The cause of the brutal murder of a female student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto State, by her colleagues has been connected to a voice vote the deceased sent to her class’s WhatsApp group.
According to a Twitter link as seen by SaharaReporters, the female student was said to have sent a voice note, protesting against the incessant sending of unnecessary to the group by her mates.

The original voice note posted here has now been deleted, checks by SaharaReporters revealed.

This is the voice note that got her killed. She goes like "This group chat was not created for you to be sending nonsense. It is for past questions, updates about tests or other school matters. Not for nonsense or some rubbish prophet."Loose translation https://t.co/qaV3DJIOFo

— Kelvin Odanz (@MrOdanz) May 12, 2022
She was heard lamenting in Hausa language to a religious broadcast message sent by another student to the group.
In a loose translation, she said, "This group chat was not created for you to be sending nonsense. It is for past questions, updates about tests or other school matters. Not for nonsense or some rubbish prophet."
It was gathered the usage of the phrase “nonsense prophet” might have angered the angry attackers and propelled the fatal assault against her.
The Sultanate in Sokoto State are among other Nigerians who have condemned the unwarranted attack and called on the police to investigate and arrest the perpetrators.

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Popular Hausa musician, Fati Niger, has released a new song, describing President Muhammadu Buhari as naive, adding that the current government has inflicted more hardship on Nigeria's poor citizens.
The Kano State-based female musician also mocked the president, stating that the clueless regime failed the citizens in three key socio-economic areas.

She insisted that the Buhari regime got almost everything wrong with the president's tyrannical style of governance.
Parts of the lyrics of the song in Hausa, obtained by SaharaReporters were, “If I were Buhari, I'll be a listening leader and would deploy the right approach to addressing insecurity, because as at today, the territory, Nigeria has been overwhelmed by terrorism.
"If I were Buhari, I would have planned the economy by providing adequate palliatives to suppress the inflammation before shutting down borders against importation of agricultural products.
"To me, a decision to close borders was poorly taken because farmers ought to have been empowered to produce enough food for domestic consumption before the radical clamp down on importation of food items.
"Elsewhere, wise administrators would ordinarily subsidise agriculture, by buying from farmers at high price and selling same for local consumption at a lower price.
"For failing this bad, one can only conclude that again, here we have a clueless leader in the saddle.”

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced investigations into some of the bank accounts of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over suspected money laundering.
The anti-graft agency started the probe on the political parties’ accounts in two banks in Abuja, Premium Times reports.

The investigation may not be unconnected to the parties’ sale of expression of interest and nomination forms in which the two political parties have recorded high volumes of transactions and inflow of funds into their accounts.
Recall that the EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa had said that the commission works hand-in-hand with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) when it comes to the issue of monitoring election funds as well as candidates’ funds.
Bawa said that they follow the money and they make sure they know the source of the funds to ascertain whether it is legitimate or illegitimate.
As parts of preparations for the 2023 general elections, political parties are keenly selling their party forms for members aspiring for different positions.
The APC pegged its presidential expression of interest and nomination form at N100 million while PDP put its own at N40 million. However, despite the outrageous fees for the forms, the two parties have recorded hundreds of patronage for all the elective positions.
Both parties have raked billions of naira with about 28 presidential aspirants reportedly having paid for the APC’s N100 million as of yesterday (Wednesday), while at least 17 aspirants have obtained the PDP’s N40 million.
According to Premium Times, the Head of Operations EFCC headquarters, Abuja, Michael Wetkas, on Monday, wrote to the Managing Directors of Access Bank and Polaris Bank in Abuja informing them that the commission was investigating 14 accounts of the two parties, and another organisation suspected to be connected to the PDP.
The letter indicated that the commission’s investigation involves three accounts in Access Bank belonging to the APC, (0692988080, 0035644896 and 0044183689), one to the National Secretariat of the PDP (0054586830), and three to Umbrella Trust Ltd (0076600091, 0066988655, 0068595990 and 0054586830).
Also in Polaris Bank, one of the accounts belongs to the APC (1771444115), one to the Garki, Abuja chapter of the PDP (1140060876). one to the headquarters of the PDP (1770319690) and four to “PDP Fund Raising Dinner” (1771643176,177647521, 177164514 and 1771647507).
The letter further stated that “In view of the above, you are kindly requested to forward the certified true copies of the following:
a. Account opening packages/mandate cards.
b. Statement of account from January 2021 to date (hard and soft copies). The soft copy should be copied to excel format and forwarded to cagomuo@effc.gov.ng.
c. Certificate of identification pursuant to Section 84(4) of the Evidence Act. 2011 (The certifying officer should include his full name, designation, signature and date on each page).
d. Any other relevant information that could assist the investigation.
“The request is made pursuant to Section 38(1) 8(2) of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act 2021 and Section of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2021 as amended.”
However, the commission has refused to provide more information on the investigation at the time of filing this report.

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The pilot of the aircraft carrying 11 people, which crashed in a forest in central Cameroon on Wednesday has been identified as Adzuayi Ewuga, daughter of Senator Solomon Ewuga, a former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State.
Ewuga, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also served as Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory under the Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

According to local media reports, the aircraft was flying from Yaounde Nsimalen Airport to Belabo, in the east of the country when air traffic services lost radio contact.
The plane owned by Caverton Aviation Cameroon was chartered by a private company, the Cameroon Oil Transportation Company (COTCO) that maintains a hydrocarbon pipeline that runs between Cameroon and neighbouring Chad.
The deceased worked with the company which is a subsidiary of Caverton Offshore Support Group based in Lagos, Nigeria, which also controls Caverton Helicopters.
A family member, Oliver Slodgz Ewuga, also confirmed her death on Facebook.
“I Tried To Understand Why My Body System Failed To Fit Inn Since  Yesterday, Now The Sign Is Revealed. My Only Family Pilot,God Knows Best.Am Really Heart Broken. Good Night Adzuayi Solomon Ewuga.Rest On Sis,” he posted.

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The National Judicial Council has recommended 46 successful candidates as Heads of Court and other judicial officers for the Federal and State judiciaries in Nigeria.
The NJC in a release on Thursday said it made the recommendation after its 98th meeting of May 10 and 11.

The judicial officers are as follows; “Chief Judge, Imo State; Justice Chukwuemeka-Chikeka Theresa Eberechukwu; Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Nasarawa State, Kadi Bahago Yusuf Abubakar Agwai II and President, Customary Court of Appeal, Imo State, Justice Okorie Victor Uchenna.

