Omoyele Sowore

Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore has criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for making the cost of nomination and expression of interest forms for elective positions in the 2023 elections outrageous.
Sowore, who is contesting for President on the platform of the African Action Congress (AAC), on Wednesday said crooks in the ruling party would purchase the forms at the outrageous cost with funds looted from the public treasury.

Omoyele Sowore BBC
The APC earlier on Wednesday fixed N100 million as the cost for its 2023 presidential aspirants to obtain forms.  The APC explained that the nomination form would go for N70 million while the expression of interest form costs N30 million.
The fee was approved at the ongoing National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party in Abuja.
Those eyeing the governorship ticket will purchase the form at N50 million.
“State House of Assembly Goes For 2 Million Naira. House Of Representatives Goes For 10 Million Naira. Senate Goes For 20 Million Naira. Governorship Goes For 50 Million Naira and Presidency Goes For 100 Million Naira,” the party had said.
Sowore in a post on his official Twitter handle said, “Crooks in @OfficialAPCNg are going to “reinvest” N100m looted from different treasuries belonging to the Nigerian people to buy the Presidential nomination form of the crooked party! We must say NO to these thieves! #WeCantContinueLikeThis #Revolutionnow.”
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, had also condemned the APC leadership for cost fixed for the forms.
Reacting, HURIWA in a statement signed by Emmanuel Onwubiko said “only political rogues, drug peddling gangsters or persons involved in armed robbery or kidnappings for ransom can afford to gamble away such a lifelong fortune.”
The rights group said anyone who buys the forms for such amounts, should first be arrested by the citizens and handed over to law enforcement agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) or the police to investigate the source of the money.
“This same APC government is unable to meet the funding obligations for federal universities and thereby left millions of students of public schools to roam around in their homes due to industrial strike by university teachers (ASUU) for over two months, yet the politicians have hidden enough stolen cash to buy presidential forms at N100 million each,” the statement read.
 
“It is a shame that those who seek to govern Nigeria are made to cough up so much money to purchase forms just to signpost their original intention as persons whose only objective would be to first recoup their huge investments and to further impoverish the citizenry.
 
“We urge Nigerians to initiate citizen’s arrest of anyone who buys the APC Presidential form at the rate of N100 million so the relevant law enforcement agencies are handed over these suspects to explain their source of such huge funds.”

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The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has urged the Ohanaeze Ndigbo to tell the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) to stop killing residents of South-East Nigeria, whom he described as his ‘family members.’
 
Oluwo, in a statement by his media aide, Alli Ibrahim, also asked the IPOB to cease fire and embrace one Nigeria.
 
Akanbi added that he would keep talking until IPOB and ESN stop killing people.
 
Faulting a recent statement by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo against his comments that Igbo people could not be trusted with Presidency, the monarch said, “I'm surprised Ohanaeze Indigo could picture my esteemed office as dividing Nigeria. All informed Nigerians are not unaware of my sacrifice to hold the pillar of Nigeria's unity. I'm a good friend of the Igbos and the only monarch to use made in Nigeria Igbo car, Innoson. I have a cordial relationship with Igbo highly respected monarchs and personalities. They have qualified brains who can be president. “I've family in the Igbos like Chief Sam Iwuajoku and friends such as Peter Emeagwali, Chief Billy Okoye, Innocent Chukwuma (Innoson), Chief Chike Ogeah of Marriot Hotel, Peter Ugomozie and others too numerous to mention. Igbos are hard-working but no one is perfect.
 
“While I've promoted their strengths, their weakness must be addressed for adjustment. I'm a father to the nation. I've watched the activities of the IPOB and ESN on television and social media. They should stop hurting us by attacking our own (Igbo) people. Any Igbo killed is my family. Igbos should give equal opportunity to non-Igbos on their land. The Ohanaeze Ndigbo has to convince us by speaking to the IPOB and ESN regulating and enforcing sit-at-home order.
 
“My throne respects equity, Ohanaeze Ndigbo are challenged to reach out to the presidency to grip an idea of my consistency to have a national dialogue on Igbo Civil War wounds. I was the first monarch outside South East to visit Innoson manufacturing company owned by an Igbo man Innocent Chukwuma and the only Nigerian monarch using Innoson vehicle which I bought in January 2018. I went further to advertise and promote the made in Nigeria vehicle on highway billboards throughout the country on my personal expenses.
 
“I want to challenge the Igbos further to name a monarch outside the South East who has ever dressed like an Igbo king?  I remain an Oba and very committed to the unity and oneness of Nigeria. The Igbos should act more, talk more and do more about the unity of Nigeria instead of their vituperation against an unrepentant preacher and promoter of one Nigeria.
 
