I am not in the picture of his presence in the country. I am only able to tell if somebody entered the country legally,” he added, leaving room for speculation as to whether Mr Kanu has sneaked into Kenya through either illegal routes or under a false name.

Government Spokesman Cyrus Oguna refused to discuss the matter and instead referred the Nation to Mr Muteshi, even as the family assailed the Kenyan government, accusing it of having committed the most serious violation of international law.

“The Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s family has learnt that he was unlawfully arrested in Kenya, detained and subsequently subjected to extraordinary rendition from Kenya to Nigeria where he is now detained,” the family said, through Mr Kingsley Kanu, his brother.

Mr Kanu was arrested last Sunday by what sources say was a combined operation of Nigerian and foreign security officers. But the exact location of his arrest remains contentious.

The family’s claims, if true, casts Kenya once again in the eye of international focus so soon after similar claims were made over the abduction and eventual deportation of Selahaddin Gülen to Turkey. He is the nephew of US-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of organising a coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2016.

Kenya has a negative history of alleged complicity in similar incidents of abduction and deportation of asylum seekers that have taken place previously.

DETAINED IN KENYA

Mr Abdullah Ocalan, the founder of the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK), was captured in Nairobi in February 1999 and promptly sent to Turkey to face trial in an operation that the Kenya government is accused of having facilitated.

The arrest and subsequent deportation of Mr Gulen, who was a registered asylum seeker in Kenya and also a permanent US resident, was in tandem with Kenya’s conduct in the past.

Turkey accuses Mr Gulen of being a member of an outlawed organisation headed by his exiled uncle.

Mr Gulen was detained in Kenya for a month before he was handed over to the Turkish authorities on May 31, 2021 despite a court case and orders that had been issued against his detention.

The Kenyan government is yet to comment on the incident.

Mr Kanu, who has been labeled a fugitive by the Nigerian authorities, was taken to a Nigerian Court on Wednesday, where government officials claimed they had arrested him in London, UK.

Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, said Mr Kanu’s arrest was planned and executed by Nigerian security and intelligence agencies and coordinated by the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA).

INSTIGATING VIOLENCE

In their statement, the family claimed that Mr Kanu was on a visit to Kenya when he was arrested, detained and handed over to the Nigerian authorities who then flew him to Nigeria.

“My brother has been subjected to extraordinary rendition by Kenya and Nigeria. They two governments have violated the most basic principles of the rule of law,” Mr Kingsley said in remarks widely quoted in the Nigerian media.

“Extraordinary rendition is one of the most serious crimes states can commit. Both Nigeria and Kenya must be held to account. I demand justice for my brother, Nnamdi Kanu.”

Mr Kanu is accused of engaging in subversive activities that include inciting violence through television, radio and online broadcasts against Nigeria and Nigerian State and institutions.

Kanu was also accused of instigating violence especially in the Southeastern Nigeria that resulted in the loss of lives and property of civilians, military, paramilitary, police forces and destruction of civil institutions and symbols of authority.

In a statement released yesterday, Human Rights Watch said Mr Gülen’s abduction and deportation is only the most recent example of the Kenyan authorities’ failure to safeguard asylum seekers on Kenyan soil, instead allowing their deportation to potentially life-threatening situations.

“Kenyan authorities have a responsibility for what happens within their borders, and should investigate the possibility of complicity of its officials in this flagrant disregard for due process,” said Mr Otsieno Namwaya, the East Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

“This is even more urgent given the negative history of alleged complicity of Kenyan authorities in previous incidents of abduction and deportation of asylum seekers.”

The Department of State Services (DSS) has launched a manhunt for Sunday Igboho, Yoruba activist, after he escaped arrest when they raided his residence in Oyo state.

Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesman, said the security agency recovered illegal arms — including seven AK-47 rifles — and thousands of ammunition from Igboho’s house.

The agency also paraded 13 supporters of the activist who it said attacked its operatives during the raid on Thursday morning.

The federal high court in Abuja has granted a request by the Department of State Services (DSS) to remand Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), till July 26.

The court granted the order on Wednesday morning when Kanu was re-arraigned on charges bothering on alleged treason.

Binta Nyako, the presiding judge, said he is to be remanded in DSS custody pending the determination of his trial.

Kanu appeared in court without his lawyer or any member of his defense team.

The operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS), on Tuesday, produced the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Mr. Kanu, who was brought to the court amidst tight security, arrived at the court at about 1:40 pm.