“Others are; Three (3) Judges, High Court, Benue State; Felicia Mnguashima Ikyegh, Omale Gabriel Anebi and Shishi John Mkoholga; Two (2) Judges, High Court , Jigawa State ; Auwal Ya’u and Mustapha Bello Adamu.
“Also, Three (3) Judges, High Court , Delta State; Diai Christopher Dumebi, Odebale Ekuogbe Baro and Gesikeme-Akebofah Angonumere Mary.
“Four (4) Judges, High Court , Plateau State; Ladi Agyer Madaki, Longden Danladi Jacob, Elizabeth Ibrahim Angai and Samchi Dasplang Simon.”
The other judicial officers are;
8. THREE (3) JUDGES, HIGH COURT, KEBBI STATE
            i) Hassan Shehu Kuwwa
            ii) Shamsudeen Jaafar
            iii) Maryam Abubakar Kaoje
9. FOUR (4) JUDGES, HIGH COURT, ADAMAWA STATE
            i) Ishaku Yakubu Haliru
            ii) Felix Daniel Nzarga
            iii) Abbas Adamu Hoban
            iv) Maxwell Tartius Pukuma
10. THREE (3) JUDGES, HIGH COURT, KOGI STATE
            i) Clement Ohiani Kekere
            ii) Hawa Eleojo Yusufu
            iii) Isa Jamil Abdullahi
 
11. SIX (6) JUDGES, HIGH COURT, IMO STATE
            i) Okereke Chinyere Ngozi
            ii) Onyekachi Michael Bless Chibueze
            iii) Antoinette Chinenye Onyeukwu
            iv) Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi
            v) Alinnor Lotanna Chukwunyere Leo
            vi) Nwachukwu Obinna Emmanuel
12. ONE (1) KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, PLATEAU STATE
i) Yahaya Mohammed Kanam
 
13. ONE (1) KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, KEBBI STATE
i) Nasiru Umar Zagga
14. TWO (2) KADIS, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, ADAMAWA STATE
i) Magaji Chiroma
ii) Ibrahim Barkindo
15. THREE (3) JUDGES, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, FCT, ABUJA
            i) Yunusa Idris Kutigi
            ii) Muhammad Boyi Marafa
            iii) Ubom Unwana Sam
16. ONE (1) JUDGE, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, DELTA STATE
            i) Akumagba Ete Francis
17. TWO (2) JUDGES, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, ADAMAWA STATE
            i) Momsisuri Bemare Odo
            ii) Evaristus Paul
 
18. THREE (3) JUDGES, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, KOGI STATE
            i) Comfort Ekwuojo Toluwase
            ii) Paul Ade Olupeka
            iii) Shaibu Yakubu
19. TWO (2) JUDGES, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, IMO STATE
            i) Okafor Emeka Paulinus
            ii) Onuegbu Chinemerem Ucheoma
The NJC, according to its Director of Information, Soji Oye, said the recommended candidates are expected to be sworn in after approval of the NJC recommendations to their respective state governors and the respective State Houses of Assembly, as the case may be.

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After emerging as the consensus Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu, was faced with a major crisis. Healing the deep divisions in the party was urgent but it was not even the most serious concern of the 75-year-old senator, former governor and former member of the opposition party. Nor was the dilapidated, rudderless state of the party organs the most pressing task. 
 
His problem was more severe. In vehicular metaphor, he had just inherited a car without an engine. And this happened ahead of a major race in which his party is not only hoping to do well, but also to win. He needs money to fix the engine and oil the party machine, but the party is broke, if not bankrupt. 
 
His new executive toyed with the idea of probing its predecessors but quickly dropped it. It would be a needless distraction and there was hardly any time for that. Insiders said at this point, members of the newly constituted national executive committee met and decided that the only way to repair the party’s finances and fund the forthcoming elections was to raise the cost of the nomination forms by 122 percent, that is, from N45 million in the last election cycle in 2019 to N100 million.
 
Why anyone would buy a form for N100m to prequalify to tackle a raft of problems ranging from a serious debt crisis to banditry and from insurgency to rampant corruption and a distressed national currency, is baffling. But Adamu’s executive obviously thought there was no other way, except those that had been tried with severe negative consequences. 
 
It’s in the nature of party politics in Nigeria that party chairmen serve two masters. They are appointed and removed by the strongest faction (usually the president in the case of the ruling party) to whom they must bow. And also, they hold their positions at the pleasure of governors who fund the parties. 
 
In the last two decades, at least, the fall of chairmen across party lines is traceable to political transactions with governors, especially at election time, for the organised bazaar of party positions. This transaction allows chairmen to make some money, offers governors a bargain, while the change, if there is any, is used to run the party. 
 
It was a temptation that Adamu wanted to resist by building, if you like, an “independent” war chest outside the contaminated trough. And yet, he overcame this temptation by yielding to its worst outcomes. His predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole, had tried, for the first time, to raise money from the sale of party forms to fund candidates in 2019, with limited success.
 
Unlike what obtains in other countries where the party rank and file chips in its bit and special interest groups with shared ideology also come through for the party, the contribution here is zero. Since party registers are at best dubious and party accounts are not audited, funds come from anywhere from private pockets to bullion vans. No one is exactly sure what it costs political parties to run, say, a presidential election campaign, for example. 
 
A report in The Africa Report of March 22, said staging a presidential campaign alone could cost up to $2 billion. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) set the bar for 2023 at N1 billion ($2.4 million), now adjusted to N5 billion ($12 million), but has no way of knowing, monitoring or enforcing this threshold.
 
Former presidential spokesperson, Doyin Okupe, himself a presidential wannabe, told the magazine that, “No Nigerian president in the last 20 years has spent less than $100 million to be president. It’s now upwards of $300 million. I know this because I’m an insider…No Nigerian president has through his sheer wealth alone put himself in office, whether Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua or Goodluck Jonathan.” He might have added Muhammadu Buhari as well.
 
It’s one of the paradoxes of this republic that a system that should guarantee reasonable opportunities - an egalitarian system, if you like - still manages to produce political oligarchs. The system appears designed to be forbiddingly expensive and there is no one who has witnessed Nigeria’s elections in the last nearly two and a half decades that would not be alarmed at the outrageous monetisation of the process under a party that campaigned for change. Politicians dispense bribes in sacks or stuff them in between bread loaves, depending on who is at the receiving end, where and when. 
 
Caught between the devil of depending on governors to fund its election and the rock of an empty party treasury, Adamu obtained Buhari’s approval to raise the cost of forms to an amount almost double the four-year annual salary of the president, who officially earns roughly N14.1m yearly.
 
Yet, even at this scandalous rate, the party’s stock is oversubscribed. It is apparently so seduced by its own scandalous ingenuity that it has twice extended the sale of forms. However hard Adamu may try - and he has bullishly made the point that the party needs tons of money to fund its campaign - it is difficult for him and his party to escape accusations of robbery by pretence. 
 