“Oluwo has never said Igbo can't produce the president but need to restrategise. For the hasty conclusion and unguided vituperations, the respected throne of the Paramount Ruler of Iwoland deserves an apology from Ohanaeze Ndigbo.”
 
He added, “No monarch feels the pain of the Igbos like I do. The Ohanaeze Ndigbo should read more about my activities before jumping on the media. My message is to their advantage, should they see it as such.
 
“On October 8, 2021, I issued a statement titled ‘Oluwo to FG: Heal Civil War Wound on Igbos’, appealing to the federal government to hold a national conference centering on healing and compensating Igbos for the wounds sustained from civil war. Did the Ohanaeze Ndigbo make any contact to commend or do a follow-up?”
 
 
 

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Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has condemned the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for allegedly displaying tendencies of a secret cult fraternity or a cartel.
 
APC earlier in the day announced that aspirants seeking to contest for the 2023 presidency would pay N100m to buy forms.
 
The APC explained that the nomination form would go for N70 million while the expression of interest form costs N30 million.
 
Reacting, HURIWA in a statement signed by Emmanuel Onwubiko said it is inconceivable that a Nigerian who made his money legally can afford to spend a whopping sum of N100 million just because they want to serve Nigerians
 
It argued that “only political rogues, drug peddling gangsters or persons involved in armed robbery or kidnappings for ransom can afford to gamble away such a lifelong fortune.”
 
The rights group said anyone who buys the forms for such amounts, should first be arrested by the citizens and handed over to law enforcement agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) or the police to investigate the source of the money.
 
HURIWA has also warned that the hike in the cost of presidential forms to N100 million will affect the value of the naira.
It alleged that economic saboteurs who had stashed away dollars would need to source for the amount in dollars, therefore mopping up some of the naira in circulation.
 
“This same APC government is unable to meet the funding obligations for federal universities and thereby left millions of students of public schools to roam around in their homes due to industrial strike by university teachers (ASUU) for over two months, yet the politicians have hidden enough stolen cash to buy presidential forms at N100 million each,” the statement read.
 
“It is a shame that those who seek to govern Nigeria are made to cough up so much money to purchase forms just to signpost their original intention as persons whose only objective would be to first recoup their huge investments and to further impoverish the citizenry.
 
“We urge Nigerians to initiate citizen’s arrest of anyone who buys the APC Presidential form at the rate of N100 million so the relevant law enforcement agencies are handed over these suspects to explain their source of such huge funds.”

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has approved a reduction in the cost of nomination forms payable for aspirants who are below 35 years.
In a memo sighted by SaharaReporters, the party said it had approved a 40% discount for aspirants aged 35 and below. The memo was signed by Sulaiman Muhammad Arugungu, the National Organising Secretary.
 
Aspirants in the age category can now purchase the nomination form and expression of interest form for the presidential election at N60 million, instead of N100 million.
 
Also, candidates vying for governorship aged 35 and above will pay N30 million instead of N50 million, while those vying for the house of representatives will pay N6 million and the senate hopefuls will pay N10 million.
 
The development followed calls by many Nigerians on the APC to reduce the fees of the forms for youths interested in elective positions.
 
On Wednesday, the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, described as ridiculous the nomination form fee charged by the APC for various positions ahead of the next year’s general elections in the country.
 
Also, the Nigerian Youth Parliament (NYP) had urged the APC to reduce the fees of the forms for youths interested in elective positions.
 
The group, in a statement, urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the APC to reduce the nomination and expression of interest forms by at least 60% for aspirants under 35 years old ahead of the 2023 elections.
 
“We appeal earnestly to President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the party to review its stand and grant at least a 50% reduction in fees for the nomination form for Nigerian office seekers below 35 years of age in the 2023 elections.
 
“It is the ultimate way to reciprocate the love and loyalty of Nigerian youths, display boundless belief in the youth’s constituency, promote inclusion and strengthen our democracy,” the group said.  

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Posters with messages urging former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan to join the 2023 presidential race have flooded major streets in Abuja, the capital city. 
The posters simply say, “Goodluck Jonathan: You Must Run”.

The posters are on major streets but mostly concentrated on Blantyre Street in Wuse 2 District, where the national secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is located, Leadership reports.
The posters, however, do not bear the logo or name of any political party or group.
Since there is no provision for independent candidacy in the Electoral Act 2022, the former President will have to join a political party if he chooses to contest.
His spokesman, Ikechukwu Eze, disassociated the former president from the posters but said Jonathan had been getting inquiries on whether or not he would contest the 2023 presidential election, and on what platform.
“We are not in any way associated with any campaign poster. Should His Excellency former President Goodluck Jonathan choose to contest, he is eminently qualified to do so.
 