However, all the entrances to the court have been under lock as the hearing in the matter is ongoing.

Men of the Imo State Police Command have rearrested an inmate of the Owerri Custodial Centre, who reportedly formed a gang of kidnappers after he escaped from the centre on April 5.

The inmate, identified as Eze Kelvin, was said to have been rearrested on 26/6/2021 and transferred to the anti-kidnapping unit of the command.

A statement signed by the Media Adviser to the state Commissioner of Police, CSP Mike Abatam, said the suspect confessed to have escaped by some gunmen suspected to be members of the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) who overran the facility and freed more than 1844 inmates.

Kelvin, aged 30 years, was said to be residing at Orji in Owerri North LGA of Imo State, but he is a native of Uga in Aguata LGA of Anambra State.

The statement said among the items recovered from him was an Ash colour Highlander SUV vehicle with Reg. No. RLU 192 TY.

Abatam said his interrogation led to the arrest of three other members of his gang in their hideout in Enugu State.

The names of the members were given as Rapheal Nnamdi, 28, who was said to be an ex-convict from Ozu Okizu in Oyi LGA of Anambra and Johnson Ahanonu, 36, an escapee of Imo correctional Home from Obilibi Mbeiri Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State.

The statement said they also confessed to have kidnapped one Ozuzu Ekelezie, Osuji Gladjoan, and Onwuauaka Ugonna – all resident in Owerri.

Scores of ISWAP-Boko Haram terrorists were eliminated when Nigerian troops engaged them in an aggressive battle at Bula Yobe axis of Banki in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

An intelligence officer told PRNigeria that the terrorists attempted to attack a military formation in the axis when they were repelled by the Troops of 21 Armoured Brigade Bama of Operation Hadin Kai, after a heavy gunfight that lasted more than two hours.

The source said: “the ISWAP-Boko Haram terrorists, suspected to have come from the Sambisa Forest, on about six gun trucks and approached the area from different directions simultaneously to wreak havoc, but met their Waterloo by the gallant troops.

“The terrorists withdrew in disarray with a large number of them suffering fatal injuries leaving behind several weapons and ammunition including anti-aircraft gun barrel, AK 47 rifles.

“Unfortunately, we lost two gallant military personnel while pursuing the fleeing remnants of terrorists after the encounter.”

Exclusive Investigation by Vanguard Monday in Owerri, uncovered that three native doctors suspected to be linked to preparing charms for some members of the Eastern Security Network, ESN, have abandoned their shrines to undisclosed destinations.

This was after one of the said native doctor, one Paschal Okeke of Umudim Ukwu Orji Awomama in Oru East Local government area of Imo State, was said to have been beheaded by the group for preparing ineffective charms.

Some angry leading members of the group that would not want their name mentioned to Vanguard said that there were three other native doctors on run, from Ogwa in Mbaitoli local government area, Nekede in Owerri West local government area and Okporo in Orlu local government area all in Imo state.

Also, Vanguard extracted from them that part of their anger was that these native doctors in these areas were collaborating with security agencies to make them vulnerable to gun bullets.

They said: “There are two things that these native doctors have done; they were exchanging information with the special forces and they collected money and gave our members fake charms. You remember, when it started from Orlu, you saw that the security people would shoot and it would not enter.

“Can you now ask yourself what happened. This information is good for you. Hear it now, those guys who sabotaged Ikonso and Ikonso was captured were the ones who helped to make our native doctors weak.

“These native doctors were exposed to money and they sold out. it is not just the three local government areas we have mentioned there are about 6 other local government areas. They know themselves.”

Furthermore they said: “Another problem we have is the Aguleri native doctors, where the support base is strong, we are also suspecting that they have abandoned this struggle. However, for now everybody is confused. Gradually we are getting to know the saboteurs.

“We are having this feeling that it is where this problem may have started.”

Nigerian Government‘s #TwitterBan Sends Poor Message To Citizens, Investors, Businesses — US Embassy | Sahara Reporters
It also stated that the ban presents a poor image of the country to citizens, investors and businesses.

Before our dear Government bans opinion writing and blogging in Nigeria, a beautifully written piece titled “One-Sided Report on Igbos: A Fulani Woman’s Dilemma,” by Zubaida Baba Ibrahim, caught my attention and I couldn’t resist responding to it swiftly.