Out of the 28 APC aspirants who have so far bought forms to contest the presidency, seven - Godswill Akpabio, Chris Ngige, Emeka Nwajiuba, Ogbonnaya Onu, Rotimi Amaechi, Timipre Silva, and Godwin Emefiele - are political appointees serving in Buhari’s government. The salaries of six of them in the last seven years are estimated at N504 million, that is, a yearly average of N72 million. This, of course, is minus Emefiele whose salary is on a different scale.
 
If they claim - as they all do - that the money is not theirs, then we’re compelled to ask what special lotion or charm they have been using to attract such extraordinary goodwill in a country that has gotten poorer in the last seven years than at any other time in its recent history. As of the last rough tally, APC had amassed about N3 billion, VAT-free income from the sale of presidential forms alone. 
 
In the end, only one candidate will emerge. Like the true stock brokerage firm that it has become, however, the party will advise the losers to convert their form fees into investment in ministerial positions or the right to make significant appointments. There is no place for refunds. 
 
Those who contested the position for chairmanship against Adamu and lost, for example, are still lining up outside the party secretariat waiting to get their N20 million refunds or whatever crumbs remain. But it doesn’t matter. With the extraordinary infusion of cash from the new sale of forms, the tent can always be expanded to create room for every scoundrel.
 
A friend suggested that the huge funds flowing into the APC’s account could be an avenue to launder money. But which government agency has the courage to question a group of peasants, herders or an old boys’ network for shelling out N100 million only to buy a lottery ticket from the ruling party for a messiah in its fold? That will be the day.
 
For now, those who don’t like what they’re seeing or what they’re hearing can comfort themselves with the thought that after nearly eight years of waiting, the ruling party may have finally paved the way to change by leveraging the scandalous ingenuity of a politician from the PDP, the same party that APC once despised. 
 
Adamu is a gift that the PDP would regret losing. In two months of taking the helm, he has shown that he can both think - and work - outside the box. Whoever knew that the road to the presidency was this prosperous!
 
Ishiekwene is the Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP

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In January 2012, the BBC asked in a trenchant report, “Is Nigeria on the brink?” But today, the question that should be asked by Nigerians with a modicum of common sense should be “When will Nigeria break up?” Buhari's second term kicks off officially on May 29. But carryover anarchy from his first term provides the necessary ingredients and of course invitation to Nigeria’s disintegration.
There's no hope for the three separate, hostile, and unequal regions forcibly fused by the Brits to exist as one nation. The majority of Nigerians believe the best and lasting solution after 61 years of crises, violence, insecurity, poverty, and blind leadership is for Yorubas, Igbos, and Hausa-Fulanis to go their separate ways.
Let the words sink in. Nigeria is coming apart. 180 million people are without regular and steady power. No roads. No treated water. Hunger is prevalent. Food is scarce and expensive. Salaries not paid. Ritual killings for money. Unemployment, poverty, delayed and denied justice, corruption, nepotism, kidnapping, armed robbery, failed education system, comatose healthcare system, insecurity, hopelessness, fear of tomorrow, and many more, are the trademarks of the Buhari administration that will hasten the break-up of Nigeria before 2023.

Deafening silence from the ruling class of defiant rogues, looters, thieves, plunderers, wreckers, leeches, and parasites has reached its crescendo. Despair is slowly uniting Mumu citizens against their oppressors as they comfort each other. Thinking about Nigeria is suicidal. How can one fully express in graphic words that could convey in any way, the overwhelming sense of constant pain, horrible uncertainty, fear of tomorrow, fury of wasted lives through an epidemic of manufactured evils? The fear of death is an eternal companion for Nigerians in these evil times in the unlivable nation.
As Buhari struggles to figure out the way forward out of the thicket of unfulfilled promises and dashed hopes, it seems there is a stay of execution in Nigeria's imminent collapse and inevitable breakup or a delay in Nigeria's preordained death. The morally bankrupt kleptomaniac legislators with the conspiracy and connivance of Aso Rock, continue to strangle Nigeria and choke its citizens, while the poor masses are left to fend for themselves. Nigeria under Buhari's second term will be a state of anomie that thrives on endless crises, violence, and killings.
It's no secret that a nation can choose to either exalt itself to her people thereby becoming an object of national pride or hide itself by dulling the citizen's senses and intelligence, thus negating the primary purpose of a nation. So far, the body of evidence proves that Nigeria under Buhari pursues the second path. Buhari's administration has taken the advantage of our profoundly ignorant, naive, and Akindanidani citizens fueled by their systemic blind allegiance to the same oppressors who impoverished them.
The paralysis of government and complete disregard for rule of law, the crass stupidity of a ruling class, decayed infrastructure, ravaged and stunted economy, and decimated citizens hoping against hope have sealed all hopes and possibilities that Nigeria can remain one nation for long. Buhari's administration is a shining example of a government of feckless inaction, fetid bureaucracy, and unfettered bullshit.
As Buhari prepares for his second term, I'll encourage our battered citizens to turn their furious indignation into action, their collective misery into an unstoppable bond of vengeance for revolution, and direct their anger, blessed anger, to free themselves from slavery and servitude under “one Nigeria” and go their separate ways. This is the only way out. And the time is NOW!
bjoluwasanmi@gmail.com
*** Article was first published May 12, 2019.




 

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A village head in Ndalile community of Mokwa in Niger State, Mohammed Shaba Aliyu, has allegedly opened fire on protesters in the village injuring 12 persons including children.
SaharaReporters learnt that the incident occurred on Wednesday, May 11, in Mokwa community when the youths blocked the road to demand for the release of a school teacher, Kudu Tswasha, who was allegedly arrested by the operatives of Department of State Service (DSS) and the police.

It was gathered that the gun wielding DSS operatives invaded a school in the area and arrested Kudu in a Gestapo manner without any reason.
Kudu was said to have alerted his family of the development which led to a protest by his family members and youths in the community.
The youths in the process staged a protest at the Mokwa Police Station to demand for his whereabouts but the police and DSS allegedly denied the knowledge of the arrest.
The development reportedly infuriated the youths and forced them to block the major road causing gridlock in the area.
According to a protester who spoke to SaharaReporters on Thursday, the village head (Mohammed) sighted the angry youths who had besieged his palace and hurriedly rushed inside, brought out a pump action rifle and shot at protesters leaving many of them down with injuries.
The situation led to pandemonium as people scampered for safety.
“People were demonstrating peacefully to demand for the release of their brother and they marched towards his palace only for him to come out with a pump action and he started shooting. His children were even begging him not to shoot but he was saying he would curse them if they didn't let him,” a witness said. 
SaharaReporters also gathered that there had been allegations of land grabbing and forceful sales of heritage lands by the village head that had led to protests in the past where Kudu had participated.
Kudu alongside some youths were said to have written a petition against the alleged misconducts of the village head which included; impregnating of young primary school girls, sales of land, colluding with witch doctors to defraud his people and subjecting them to inhuman treatments.