“After all, in 2015, nobody advised Goodluck Jonathan before he called to concede defeat and congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari. In like manner, nobody should talk of influencing the former president to run or not to run.
 
“If he’s going to run or not, it’s a question of time and shall be his personal decision. It is within the rights of people to pressure him to run. But it is also within his own right to run or not. The fact remains that he is very constitutionally qualified to run,” Eze stated.
 
SaharaReporters on March 31 reported that Jonathan had rejected some of the conditions given to him by members of the Aso Rock (Presidency) cabal to get the 2023 presidential automatic ticket of the ruling APC.
 
One of the conditions was that Jonathan must officially defect to the APC with some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors in the South-South and South-East regions.
 
 
The cabal, comprising some members of President Muhammadu Buhari’s extended family and friends, are the powers behind the throne.
 
This group is said to have the ear of the President, influence policy-making and determine those who get major appointments.
 
Sources told SaharaReporters that the former President rejected the conditions and told the cabal he did not have interest in the 2023 presidency again.
 
His response, it was gathered, embarrassed the cabal members who described the former President as a traitor.
 
“They are now accusing Jonathan of not fulfilling some of his promises after all the several meetings and soft-landing given to him.
 
“He was to come on board by converting some PDP states in the South-South and South-East to APC, and that way he would get the automatic ticket uncontested. Some other conditions were also given to him.
 
“But guess what? He told them he won't contest again. They are now angry, saying he was deceitful. They said after getting some of his seized monies back, his wife’s monies returned to him, he finally decided not to contest,” a top source had told SaharaReporters.
SaharaReporters had reported that members of the ‘Aso Rock cabal’ had promised Jonathan the 2023 presidential ticket of the ruling APC.
 
It was also reported that the cabal members had warned the President against handing over to the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the party.
 

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A Rwandan court has sentenced a Chinese national for torture after a video showed him beating men tied to a tree.
 
The court on Tuesday sentenced Sun Shujun to 20 years in prison, a journalist who attended the court session told the BBC.
 
A Rwandan man said to be his employee was also sentenced to 12 years in jail for abetting torture.
 
The victims are reported to have been former workers at a mine operated by Shujun in Rutsiro district and who were allegedly linked to theft.
 
Shujun said he had previously warned thieves after his belongings were repeatedly stolen.
 
In August 2021, the three-minute video went viral in Rwanda and led to the arrest of Shujun - who was later released on bail.
 
The video was taken by angry workers and shared on social media.
 
The Chinese embassy in Kigali condemned “unlawful acts” in the video, local media reported.
 
Witnesses told the court that Shujun had erected a cross where those suspected of stealing from him were tied and whipped.

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Residents of Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo and members of civil society organisations, on Wednesday, stormed the Lagos-Benin Expressway to protest against incessant attacks by herdsmen on their communities.
 
The protest, which lasted for several hours led to a gridlock on the highway, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
 
According to the protesters who are from 10 communities, herdsmen often invade and destroy their farmlands.
They also alleged that the suspected herdsmen have been forcibly evicting them from their ancestral homes and killing their loved ones.
Some of the protesters were from Odiguetue, Ofintebe, Igolo, Okokuo, Abumwenre I and Abumwenre II, Obarenren, Uhiere, Uyimo I and Uyimo II.
 
A community leader, Osagie Obayuwana, said they were worried about the looming crisis brewing in the various communities and orchestrated by armed herdsmen.
 
“We are zeroing in on Ovia North-East communities; about ten communities have been under siege for some time now.
 
“It is one of the reasons the price of food is rising beyond the reach of even those in the middle class.
 
“Our people have gone to various relevant government offices to complain, but there has not been any response.
 
“We don’t want the Benue and Plateau experience where armed herdsmen drive people away from their communities, change the names of the communities and start to occupy the houses to be replicated in Edo,’’ he said.
 
A representative of the Edo State CSOs, Osazee Edigin, decried the level of insecurity in Edo communities and noted that it had gone from bad to worse.
 
“We have seen the high level of insecurity in the state, and we want the state government and law enforcement agencies to rescue the people.
 
“The government should step in. With no peace in the land, life will not flourish, and the economy will go down,’’ he said.
 
