Terrorists of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) faction of the Boko Haram have attacked a convoy of four food trucks meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and resettled communities in Borno and intercepted four of them.
According to Daily Trust, the attack, which occurred Thursday night around Layi village in Mobbar Local Government Area of the state, came barely 48 hours after terrorists launched a heavy attack on Kuje Medium Security Prison in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) freeing at least 69 Boko Haram suspects and hundreds of others.

The ISWAP on Wednesday claimed responsibility for the attack.
Top security sources who were briefed about the Borno attack told Daily Trust that the food and nutritional products consignment belonged to the United Nations’ agency, World Food Programme (WFP) and was on its way to Damasak.
It was part of the palliative by the WFP’ intervention for IDPs from Abadam and victims of the Boko Haram violence returning to their homes in Mobbar.
“The attackers were in four gun trucks. After heavy attacks on the convoy, they succeeded in intercepting four of the vehicles and emptied nearly everything from the vehicles,” the source said.
It was also gathered that the terrorists are now firming up their control of major roads and strategic areas in the southern and northern parts of Borno.
Intelligence sources in the area have reported that ISWAP members in four trucks have been deployed to Kareto village in Mobbar Local Government Area. 
As part of their expansionist activities, the terror groups are said to have concluded plans to conduct eid prayers in some of the areas under their control, today (Saturday).
Credible sources said like what obtained in the past years, Boko Haram members loyal to late Abubakar Shekau, and those loyal to ISWAP led by late Abu Musab Albarnawi, the son of late Boko Haram founder Mohammed Yusuf, have, among others,  cleared grounds around the shores of the Lake Chad and Sambisa forest and would observe the Eid-el-Kabir prayer there.
They, therefore, called on security agencies to checkmate the effrontery of the terrorists saying they use such festivities for massive recruitments of innocent people into their fold.
One of the sources said even though, Nigerian security forces have uprooted Boko Haram fighters from many villages and forested areas in Borno and neighbouring Yobe State, they are still lurking around in many communities.
“The terrorists are fully mobilised for celebrations at many Tunbus (islands) on the Lake Chad and their enclaves in Sambisa Forest,” he said.
Another source said the excesses of the terrorists cast Nigeria in bad light at the international level.
“It is unthinkable the way they release videos of their atrocities. Such videos show that once the terrorists go out for their operations, they would do it with ease because nobody can stop them.
“The videos they released recently after the attack on Kuje prison is one bad example that showed our weak links. And unless something is done, they would also release videos of their eid prayers.
“They would release their propaganda videos slaughtering their sacrificial animals to the chagrin of those in authority…I am calling on our security forces to act by decimating them,” he said.
Another source said with the commencement of the rainy season, Nigerian troops are constrained by environmental factors which is affecting their performance.

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President Muhammadu Buhari has said the Nigerian society “is a bundle of contradictions” where religious people make life difficult for others, divert money meant for all into their private pockets.

Buhari added that he would not rest until he has addressed the current security challenges and costs of living in the country.

The President gave the assurance in his Eid-el Kabir message to Nigerian Muslims and other citizens.

“I am quite aware of the difficulties people are facing and working to resolve them,” he said in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

The President said “if we are putting the teachings of our religions into practice, most of the evils afflicting our society would have been solved.”

According to him, “religion shouldn’t just be used as a mere badge of identity, but as a motivator for doing good for our country and humanity.”

He said “the exploitation of the people by traders and the stealing of public funds by civil servants and other holders of public trust is a reflection of the abandonment of the teachings of our religions.”

“Our society is a bundle of contradictions. People display external religiosity without fear of God; they make life difficult for others; money becomes their god; leaders abandon their oaths of office by taking money meant for the welfare of the people and divert it to their private pockets,” he said.

Buhari congratulated the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria and the world on the occasion of the Eid, citing for special mention, “the brave men and women in uniform fighting terror on many fronts and their families, as well as others held hostage and kept away from their families by wicked and heartless terrorists.”

He used the occasion to call on all Muslims to reflect on the significance of the sacrifice epitomised by Eid.

 

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The Independent National Electoral Commission appears to be doing the bidding of the Senate President, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan as the agency is ready to shred the report of the Resident Electoral Commissioner that supervised the Yobe North Senatorial District All Progressives Congress (APC) primary by backdating it to favour the Senator.
INEC earlier affirmed Bashir Sheriff Machina as the winner of the Yobe North senatorial ticket of the APC.

A certified true copy of the commission’s report from the May 28, 2022, election had revealed Machina polled 289 votes out of 300 delegates.
The document was certified by the electoral office on June 23, 2022.
The National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu had warned of severe sanctions if Machina refused to relinquish his ticket to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.
Adamu claimed that the party is supreme and that it reserves the right to decide who gets its ticket in any election.
He had said, “There's nothing in the law stopping the Senate President from contesting for another nomination just because he lost a presidential bid.”
Adamu had listed Lawan as the candidate of the APC for the Yobe North senatorial election slated for February 2023, claiming that a primary had secretly held in which Lawan purportedly emerged the winner.
SaharaReporters has consistently reported the impasse with updates including how Machina claimed his life was under threat for refusing to step down for Lawan after the Senate President failed to clinch the APC presidential ticket.
A source confirmed to SaharaReporters that there are plans by INEC leadership to doctor and backdate the certified true copy of its report to accommodate the Senate President and others in states where they have an interest.
“INEC has caved in to political pressures and other forces deployed by the outgoing Senate President, Mr Ahmad Lawan and his backers to shred the report of the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner that supervised the APC primary Elections in Yobe state by doctoring and backdating it to accommodate the Senate president and others in states where they have an interest.
“Shockingly, the Chairman of INEC Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu is fully part of this plot making direct telephone calls to state offices. 
“Despite the glaring fact that Ahmad Lawan was a principal actor in the APC presidential primary, which saw him lose to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he has since mounted relentless pressures on INEC leadership to obtain a senatorial ticket in Yobe state by all means possible.
“The tenure of the commissioner ended on Wednesday but while Resident Electoral Commissioner of the State that superintended the primaries was still in office, the INEC leadership sympathetic to Lawan was unable to hand the ticket to him, because the REC insisted on standing by his report. However, since his tenure elapsed, it's the Administrative Secretary that INEC leadership will now use to backdate the report of the senatorial primary to bring in Ahmad Lawan.
“This is the plot by INEC leadership and Lawan backers to upturn the outcome of the senatorial election and the same template will be used in other states. That is why many lawyers who have applied for CTC of reports of party primaries submitted by INEC state offices particularly CTC for APC have not been given. A lawyer who applied for CTC since last week for his APC aggrieved client who won primary but his name not published was told on Wednesday that until the report of the committee set up by Professor Mahmoud Yakubu to consider all applications are considered, the CTC will not be ready and that the chairman and national commissioners are in Osogbo in preparation for Osun election.
“Meanwhile, the 14 days within which they could file an action in court is running out and this strange committee, the first of its kind according to legal officers of INEC is strange to them and knew because nothing can be added or removed from reports of primaries already signed by various teams and counter-signed by a covering letter of Resident Electoral Commissioners and addressed to the Chairman of the Commission and copies left at the state offices that wrote these reports.
“Lawyers of APC aggrieved members are asking why they are being denied the CTC of the reports whereas those of PDP and other parties are treated with ease but those of APC deliberately slowed down. 
"INEC's compromised leadership is applying unbearable pressure on vulnerable Civil Servants of the Commission in Yobe State who are currently the interim officials in Yobe state to shred the extant report endorsed by the REC before he handed over on Wednesday and departed from the state. With the unethical evolving development in Yobe, there are serious concerns and fears that in many states where RECs tenure has elapsed and exited leaving civil servants who are now in charge, already submitted reports of party primaries would now be doctored by INEC headquarters in Abuja to bring those who will pay millions to the leadership, particularly personnel in both the legal and EPM developments that many lawyers who have applied for CTC are accusing them of corruption and frustrating CTC applicants.
“If the leadership of Professor Mahmoud Yakubu could be so compromised and be working with politicians over the outcome of party primaries that is essentially political party affairs but only required to monitor same and make available its report to aggrieved party members, how can the same INEC be trusted on its internal processes not opened to the public and the commission expects Nigeria to trust it to conduct a free and fair election by 2023? 
"This early sign of open compromise is a dangerous sign for the general election next year; Nigerians may be in for a rude shock going by what INEC is doing now with Senate President and others who did not participate in senatorial primaries yet INEC is conniving with APC leadership to foist on candidates that emerged from valid primaries those who participated in presidential primary and failed.
“This developing situation has, therefore, confirmed what many have been saying that the leadership of INEC is not only pliant but fully compromised as a payback time for the reapportionment. This development comes as a disappointing blow to many voters who have resolved to participate in the general election, in the hope that there will be a level playing field. The saga in Yobe state mimics a similar situation in Akwa Ibom state where late-hour failed participants in the APC Presidential primaries such as Senator Godswill Akpabio are trying to confiscate Senate tickets of the APC by foisting their retroactive participation on those who emerged from valid primary. 
"If INEC leadership caves in to this pressure in Yobe and possibly Akwa Ibom despite public knowledge of the illegality, it would have damaged its reputation and credibility ahead of the 2023 elections, and would have opened a floodgate of litigation and intra-party crisis that may seriously jeopardise the general election and its free and fair conduct.” 