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Achike Chude

They have started again - the same tricks, the same strategies, the same mischief, the same deceits and the same manipulations. Happily, we know that they will be met with the same outcome.
 
But we know that their present shenanigan is not beyond them. After all, they are the seeds and progenitors of their fathers and uncles in the 'dark arts and acts of politics' à la Nigeria. It is for them that the statement was made over two thousand years ago:
"You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies."
 
So, they have begun the whisperings, the lies, the propaganda and the hawking of fear - all to provide a basis and justification for extending President Muhammadu Buhari's largely crisis strewn eight years of governance by six months.
  Achike Chude
Elder statesman and lawyer, Robert Clark (SAN), said recently that President Muhammadu Buhari has the constitutional power to extend his eight-year, two-tenure presidency by another six months. In fact, the respectable lawyer implied that President Muhammadu Buhari can extend his presidency by as months as he wants. That means that President Buhari can actually remain in power till 2035 or till such a time that nature calls him home to his maker.
 
In fairness to them, (the presidency), they have distanced themselves from this elongation call. But, unfortunately our history as a country tells us that such denials are usually part of the game.
 
We know what they call Robert Clark's intervention. It is called 'Testing the Waters.' It's about throwing the idea to Nigerians and seeing how they react before the next course of action.
 
Robert Clark's reasoning is actually sound. He wants the president to remain in power for six months to give him more time to save us from terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and ritualists - all dangerous psychopathic elements that the president has not been able to save us from in seven years. What he couldn't do in seven years, he would now do in six months to enable us run an election in 2023. What a laugh!
 
But what exactly is happening?
 
Simple: Cold is catching some people! Fear has gripped and overtaken them. In the next few months, after the elections in 2023, all their privileges, powers, gra-gra, and the pomp and pageantry or the trappings of office will come to an end and those who had exulted themselves beyond the mandates and authorities of their office will be brought down to earth. For all of seven years they had been gods. But once the deed has been done in 2023, they will be mortals once more, and live and work with us in our own spaces. What a fearful prospect!
 
You see why late statesman, Nnamdi Azikiwe once declared that "No condition is permanent?" You see why Heraclitus the Greek philosopher seconded him by equally asserting that the only thing that is permanent is change?
 
So, out of fear of lost privileges and power, the enemies of our democracy have gone to work.
 
For so they did under the 'Prince of the Niger,' Ibrahim Babangida, the 'Evil Genius' or 'Maradona' who, with the recently demised Authur Nzeribe and his Association for Better Nigeria (ABN), ran rings around Nigeria for eight years until they ran into a cul-de-sac and came unstuck.
 
For so they did under the late dictator Sani Abacha, telling us that he was the only saviour of our country and that without him we were finished. And as religious leaders, traditional rulers, market women, and professional groups trooped to Aso Rock to beg and cry for him to transmute to a civilian president, they proclaimed that he was the anointed one - until fate or destiny stepped in and had the final say as Abacha was suddenly found dead on his bed - just weeks away from becoming civilian president.
 
For so they tried to do under President Olusegun Obasanjo who had served out his two terms as president and was seeking an unconstitutional third term. And as the battle for the third term was raging across the country, senators of the National Assembly laid siege on banks at the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja to each cash the sum of #55 million third term bribery largess to push the agenda. Following very fierce pushback by the political elites and civil society, Obasanjo's inglorious dream of a third term died on the floor of the Senate after then senate president, Ken Nnamani's famous and impassioned plea of: "Every man must answer his father's name. I know my father's name"
 
As it was with Babangida, so was it with Abacha and Obasanjo, and so will it be with Muhammadu Buhari. Come the 29th of May 2023, the president, his entourage, ministers, spokesmen, Laurel and Hardy, will all leave Aso Rock to begin new lives outside the glare of splendor and dizzying power. It is the way of life.
 
History has shown us that any attempt to seek ways to extend this administration's tenure by the proxies, praise singers and eulogists will end in failure and disgrace. They must and will leave power. As the saying goes:
 
"Their place, let another take."

Opinion AddThis :  Original Author :  Achike Chude Disable advertisements : 

In February, Hammad Abdulrasheed, a penultimate student of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, was excited when he received an email from an organisation he had applied to for his dream job after many years of internship.
He had been invited for an interview via google meet.

However, his joy was short-lived as soon after the meeting, he remembered that the organisation could not employ him because he was still a student.
"But when I was asked where I did my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, I told them I still had a few semesters to do on campus. This response surprised the organisation because they believed I must be a graduate since it is indicated in my CV that I entered university in 2017, and this is 2022. That is five years, which is enough to finish a degree programme.


"I would have graduated but due to the incessant ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Universities) strike, I am still in 400-Level," Hammad said.
 
He continued: "I was told they would have been happy to employ me but they want to employ a worker who is ready to change his present location permanently and it is not possible to employ a student for that position. That was how I lost the opportunity which was supposed to be a life-changer."
Babatunde Qadri, a student at the University of Ilorin, also shared with SaharaReporters how he lost a good opportunity. He was shortlisted for a fellowship to do a postgraduate course in Vietnam, all expenses paid.
He thought his statement of result would be available by April, having taken his final examination in February, a week before university lecturers embarked on strike.
"The strike did not allow me to get my credentials because anytime I contacted the students' affairs division, their response was always that the lecturers that would even make provide my scripts were on strike.
"This made me lose this great opportunity. And for the past three months, since I took my terminal examination, I have been stagnant. We have not been mobilised for the NYSC programme and our results have not been released to allow us to look for better opportunities," Babatunde added.
ASUU was formed in 1978, a successor to the Nigerian Association of University Teachers formed in 1965. It is the umbrella union for lecturers in federal and state universities in Nigeria.
This union has persistently embarked on strike in response to the Nigerian Government's refusal to uphold agreements signed with it. It is to push to force the government to meet its demands but it repeatedly leaves students at the receiving end as the country lacks responsive leaders.
I Lost NNPC/Total Scholarship Due To ASUU Strike
Like Hammad and Qadri, Abdulrahman Abdulganiy's story is no exception. Abdulrahman was fortunate to be shortlisted for the NNPC/Total Scholarship in 2020 but it was while universities were closed due to the lingering ASUU strike following its face-off with the Nigerian government.
Abdulganiy had returned to Kwara, his home state, over 700 km away from Sokoto.
He said, "I was in my state due to the strike and the examination in Sokoto, where my school is. I could not travel to Sokoto at the time.
"The story would have been different if there was no strike. At least I would be in school to take the test. It is painful that I lost the chance to receive close to N150,000 annually.”
A student of Bayero University Kano (BUK), Mustapha Babalola also blamed the incessant strike for costing him many opportunities that would have helped him in excelling in his academic and career pursuit.
 