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, James Chu, who represented the police commissioner, Abutu Yaro, appealed to the protesters and assured them that the police were making efforts to address the problem.
“There are critical strategies that are in place to ensure that the excesses of these herdsmen disturbing our villages are monitored and equally checked and stopped.
 
“I assure you that the police are not resting on this issue. We shall work hands-in-gloves with the communities to ensure the essence of this gathering,’’ Chu said.

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President Muhammadi Buhari has described Nigerians as forgetful, saying they have quickly forgotten the security situation in the country before his regime came in.
Buhari became Nigeria’s President in 2015 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after making several promises, one of which was to tackle insecurity.

But since he became the President, the insecurity situation which used to be abysmal in the North-East due to the activities of Boko Haram terrorists has spread to all parts of the country.
Kidnapping for ransom has now become a daily affair with reports of killings in the news daily.
However, at the 11th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC on Wednesday in Abuja, the President said his government had done well with the resources at its disposal.
“I will like us to reflect on what the situation was before we came in. How many local government areas were under the control of terrorists in the North-East?
“In the South-South, we all know what the situation was, now we have relative peace. With the resources at our disposal, we have done very well.
“People are very forgetful. Our main problem now is in the North West and North Central. People are killing one another in these places, what for? We are going to be very tough.’’
The regime of Buhari has a history of insulting and denigrating citizens.
For instance, the Special Adviser to President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in August 2021 lambasted “ungrateful Nigerians” for not being thankful for the regime’s efforts to tackle insecurity.
In a piece titled, ‘It’s Evil, Pure And Simple’ published on his Facebook page, which followed the invasion of Nigeria’s foremost military institution, the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna by bandits, the presidential spokesperson said, “What should we have in a less hateful polity at such a time? Cooperation with government, encouragement of our military and security forces. But what did we get? Complaints. Grumblings. Wailings. They should have done it this way. They didn’t put this leg right. They should have faced that direction. And all sorts. What a people! What a country!
 
“And when there is a reversal in fortunes, no matter how temporary, as happened with the NDA attack this week, you see the predilections and propensities of the evil-hearts. They actually gloat, pretending to be concerned, while actually rejoicing that the house rat had urinated in the pot of soup. Miserable comforters!”
He had continued, “What kind of people are we, really? Instead of rallying our military, encouraging them and spurring the government further into action, they say the foulest things that can come from the nether region. Government is incompetent. The military is no good. They’ve been humiliated, and they only stop short of doing a jig on television, spewing expletives and concocting conspiracy theories. They simply forget where we were coming from, and where we now are. Ungrateful. Unthankful. Ungracious.
 
“Evil stalks our country, just as it does many other countries of the world. Life is nasty, brutish and short. Some people spend all their days and nights fighting the vermin, trying to extirpate evil, but we don’t value it. The decent dies for the indecent, trying to keep us safe, but we tell them to go to hell. We value nothing, appreciate nothing. We even rejoice when a reversal occurs, as happened at NDA. Issorait. What we sow is what we reap.”

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The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says that Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), has now become the destination of choice for human traffickers to traffic victims.
 
Nduka Nwanwenne, Zonal Commander, NAPTIP, Benin Zonal Command disclosed this in Benin, at the commencement of a three-day sensitisation programme on human trafficking.
 
According to Newswire, Nwanwenne explained that against the norm where victims of human trafficking were transported by their traffickers by land to their destinations, victims were now air transported.
 
“This is because the human traffickers have stepped up their game, and the destination of choice of victims of human trafficking was now Dubai.
 
“Human Trafficking is not abating in the country, because traffickers make so much money from their victims so they take it as a business.
 
“The traffickers are now also concentrating on rural areas for recruitment of their victims,” he said.
 
The zonal commander also revealed that irregular migration was also been used as a ploy for human trafficking, such that its victims were being exploited for their organs.
 
“There is now an increase in organ harvesting not just for money rituals, but also for transplants. This is because the need for organs is higher than the supply,” he added.
 
While noting that the issue of human trafficking was still on the front burner, Nwanwenne said that there was a need for partnership to end human trafficking.
 
He said that baby sales/baby factory operations were part of human trafficking and that there was a need for concerted efforts to end human trafficking.
 
“As security agencies, we must be alive to our duties. We must join hands with the government to fight the issue of human trafficking. I must also advise parents to stop putting pressure on their children to go and make money.
 
“Parents should control themselves and give birth to only the number of children they can cater for,” he said
 
 

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At least five persons have been killed and property worth millions of naira destroyed, in a communal clash between Yoruba residents and the indigenes of Ibeno in the Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
 
According to reports, though details are still sketchy, the fracas started as a cult clash before it turned into an ethnic war.
 