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Seven intending pilgrims from Kano State, who departed to Jidda, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday, have been sent back over fake visas issued to them.

Five of the deported pilgrims had travelled to Saudi Arabia for hajj through tour operators, while the two others were from the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Daily Trust reports.

One of the deported pilgrims, Dahiru Yau Musa, said he said they did not know they were issued fake visas until they reached King Abdulazeez Airport.

“We were in the queue with other pilgrims and when it was my turn, they directed me to stay behind. It was when they finished the screening of other pilgrims, they told me about the fake visa.

“They spoke with NAHCON officials. It took them some time trying to resolve the issue but all to no avail. At the end, we were told that we were being taken back to Nigeria. And the rest is history now,” he narrated.

Lamenting the situation, Dahiru said, “It was really a sad experience. I couldn’t believe it will happen to me. You know as Muslim to see yourself there (Holy Land) and you were taken back to your country is not something easy to comprehend.”

Dahiru vowed to take legal action against the tour operator.

“Since I returned, my tour operator was looking for me to meet with me, but I am avoiding him because I don’t want to hear anything from him until we get to the court.

“Again I will take the issue to Saudi Consulate here so that I can be cleared for future travel,” he added.

Confirming the incident, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Muhammad Abba Danbatta, said the two deported pilgrims were not from the board, but were infiltrated into the list by one of the staff members.

“When I heard the incident around 2:00 am, I rushed to the airport and met with the two pilgrims one female and a male who claimed to be from our Sumaila centre.

“I called the Sumaila centre officer but he doesn’t know them and they did not know him. It was when we carried out thorough investigation we found out that the two pilgrims were deceived by one of our staff members by name Abdurrahman. He issued fake visas as well as receipts to them,” he said.

Danbatta stated that the issue had been reported to relevant authorities for further investigation, adding that the staff member would face the wrath of the law.

He said, “As I am talking to you now we are yet to meet with the accused staff as he couldn’t be reached on his mobile phone.

“But the case has been handed over to the Immigration for further investigation. I am assuring you that if he is found guilty he will definitely face the wrath of law accordingly.”

 

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Alexei Gorinov, a city councillor has been sentenced to seven years in prison by a Moscow court Friday, for denouncing President Vladimir Putin’s military intervention in Ukraine.

Alexei Gorinov, 60 was found guilty of spreading "knowingly false information" about the Russian army.

Gorinov is the first elected member of the opposition to be sentenced to jail for criticising Moscow's military campaign in Ukraine, according to AFP.

He appeared in court with a poster that read: "Do you still need this war?"

Court bailiffs used their hands in an effort to cover the poster from cameras, before Gorinov removed it himself.

His wife, Alla, cried in court as the sentence was read out, and some supporters stood up to applaud him, before he was removed from the courtroom.

Gorinov is accused of discrediting the Russian army under strict legislation that rights activists say is part of Moscow's increasing efforts to snuff out the last vestiges of dissent.

He spoke up against Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine during a work meeting in March that was recorded on video and is available on YouTube.

During his speech, he questioned plans for an art competition for children in his constituency while "every day children are dying" in Ukraine.

Judge Olesya Mendeleyeva said Gorinov committed the crime "as part of a group of persons by prior agreement based on political hatred."

She said he and another deputy, Yelena Kotyonochkina who has since fled Russia, "misled" Russians over the Kremlin's military campaign in Ukraine and caused them to "feel anxiety and fear."

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The Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi on Friday said that security personnel deployed to Kuje Medium Security Correctional Centre in Abuja, the facility attacked by terrorists on Tuesday, did their best to repel the attack but were subdued by the superior weaponry of the terrorists.

The Minister who said the terrorists succeeded because they had superior firepower disclosed this to State House correspondents after the National Security Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to Leadership, the minister asserted that some of the assailants were killed during the attack, assuring that investigation into the incident would continue.

“You see, these kinds of things, they happen and I want to assure you all those who are supposed to play a role in ensuring that the attack was neutralised did their best that they could to neutralise it.

“I think what helped them was the number of people they came with and the superior weapons they came with.

“And because nobody anticipated it, the few people could not withstand the number that they came with. I think that’s what happened. Like I said, this investigation is still going on. You will only do good to allow the investigation to continue and maybe by the time they finish, you will be able to get the details of what actually happened and why it happened,” he added.

“Some of them have been killed. But I can’t give you the number and I don’t know the number. Because like they used to do, whenever one of them is killed, they take away and you cannot know the number of people who have been killed but definitely quite a number of them were killed and many of them ran away with bullet wounds.”

The minister who spoke on the outcome of the security meeting with the President said President Buhari had directed that the Security Council meeting to review the situation of security in the country particularly as it related to insecurity issues that happened in the last few weeks. 

He said, “We are talking about the Kuje jailbreak that arose as a result of the attacks on the Correctional Center by terrorists as well as the banditry attack that took place in Katsina around the same time, as all as the various attacks on Shiroro local government of Niger State.

“Mr. President was deeply concerned about these developments. And he initiated this meeting to enable security agencies, the service chiefs, inspector general of police to brief the council on what actually happened and the way forward.

“We had a very successful meeting and the council has agreed to take proactive measures that will ensure that repeat of what happened these few days would not be witness anymore.

“Mr. President is surprised that what happened to Kuje actually took place inspite of all the security arrangement that has been made to ensure that such an incident does not happen.

“We are assuring the nation and Nigerians in general that arrangements have been made to ensure that full investigations are carried out to ensure that a repeat of these incidences will not occur.

