Death toll has risen to 10 following a bandit attack in Pinau village, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.
A resident of the area, Ubale Pinau, said four more bodies were found in the bush in addition to the six bodies earlier recovered on the day of the attack.
He added that the deceased had since been buried.
Troops were said to have been deployed in the area to restore law and order.
Daily Trust had reported how the bandits attacked the village on Wednesday evening, killing six after the withdrawal of soldiers from the area.
The residents of the community had on Friday (last week) raised the alarm about withdrawal of the security personnel, a development that forced hundreds of them to flee their homes.
Ubale while confirming the the death toll, however, said soldiers had been deployed in the community to provide security for the area.
“Four more bodies have been discovered in the bush. After the attack, people went to the bush in search of their missing loved ones and luckily some bodies were recovered. The community is calm now because soldiers have been deployed again. We hope that they (soldiers ) would not leave again,” the resident said.
Customs agents under the aegis of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, NCMDLCA, have petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari over the new Customs bill before the National Assembly for consideration, noting that the bill did not only conflict with other government agencies but will affect the nation’s international trade.
NCMDLCA, in the petition signed by its National President, Lucky Amiwero, noted that the bill, if allowed to sail through, will also seek for the creation of a Ministry of Customs, whose minister must be a retired Customs officer.
The Council also observed that should the bill pass through legislation, it will empower the Service to take over the function of other sister government agencies.
According to the petition, “The Nigeria Customs Service bill is designed and personalised for the management of the Nigeria Customs Service based on the removal of some power of the President and total removal of the Ministers and the overriding powers of other federal government agencies.
Globally, the title of the Act is structured by the content based on the application of international convention, treaties, protocol on Trade procedures, which is mostly titled as follows: Customs Act, Trade Act, Customs and Excise Act, Customs Management Act, and Customs and Excise management Act.
“In the draft bill, Nigeria Customs Service was unduly allocated with uncontrollable powers over the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed forces, the Ministers and other government agencies on policy making, regulation of the economy on trade and Fiscal policies and other matters, which negate the principle of global best practice on administration, control and management of Trade/Customs Act.” The NCMDLCA therefore observed that the “Policy initiation and regulation of the economy by the instruments of trade are the preserve of the executive arm of the federal government as contained in the provision of section 148 of the constitution, which only allow the President, Vice and the Ministers on Foreign and Domestic policy directions.”
A military checkpoint close to Zuma Rock, a border between Niger State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has been attacked by suspected terrorists on Thursday evening.
Information on the attack is still sketchy as of the time of filling this report.
However, it was gathered that the personnel of the Nigerian Army have embarked on a clearance operation after the attack.
The incident was said to have caused gridlock in the area.
Our correspondent also gathered that the Mandala-Kaduna road has been cordoned off by the men of the Nigerian Army.
A military source who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said, “The terrorists took control of the area for over 30 minutes and kept on shooting before heading towards the Kaduna axis of the expressway,”
However, less than 30 minutes after the terrorists fled, solders from Zuma Barracks stormed the scene and took full control, chasing the terrorists into the bush.
Our correspondent also confirmed that a patrol team of policemen later arrived at the scene.
Efforts to get the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, were not successful.
The Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, didn’t also respond to calls from our correspondent.
Tejuri: It is almost like the Buhari administration is trying really hard to destroy all chances of APC winning the next election, because WTF is this incompetence?
APC brought us into these problems, with their evil intentions!
GamalNasser: That's exactly what has been happening for 7byears now and I warned y'all they will take over Abuja at the end of Buharis tenure..its all a plan
A military checkpoint close to Zuma Rock, a border between Niger State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has been attacked by suspected terrorists on Thursday evening.
Information on the attack is still sketchy as of the time of filling this report.
However, it was gathered that the personnel of the Nigerian Army have embarked on a clearance operation after the attack.
The incident was said to have caused gridlock in the area.
Our correspondent also gathered that the Mandala-Kaduna road has been cordoned off by the men of the Nigerian Army.
A military source who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said, “The terrorists took control of the area for over 30 minutes and kept on shooting before heading towards the Kaduna axis of the expressway,”
However, less than 30 minutes after the terrorists fled, solders from Zuma Barracks stormed the scene and took full control, chasing the terrorists into the bush.
Our correspondent also confirmed that a patrol team of policemen later arrived at the scene.