Sources said the Ilaje people, mostly fishermen, have started fleeing the community through bush paths, while their houses and tents are being looted and destroyed by the hoodlums.
 
A Yoruba indigene living in Akwa Ibom State, Barr. Oluwajuwon Ogunbiyi, told Daily Post that the situation was unfortunate. He called on the state government to set up a committee to investigate the crisis.
 
He said, “It is quite unfortunate that this crisis has led to the loss of innocent lives and destruction of properties. The Ibeno community had been a good host over the decades to both indigenes and non-indigenes. Everybody has been living there in harmony without rancour.
 
“I’m therefore using this medium to appeal for peace and an end to hostilities from both warring parties. I also want to call on the Governor of Akwa Ibom State as well as the heads of all security agencies in the state to intervene in the matter immediately in order to stem these waves of violence.”

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Netflix Inc. shares plunged 39 percent on Wednesday, extending a selloff that has set it on course for a $60 billion wipeout in market value after it reported a sharp decline in its subscriber base.
 
Netflix traded as low as $212.51 in New York, extending its plunge this year to 64% -- making it the worst-performing stock in the broad S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 indexes, Bloomberg reports. Netflix has a 0.7% weighting on the Nasdaq 100 and 0.3% on the S&P 500. The shares are on pace for their biggest drop since October 2004 and are now worth less than $100 billion in market value.
 
The streaming service shocked Wall Street by losing 200,000 customers in the first quarter, the first time it has shed subscribers since 2011. It also projected it will shrink by another 2 million customers in the second quarter.
 
“A big problem with Netflix is that it’s too easy to leave the service,” said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell. Consumers feeling the pinch from inflation will be looking hard at their expenses and streaming services are a quick way to save money, he said.
 
The drop in customers has led Netflix to break some of its long-standing rules: it will introduce a cheaper, advertising-supported option for subscribers in the next couple of years and will start to crack down on people sharing their passwords even before that.
 
Netflix’s stock has suffered this year as the pandemic-era surge in user sign-ups faded and investors have turned away from high-value technology and growth stocks due to rising bond yields.
 
Fellow stay-at-home stocks, including Etsy Inc., Zoom Video Communications Inc. and DocuSign Inc. have also been hit by deep losses, down by 38% to 51% in 2022, as these businesses struggle to leverage the inroads they made during lockdowns.
 
Netflix’s stock has been a Wall Street darling in recent years, with three out of every four analysts covering the stock recommending a buy at the start of the year.
 
Now, even Wall Street bulls are flipping sides after Netflix missed even the most-bearish forecasts, not just once, but twice in a row. Analysts across Wall Street reduced their price targets for the streaming-video company, while at least nine brokerages downgraded the stock.
 
JPMorgan’s Douglas Anmuth, who cut his buy recommendation that he had maintained since 2013, said he was encouraged by the company’s intentions of creating an ad business -- a model that has worked for Hulu and Disney+ -- but noted that it was still in early stages.
 
With the downgrades, the streaming-video company now has the lowest number of buy ratings since 2015, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

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File photo used to illustrate story.

Gunmen have attacked Anaku police divisional headquarters in Anambra State, setting patrol three vans ablaze.
The incident occurred in the Ayamelum Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday morning.

File photo used to illustrate story.
The spokesman for the state police command, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, said there was no casualty as the police successfully repelled the attack.
He, however, added that the gunmen petrol bombs inside the station, burning three operational vehicles.
 
“The operatives are firmer and more courageous following the successful repel of an attack in the early hours of today 20/4/2022 at Anaku divisional headquarters,” he said, adding that police reinforcement had been deployed to the area.
Last Thursday, some gunmen also attacked a police observation point in Anambra, injuring three policemen.
SaharaReporters learnt the incident occurred along Ekwulobia Expressway.
It was gathered that the gunmen engaged the policemen in a gun duel, during which three officers sustained gunshot injuries.
Tochukwu informed SaharaReporters through a text message that the house of Governor Charles Soludo was not attacked as being speculated. 
"Soludo’s house was not attacked. To set the records straight, Police observation point along Ekwulobia expressway came under attack late hours of yesterday 14/4/2022.
"The Mobile personnel posted at the point, gallantly repelled the attack but unfortunately three of them sustained gunshot injuries during the gun battle with the hoodlums.
"Following the quick deployment of operatives in the area by the command, calm has since returned in the area.
"Meanwhile Operation is still ongoing. Further details shall be communicated," he said.
The attack followed an attack on Nteje Divisional Police Headquarters in Oyi Local Government Area of the state.
The previous attack happened around 3 am on Thursday. One person was said to have been killed in the attack.
Meanwhile, Thursday's attack occurred after four police officers were reportedly killed by gunmen at another police facility in the state, Atani Divisional Police Divisional Headquarters, on Wednesday.