“The service chiefs have been given very clear directives to ensure that adequate measures are taken not only to investigate what happened, but also to take steps to forestall the reoccurrence of such incidences,” he said.

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Delta state governor Ifeanyi Okowa

The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori, has appealed the Federal High Court judgement that sacked him as the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate for the 2023 general elections
Oborevwori is Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s stooge and was allegedly imposed on the PDP in the state, causing internal ripples.

Delta state governor Ifeanyi Okowa

He was on Thursday sacked on account of allegedly supplying false and forged documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in aid of his qualification for the governorship election.
The judge subsequently directed INEC and the PDP to recognize the plaintiff as candidate of the PDP in the 2023 governorship election in Delta State.
Olorogun David Edevbie, a former Commissioner of Finance under former Governor James Ibori, who came second in the primary had contended Oborevwori’s participation in the primary on the grounds of alleged discrepancies in his academic qualifications as well as his age.
He specifically urged the court to bar PDP from submitting the Assembly Speaker’s name as the flagbearer of the party.
Appealing the decision before the Court of Appeal in Abuja, Oborevwori stated that the Federal High Court Judge misdirected himself in law when he assumed jurisdiction to entertain the claim of the Plaintiff predicated on Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
The court document read, “NOTICE AND GROUNDS FOR APPEAL 
1. TAKE NOTICE that the Appellant, being dissatisfied with the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division delivered on 7th July, 2022 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/795/2022 by Honourable Justice Taiwo, doth hereby appeal to the Court of Appeal upon the grounds out in paragraph 3 and will at the hearing of the appeal seek the reliefs set out in paragraph 4 hereof. 
“The Appellant further states that the names and addressesof the persons directly affected by the appeal are those set out in paragraph 5. 
“2. PART OF THE DECISION COMPLAINED OF: The whole decision. 3. GROUNDS OF APPEAL
“3.1 GROUND 1
The learned trial Judge misdirected himself in law when he assumed jurisdiction to entertain the claim of the Plaintiff predicated on Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022 before submission of the name of the Appellant to the 3rd Respondent by his political party. The only time the court can be approached and not before. 
“3.2 GROUND 2
The learned trial Judge misdirect himself in law when he agreed with the 1st Respondent that the Appellant failed to meet the constitutional requirement of Section 177(a) and 182(1) J of the 1998 Constitution as Amended and that his certificate are forged 
“PARTICULARS OF MISDIRECTION: 
3.4 GROUND 4 
The trial Court erred in law and occasioned miscarriage of justice on the Appellant when it assumed jurisdiction over intra party affairs of the 2nd Respondent even though the 1st Respondent to the admission of the learned trial Judge, did not mention any infraction of the 2nd Respondent’s Constitution or Guidelines for the election.” 
 

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Two lawyers in Enugu State may have entered into trouble for allegedly forging a medical report from the State Teaching Hospital (Park Lane) to secure court bail for a murder suspect, Remiugius Nwaju.

The lawyers are; Prince Sunny Onyike and Ogonnaya Okoro.

SaharaReporters gathered that Remiugius Nwaju was arrested by the Enugu State Police Command for allegedly killing his wife, Philomena on November 15, 2021.

He was subsequently arraigned before an Enugu State Magistrate Court which remanded him in the Enugu Maximum Correctional Centre.

Since then, Remiugius Nwaju had been in detention for the alleged murder of his wife.

SaharaReporters further gathered that in a desperate attempt to secure his bail, his defence Counsels - Prince Sunny Onyike and Ogonnaya Okoro filed an application for bail of Mr Nwaju on May 10, 2022 before Hon. Justice Odugu of the State High Court.

In the motion for the bail which SaharaReporters obtained, the applicant tended a medical report from Enugu State University Teaching Hospital Parklane, to show that the accused had developed asthma and high blood pressure which could not be adequately handled at the Correctional Centre coupled with prostrate.

The hospital report the duo tendered before the court was dated May 4, 2022 and signed by one Dr. Igbokwe Cletus, who claimed to be Consultant Urologist.

Titled "To Whom It May Concern, Medical Report Re: Nwaju Remigus; Male; 49 Years", the report read, "This is to certify that above named is a patient of the urology department of this hospital who first presented two years ago with complaints of difficulty in passing urine.

"He has been under investigation and treatment as a case of bladder outlet obstruction (BOD) secondary to benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) to rule out cancer of the prostate (CAP). His last checkup visit was in October, 2021 and he needs regular hospital checkup visits for adequate control of the condition.

"Kindly assist him as may be necessary," it read.

However, responding to a request to authenticate the medical report, the management of the ESUT Parklane Hospital, denied issuing the said report.

The hospital in a reply letter with Ref: ESUTHP/C-MAC/VR/51/VOL.2/29, dated June 30, 2022 and signed by Dr. Okpara T.C. Chairman Medical Advisory Council (MAC), said that the Hospital in general doesn't have a doctor that bears the name "Dr. Igbokwe Cletus" a Consultant urologist.

The letter addressed to one Obumneme S. Okafor was titled: "Confirmation Of Medical Report - RE: Nwaju Remigius," reads:

"May I refer to your letter on the above subject date 22nd June, 2022. The hospital has investigated the attached medical report purportedly issued to Remigius and discovered it not to have emanated from our hospital based on the following reasons:

"There is no such name as Nwaju Remigius, male with age 49 in both our manual and electronic data. ESUT Teaching Hospital does not have urology department as claimed by the Author.

"There is no consultant in surgery department in particular and ESUT Teaching Hospital in general that bears the name "Dr. Igbokwe Cletus" a Consultant urologist.

"Following the above, the medical report is not Authentic and did not emanate from us."

Stemming from the discovery, Mr. Francis Obiedelu, senior brother of the murdered late Philomena, petitioned the State Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Lawal to investigate and prosecute the lawyers for perjury and forgery.

The petition which SaharaReporters obtained on Friday is titled "Case Of Perjury/Forgery - RE: Prince Sunny Onyike Esq, Ogonnaya Okoro Esq; Request For Urgent Investigation And Prosecution.”

In urging the Police Commissioner for thorough investigation, Obiedelu expressed reservation whether one of the lawyers actually existed.

According to him, "in my presence, B. C. Oguine Esq also went through the available 2020 ENBAR Diary of lawyers in Enugu State and could not find the name of Ogonnaya Okoro as a lawyer in the diary. Possibly there is no lawyer known as Ogonnaya Okoro, Prince Sunny Onyike Esq will explain more.

"Hon Commissioner Sir, the duo of Prince Sunny Onyike and Ogonnaya Okoro had told lies on oath and forged a medical report for the purpose of securing bail from Court for Remigius Nwaju. My counsel who holds the joint fiat of the Hon. Attorney-General of Enugu State informed me and I verily believe them that these are criminal offences under our laws.

"These days, Nigeria is undergoing turbulent crises of lawlessness, dubiousness, falsehood especially from persons who ought to guide and provide light and orderliness in our society.

"If these could come from the persons who know the law it means that we are gone forever. I pray that this matter be thoroughly investigated and the right thing be done if found my complaint true to restore the dignity of Courts and the legal profession."

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File photo used to illustrate story.

Another Nigerian pilgrim, identified as Hasiya Aminu, has reportedly died shortly after returning from Mount Arafat.

This was confirmed by The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Friday.

File photo used to illustrate story.

Hasiya who was from Kaduna State died while asleep after coming back from Arafat.