"Being an undergraduate since 2017 has been one of the reasons I was not chosen for most of the opportunities I have applied for.
"We are talking about scholarships, training programmes that I would have been eligible to enjoy. My graduation is even long overdue but the strike is keeping me at home longer than expected," Mustapha said.
Students Take Over The Streets To Seek An End The Strike
On Tuesday, hundreds of students of the University of Ilorin (Unilorin) in Kwara State, staged a peaceful protest to express their sadness and disappointment over the ongoing strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The university students, however, said they would take the protest to major places in the city like the Government House, roads linking Ilorin Airport, the State House of Assembly, Federal Secretariat, police headquarters, and the Directorate of State Security Service (SSS- also known as Department of State Services, DSS), among other places, if the meeting between the lecturers’ union and the Nigerian government officials failed to resolve the lingering crisis in the country’s university educational system this week.
A similar step was taken by students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Thursday morning, as they blocked the Ife-Ibadan Expressway to protest against the lingering industrial action.
Nigerian Government Is The Problem' —ASUU President
ASUU has said there is no going back on its decision to continue with its ongoing strike following the Nigerian Government’s failure to honour the 2009 agreement.
ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osedeke, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
Osedeke said the union took the ‘difficult decision’ after exhausting all avenues available to amicably settle the matter with the government.
“Let me give you an example because this is where we are getting it wrong, when the airline operators said they were going to stop the flights, the Senate and House of Representatives quickly stepped in.
“This is because they are affected; they quickly rushed in and addressed the problem. Why would they not resolve that of the education sector that is affecting the children of the poor and the ordinary people?
“If the government is willing to resolve the issues affecting Nigerians, then there would be no need to go on strike.
“The problem is the will of the government to resolve issues,” he said.
Nigerian Government, ASUU Resume Negotiation
The government has scheduled a meeting with ASUU executives for Thursday. It is a meeting targeted to find a lasting solution to the 86-day-old lingering strike action by Nigerian university lecturers.
This was disclosed in a letter from the office of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, which was addressed to various stakeholders on Wednesday.
According to the letter dated May 11 and signed by C.C. Dike, special adviser (technical) to the labour minister, the meeting will be held at the banquet hall in the State House at 4 pm.
 
 

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Aloy Ejimakor, a special counsel for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has reacted to a recent report by the BBC World Service centered around the activities of the group.
The BBC Report titled, “IPOB: Nigerian 'media warriors' call for killings on social media over Biafra” had chronicled events showing how agitators had called for attacks against those considered enemies of the campaign for Biafran independence.

According to the BBC report, many of these agitators are currently based outside the country from where they stoke violence in Nigeria via their podcasts, and streaming on social media platforms.
The report which exposed the activities of some individuals further claimed that some of the media warriors were being paid, “either by IPOB or by supporters, for the work they do and we saw other broadcasts in which bank details for IPOB were shared to solicit donations from followers.”
Reacting, Aloy Ejimakor exonerated the group from the claims, stating that the IPOB he represented had no connection with media warriors calling for killings.
Ejimakor noted that IPOB has chapters in various countries of the world, and is recognised as a self-determination group.
He wrote on Twitter, “Dear @BBCWorld: Again, the #IPOB I represent is registered in UK. It’s led by #MNK. It has fixed addresses & chapters worldwide & it’s recognized by nations as a NONVIOLENT self-determination movement. They’re NOT the ‘media warriors' calling for killings over #Biafra.”

Dear @BBCWorld: Again, the #IPOB I represent is registered in UK. It’s led by #MNK. It has fixed addresses & chapters worldwide & it’s recognized by nations as a NONVIOLENT self determination movement. They’re NOT the ‘media warriors' calling for killings over #Biafra. pic.twitter.com/GB4LNl6tzj

— aloy ejimakor (@AloyEjimakor) May 12, 2022

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Aloy Ejimakor, a special counsel for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has reacted to a recent report by the BBC World Service centered around the activities of the group.
The BBC Report titled, “IPOB: Nigerian 'media warriors' call for killings on social media over Biafra” had chronicled events showing how agitators had called for attacks against those considered enemies of the campaign for Biafran independence.

According to the BBC report, many of these agitators are currently based outside the country from where they stoke violence in Nigeria via their podcasts, and streaming on social media platforms.
The report which exposed the activities of some individuals further claimed that some of the media warriors were being paid, “either by IPOB or by supporters, for the work they do and we saw other broadcasts in which bank details for IPOB were shared to solicit donations from followers.”
Reacting, Aloy Ejimakor exonerated the group from the claims, stating that the IPOB he represented had no connection with media warriors calling for killings.
Ejimakor noted that IPOB has chapters in various countries of the world, and is recognised as a self-determination group.
He wrote on Twitter, “Dear @BBCWorld: Again, the #IPOB I represent is registered in UK. It’s led by #MNK. It has fixed addresses & chapters worldwide & it’s recognized by nations as a NONVIOLENT self-determination movement. They’re NOT the ‘media warriors' calling for killings over #Biafra.”

Dear @BBCWorld: Again, the #IPOB I represent is registered in UK. It’s led by #MNK. It has fixed addresses & chapters worldwide & it’s recognized by nations as a NONVIOLENT self determination movement. They’re NOT the ‘media warriors' calling for killings over #Biafra. pic.twitter.com/GB4LNl6tzj

— aloy ejimakor (@AloyEjimakor) May 12, 2022

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File photo used to illustrate story.

The Imo State High Court has awarded N10million damages to a businessman, Kingsley Unegbu, against the First City Monument Bank for putting a wrong picture on his debit card.
Delivering judgement on Wednesday on the case that had lasted for nine years, the trial judge, Justice I.G Chukwunyere, lambasted the bank for challenging a document issued by it and yet refusing to rectify the error after a complaint was made to that effect.

File photo used to illustrate story.
The court ruled that the plaintiff timely reported the picture mismatch on his Mastercard to the defendant (FCMB), which the defendant accepted but failed to rectify.
It held that the defendant having willfully refused to correct its error was liable and subsequently ordered to pay the sum of N10million as general damages only.
SaharaReporters had reported that Unegbu dragged the FCMB to court in 2013 after the bank put another person’s passport on his Mastercard, a mistake that caused him to lose his business.
Unegbu, had told the court how the mistake by the bank led to not only the closure of his business but also impoverishing him after he went bankrupt.
“The master card picture mismatch was discovered by my business associates in the US and they thereafter stopped transacting business with me and flagged me as a credit card fraudster.
“All my foreign business transactions have been halted as a result of this mistake from FCMB by putting another person's image on my account and I have incurred a loss of over $500,000,” he said.
He had in his pleading sought before the court demanded that the bank pay him N100m as compensation but the bank ignored his request forcing him to institute a legal proceeding at the Imo State High Court in 2013 seeking relief from the bank.
Addressing journalists shortly after the judgement, Unegbu commended the judge but expressed dissatisfaction with the cost of damages awarded to him, adding "it is not commensurate with my losses."
He said, “The court awarded N10million as damages but it cannot be equated with the loss I have inquired for the 12 years I have been out of business.
“I have spent more than N10million pursuing this case. However, I am thankful for winning the case against the bank,” Unegbu said.
He noted that he would be approaching the appeal bank to seek a higher review of the damages awarded by the court.