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No fewer than 12 persons have been reportedly killed by terrorists who invaded communities around the border town of Illela in the Illela local government area of Sokoto State.
 
The terrorists, according to residents, stormed the area with sophisticated weapons and engaged local vigilantes and other community members, TVC reports.
 
According to one of them, at least twelve persons have been killed in seven different villages of Gatti, Mullela, Malali, Tarke, Koringo, Tudungudale, and Munwadata, all in the Illela local government area.
 
The Information Officer of the local government area, Muhammad Nuhu Illela said the attack has become a daily happening in the area.
 
He said the latest attack claimed the lives of 12 persons and several other persons were injured as the terrorists also kidnapped an unspecified number of persons.
 
Illela said a suspected notorious bandit operating in Tureta and Dange/Shuni known as Solar has relocated to Illela and has been disturbing the peace of the area.
 
He said members of the community and their local vigilantes have been mobilising to resist the attacks, especially from the suspected bandits who specialised in broad daylight attacks.

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A lawyer based in Abuja, Kenechukwu Maduka, has narrated how he and his wife almost lost their lives on Tuesday after being forced to board a rickety Toyota Sienna vehicle from Awka, Anambra State, to the Federal Capital Territory by God is Good Motors, a popular transport company in Nigeria.
According to the legal practitioner, he booked two seats on a Toyota Hiace bus and paid N23,000 for himself and his wife for the journey but was shocked to realise that the transport company did not have the bus displayed on their online platform on the ground when they got to their terminal in Awka, the capital of Anambra.

As a result, he and his wife were told to board a rickety Siena vehicle for the trip, which he promptly rejected.
But after much pleading and persuasion from other passengers in the vehicle, he and his wife decided to board the car to get to their destination.
However, shortly after leaving God is Good Motors terminal in the Anambra State capital, the vehicle developed a mechanical fault -- which was only an introduction as worse things later came.
By the time the fault was rectified and they continued with the journey, things took a completely terrible turn.
"I paid N23,000 for transport fare for me and my wife from Awka to Abuja. On getting to God is Good Motors terminal in Awka, I realised that the bus we booked for was not on the ground. The company scammed me and my wife by putting us in a rickety Siena bus which we resisted. 
"We insisted on a refund because we did not book seats on the Siena bus. It took the intervention of people around and passengers for us to accept to board the Siena bus.
"Less than five minutes after we left their Awka park, the Siena developed a fault. We went back to their office, they did some repairs and we left again. But on reaching the boundary between Anambra and Enugu, the vehicle developed fault again.
"Instead of the driver to call the office, he told us that we needed to negotiate. After a while, the driver told us that he will be driving us to their park in Enugu. 
"That was how we left our destination from Awka to Abuja for Enugu at about 4:30 pm. 
"At their Enugu park, they called another mechanic for repairs which took about one hour. As at 7:30 pm on Tuesday we were still stranded in Enugu despite leaving Awka by 7:30 am.
"We were eventually forced to pass the night in Lokoja, Kogi State, after the driver claimed he was tired.
"We arrived in Abuja on Wednesday morning after much suffering and risk.
"God is Good Motors endangered our lives by forcing us to travel in a rickety vehicle despite collecting high transport fares from us.
"We could have been killed by armed robbers or kidnapped by gunmen on that journey because of the carelessness of the management.
"We will not keep quiet about his massive violation of our rights as customers. Appropriate authorities must sanction the transport company for endangering the lives of passengers for their own gains," the lawyer said.
An enquiry sent to the official email of the transport company over the issue was yet to be responded to as of the time of this report.









 

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday described the Russian military as the most barbaric and inhumane army in the world that will forever be written in history.
 
President Zelensky said Putin’s army will be marked as a “source of evil” for allegedly targeting the civilian population during the ongoing war.
 
Zelensky who made this known in a video address on Tuesday noted that the intensity of Russian troops’ fire towards the regions of Kharkiv and Donbas has “significantly increased.”
 
“Forever the Russian army will be written in history as the most barbaric and inhumane army in the world,” he said.
 
He accused Russia of using all kinds of weapons, including the ones forbidden by international conventions to destroy Ukraine.
 