Efforts to get the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, were not successful.
The Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, didn’t also respond to calls from our correspondent.
The National Security Council, Thursday, said it would implement new strategies to address the fast-spreading insecurity and terrorist attacks nationwide as Nigerians are growing “tired” of the menace and are now turning to self-help.
The National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd), revealed this to State House correspondents at the close of Thursday’s security council meeting chaired by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Monguno who spoke alongside the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, said the President is well aware of the dire security challenges the country finds itself in at the moment.
However, he said the solution will not come from a single strategy.
“We are in a difficult situation. The council understands. The President understands. But there is no straight, cut and drive method around this unless we collectively fight it.
“People are getting tired and are beginning to gravitate into other means of self-help. But the truth is that help is rooted in everyone working together to end this,” he said.
Citing last Friday night’s attack on the 7 Guards Battalion of the Nigerian Army Presidential Guards Brigade, the NSA argued that no country can win an asymmetric warfare without the help of its citizens.
According to him, the Council has agreed on new strategies to curtail the menace, assuring that there will be a renewed momentum against terrorism.
“The various entities concerned have started working on these new strategies. They have also given their word to the President,” Monguno explained.
He also revealed that Council will soon conclude its special investigation on the July 5 Kuje Correctional Center attack—that saw the release of over 600 terrorists—and would punish those who, by neglect of duty, allowed the terrorists get away.
The NSA, who didn’t entertain questions from journalists afterwards, cautioned the media against giving wide publicity to the terrorists, saying such materials flooding the internet have dire consequences for the country.
Newton2024: To the chagrin of many, the ruling Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) made a move that perplexed many, when its Presidential flag bearer, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, after initial prevarication selected Senator Kashim Shettima, former Governor of Borno State and a fellow Muslim, as his running mate. While some bemoan the insensitivity of the APC in featuring a Muslim-Muslim Presidential ticket, some others consider it political suicide, as they believe it will dampen the chances of the Party at the polls. Some APC stalwarts have registered their disapproval of this development, by resigning from the Party in protest. Dr Daniel Hassan Bwala,Inibehe Effiong and Ogedi Ogu, express their views on this rather controversial choice of APC.
The Audacity of Hypocrisy and the Hypocrisy of Competence Since my resignation from membership of APC, I have heard from, listened to and read about the rich resources of Nigerians, whose interventions have contributed to the debate on diversity, equity, shared prosperity and inclusiveness. Of all the interventions that at least I have come across, what I find curious is a certain narration that religion is not relevant in politics, that the poor man on the street does not care about religion, that he just wants food on his table; and the funniest of all is the notion that choice and selection of the Vice Presidential flag bearer of APC was made purely on the basis of competence, as against religious consideration. This is what I call, the audacity of hypocrisy and the hypocrisy of competence.
1. The Audacity of Hypocrisy For avoidance of doubt, hypocrisy is defined as “ The practice of claiming to have higher standards, or more noble beliefs than is the case”. In other words, the practice of saying we should ignore religious injustice, disregard to diversity and simply focus on issue-based campaign; as if equity, diversity, justice are not issues that affect the electorates and form the bases for their choices and decisions. Everywhere in the world, wherever religion disfavours the minority, it has always been an issue that forms talking points in campaign and solicitations for votes. The hallmark of religious conversation is not only to buttress inclusiveness, but to ensure the protection of religious rights. Today, in both the United Kingdom and the United States, the concepts such as Islamaphobia and antisemitism are core issues that affect Muslims in largely Christian dominated countries and Jews in the society that harbours neo-nazism. Therefore, it has been a campaign issue.
When the various political parties began preparations for primary elections, there were several meetings by different sections, blocs and zones of the country debating around zoning formulae and the need to entrench diversity and opportunities, as in the selection of the various positions ranging from State, National Assembly, Governorship and Presidential elections by political parties to produce candidates for the general contest. Some of the fiercest advocates for zoning then, have now supernaturally turned into experts on competence and compellability. A good example was when politicians from the North were insisting on participating in the Presidential primaries, on account of competence and opportunity; some of the Southern politicians dismissed that and insisted on zoning for equity and fairness. The same politicians who insisted on zoning have suddenly turned 360 degrees, and are now saying that the demand for religious zoning is a non-issue and unnecessary distraction. For example, in APC, when the National Chairman once said the party is likely to field a Northerner if PDP produced a northern candidate, on the ground that its only a Northerner that can defeat a Northerner, the now-competence-advocates were then the-equity and fairness-advocates. Some even were subliminally suggesting that, fielding a Northern Presidential candidate might destabilise the peace and unity of the country. These equity and-fairness advocates, having eventually achieved their dream, albeit via the cooperation of the Northern Governors’ Forum, have now turned to say the request by Northern minority Christians for equity is a distraction, and should be ignored. Audacity of hypocrisy. The same can be likened to those who, against the Party’s decision, expressed and worked towards a more fair and equitable outcome, have now seen no reason why the same standards be applied to Northern minority christians. Hypocrisy of competence.