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Illustration: DSS

An operative of the Department of the State Services attached to a former Deputy President of the Senate, Prof Ike Ekweremadu, on Thursday assaulted Arise TV Crew members covering his 60th anniversary.
The incident, which took place at the Cathedral Church of Good Shepherd, Anglican Communion, Industrial Layout, Enugu, immediately drew condemnation from the journalists covering ceremony.

Illustration: DSS THISDAY
They condemned the unprovoked attack on the two Arise TV journalists who were discharging their duties by the overzealous DSS operative, and called that he should be reprimanded.
The Arise TV Camera man, who spoke to SaharaReporters, said his offence was that he asked the operative to stop harassing his reporter who was trying to get Senator Ekweremadu to address journalists who were waiting under the scorching heat at the church service.
The journalist said, “I don't have any previous problem with the DSS man before. I only asked him to stop pushing my reporter who was trying to interview the former deputy President of the Senate, Ekweremadu. Suddenly, he turned and slapped me. I was told that he even went for his service pistol before another journalist stopped. I don't know whether he wanted to shoot me."
The incident it was said to have been witnessed by the celebrant, who incidentally turned blind eye and walked away while his details assaulted journalists covering him.
Meanwhile, his media aide, Uche Anichukwu, was said to have apologised to the Arise TV Crew and journalists covering the ceremony who threatened a showdown.
He was reported to have told the journalists that the DSS personnel that assaulted Arise TV Crew was newly deployed to his boss.

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Abdulrasheed Bawa, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is compiling a list of some operatives of the agency loyal to the former chairman, Ibrahim Magu, for transfer from the agency or forced retirement.
Sources confirmed to SaharaReporters that the list contains names of the popular ‘Magu boys’, a term used to categorise senior officials in the agency who are loyalists of the suspended chairman, Magu.

The Magu boys handled high-profile corruption cases with records of success. They have also been accused of highhandedness and acting with impunity with no regard for the law.
Magu was suspended on July 7, 2020, by the presidency following allegations of gross misconduct as levelled by Abubakar Malami, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation.
Magu was replaced with Bawa as the substantive chairman of the EFCC.
Following Magu’s suspension, about 20 EFCC operatives loyal to him were redeployed to weaken Magu’s influence in the commission.
Sources within the anti-corruption agency privy to the development revealed to SaharaReporters that Bawa is acting with the backing of Malami.
An operative of the agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter and to also avoid being punished, disclosed that the list being compiled is to purge the EFCC of any link with Magu.
“Magu stepped on toes by refusing to do the bidding of the powers that be and they successfully removed him. We all know that Bawa is a corrupt and junior official who was only favoured to head EFCC.
“All the people who complained about the appointment of Bawa, most of them are Magu boys, and they are being victimised.
“To punish them, Bawa reshuffled the agency and moved those officers from the South to the North and brought his crews to Lagos (in the South) to replace them.
“Now, he is trying to retire those officers and they are not due for retirement,” the source said.
Another source who confirmed the forceful retirement plan for the EFCC operatives said many on the list are yet to reach the retirement years and are below the retirement age.
“It is true, Bawa is compiling the list of Magu Boys to remove from the EFCC. He is trying to retire them and most of them have not reached the retirement age. 
“Some are 57 years old, some are 54 years old and they are not even spent up to 35 years in service. They would be retired compulsorily,” the source revealed.

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The Indigenous People of Biafra has said its members will never be involved in unleashing violence on northerners or any other non-indigenes resident in the South-East region.
The group, according to a statement issued by Emma Powerful, its spokesman, said it had obtained the copy of an internal memo from the Nigerian military claiming IPOB members are planning to attack northerners.

But Powerful, in a statement on Thursday, described such memo as a tactic by the Nigerian government to pitch Northerners resident in the region against indigenes and subsequently nail IPOB as a culprit.
The pro-Biafra group insisted that it is a peaceful movement whose members receive non-indigenes with open arms. It, however, noted that those who are not welcome in the region are Fulani herdsmen who kill and rape innocent people.
IPOB said, “Based on the internal memo from the Nigeria military intercepted by IPOB intelligence unit the M.Branch, we the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wish to reiterate for the umpteenth time and assure all non-Biafrans resident in Biafraland and the general public that IPOB has no plans whatsoever to attack Northerners or any other non-indigenes living in the Biafran territory.
“As a matter of fact, Biafrans are the only race that will defend or take the side of a visitor or sojourner in our land against his own brother/sister because our culture and the land of Biafra forbid injustice.
”The reference no of the memo from the Nigerian military  headquarters, Garki, Abuja, is AHQ DAOPS/G3/240/197/1, dated May 5, 2022 and dispatched to the 82 division, Enugu.
“This malicious and fallacious memo intercepted by our M Branch emanating from the Nigerian military is simply the figment of the imagination of the purveyors. We are aware of the avowed plan of the Nigerian Army together with other security agencies to instigate violence in Biafraland as well as other parts of Nigeria, and point their accursed fingers at IPOB a peaceful freedom movement.
“We saw them play this out during the Ghana-Nigerian match at the MKO Stadium in Abuja even though they had credible intelligence that Fulani terrorists were planning to attack the stadium. Their intention then was to create distrust between the Biafrans and Yoruba nation.
“Now they want to try same game by this attempt to create distrust and confusion between Biafrans and Northerners living in Biafraland with the singular aim of jeopardising and endangering the lives of Biafrans resident in Northern Nigeria.
“The Nigerian Army working in collaboration with the Nigerian DSS must know that their gimmicks and antics are dead on arrival because IPOB have continued to protect non indigenes resident in the Biafraland against any form of intimidation or attack from Fulani terrorist herdsmen.
“The IPOB leadership calls on all residents in Biafraland both Biafrans and non Biafrans to ignore this deliberate falsehood from a terrorist infested and discredited Nigerian Army Headquarters and unequivocally assure them of their safety and enjoin them to go about their businesses anywhere in Biafraland without fear of molestation.
“The only people that are not and will not be welcomed in Biafraland are Fulani terrorists masquerading as herdsmen who are destroying our farmlands with their unclean cows, molesting and raping our mothers, sisters and wives farming in our bushes and forests and murdering our people doing their legitimate farm work.
“It is now imperative for the Nigerian military whose highest echelons as well as new recruits are dominated by Fulani terrorists masquerading as the Nigerian Army to recall their kinsmen occupying any space in our bushes and forests to vacate those places forthwith. The Nigerian Army must withdraw their terrorist foot soldiers sent into Biafraland as Fulani Herdsmen because there will be no hiding place in our land for them.
“IPOB is a peaceful freedom movement that is a given. However, we have a duty as a people to protect our land and our people against Fulani terrorist Herdsmen. We are not begging Fulani terrorists to vacate our farmlands and forest, but we will chase them out of our bushes and forests where they stay to kidnap, kill and rape our mothers, wives and sisters in the farms.
“The Nigerian military should be appreciative that we are helping them to stop Fulani terrorists, the fourth most deadly terror group in the world terror index, here in Biafraland formerly the Eastern Nigeria. But they will not because the Fulani terror herdsmen are their foot soldiers and one and the same with the Nigerian Army. In the North, Civilian JTF assist them against Boko Haram group and the army cooperates with them.
“We are aware that the Fulani and security men and women are the same people they should call their brothers to come out from the Biafra bushes and forests.
“Northerners and other non Biafrans living in Biafraland so long as you are not committing any crime in our land should not entertain fears especially the Hausa people living with us here. Biafrans have absolutely nothing against Hausa people and the Hausa community in Biafraland because they are also victims of Fulani terror and manipulation.
“What we are after are Fulani terrorists masquerading as herdsmen who are raping our mothers, sisters and wives in the bushes and forests. The land of Biafra forbids that this generation will fold their arms and allow our land to be overrun by Fulani terrorist Herdsmen from the foothills of Futa Jallon.
“We are calling on the international community, Amnesty International, reputable human rights organisations across the globe, all diplomatic missions in Abuja, America government, British government, Russia government, Israeli government, Australia government, Canada government, German government, UNITED NATIONS (EU), European Union, African Union (AU), ECOWAS, and other relevant bodies under UNITED Nations to understand that we are not chasing non-indigenes living in our territory.”