The President, who has vowed that his country will not surrender any of its parts to Russia, said in Mariupol, that the situation remains “brutal and unchanged.”
 
The president also used the speech to praise his armed forces and people for resisting the invasion as fighting enters its 55th day while renewing calls for Ukraine's western allies to send more weapons faster in order to ensure the Russian army is defeated.
 
If Ukraine had access to the same kinds of weapons being used by Russia, Zelensky said, then 'we would have already ended this war.' Only the West is capable of providing such weapons, he added.
 
He spoke after the Ukrainian military said it had managed to repel numerous Russian advances in the eastern Donbas region on Tuesday, as the opening stages of what is likely to be the war's defining battle gets underway.  

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The All Progressives Congress Youth and Solidarity Forum has called on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, to resign from their current positions before the party's primaries in May.
 
According to the group, this would ensure fairness and give every candidate a level playing field ahead of the exercise.
 
Malami, Amaechi and other appointees under President Muhammadu Buhari's government have recently signified interest to contest various elective positions in the country.
 
This prompted calls for their resignations to ensure they do not use their positions in government to their advantage and detriment of other contestants.
 
While reinforcing that call on Wednesday during a rally in front of the APC headquarters in Abuja, the youth group insisted that the ruling party was not the property of any individual.
 
Led by their Convener, Tobias Ogbeh, the group said non-resignation of such persons before the primaries could jeopardise the outcome of the exercise.
 
He said, "The last time we checked, the APC is not a personal property of a select few. Many of us in various capacities indeed contributed to the development and growth of the party over the years. It is insulting to our sensibilities when some persons whose contributions to the party can be counted with their fingertips are pushing the party towards the brink.
 
"It is no longer news that the general elections in 2023 are well underway. As such, it behoves that the party should be adequately prepared at this point but we are worried that all is not well within the party with regards to the provisions in Section 84(12) of the elections, which states that: no political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.
 
"As we all know, the Electoral Act has been passed into law and one wonders why political appointees in government that have indicated an interest in contesting elective positions have refused to resign their appointments."
 
Speaking further, Ogbeh said that concerned stakeholders in the APC, especially the youth were appalled that such illegality would thrive despite the claim of the party that it is a movement of progressive people.
 
He added, "What are the likes of the Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, and Chris Ngige still doing in government? Are we saying these individuals are above the law or are exempt from the provisions of the Electoral Act?
 
"It is unfortunate that the AGF is hell-bent on misleading the party with its attendant consequences. The AGF must be reminded that as the custodian of the law, he must rise above sentiments in the interpretation of the law, at the risk of the country becoming a laughing stock nationally and internationally.
 
"We are using this medium to reiterate that Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act is clear and unambiguous. Mr President should stop protecting a few influential individuals within the party to the detriment of the entire country. Such actions would be detrimental to the party's electoral success in the 2023 general elections.
 
"On this note, the APC Youth and Development Forum is calling on the CBN governor, ministers and federal board members to do the needful and save the party’s neck."

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The Nigerian Air Force has begun an investigation into the cause of its Super Mushshak trainer aircraft crash that occurred at NAF Base, Kaduna.
SaharaReporters had reported how the training aircraft with two pilots on board crashed on Tuesday evening.

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The two pilots, Flight Lieutenant Abubakar Muhammed Alkali and Flight Lieutenant Elijah Haruna Karatu, who recently graduated from the Nigeria Defence Academy were among military officers who returned from Pakistan in April 2021, following a six-month training in the Southeast Asian country.
NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Gabkwet Edward in a statement on Wednesday, said the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao has constituted an Accident Investigation Board to determine the immediate and remote causes of the crash.
The statement read, “The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, has stated that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will ensure it thoroughly investigate the cause of the Super Mushshak trainer aircraft crash that occurred yesterday, 19 April 2022 at NAF Base, Kaduna. He stated this when he visited Kaduna earlier today to commiserate with families, friends, and colleagues of the 2 pilots, Flight Lieutenant Abubakar Muhammed Alkali and Flight Lieutenant Elijah Haruna Karatu, who lost their lives in the tragic accident.
“Air Marshal Amao had constituted an Accident Investigation Board upon receiving the sad news of the crash yesterday, to determine the immediate and remote causes of the crash. While at Kaduna earlier today, he assured the officers, airmen and airwomen of 401 Flying Training School that all measures will be emplaced to avert similar occurrence in the future.
“He also reminded them on the need to remain steadfast and focused on their assigned roles and responsibilities in view of the onerous task before the NAF and other security agency to rid the Northwest and indeed the entire Nation of all criminal elements.
“The unfortunate incident of yesterday’s trainer aircraft crash is yet again a tragic reminder of the perilous nature of the military flying profession as well as the risks NAF pilots continually take, daily, to secure Nigeria’s territorial integrity. Kindly bring this information to the awareness of the general public.”