Dr Usman Galadima, Chief of Operations and Head of the Nigerian Medical Mission, confirmed to newsmen that no cause had been ascertained for her death.

He said that the family of Aminu had already been informed of her death and she would be buried according to Islamic rites.

Aminu is the second Nigerian pilgrim that died during the 2022 Hajj operations.

Hajiya Aisha Ahmed from Keffi in Nasarawa State died last week during a brief illness and was buried in Makkah.

The stay on Arafat throughout the day is a compulsory rite for each pilgrim to perform Hajj.

Nigerian pilgrims were among the over one million performing the 2022 Hajj operations in Arafat.

The Arafat is the place where Prophet Muhammed delivered his last sermon on a Friday prior to his death.

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Borehole at Gaa-Lamba Village

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon in Gaa-Lamba, a community in the Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Salamatu Ayinde, a 26-year-old nursing mother, stood in front of her house with a worried look on her face.

Borehole at Gaa-Lamba Village

Clad in a brown-striped wrapper that barely covered her chest, the nursing mother had her gaze fixed on the ground and one hand on her collarbone.

Ms Ayinde was lost in thought when SaharaReporters approached her to inquire about the Zonal Intervention Project (ZIP)-facilitated borehole in her community.

She looked up with a jolt, sighed and began to complain bitterly.

“That borehole has never been useful to us. It stopped working a few moments after its inauguration in January 2021,” she said, leading SaharaReporters to the borehole at the back of her house. “Since then, water has been a big challenge.”

Ms Ayinde's major concern that afternoon was where to get water to perform her house chores as a housewife. 

For her water needs, the nursing mother had relied on a neighbour who had a borehole in her community. 

“Every morning we usually take our bucket to a neighbour's compound to fetch,” Ms Ayinde said, gloomily. “But for the last few days, they have refused to pump water because they said people always disturb their sleep while fetching in the morning." 

Ms Ayinde is not the only one disturbed about the water situation in the community. A woman in the community who identified herself as Iya-Ibeji is also troubled.

“In Gaa-Lamba, to get common water is a big problem for us," said the short fair woman. “We have complained to our community leader so many times, but they have done nothing.”

"When this borehole was brought, we thought we had finally won the battle of trekking long distances to get a bucket of water. But our joy was short-lived when the borehole could not serve us beyond a few days. 

Gaa-Lamba is one of the communities that benefited from the Zonal Intervention Borehole Water Project facilitated by an honourable member of the Federal House of Representatives, representing Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency, Abdulyekeen Alajagusi. But, the finding shows that even though the new borehole was installed, it could not serve the people beyond a few after it was opened. 

 

The Water Situation In Kwara

Poor access to clean and potable water for use in many households across Nigeria has contributed majorly to the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and several others.

According to data from Water and Sanitary Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping (WASH NORM) in 2019, only 14 per cent of the country’s population have access to safely managed drinking water supply facilities.

The survey also shows that access for people in rural communities is four times less than the population of urban areas. This is due to such supply points being more than 30 minutes away from their homes. 

Meanwhile, in a recent report by UNICEF and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the north-central region ranks lowest of all geopolitical zones in the number of people using basic water supply, sanitation services. 

Out of the 36 states and the federal capital territory (FCT), Kwara ranks 36th, just a step above Ebonyi which sits at the bottom of the table.

UNICEF reports that when sources of water are not within immediate premises, women and children pay the price of water collection.

 

The N100M Water Projects 

To bring potable water closer to the people of his constituency, In 2020, a member of the Federal House of Representatives, representing Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency, Abdulyekeen Alajagusi, nominated projects for the provision of motorized boreholes at Alapa/Onire Odegiwa Ward and at Afon, in the Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State at the sum of N25 million each (N50 Million in total). 

The projects, which were part of the 2020 Appropriation Act, were aimed at resolving water scarcity across six villages. These villages are Gaa-Lamba, Labintan Alakuko, Giwa-Olowo, Ile Baale Afon, Sakama, and Gaa-Igboroko. It was placed under the supervision of the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA).

A document released by the supervising agency which was obtained by SaharaReporters revealed that the budgeted sum (N100,000,000.00) was totally cash-backed on the projects. 

On-site fact-finding 

To monitor the projects, SaharaReporters embarked on site verification of these borehole projects supervised by the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA) at Alapa/Onire Odegiwa Ward. 

Visits to the locations of these projects revealed that although new boreholes were installed at these villages, except for the one built at Giwa Olowo village that was found still serving the community, the other two installed at Labintan Alakuko and 0Gaa-Lamba could not solve the problem of water scarcity in these communities. 

The borehole built at Gaa-Lamba was not functioning during SaharaReporters’ investigation, while that of Labitan Alakuko was functioning but could not serve the population that depended on it. 

"The borehole is working but the problem is that it is not pumping water well," said Ismaila Alao, a resident of Labitan Alakuko Village. 

"To fetch a 25-litre jerry-can, you would need to wait for at least an hour and this is why many residents do not even bother about the borehole. 

"As you can see, it has been a while since we went there because no one is ready to contribute money to buy petrol and at the end, the borehole will not pump well," he added. 

Like many disadvantaged communities in Kwara, where the presence of government was not felt in any way, people of Labitan Alakuko village have many years relied on wells and a stream for their survival and the women in the communities have to struggle daily with walking long distances to the stream to fetch water for drinking, cooking and doing chores.

When the borehole had just been drilled, it was a dream come true as women, children and men joyfully thought going to streams to get water would be a thing of the past. 

“But we are still going to the streams to fetch water because the borehole is not enough for us," said a woman who was too angered to give her name.  

AFON

When SaharaReporters visited the locations for the second phase of the projects in Afon, it was discovered that boreholes were installed at Ile Baale Afon, Sakama and Gaa-Igboroko villages. 

While the people of Ile-Baale Afon were still benefiting from the water project installed in front of their community, residents of Sakama and Gaa-Igboroko complained of lack of water as the boreholes installed were not functioning. They were still forced to trek long distances to neighbouring villages in search of potable water.

Balikisu, a mother of five who is a resident of Sakama village said, "We fetch water from wells or streams. And Sometimes, we pay pushcart users money to get water for us to drink and do our house chores. 

"All this would have stopped if the borehole installed for us was working well," Balikisu added. 

LNRBDA Spends 50 Million Naira On Ote-Ballah Dam But No Value Derives 

Another water project nominated in 2020 by Abdulyekeen Alajagusi for the people of his constituency was the rehabilitation of the Ote-Ballah Dam. N50 million was allocated in the 2020 Federal Government budget for the rehabilitation of this dam in the Asa Local Government Area of Kwara. 

According to the information received from Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA), the total sum of N50M was released to rehabilitate the dam which has been abandoned since 2003 and awarded to Micheal Jacobs Consulting Limited. 

A visit to the dam by SaharaReporters showed that despite the public funds committed to the project, residents of the communities are yet to derive value for the money as they still scramble for water to meet their daily needs. 

"It has been over ten years we fetched tap water here," said Kamaru Yusuf, a resident of Alalubosa Area, Ote, in the Asa local government area.

Another resident of Ote who identified herself as Amope said for the past seven years since she was married into the community, she had never fetched water from the tap. 

"We only get water from hand-pupping boreholes and wells," Amope said. 

Contractor Speaks 

When contacted for comment, Fatai Aberi, the Managing Director of Fab Confidential Limited told SaharaReporters’ correspondent that they had completed the project and got a 'satisfied' acknowledgement after the needed assessment from LNRBDA, the supervisory agency. 