2. The Hypocrisy of Competence The hypocrisy of competence, is the most asinine argument I have ever heard. Hiding behind competence to perpetuate an agenda, as if competence cannot be found in every tribe, ethnic and religious background. Brandishing competence with no criteria, or set standards for decision making. Oftentimes, the outcome shows the very opposite of competence. It has now become a common cliché, in our political processes and participation. When someone wants to perpetuate fraud and injustice, he hides under the guise of competence, as if the principle of federal character has been expunged from our Constitution.
When the flag bearer of APC stated that the rationale behind his choice of a running mate was competence, I laughed in Chinese, because even on the evidence of a choice of a Muslim candidate, Governor El Rufai is by far a more competent and experienced candidate than the chosen candidate. If you stretch the argument further, you then factor Northeastern Christians such as Boss Mustapha who is a serving Secretary to the Government of the Federation with full knowledge and rich experience of the working of the Government of the Federation; Hon Dogara, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, with rich contacts and association across the country and knowledge of parliamentary affairs, with regard to the Government of the Federation. All these people were dismissed with a wave of hand as incompetent, or less competent than the chosen one. The irony is that whilst the flag bearer diverts attention to competence, the real issue is religion, because, szzzzuddenly, those who support his choices could not hide the reality, and had to be all over the media advocating that a Muslim Northerner is required to secure the votes of the Northern Muslims. That’s the issue, religion, which competence-advocates were quick to dismiss. This brazen injustice will run deep in the spines of the Northern minority Christians, and again, scratch the wounds of trust.
The Northern minority Christians have been loyal and faithful, to the northernisation dream of shared prosperity. Since the times of Sardauna of Sokoto, the late Sir Ahmadu Bello who instituted the nothernisation philosophy of equity and shared prosperity, to date and in all strata of our national life, the minority Northern Christians have not only identified with the rest of the North in struggles, but have sacrificed a lot in the endeavour. Now, after more than 60 years, they cannot be trusted to be given their fair share of opportunity in governance. In other words, they are not Northerners because of their religious identity, and you tell me APC is not playing identity politics.
The outcry sought for a fair and equitable leadership that will address it; unfortunately, Asiwaju has demonstrated that an Asiwaju government would not only accept and endorse the injustice, but he will reinforce it under the guise of competence. In APC, clearly there seems to be no path to happiness for any Christian, let alone Christian politician. I am also surprisingly seeing my Christian brothers, who during the primaries who worked against Asiwaju for their preferred candidates, and knowing what is to come to them now that he is the flag bearer, have taken on the mantle to seek remission of sin and acceptance as the beloved, and are all over the media masturbating asinine arguments in the hope they will be integrated into his plans and government, if and when he wins. As for me I was already in a place of comfort in Asiwaju’s universe; I fought hard and at the risk of life for his emergence, and was personally promised a leading role in his campaign and government, when I made the decision to resign. Let me close by quoting the holy book Esther 4:14: “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Christian from another place…and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this”
'Legality’ of the APC’s Muslim-Muslim Presidential Candidacies The decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to nominate Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima as her Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates respectively, has thrown the country into palpable political and ethno-religious tension; given that both candidates are of the Islamic faith, which has altered the established political tradition and further jeopardised the delicate structural balance of Nigeria.
philme87: Bishop David Oyedepo has once again attacked the government of the day.
While preaching in his church recently, the clergyman said with the killing recorded in so many states across the country, it is now clear that when the wicked rules, people mourned. He stated that Nigeria has never suffered as it has now in our history.
In his words;
''I shouted this in 2015. I am not a propagandist. I am not a public speaker. I am not an activist. I am a prophet.