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The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN has reacted to an Easter advert by Sterling Bank Plc to its Christian customers.
An advert by the bank, with the copy text “Like Agege Bread, He Rose Again” had attracted the outrage of Nigerians who queried the rationale behind the advert.

In reaction to the advert, the Christian body, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Joseph Bade Daramola, called for the removal of the CEO of the bank, Abubakar Suleiman for expressing ‘hostility and hatred’ of the Christian Faith.
The statement reads, “The attention of the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has been drawn to an ungodly, wicked, insensitive and deliberately provocative advertisement of the Sterling Bank comparing the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ to ‘Agege Bread’ amidst the Easter celebration.
“In case the management of the Sterling Bank is not aware, the resurrection of Jesus witnesses to the immense power of God Himself. To believe in the resurrection is to believe in God. If God exists, and if He created the universe and has power over it, then He has power to raise the dead; if He does not have such power, He is not worthy of our faith and worship.
“Only He who created life can resurrect it after death, only He can reverse the mystery that is death itself, and only He can remove the sting and gain the victory over the grave (1 Corinthians 15:54–55). In resurrecting Jesus from the grave, God reminds us of His absolute sovereignty over life and death.
“The purported apology did not come from a penitent heart. How can someone in his right mind described the risen Christ as a loaf of bread. That is insulting, ridiculous and a mockery of Jesus Christ. We advised Christians to be wary of the banks and other financial institutions they are patronising.
“We learnt that the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) has reportedly intervened in the matter with a view to impose some sanctions against Sterling Bank. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is waiting for the decision of the organisation.
“However, in the interim, we call for the immediate removal of the Chief Executive of Sterling Bank; Mr. Abubakar Suleiman with his Management whose actions have clearly shown their hostility and hatred for the Christian faith.”

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The All Progressives Congress will choose its presidential candidate through an indirect primary election.
The decision was reached at the party’s 11th National Executive Committee meeting holding at the Transcorp Hotel in Abuja.

The National Working Committee of APC had on Tuesday met for several hours to deliberate on several issues including the timetable for the general election primaries.
Also, the President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of the party transmitted their powers to the NWC.

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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has alleged that the killings and genocide in some parts of Imo State are perpetrated by men of the Nigerian army and Ebubeagu security outfit.
IPOB, in a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful said soldiers are now going from house to house searching for and killing innocent citizens in Orlu, Imo State.

The group said terrorists had continued to kill Nigerians in the Northern region with little or no intervention by security agencies while they invade communities in the South-East region.
A statement from the group reads, “Our people are under severe attack and torture anywhere they are seen. We are dying every day and night the world looked the other way. IPOB worldwide cannot afford to allow them continue with this atrocities against our people.
”It is no longer news  that the Nigeria Army in collaboration with Ebubeagu militia, burning down people's properties and now they have metamorphosed into burning human beings alive in Obowo and other communities in Biafraland.
“Two days ago Nigeria soldiers in collaboration with Ebubeagu security outfit burnt 17 lives in Orlu LGA and its environs with many houses and properties of innocent citizens were destroyed completely.
“Biafran people living in Orlu LGA and its environs are under siege. They are under total pressure to leave their ancestral lands because of Nigeria government and its security agencies. The soldiers are busy killing innocent citizens simply because they are suspected to be IPOB members without confirming that.
“Besides, IPOB members are not terrorists. IPOB is present in over 100 countries and their members are not treated as criminals in any of those countries except in the Fulani-controlled Nigeria.
“We are calling on the international community, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch organisation, Intersociety group and other reputable human rights organisations across the globe to take note and prevail on the Nigerian government and its security agencies to leave Biafra territory.
“The world should come and rescue Biafrans because they are facing difficulties in the hands of Nigeria Government at this time. We need help from international community to rescue us by separating us from Nigeria.
“Our people are dying every day in the hands of Nigerian government and its security agencies. Obowo and Orlu residents are facing hard times because Nigeria and its security agencies especially the military mapped out these communities for total destruction.
“Nigeria Army is now going from house to house searching for and killing innocent citizens just because they are Biafrans.  Nigerian Army should stop murdering our brothers and sisters. Is it because we are Biafrans? There is genocide going on now in Biafra land by Nigeria security agencies. The world must come to our rescue now.”

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