He said despite the N25 million contract sum released for the project, he also used part of his personal funds to see that the project was complete

But when told about the situation of some of the boreholes that stopped supplying water shortly after inauguration, he said, "For now, I can't promise anything but we will try and see what we can do." 

No Comment on Ote-Ballah Dam 

As at the time of filing this report, all efforts to get the reaction of the lawmaker regarding his failure to rehabilitate dam projects he had facilitated for members of his constituency were not successful. He did not answer several calls from SaharaReporters and did not reply to text and Whatsapp messages sent to his mobile line. 

Also, Micheal Jacobs Consulting Limited, the company that handled the project, did not return several calls, text messages, and Whatsapp messages sent to them, asking for their comment on the dam project. 

Corruption Scandal Exclusive News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

Buratai

A former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai (retd.) has threatened to sue SaharaReporters for exposing the discovery of billions in cash meant for arms and ammunition to fight Boko Haram in his Abuja home.

Buratai made the threat in a letter signed by his counsel, R.O Atabo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), to the newspaper.

Buratai

SaharaReporters had exclusively reported how the ICPC recovered funds (including foreign currencies) from a house registered to someone fronting for Buratai, a military contractor and Managing Director of K Salam Construction Company Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kabiru Sallau.

Also recovered were G-Wagon; 2022 editions of BMW and Mercedes Benz cars; customized mobile phones; several designer wrist watches, including three Rolexes, and some property documents.
Buratai, a retired Lieutenant General was the COAS between 2015 and 2021. See Also Exclusive EXCLUSIVE: Anti-graft Agency, ICPC Moves N2.1bn Recovered From Ex-Army Chief, Buratai To Central Bank, To Seek Forfeiture Of Posh Vehicles, House, Others 0 Comments 1 Week Ago

In reaction, Buratai demanded from SaharaReporters a retraction with an apology carried with the same prominence on its platform and two national dailies for seven (7) consecutive days.
The retired General also claimed the story had dented his reputation.

The letter reads partly, “Tukur Buratai (hereafter referred to as “our Client”) on whose firm instruction and authority we write you. See Also Exclusive EXCLUSIVE: How Anti-corruption Agency, ICPC Top Official, Jabaru, Interfered With Investigation, Didn't Allow Full Disclosure Of Recovered Funds, Others During Raid Of Buratai's Property 0 Comments 2 Weeks Ago

“We refer to your publication dated 23rd day of June 2022 with the caption “EXCLUSIVE: Anti-graft Agency, ICPC Uncovers Billion of Cash Meant for Arms, Ammunition To Fight Boko Haram in Abuja Home of Ex-Chief of Army Staff,  Buratai.”

“In the said publication, you alleged that the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) had recovered N1.85 billion from a house and office said to belong to our Client. It was further reported by you that “the huge cash was part of the billions of Naira earmarked for the purchase of arms and ammunition by the Muhammadu Buhari-led government.”

“This is a very serious allegation capable of brewing hatred and attack by the public against our Client as a former Chief of Army Staff. There is no doubt that Nigerians are seriously concerned about the security situation of the country and the said publication has portrayed our Client as a person responsible for diversion of funds meant for the fight against Boko Haram.

“Consequently, our Client has been exposed to hate, ridicule and embarrassment from members of the public with his friends calling him from different parts of the world to ask for explanations. See Also Sahara Reporters PHOTOS: Safe With Foreign Currencies, Posh Vehicles Recovered From Ex-Army Chief, Buratai 0 Comments 1 Week Ago

“The publication is not only false but malicious and an attempt to malign the reputation of our Client. Our Client who is the current Ambassador to Benin Republic rose through the ranks and became a Lieutenant General in the Nigerian Army before his retirement in the year 2021. Our Client who was also a former Chief of Army Staff from July 2015 to 2021 has taken the battle against insurgency to the field with enormous energy and resources as well as loss of field officers.

“By your publication, our Client has been ridiculed as a man without honour, dignity and incapable of representing Nigeria and portrayed as a fraudster/dishonest person before Nigerians and the international community. See Also Sahara Reporters REVEALED: Identity Of Civil Servant Who Took Bail Of Military Contractor Arrested In Buratai’s Abuja House With Multibillion-Naira Cash, Vehicles, Rolex Watches 0 Comments 2 Weeks Ago

“We hereby demand that you retract your publication with a public apology to our Client within Seven (7) days of receiving this letter and a public apology to be published in two national dallies in Nigeria.

“TAKE NOTICE that if you fall, neglect and/or refuse to publish the apology within seven (7) from today, we shall not hesitate to commence legal action against your organisation for defamation. It is hoped that you would comply to avoid the unpleasantness of litigation and its attendant consequences.”

Scandal News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

Navy

A traditional ruler in Bayelsa State, the Amadaowei of Adagbabiri Community in the Sagbama Local Government Area, Alaowei Okee, has raised the alarm over threats to his life by top government and security officials who are neck deep in illegal oil bunkering activities in the state.

To avoid a repeat of what happened at Kalaba community in Yenagoa Local Government Area, the paramount ruler said he had decided to run into hiding as indications showed that his life was not protected.

Oil Theft

Recall that the paramount ruler and the residents’ Chairman of Kalaba Community in Yenagoa LGA of Bayelsa State, Chief Francis Kolubo and Mr Samuel Oburo respectively were brutally murdered by persons suspected to be kingpins of crude oil pilfering.

The deceased had allegedly mounted stiff opposition to the illegal oil bunkering activities in the community.

Another report however said the Kalaba incident may be linked to a chieftaincy tussle that was rocking the community.

The distressed paramount ruler of Adagbabiri community in a telephone chat with SaharaReporters, narrated that the oil thieves led by a senior officer attached to the Bayelsa Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, a local government vice chairman and some top political appointees in the state approached him about two months ago in his palace to use his community as a base for their illegal oil transactions.

He added that they offered to pay him N200,000 per truck of oil offloaded from the community’s waterfront but he refused to oblige them.

He further explained that he refused their offer because apart from the financial benefits offered to him, the community would suffer serious environmental oxidisation; attract hoodlums with resultant cult clashes and unnecessary gun running activities that would bring about other security breaches.

The paramount ruler said, despite his refusal, the illegal oil barons had resumed their reprehensible trade two months, after he turned down the offer.

However, the monarch said he had since put a call across to the state Commissioner of Police, the state Commandant of the NSCDC as well as the Nigerian Navy commander in the state who promised to look into his complaints.

“But business is going on unabated in the community despite these complaints. This forced me to leave the community and go into hiding to avoid a repeat of the Kalaba community incident,” the monarch said.

CRIME Oil News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

Human rights lawyer, Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa, SAN, has accused the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos State government of flagrantly disobeying Court orders with impunity.
Adegboruwa, who is former member of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry, in a media statement titled, “Disobedience of Court Order in Kings County v Lagos State Government", warned that the state government should not by its actions encourage lawlessness to an extent that the citizens are provoked to take the laws into their hands.

The human rights lawyer, detailing the instance where the government had violated the orders of the court, said the executive arm of government should accord respect to the judicial arm and avoid giving an impression that court orders had no value or impact.