You blindly brought in this wicked government. Nigerians has never suffered evil like this in our history and they still want to rule? Never!
After over 50 people were slaughtered, there has been no response till now. They are evil from head to toe"
Indispensable85: TINUBU BEYOND NIGERIA'S ISLAMIZATION by Very Rev Dr Okegbile Twenty two years ago, I was sent by Methodist Church Nigeria to serve as Presiding Chaplain, Chapel of Christ the Light (Interdenominational), Alausa, and later at the State House Chapel, Marina, Lagos. My pastoral work at the chapel afforded me a close understanding and religious maturity of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate, of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), and a former governor of Lagos, a state that is a microcosm of Nigeria in terms of religious diversity. His matured management of religion as a way of life, ensured inter-religious harmony in Nigeria’s most industrialised state. Asiwaju Tinubu’s composition of his state Executive Council was a model of religious harmony, trust and love in Lagos State. Nations fail not due to climate, geography or culture. In the words of leading academics Daron Acemoglu and James A Robinson, nation fails due to lack of ‘sound institutions that allows virtuous circles of innovation, economic expansion, more widely-held wealth and peace.’ Asiwaju Tinubu’s ability to blend economics, politics and history as a powerful and persuasive way of understanding wealth and poverty has potentials to place Nigeria on the path to peace and prosperity. Thanks to God for the conclusion of all the political parties primaries and selections of candidates for 2023 general election in Nigeria. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s ‘hard decision’ and choice of a Muslim-running mate is not about Nigeria’s Islamisation or a look down on Christianity in Nigeria. Just as it is understandable and right for the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to express our feelings and fears about the choice of Muslim-Muslim ticket, it is important to note that ‘when religion is used for political purposes, it empties religion of its eternal meaning and becomes just one more cynical method of acquiring power.’ One is very sad about the unabated killings and kidnappings especially against the Christians in Nigeria but we must be very watchful not to allow any blasphemous campaign aimed at provoking anger against the person and aspiration of Asiwaju Tinubu. With practical experiences and encounters with Asiwaju Tinubu and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, human life is very sacred. Asiwaju Tinubu’s leadership vision for a better Nigeria is able to provide an assurance and commitment for Christian safety and freedom of worship. As a former governor who laid the 24 years development plan for Lagos State, Asiwaju Tinubu and his wife also instituted and hosted Lagos State annual Christian Thanksgiving Service at Lagos House, Marina, always led by CAN leaders. It was during the tenure of Asiwaju Tinubu as governor of Lagos State that Lagos State Christian Pilgrim Board was given a lifting up and constituted with members drawn across all the blocs in CAN. I think CAN should give Asiwaju Tinubu the benefit of the doubt. This is based on the consideration of his political manifestoes, personal testimonies as a husband to a Christian wife and a pastor, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and his openness to Christian community and leaders across Nigeria. Asiwaju Tinubu while serving as a governor of Lagos State did not stop her daughter, now Iya Loja – Folasade Tinubu- Ojo from being a member of a Christian church in Lagos. I was introduced to Asiwaju Tinubu by Rev J Abimbola Odunlami, a former Conference Public Relation Officer, Methodist Church Nigeria. Upon my appointment as conference editor, Methodist Church Nigeria in 1993, I was put under the mentoring of Rev Odunlami. It was during one of my visits to Rev Odunlami’s residence at Victoria Island, Lagos, that I first met Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. In 2000, under the leadership of Asiwaju Tinubu, Lagos State government sought the support of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos State, to volunteer a Christian clergy for the pastoral oversight of the newly built Chapel of Christ the Light (Interdenominational), Alausa, Ikeja. Only two churches responded namely: Methodist Church Nigeria and Foursquare Gospel Church of Nigeria. I was sent by Methodist Church Nigeria and became the first presiding chaplain. Asiwaju Tinubu and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu were very regular in the chapel worships at Alausa especially during state’s special functions. Since the creation of Lagos State in 1967, there was no worship place built for Christian worship in the governor’s residence at Marina House except a mosque built by the past administrations. In 2003, under the leadership of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for the first time, the State House Chapel, Marina was built and dedicated with all the CAN leadership in attendance. Asiwaju Tinubu’s support to his wife enabled her to pray and lead other Christian staffs and friends at the State House in the mid-week, Sunday worships, and monthly all-night vigil at the State House Chapel, Marina, Lagos. Asiwaju Tinubu’s form of religiosity is filled with love and welfare of others, Christian or Muslim. Asiwaju Tinubu’s adherence to the tenets of religion is about the practice of equality that benefits ‘all because talent is no respecter of faith; intellect is not limited to one religion. Diversity enhances societies while insularity destroys it.’ Asiwaju Tinubu not only demonstrates religious tolerance, he accommodates and ‘believes in that cardinal principle of the Nigerian Constitution that no one should suffer discrimination on the basis of creed or opinion.’