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The management of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto has directed the immediate closure of the school due to  the killing of a female student. 

This was announced in a circular dated 12th May, 2022, by the management of the school. 

The statement reads: "Following today's early morning Students rampage in the College, the College Management has resolved to close down the College indefinitely with immediate effect. Consequently, all students are hereby directed to vacate the College campus immediately (12th may, 2022)."

SaharaReporters had reported how the female student was burnt to death by her colleagues for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
She was burnt to death by Muslim students who dragged her out of her hostel earlier on Thursday.
Similarly in March 2021, some angry youths backed by leaders in Sade community in the Darazo Local Government Area of Bauchi State burnt a man identified as Talle Mai Ruwa, to death for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad.

SaharaReporters learnt that Mai Ruwa was dragged away from his house on Tuesday in the presence of his mother and burnt to death in the middle of the community.
Eyewitnesses shared gory pictures of the incident with SaharaReporters which showed the middle-aged man burnt along with tyres.

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Ndi Igbo. We know how to jinx a good thing. Perhaps, it is our seeming indomitability, boisterousness and Thanos-will that seduce us to think everyone must believe in what we believe in and must act and think in consonance with our disposition. Anyone who does not support us or share in our sentiments is an enemy deserving the guillotine. How did we evolve illiberally?

 

We were not always this philistine, intolerant, angry, minatory and hateful. Our fathers were peaceful people who lived through a brutal war, yet held out a hand of brotherhood to other Nigerians. Some have lived and died in the north and in other parts of Nigeria outside the south-east since the civil war. They were accommodating of divergent views, temperate in utterance, graceful and measured in actions.

 

The Igbo young today, particularly those who take up residence on social media, are quick-tempered, oafish and ready to maul anyone who holds a plural view. They are unthinking, rash and uncritical. It must be their way or the highway to hell. What a retrogressive evolutionary trajectory! How did a critical mass of the Igbo young become so narrow-minded and uncultivated?

 

Maybe these ones do not know that to be Igbo is to be liberal; it is to be egalitarian; it is to be expansive; it is to be accommodating of all views and people; it is to be critical and circumspect, questioning everything and believing nothing until there is proof. And most importantly, to be Igbo is to not deify any earthling or make any human a god.

 

Since Peter Obi, former Anambra governor, declared his intention to run for president, a horde of internet contagion has been attacking anyone who does not show support for him. His supporters have been the most intemperate. Wielding virtual cudgels, they bludgeon anyone who refuses to acknowledge Peter Obi as a better presidential candidate. They empty their bowels of invective, hate and threats against anyone who points out the obvious political weaknesses of the former Anambra governor.

 

Peter Obi’s political network is abysmally limited. As I have always said, he is the creation of an internet fad and does not matter to the hoi polloi. But he is a decent man with the potential of a progressive president. If only wishes were horses, Peter Obi would ride them to the presidency. Sadly, they are not.

 

Only Igbo votes cannot make Peter Obi president. He needs first the votes of PDP delegates from across the states. And if by some twist of kismet, he becomes the PDP presidential candidate, he needs the votes of all Nigerians, particularly the north. His supporters are perhaps too self-absorbed or utterly ignorant to understand that belching ethnic slurs against other Nigerians on the internet because they are not so taken in by him is actually demarketing his candidature.

 

This is not how to win popular support in a country like Nigeria with a very diverse population. Instead of pulling moderates and the undecided to the umbrella of Peter Obi, his supporters are setting them apart and even turning the minds of those who are sympathetic to Obi’s candidature.

 

Who would want a Peter Obi presidency where his supporters are rabid, caustic, bigoted and hateful? It is becoming obvious that some of Peter Obi’s supporters may be from the same gene-pool as those who promoted south-east secession. It is the same non-strategy – hate, anger and more hate.

 

Peter Obi’s supporters may think they are aggressively promoting him, but they have only succeeded in reducing him to an ethnic champion. How unpropitious that a good product should be so jinxed.

 

It appears the south-east is in dire need of a messiah; so, any person that fate throws up is summarily crowned as a lodestar to lead the Igbo out of eight years of wandering. But we must realise that we are the messiah we seek. It is our collective action that matters.

 

Peter Obi is a gentleman, peace-loving, soft-spoken, refined, expansive and cerebral. I know he will not support the hate his supporters trade on social media. In fact, what his supporters do is antithetical to what he stands for. I think it is wise he addresses the mobilisers of his campaign on social media to put some decorum and decency to their crusade for him. He needs Nigerians to be president.

 

By Fredrick Nwabufo; Nwabufo aka Mr OneNigeria is a writer and journalist.

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The management of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto has directed the immediate closure of the school due to  the killing of a female student. 

This was announced in a circular dated 12th May, 2022, by the management of the school. 