He noted that the disobedience to valid court orders by the Lagos State government is concerning a suit on a property on Alexander/Bourdillon Road, at the foot of the Ikoyi Link Bridge.
Adegboruwa said, “It is the subject matter of litigation in Suit No. LD/8305LMW/2019, currently pending before the Hon Justice Ogunjobi of the High Court of Lagos State. The claimant erected the building with full government approval, as a free Cancer Treatment Center.
"In this case, the Claimant has closed its case and it was for defence to open on 4th July, 2022. On that day, the claimant was in court with its lawyers but the witness of the defendants was not in court so further trial had to be adjourned."
He, however, noted that there was a subsisting order of Injunction on the case which had not vacated.
He said, "On July 25, 2019, the Honourable Justice Okunnu made an order, directing the parties to maintain the status quo in the case. In particular, the court directed the defendants, that is the Lagos State Government and all its functionaries, not to take any step towards revoking or acquiring the property of the claimant whilst the case is in court.
"After the issuance of the order preserving the res, the Lagos State Government through the office of the Hon Attorney-General in the court proceedings of 30 Sept 2020, indicated on record that the Defendants are complying with the said preservative orders."
Adegboruwa regretted that the state government in violation of the order of the court, "on July 8, 2022, policemen said to be from the office of the Governor of Lagos State, stormed the building, removing its windows and doors. Upon inquiry, they claimed that they had an order to demolish the building.
"It is unlawful for government to seek to take the laws into its hands in order to overreach the case that is pending in court."

Legal Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

The founder of the Household of God Church, Lagos State, Pastor Chris Okotie, has said Nigeria will break up if he is not considered to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari after the end of the tenure in May 2023.
The cleric said Nigeria’s challenges would be solved if he was given a chance to head an interim government after Buhari.

He said this in an interview with Daily Sun, adding that the current political system in Nigeria, including the National Assembly, state assemblies and other government structures must be disassembled for the country to move forward.

He said, "We are at a juncture in our political evolution that it becomes logical and the next step to take. The presidential system of government that we have been operating for so many years now has failed woefully.
"We redefined democracy to be the government of the party by the party for the party. To that extent, they excluded Nigerians from the entire process and that is why things have degenerated to the level that we see today.
"To bring democracy back to the people; to re-establish the parameters in which we operate as a federalism, to rekindle brotherhood, to avoid war, segregation, the interim government is the only next logical step to take.”
He further stated that what he is, "proposing is inspiring a conversation in the country where all our people begin to talk about the problem that we face right now. When those conversations have been collated, I will send them as a transcript to the president and to the National Assembly so that they can energise the process that can lead to a transition, not from a regime to a regime, but from this regime to an interim government because Nigeria should be fixed."
In June, SaharaReporters had reported that Okotie appealed to all the presidential candidates in the 2023 election to withdraw for him to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari
He had said that he was the "right person to right the wrongs in the country."
He had urged the candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress and Labour Party, Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi respectively, and others to step down for him and support him so he could do the job required to correct the wrongs in the country.

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

I fear the predictions we've been hearing are real and present dangers. I suspect there'll be no election at all the way things are going. Come to think about it: who in his right sense will carry ballot box into any of these Northern and Eastern states? If the presidential advance security team is attacked, NDA ransacked and officers killed/kidnapped,  who will protect INEC officials? I suspect the Fulani bandits will overrun Aso Rock and numerous strategic locations in the country with impunity. Once that is done, Nija don become Islamic Republic Nigeristan like Afghanistan: who born monkey? Next thing they'll be telling all men is to keep long beard, all women above 18 will have to quit office work and school to become housewife.  These are real and possible dangers,  don't just sit under the fan and say it's not possible.  Are you the one to stop it? If we don't pray, plan and repel these invaders now (if it's not too late) this is indeed the calm before the storm. We all know there's something coming, If you don't know that then I'm sorry your head is stuck too deep into the ground. Like Jesus said,  "Pray your flight is not in winter or your wife is not pregnant." 
Before I used to joined the chorus of 'get your PVC'. But today I'm saying: 'Get your PVC: 
- Protection, 
- Victuals & 
- Communication:
- *Protection* : anything to defend and protect your family and neighbourhood, if at all possible.
- *Victuals* : Food, WATER, medication, etc. Get a lot. A time will come your millions in cash or bank won't have meaning. Stock up NOW!
- *Communication* : Listen, the first thing these invaders will do if switch off your internet.   Without powerful radios that can pick BBC world service or a gps phone,  you lose contact with outside world totally. People become blindsided, unable to unite to fight or pass information across.  This has been done many times in Africa and trust me, these invading Fulani bandits will do it. They may just block all numbers of Southern Nigeria or switch off Internet in the south only. Paul Biya did this in Cameroon.
If you think I'm a doom-monger,   hellooo, wake up, the doom is all around us already. Unless we pray through,  I fear there's no escaping this impending tragedy. If Taliban did it and got away with it in Afghanistan and Putin is getting away with it in Russia, who will stop a armed Fulani bandits? UK? USA? All your so called leaders have their exit routes and plan B well laid out. Afghan leaders were all gone before the Taliban entered Kabul. If you can't exit that contraption before end of the year, ensure you get your 'PVC'. If you think I'm talking about voting card, it's too late for you.
*©Kayode Esan*

Opinion AddThis :  Original Author :  Kayode Esan Disable advertisements : 

Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo

Part of tendering a sincere apology is to deliver an honest assessment of one’s sins.

I am one of those pretentious Nigerians often seen all over the world who are full of themselves. We carry on our shoulders a fake intellectual sophistication that makes us look at Senator Ike Ekweremadu, a man of great moral courage and integrity, and we call him a buffoon. 

Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo

Yes, I said it.

Ike Ekweremadu is a learned gentleman. We just don’t understand him.

Who would have known that the man cared until he showed it by the extent he went to find the solution to his daughter’s health problem. That is what every real man would do. For him, it was “by any means necessary.”

Now that is an unquestionable fatherly commitment.

The man was ready to sell all of his 22 houses in Nigeria, Dubai, and London, to find a cure for his daughter’s illness. He deserves the Father of the Year award.

Because I am myopic, quick to judge and impatient with geniuses like Dr. Ekweremadu, I did not notice that he used his daughter’s treatment as a case study. If only the UK authorities had allowed him to finish the job, he would have used the same template to help every other Nigerian in need of medical services that cannot be provided by the numerous specialized hospitals that he has established in his last 19 years as a senator of the federal republic. As he was known to do, after the complete healing of his daughter, he would have passed a bill in the Senate for every sick Nigeria to have automatic access to medical treatment in the UK.

A legislature of Ekweremadu’s caliber would always find a way to attach it to a bill. Maybe, he would have attached that provision to the reparation against slavery bill, the restitution for colonization bill, or the refund from Abacha’s un-repatriated loots bill.

He was going to do so, but in our haste to condemn every politician from Nigeria as another fantastically corrupt man or woman, we failed to appreciate his sainthood. We mock Ekweremadu’s little trouble in the UK and in the process deny ourselves the blessing of his ingenuity.

I hope this my apology reaches him in the half-house the UK police kept him and his wife. I hope it provides him with a little relief, knowing that one of his greatest critics has come to his senses.

I hope he remembers what Jesus said when the Pharisees and Sadducees mocked and crucified him. He said, “God, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”

Dear Ike Ekweremadu, I employ you to forgive me for I did not know what I was doing. Please pray that God forgives those UK authorities that did not know that you were a big man in Nigeria. They obviously did not know that you are a Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR). If they knew, they would not dare keep you in that filthy detention when you have a mansion in the UK. If they knew you were a Knight of the Good Shepherd, they would have known that you were just trying to help that boy get a better life, the same good life you gave to your kids. If they knew that you were Ikeoha Ndigbo, they would have known that the $20,000 found on you at the airport was just pocket change that you give out to homeless people in every new city you get to in the West. You have always been horrified about the poor and hungry people you see in New York City, London, and Dusseldorf. You have vowed to help them out as a good African as a way to show that aids also go from Africa to the West.