Very Rev Dr Okegbile, is a former Presiding Chaplain, Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, and State House Chapel, Marina, Lagos.
State is different from Nigeria, see the rubish Shettima is speaking about restructuring!
See the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria and people like Cardoso Mutairu (seunmsg) will be sticking their necks for! A man not aware of anything!
Tareq1105: I'm just imagining how Buhari would leave this country next year. The country has collapsed on his head. No one fear him anymore, his words doesn't move anything again. He's lost respect, dignity and honour to the level that bandits are harassing him, threatening to kidnap him. Where's the God of Obasanjo?
The Federal Government, on Wednesday, described threats by some terrorists to abduct the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), as laughable.
It also reacted to threats by some lawmakers in the upper chamber of the National Assembly to remove the President over the rising insecurity nationwide, saying the government is “working 24 hours” to bring the situation under control.
Addressing State House correspondents shortly after the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by Buhari, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, commended the lawmakers for their patriotism but added that work was ongoing to restore order.
This follows the release of viral video footage showing terrorists—including an escapee from the July 5 Kuje Prison attack—whipping the remaining 43 of over 61 passengers kidnapped from a Kaduna-bound train on March 28.
In the video, the terrorists threatened to kidnap the President and the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Replying to queries on the President’s safety, Mohammed described the terrorists’ threats as “laughable” adding that it is mere “propaganda”.
“As to those who have issued threats to Mr. President, I think it’s mere propaganda. It is laughable,” he said.
Also, Senators elected on the platforms of the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, on While fielding questions on the issue, the Information Minister said “As to the resolution passed by the Senate, it was passed when we were deliberating (at the FEC meeting). We thank them for their patriotism and their concern. But we are working around the clock 24 hours to ensure that the situation is brought under control.
“I want to assure you that the President is aware of all these and as a matter of fact, I think tomorrow there’s going to be another Security Council meeting. So, it’s not a matter the President is taking lightly and like I’ll always say some of the measures we’re going to take are not measures that you can discuss openly here, but we’re as concerned as you are, we’re not going to abandon our responsibility.”
Speaking on behalf of his counterpart in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouk, Mohammed added that the council approved a memo for the standard operation procedure on maintaining the civilian and humanitarian character of asylum seekers in Cameroon.
“You all know that due to the insurgency in Cameroon, Nigeria has witnessed an influx of Cameroonian asylum seekers and there are basic standard procedures for you to be granted status as an asylum seeker.
“This is what the council considered and approved today. And basically, is that anybody from Cameroon who’s seeking asylum in Nigeria must first convince the authorities that he or she has actually renounced armed struggle before you can even be considered as an asylum seeker.
“Also there are cases of some of them who have come even when they claim to have surrendered their arms, go back at times, to join the separatist movement in Cameroon. So, the procedure was explained and approved today that will evaluate the basic criteria to grant asylum,” he explained.
Asked why the Government, despite the current security crises, is mulling asylum for foreign nationals, the minister said “The issue of the standard operating procedure for asylum seekers from Cameroon is not a matter that started today. The issue of the separatist movement in Cameroon is many years old and every day, because of the proximity of Cameroon to Nigeria, we’ve witnessed an influx of refugees seeking asylum, and under international regulations, there are certain procedures you must take for asylum seekers.
“So, all we have done today is to establish the standard procedure to ensure that those who claim to be asylum seekers are actually not insurgents themselves that have come to destabilise Nigeria or people who will come and be launching attacks against their own country from the comfort of Nigeria.”
Politics › Re: Plateau APC Sinks As Stakeholders Fight To Finish by treesun: 1:25pm On Jul 29, 2022
IF Muslim Muslim ticket is the only reason you are against APC that means you're Big F O O L..