The statement reads: "Following today's early morning Students rampage in the College, the College Management has resolved to close down the College indefinitely with immediate effect. Consequently, all students are hereby directed to vacate the College campus immediately (12th may, 2022)."

SaharaReporters had reported how the female student was burnt to death by her colleagues for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
She was burnt to death by Muslim students who dragged her out of her hostel earlier on Thursday.
Similarly in March 2021, some angry youths backed by leaders in Sade community in the Darazo Local Government Area of Bauchi State burnt a man identified as Talle Mai Ruwa, to death for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad.

SaharaReporters learnt that Mai Ruwa was dragged away from his house on Tuesday in the presence of his mother and burnt to death in the middle of the community.
Eyewitnesses shared gory pictures of the incident with SaharaReporters which showed the middle-aged man burnt along with tyres.

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Nneka Igwenagu (L) and Efe Uwanogho (R) broadcast from outside Nigeria

A network of Nigerian separatists based outside the country is using social media to call for violence and incite ethnic hatred against opponents of Biafran independence, a BBC investigation has found.

In a Facebook live broadcast to her more than 40,000 followers, Efe Uwanogho, also known as Omote Biafra, shouts hate speech directly into the camera.

Nneka Igwenagu (L) and Efe Uwanogho (R) broadcast from outside Nigeria

The front of her leather jacket features a patch of the Biafran flag, with its red, black and green tricolour and half a rising sun.
 
"Go after these mighty saboteurs… Those are the people that need to be beheaded. Those are the people that need to be burnt to ashes," she says.
 
She's calling for attacks against those considered enemies of the campaign for Biafran independence, which would create a breakaway state in south-east Nigeria.
The campaign has a bloody history.
In 1967 separatists from the mainly Igbo region declared independence for the Republic of Biafra. They fought and lost a three-year civil war against the Nigerian government in which more than a million died, mainly on the separatist side.
 
More than half a century later, social media is a new frontline for those who are continuing the struggle.
 
Ms Uwanogho is among them. She's a so-called "media warrior" for the separatist group known as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
 
She broadcasts from Italy, beyond the reach of Nigerian authorities. In Nigeria, IPOB has been banned and designated a terror group. IPOB insists it is a peaceful movement.
 
The BBC's investigation revealed many other influential IPOB supporters also operating outside the country, openly promoting disinformation and inciting violence on social media from across Europe, the US, Asia and other parts of Africa.
 
Nigerian investigative journalist Nicholas Ibekwe describes the group's online operation as an "organised troll farm".
 
"Social media has been Ipob's most successful tool in achieving most of what it wants to achieve today," he says.
Some supporters of the group have as many as 100,000 followers on social media.
We don't know if any of Ms Uwanogho's followers took action based on her online calls for violence against officials in south-eastern Nigeria.
 
Ms Uwanogho did not respond to a request for comment on this story.
 
But on the ground, the violence is real, with dozens of officials killed in attacks already this year in violence described by President Muhammadu Buhari as "deeply distressing".
 
Nneka Igwenagu is another "media warrior" fighting for the Biafran cause, based in the UK.
 
In a Facebook live broadcast from London in late 2021, she targets a youth group in Anambra, south-east Nigeria, which had been resisting pressure from IPOB for people in the region to shut down businesses and schools in solidarity with the group's detained leader Nnamdi Kanu.
Mr Kanu is currently being held by Nigerian authorities and faces terror charges, which he denies.
 
Speaking in Igbo, the most widely spoken language in south-eastern Nigeria, Ms Igwenagu refers to them as "chickens", saying:
 
"All of you are not supposed to be alive… A chicken that ate its eggs, don't you see it is not supposed to live?"
 
A few weeks after the broadcast, the leader of the youth group she was referring to was shot and killed. Nobody has been charged over his death.
 
BBC contacted Ms Igwenagu for a comment on this investigation but received no response.
 
One of the ways the media warriors attempt to avoid censorship is to switch to local languages that are less well moderated.
 
This tactic is made explicit in one video found: Okenna Okechukwu, also known as Biafran Child, speaks in Igbo when calling for the beheading of a critic, before switching to English and explaining to his followers:
 
"Why I am saying this in my dialect is because I don't want them to stop me. I don't want them to block me on this page."
 
David Ajikobi, Nigeria editor of fact-checking organisation Africa Check, says that the lack of moderation of extreme content in local languages is a major issue, not limited to Nigeria.
 
"We've also seen this in India, in Ethiopia, where crises are happening, people are using local language because they know that if they use English they will be flagged and will be removed from the platform."
 
Despite the violent nature of many of the online posts we found, moderation by social media platforms is inconsistent.
 
In line with Facebook's own process, BBC team reported broadcasts by Efe Uwanogho and Nneka Igwenagu for containing violent content. It initially received a notification that the platform had decided not to take the videos down.
 
It was only later, when the BBC shared links to the posts directly with Facebook that they were removed. But violent broadcasts from the same accounts, as well as others, remained online at the time of publication.
Facebook's parent company Meta told BBC in a statement that calling for violence on its platform was unacceptable. It said that it had 15,000 people reviewing content in more than 70 languages - including Igbo.
BBC investigation also found IPOB supporters spreading disinformation to stoke tension between different ethnic groups in Nigeria.
 
Media warriors pit ethnic Igbo people, who are mainly Christian and from the south, against those from the Fulani ethnic group, who are predominantly Muslim and from the north.
 
In another Facebook live broadcast, Ms Igwenagu warns her followers that Fulani herders and other northerners who have moved to "Biafraland" are on a "mission… to exterminate, kill maim, wipe [out] all of us".
Although there have been clashes between Fulani herders and communities in the south-east, there is no evidence of the sort of conspiracy that Ms Igwenagu and others are alleging.
 
This violent rhetoric may be driven by a desire for Biafran independence, but our investigation also found evidence of financial incentives for those involved.
 
BBC Investigation found videos in which media warriors admitted to being paid, either by IPOB or by supporters, for the work they do and the team saw other broadcasts in which bank details for IPOB were shared to solicit donations from followers.
 
On 30 April, Nigerian soldiers Audu Linus and Gloria Matthew were on their way to get married in a traditional ceremony in Imo state when they were abducted, tortured and killed by unidentified attackers.
 
Footage showing the couple's killing, which the Nigerian president has blamed on IPOB, then went viral.
 
A conspiracy theory was then widely shared by some IPOB supporters claiming that the footage was not real and the soldiers' deaths had been staged.
 
The BBC has independently confirmed the deaths of the two soldiers with family members.
 
IPOB has denied any involvement in the killing.
 
We contacted IPOB's leadership with our findings from this investigation. The leadership replied, but did not provide a response.
 
We contacted all of the media warriors featured in this story to ask for their comments but had no response.

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