When on 17 August 2019, some members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) attacked you in Nuremberg, Germany, I was one of those horrified by the incident. I remember screaming and kicking and slamming my head on the wall that it was unacceptable to do something that hideous to a man of great courage and moral rectitude like you. Watching them pelt you with eggs triggered tears rolling down my cheeks. That was the first time I joined them in calling you a buffoon because you did not travel to Germany with a battalion of DSS and mobile police, with two or three Hilux vans on your motorcade, one in front and one at the back. For an important man like you who has spent the last twenty years fighting for the wellbeing of the children of Nigeria, you deserved protection given to every icon of your stature anywhere in the world.

I have since realized that you were just a humble man who loved to interact with common people without any posturing. I respect that now.

The other time I regretted laughing at you was when the EFCC released you after a brief detention. Remember when they picked you up and wanted you to explain the 22 houses they said you owned in Nigeria, Dubai, and London. I was surprised that they did not think it was appropriate for you to make sure that you leave behind at least one house for each of your grandchildren. Every responsible father would do the same. And being that you have four kids, at an average of four grandkids each, you needed 16 houses for the grandchildren. Considering that you have to take care of the side chicks with side-children and side-grandchildren, the remaining six houses would ultimately go to them.

You were that caring, that generous, and that forward-thinking. But those useless people at the EFCC did not understand it.

I called you a buffoon when on August 4, 2018, you brought over 22 pastors, bishops, prophets, and all manners of church leaders to pray for you upon your release by the EFCC. You had told the EFCC that you were ill and had high blood pressure and they released you. In my ignorance of how these things work, I was furious. Please forgive my youthful exuberance. Without mincing words, I was plainly stupid. I did not understand the science in that move of yours. I thought you brought the church leaders to pray for forgiveness of your sins. I didn’t know that they were praying for stupid people like me to open our eyes and smell the coffee of targeted racism plus discrimination against you, a perfectly learned gentleman laboring day and night in the service of humanity.

Again, I apologize

Moving forward, I pledge to pray for our leaders like you faithfully. I will ask God each day to bless you with teaching moments like the current one you face so that stupid people like me will see the glory of your sacrifices for our betterment. I will ask God to bless you with a pause every now and then. And with each pause and slow down, you will remember where you came from before becoming a big man. And for the sake of little people like us, prove to those who call us “fantastically corrupt” that we are honorable men and women, like you and your wife. And that we will do anything to save the lives of our compatriots, even if it entails selling all of our 22 houses in Nigeria, Dubai, and London.

Nonsense!

 

Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo teaches Post-Colonial African History at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He is also the host of Dr. Damages Show. His books include “This American Life Sef” and “Children of a Retired God".

Opinion AddThis :  Original Author :  Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo Disable advertisements : 

Fredrick Nwabufo

The first casualty of capricious election seasons in Nigeria is security. Governance is abandoned, and all efforts and expense are dissipated on party politics. Nigeria’s security insalubrity is deteriorating steeply as the 2023 elections close in. It is all reminiscent of the build-up to the 2015 elections when ubiquitous violence seized the country and the elections had to be postponed. Will it be again as it was before? Will it be plus ca change?

Religious leaders – both Christians and Muslims – have become the latest spectacle of these gangs of death-dealers from the netherworld.

Fredrick Nwabufo

On July 3, Udo Peter and Philemon Oboh, both priests of the Catholic church, were abducted by gunmen in Edo state. The gunmen reportedly kidnapped the Catholic priests on Benin-Auchi expressway. On July 4, the despoilers kidnapped Emmanuel Silas, a Catholic priest, in Kaduna state. Silas was reportedly kidnapped in Zambina, Kauru LGA of the state.
On June 25, the ravagers killed Vitus Borogo, the chaplain of the Catholic Church in Kaduna Polytechnic. Borogo was reportedly killed at the Prison Farm, Kujama, along Kaduna-Kachia road. Weeks before this incident, Joseph Bako, a Catholic priest who was abducted in March from his residence at St John Catholic Church, Kudenda, Kaduna, was found dead.
On June 29, Samuel Kanu, Methodist prelate, was kidnapped in Abia state. The clergyman gave a depressingly harrowing account of his ordeal on the turf of these enemies of humanity. A few other priests have been kidnapped and some killed.
The kidnapping of priests appears methodic and targeted – just like the targeting and abduction of emirs and village heads by these ‘’bandits’’. Perhaps the motive is to instigate and amplify religious tension. Already, there have been suggestions that these assaults on existence fit into a grand sinister plot. But we must realise, at all times, that these criminals are the common enemy of all. They have killed and kidnapped Muslims, Christians, children, young and old.
We must remain united against the devilment of those who want to cleave us apart.
These blights on humanity have sacked communities in Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina and elsewhere. They have expropriated land and are extracting tolls from citizens. Security agents have not been spared. They have been abducted and some reportedly have paid ransoms to secure their freedom. The plot on security seems totally lost.
A few days ago, a divisional police officer (DPO) who was leading his men to rescue kidnap victims in Nasarawa was himself stolen by these dare-devil freebooters. His abductors demanded five million naira before he would be freed. On June 26, Ochogwu Sunday, a divisional police officer in Birnin-Gwari, Kaduna was kidnapped. Other officers have either been kidnapped or killed. On Wednesday, Aminu Umar, an assistant commissioner of police, was felled by the crimson bullets of bandits in Katsina.
And it persists. No let-up. No solution. No prognosis of hope. No respite. But utter confusion, hopelessness and helplessness. The land is violated and coursing with the blood of innocents.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has become of the hippodrome of bandits -- where they put up defying performances and saunter away. For years, these criminal gangs have operated in the FCT – but the administration has always dismissed the potency of this threat.
A few days ago, some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were kidnapped on their farm. Kuje where the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) recently did a blitzkrieg has been in the throes of terror. Some communities in the area have been sacked by kidnappers, and many residents have abandoned their houses to seek shelter elsewhere. Other parts of the FCT like Ushafa, Bwari and Kubwa have also been visited by the pestilence.
The blitz by ISWAP on the Abuja prison reveals the pregnability and rudderlessness of Nigeria’s seat of power. On Thursday, the US and the UK warned their citizens to be vigilant as crime would spike in the FCT. Kidnappings, armed robberies, drugs and all other iniquities have become the quotidian aspect of life in the nation’s capital. The FCT has never been this plagued.
Terrorists, possibly, converged within the FCT for days undetected or detected but no response; planned an attack which lasted for hours, and rode into the night afterwards like knights. Deeply disturbing. And fatally embarrassing.
What happened to the so-called game-changing Super Tucanos and other military hardware procured by the administration with a boast that the insurgents and bandits would be pulverised? So far, the government has spent N4 trillion on defence in seven years, yet there is no interlude of peace.
President Muhammadu Buhari must go beyond the expression of shock, airy statements, and at least mitigate this challenge before the elections. I believe he would not want to be remembered as Petronius Maximus who technically surrendered Rome to the Vandals.  
By Fredrick Nwabufo; Nwabufo is a writer and journalist.
 