At a time of uncertainty, insecurity, civil unrest and injustice, one must commend those who are brave enough to speak up loudly and clearly. That was what, Zubaida, a young Fulani woman from Northern Nigeria did eloquently and courageously with her article.

As a young Igbo woman living in Nigeria, I have family and friends who lived through the civil war and several ethnic clashes across Nigeria and I join my brothers and sisters to say “Ozo Emena”.

I have also seen in real-time how destructive Fulani herdsmen can be and totally condemn it. However, I know that not all Fulani are destructive and it is an unfortunate case of very few bad eggs.

While it is true that most herdsmen are of the Fulani tribe, and the nomadic lifestyle is an integral part of the Fulani history and culture, there is more to the Fulani than cattle raring and trading.

The Fulani are also known for being great artists and are primarily known for decorated gourds, textiles, hairstyles and personal adornment. Important collections of Fulani art appear at the Fowler Museum at UCLA in USA, the Musée de Bamako in Mali among other great museums.

The Fulani also have great Islamic and scientific scholars throughout history like Muhammad Ibn Muhammad Al-Fulani Al-Kishwani, an early 18th century Fulani mathematician, astronomer, mystic, and astrologer from Katsina, present-day Northern Nigeria.

The Late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, one of the best performing Presidents of Nigeria was also of the Fulani tribe. He championed peace, unity and innovation during his time. His policies on the economy, education, infrastructure among others still remains fresh in the hearts of many Nigerians, which is why he was widely accepted in all the regions of the country. He only spent three years in office but those three years were considered more or less the best in Nigeria’s Democratic history. To him, it was always Country first.

Personally, I too have witnessed the accommodating and respectful nature of the Fulani having worked very closely with some of them at PRNigeria Centre, Abuja where I was groomed in the arts and science of Public Relations and journalism as a Mass Communication Student back 2017. Working as an intern in the firm owned by a Northerner. I am not surprised that Zubaida is a Staff Writer in that communication firm where the owner taught us patiently and showed us the ropes in PR and critical writing. The staffs and family members made us (interns from different tribes and religions) feel at home, working together and eating together as proud Nigerians.

Every region of Nigeria is endowed with great and brilliant minds from the Hausa/Fulani of the North East and North West, to the Igbo and Yoruba of the South East and South West to the over 300 ethnic groups in between. We have the human and natural resources to build a country that we all can be proud of, instead, we are occluded by tribalism and religious differences.

There must never be a time when the majority should pay for the crimes of a few members of their group. It is unjust and uncivilized. With the menace of the Fulani herdsmen ravaging farmlands and crops of fellow Nigerians, one may be tempted to classify all Fulani as hostile and irrational people but that would be a grossly false narrative.

It is also unfortunate that the current administration seems to have done nothing to mitigate the ongoing conflict between farmers and herdsmen through a mutually benefiting solution. This has only worsened the widely held opinion in some quarters that they are a Fulani Administration rather than a Nigerian Administration.

In recent times, due to distasteful politics at all levels, there is loud agitations for secession in the Southern part of Nigeria by the South East (Biafra) and South West (Oduduwa).

Perhaps one day, The European Marriage of Nigeria will be annulled and we may all go our separate ways, but in the meantime, we are one country and it is in our own best interest to coexist in respect for one another and in peace.

We must restructure for the sake of peace and progress. It is pertinent that every Nigerian feels like a Nigerian with all privileges as well as the responsibility of other Nigerians irrespective of tribe and religion.

It takes ordinary people like my new sister, Zubaida of Adamawa State, and I, Chisom of Anambra State to rise up and resist the divisive message and policies of people bent of pinning us against one another. Our Generation of Nigerians are saying enough and we must act upon it.

Like Barrack Obama said, “In the face of impossible odds, people who love this country can change it.”

President Muhammadu Buhari has departed Lagos state after commissioning two separate projects in Ebute Metta and Apapa areas of the state.

The president departed Lagos from the Mobalaji Johnson railway station in Ebute Meta in a presidential aircraft with the registration number NAF-54.

A huge crowd of school pupils were on ground to bid him farewell.

He took off around 02:12 in the company of some of his aides amidst tight security.

The Federal Government has declared Monday, June 14 as a public holiday to mark this year’s Democracy Day.

This is as the government warned against agitations capable of threatening the peace of the country.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, was quoted to have said this in a statement on Wednesday by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Shuaib Belgore.

The minister urged Nigerians to embrace the spirit of brotherliness for peace to thrive in the nation

He also called on the citizens to support the present administration in its efforts at ensuring a united and prosperous nation.

The statement was titled, ‘FG declares Monday, June 14, 2021, public holiday to mark this year’s Democracy Day celebration.’

The statement read in part, “The Federal Government, congratulated Nigerians on this occasion and urged all citizens to support the present administration in its efforts at ensuring a united and prosperous nation.

“Aregbesola said any form of agitation that threatens the unity of the country should be shunned for the good of all, saying the space known as Nigeria would be a haven of peace, unity and progress if all citizens love his or her neighbour and embrace the spirit of brotherliness.

“As we mark another Democracy Day in the history of our dear country, let us reflect on the efforts of our founding fathers and ensure that Nigeria remains one united and indivisible entity.

“No development can take place in an acrimonious environment.

“With the challenges we face in Nigeria today, I see an opportunity for us not to break up or break down but to break open; open up to ourselves in truth so that we may appreciate each other, understand each other, honour each other and live together in peace and prosperity.

“There will surely be light at the end of the tunnel.”

American media magnate and Chief Executive Officer of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, seems to be on a swift mission to attract more social media users in Nigeria when he announced free products for content creators on all Facebook-owned services including WhatsApp and Instagram.

According to Zuckerberg, the free products will enable creators to make more money, adding that the offer will be available till 2023.

“To help more creators make a living on our platforms, we’re going to keep paid online events, fan subscriptions, badges, and our upcoming independent news products free for creators until 2023. And when we do introduce a revenue share, it will be less than the 30% that Apple and others take,” he wrote in a Facebook post on Monday.

Unlike microblogging site Twitter; Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp cannot be said to have ruffled the feathers of the Nigerian government. In fact, in August 2016, Zuckerberg visited Lagos, Nigeria. The trip was his first to sub-Saharan Africa.

“This is my first trip to sub-Saharan Africa,” he had said in a Facebook post. He had met with the Nigerian President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo during his visit. Zuckerberg also met with tech developers and entrepreneurs mostly in the Yaba area of Lagos which has been described as the tech hub of Lagos. “The energy here is amazing and I’m excited to learn as much as I can,” the Facebook chief had said during the trip.

But the Chief Executive Officer of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, has not been in the good books of the Nigerian government since last October over an allegation that he was complicit in the promotion of the #EndSARS protests that ended in the destruction of lives and billions of property in Nigeria.

Last week, the Buhari regime suspended Twitter, citing the “persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence”. The Federal Government’s action followed a deletion of a controversial civil war post by the President.

The Buhari regime has since come under fire for what many termed as a restriction of the right of expression. The international community including the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, amongst others have since knocked the Buhari regime for the action but the Federal Government has been unyielding in its stance insisting that the sovereignty of the West African nation must be respected by the San Francisco tech giant.

Millions of content creators in Nigeria, who earn their living from the microblogging site, have been affected as they are forbidden from using Twitter. Some of them have since embarked on a journey of diversification while exploring other social media platforms.

Nigeria, with over 200 million people, had about 33 million active social media users as of January 2021. WhatsApp is the most popular platform used in the country, with over 90 million users according to Statista. Also according to Statista, about 61.4 per cent of Nigerian social media users use Twitter, 86.2 per cent use Facebook, 81.6 per cent use YouTube, 73.1 per cent use Instagram, and 67.2 per cent use Facebook Messenger.

Hon. Justice Salisu Garba has just been sworn in as the Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

The swearing-in was conducted by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad, at the Supreme Court on Monday.

Details later…

Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has condemned the wanton arson and killings perpetrated by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, militants in the South East, saying those killing policemen, setting INEC offices on fire are not different from Boko Haram.

Mr Soyinka made the comparison in a statement he issued in the wake of Twitter ban in Nigeria.

The Nobel Laureate also said the militants are not genuine liberators.

“I hold no brief for those who resort to burning down police stations, slaughter their occupants simply for the crime of earning a measly monthly pittance, torch electoral offices, assassinate politicians in calculated effort to set sections of the country against others in the promotion of their own political goals. These are largely nihilists, psychopaths and/or criminal lords, soul mates of Boko Haram, ISWAP, Da’esh and company, not to be confused with genuine liberators. All over the world, throughout history, elections are denounced, boycotted, and generally delegitimized without recourse to wanton butchery,” Mr Soyinka said.

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