Opinion AddThis :  Original Author :  Fredrick Nwabufo Disable advertisements : 

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has asked women in the South-East region to ignore an advice by Bruce Fein, the United States-based legal adviser to the leader of the group, Nnamdi Kanu, asking the women to stage a protest in Abuja for the release of Kanu.
SaharaReporters had days ago reported that Fein asked women of the South-East region of Nigeria to stage a protest in street of Abuja and at the National Assembly to demand the release of Kanu from the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS) where he has been held since June 2021 after he was “abducted” in Kenya.

But reacting to Fein’s order, the IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful, in a statement on Friday asked the women to ignore the order, noting that Fein was only a legal adviser to IPOB and not its spokesperson.
IPOB noted that holding a protest in Abuja under the Muhammadu Buhari government was a suicide mission and should be ignored.
The IPOB spokesperson disassociated the group from Fein’s order, saying that the lawyer overstepped his bounds as IPOB legal adviser in issuing such a directive which would expose women to avoidable danger.
Powerful said, “Following the opinion of USA-based IPOB legal adviser Mr. Bruce Fein, asking IPOB women to embark on a street protest in Abuja, we the global movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU wish to completely disassociate from such opinion and instruct Biafran women to please ignore such opinion and avoid the unnecessary risk.
“We wish to state also that Bruce Fein overstepped his bounds as IPOB legal adviser in issuing such a directive which will only expose our women to avoidable dangers and harm.
“Bruce Fein is our legal adviser and not IPOB Spokesperson. He does not quite understand that the version of Democracy operational in Nigeria is different from the real Democracy being practiced in the US where he resides.
“In the US, protests are part and a common feature of Democracy and protesters enjoy protection from security agencies. But maybe unknown to him, in Nigeria, protesters are termed terrorists and shot on sight. To protest in Nigeria, particularly under the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari, is a suicide mission.
“IPOB will not advise Biafra women to hit the streets for any protest now because their safety is not guaranteed. We have lost a lot of innocent souls in the past protests and the international community watched without any intervention.
“Therefore, we won't allow more people to be sent to their untimely grave by wicked security operatives in Nigeria who run away from terrorists and Fulani bandits in the North but shamelessly show their might when it has to do with unarmed agitators of self-determination in the South.
“We understand the concern of Mr Bruce Fein but we advise him to restrict himself strictly to providing legal services to our Movement, and refrain from dishing out unapproved directives to Biafrans. Such overzealousness could be counter-productive because we operate in a peculiar and very difficult environment.
“We have done a lot of protests in the past and a lot of innocent Biafrans were killed in cold blood by security agencies. We do not want a repeat of that again.
“We, therefore, urge all Biafrans to please ignore such directive from Bruce Fein, and any other of such directive not emanating from IPOB Spokesman and communicated through our proper channels of information dissemination.
“Biafran women would never obey any orders no matter how important nor high the office through which it is issued especially when it is not within the purview of responsibility of the  personality issuing such directive. Directives for IPOB women and Biafrans to embark on outdoor activities which include protest go through certain processes before such an exercise is implemented because we understand this part of the world better.
“It would be in our collective best interest if Bruce Fein would concentrate on his job and desist from meddling into Biafraland related matters and areas outside the purview of his brief. Bruce Fein is aware that we have some of the best lawyers here in Biafraland but they never issue orders or directives in IPOB but proffer only legal advice when necessary. Bruce Fein is advised to stay off IPOB administrative matters and concentrate on his legal representation.”

News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has joined world leaders in offering his condolences to the family of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated on Friday.

Abe was killed during an election rally in the western Japanese city of Nara. He was reported to have arrived in hospital with no vital signs and was proclaimed dead as a result of blood loss shortly afterwards.

His suspected killer was apprehended at the scene after having fired his weapon twice. He was identified by the police as a 41-year-old resident of the city.

Abe held the office of the prime minister of Japan from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2020, which made him the longest-serving leader in the country’s modern history.

He resigned due to developing health problems, but remained an influential figure in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

His public appearance was to deliver a speech on behalf of the Nara Prefecture’s representative, who is seeking a new term in the upcoming parliamentary election.

However, President Buhari in his condolence message issued through his media aide, Femi Adesina, on Friday in Abuja, condoled with the government and people of Japan over the incident.

News Agency of Nigeria reported that Mr Buhari joined all Japanese in mourning the loss of the country’s longest-serving prime minister and outstanding leader, assuring the family of Mr Abe of the prayers and thoughts of all Nigerians during this difficult time.

The report quoted Buhari to have said that Mr Abe will be remembered for his unwavering commitment to strengthening trade and investment between Africa and Japan through various initiatives and partnerships, using the instrumentality of Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD).

He disclosed that under Mr Abe, Nigeria and Japan enjoyed a strategic partnership, supporting each other’s shared aspirations on economic cooperation, healthcare, human resource development, disaster risk reduction, peace and security.

The Nigerian leader prayed that the memory of the Japanese statesman and respected international leader would be a blessing to his nation and people, whom he served so devotedly.

International News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

An eight-year-old girl identified as Sochima is currently carrying a bandage on her head and she is suffering from pain inflicted on her by one Mr. Uchenna Nkemdi, whom she is living with as home help in Oyigbo, Port Harcourt, River State.

SaharaReporters gathered from some residents of the area that Mr. Nkemdi, a labourer who currently goes to Oyigbo Police Station construction site, is from Ntalakwu in Abia State but claims to be an uncle to Sochima whose parents are said to be from Uli in Anambra State.

For a long time, Nkemdi, a father of four children promised the parents to send the little girl to school but turned her into a full-time maid who does virtually all house chores and prepares and takes his own children to school, while she goes to school once or twice in a week.

Residents who described how the man beats Sochima almost on a daily basis with sticks and any other thing he could lay hands on said many people have tried to stop Nkemdi from abusing the minor but he boasted that “she is stubborn and must be handled with an iron hand,” telling those who tried to caution him to “mind our business.”

“It will interest you to know that two persons confronted him about his actions against the girl but he was boasting and blackmailing the minor. He said that the parents of the girl had already told him of the girl’s bad attitude and that he should handle her with an iron hand,” a resident told SaharaReporters.

SaharaReporters learnt the victim is a niece of the man’s wife, who according to one of the residents, is from Uli in Anambra State.

But the wife, a petty trader at Eke Oyigbo Main Market, whose name could not be ascertained, has been watching her husband, repeatedly brutalise the girl and deny her education.

SaharaReporters learnt that officials of Amnesty International reported the alleged assaults to the police, who sent officers to arrest Nkemdi.

Nkemdi, however, resisted arrest and had to be forced by the policemen.

When SaharaReporters contacted the spokesperson for the state police command, DSP Grace Woyengikuro Iringe-kokoppro, she replied in a text message, saying, "I will get back to you sir".

A few days ago, a 14-year-old girl reportedly fell from the top floor of a four-storey building in Onitsha, one of the biggest commercial cities in Anambra State in an attempt to avoid being flogged by her guardian.

The girl who was identified as Ijeoma Nwafor was a home help to one Nnenna Onwanna, who was allegedly accustomed to abusing the girl at every opportunity.

It was reported that Ijeoma’s mistress was beating her when she fell from the building. She , however, survived and was taken to the hospital for medical attention.

Many boys and girls have lost their lives or got maimed by their masters and mistresses, some of who seem to take joy in abusing and brutalising them at will.

According to Nkemdi’s neighbours, if nothing is done soon to rescue Sochima, he will kill the little girl.

CRIME News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :