Seven years after her five children were killed by the Nigerian army, a female member of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Safiya Usman, is dead.

SaharaReporters gathered that Safiya died at a hospital in Kano on Thursday.

A family source said the deceased was rushed to the hospital after she collapsed on Wednesday in her hometown of Bargi, Tudun Wadar DanKadai in Kano.

She was said to have been battling hypertension since the Zaria massacre of December 2015 when the military killed over 300 Shiites in Kaduna.

Apart from losing five of her children, six other family members of hers were also killed by the soldiers.
 
Safiya’s children killed were Shahid Ishaq Ibrahim, Martyr Sani Ibrahim, Martyr Usman Ibrahim, Shahid Abdullahi Ibrahim and Martyr Mukhtar Ibrahim.
 
“The military also assassinated her two younger siblings, two grandchildren, and one son-in-law. They were all killed during the Zaria massacre.

“She collapsed in her town of Bargi, Tudun Wadar DanKadai in Kano, where she was taken to a hospital. After doing a few tests on her she gave up the ghost, she has since been buried,” a family member told SaharaReporters.
 
From December 12 to 14, 2015, hundreds of Shia Muslim members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) were killed by Nigerian soldiers in a massacre condemned by local and international rights groups.
 
At least 348 civilians were reportedly killed, with 347 bodies allegedly secretly buried by the army in a mass grave.
 
Kaduna State government in April 2016 said 347 corpses were given a mass burial at the Mando cemetery after what they claimed was a clash between soldiers and members of the Shiite sect in the state.
 
The Secretary to the Kaduna State Government, Mallam Balarabe Lawal, who said this when he appeared before a Judicial Commission of Inquiry, added that the corpses were given a mass burial in a grave on December 14, 2015, in a cemetery along Mando/ Zaria Road.
 
According to the SSG, a total of 191 unknown corpses were recovered from the Army Depot in Zaria and another batch of 156 corpses was recovered from the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika.
 
No soldier or official was prosecuted for the mass murder.
 
The attacks were never condemned by the army hierarchy or the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
 
After his initial silence, Buhari later suggested during a televised interview on December 30, 2015, that the victims invited the wrath of the military upon themselves by “hitting the chest of generals”.

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The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has reacted to calls by the South against Northern Presidency in the 2023 elections.
 
The group, in a statement on Thursday, kicked against what it considered as threats from the South over zoning and power shift from the North.

The ACF said the North would not succumb to blackmail and intimidation.
 
Major socio-political groups in the South have warned their politicians against settling for the Vice President slot.
 
These groups include Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and the Middle Belt Forum; they have all been aggressively pushing for a power shift.
 
Governors from the South have also insisted that power should return to the South after President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure ends in 2023. By then, Buhari would have spent eight years in power.
 
But the ACF, in a statement by its Secretary-General, Murtala Aliyu, has rejected zoning the presidency to the south, noting that the law and democratic principles must be followed.
 
The group claimed it was not opposed to any part of the country producing Buhari’s successor.
 
The ACF statement noted with dismay that some southern politicians had been issuing warnings against the election of another northerner as president.
 
This, it said, is even though the North has only ruled for 10 years since the beginning of the fourth republic in 1999.
 
The group lamented: “Southerners always refuse to acknowledge the fact that, all the beef, all the tomatoes, the onions, the beans, etc. consumed in the South, are produced in the North.
 
“As they say, the North brings nothing to the table and is entitled to nothing.”
 
The Forum warned that blackmail and intimidation of break-up of Nigeria should be stopped as the southern leaders neither have patent nor monopoly of issuing such threats.
 
The statement reads: “A long-running political riddle that has continued to frustrate all efforts at achieving ‘justice, equity and fair play’ is this: anything and everything in which the North has superiority or advantage or strength is, in the opinion of many Southerners, fake or contrived or speculative and therefore unacceptable.
 
“These Southerners contest the facts that the North has 78 per cent of the landmass of Nigeria. They refuse to accept that the North has over 55 per cent of the population of Nigeria.
 
“They won’t concede that the voting population in the Northwest region of the North alone is bigger than those of the South East and South South combined.
 
“They will never acknowledge the fact that all the beef, all the tomatoes, the onions, the beans, etc. consumed in the South, is produced in the North. They concede nothing.
 
“On the contrary, they say the North brings nothing to the table and is entitled to nothing. Not to an equitable share of national revenues, not to a fair share of employment in the public services or admissions into public schools.
 
“If the law says, for example, that election outcomes must be based on one man, one vote, they quickly dismiss it as an ‘imposition’ by Northerners.
 
“They contest every fact, every principle including those that formed the basis of our union such as our federation, our system of administration, our democracy, etc.
 
“As we inch up towards the 2023 elections, it comes as no surprise that some Southern politicians are giving their Northern counterparts an ultimatum which roughly translates thus: elect no one from the North as President or we will break up the country!
 
“But what are the facts? Nigeria’s Fourth Democratic Republic is about 22 years old. Of this, Northerners ruled for only 10 years.
 
“But in spite of this, some southern politicians are furious, issuing dare warnings against the election of any Northerner as president.
 
“It has to be stated clearly and for the avoidance of any doubt that the North is not and has never been opposed to the election of any Nigerian from any part of the country as President. Anything that will be done to achieve that however must accord with the law and democratic principles.
 
“Gone are the days when Northerners felt blackmailed and intimidated by threats of re-structuring, secession, break-up or breakdown of Nigeria.
 
“The North does not seek to dominate any part of the country but will not submit itself to be relegated to serfdom.
 
“Those issuing ultimatums are to be pitied knowing that they know not what they are doing. They own no patent nor monopoly of the art or science of ultimatums. Enough of the blackmail.”

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The Ansaru terrorists’ group, a splinter of the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists, has commenced recruitment across communities in the Birnin-Gwari Local government Area of Kaduna State.
 
According to DAILY POST, members of the Ansaru group, in their bid to lure residents, mostly young people into their deadly group, decided to provide Sallah gifts to residents of communities in Birnin-Gwari.

File photo used to illustrate story.

The insurgents, believed to have been operating for years, along the Birnin-Gwari axis, are responsible for many deadly attacks in Kaduna and its environs.
 
A resident of one of the communities in Birnin-Gwari, Alhaji Usman Dankabo said that members of the Ansaru group visited the following villages: Damari, Farin Ruwa, Kwasa Kwasa, Kuyello, Gobirawa, Tabanni, Kutemeshi and Kazage, persuading members of the communities to join them.
 
“They distributed gifts, preached to them, and assured them of safety against any attack,” he said.
 
A resident of one of the villages, Abdullahi Madaki said they distributed biscuits, performed motorcycle stunts to the delight of villagers and distributed pamphlets, flash disks and other accessories to inform people about the activities of the group.
 
Abdullahi said the terrorists vowed to protect them against any invasion and unjust maltreatment.
 
The group had a violent clash with bandits in October 2021, which claimed the lives of over 30 bandits operating around the Damari axis, Birnin-Gwari LGA.
 
Suspected members of the group also last year attacked a military formation along the Kaduna-Birnin-Gwari highway, killing 11 soldiers and four villagers, and injuring many others.
 
They reportedly claimed responsibility for the bombing of two Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC), attached to the security personnel.
 
They were also said to be responsible for the attack on the Kaduna-Abuja train that claimed the lives of eight persons and wounded 26 others. Scores of passengers were also abducted.

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The Saharawi Petroleum and Mining Authority has taken note of the Worley Company's acquisition of a contract to provide engineering design services for the Nigerian-Moroccan gas pipeline project, which is planned to pass through the territorial waters of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and the occupied territories of Western Sahara.
According to Sahara Press Service, despite the fact that the controversial project is still under study, and despite the magnitude of the risks that threaten its implementation, the Moroccan occupation sought to request funding from Saudi Arabia’s Islamic Bank for the first studies of the project.

It also plans to bring foreign companies to carry out the preliminary studies for the project. Major international insurance companies have previously highlighted the risks involved, which threaten the project's implementation.
The project is also controversial because of its high cost and looming doubts about its future.
Meanwhile, the Saharawi Petroleum and Mining Authority has warned Worley and the foreign companies that the Moroccan occupation is trying to implicate in this project, to the following facts: "Western Sahara, whose lands and territorial waters are included in this project, is a country still awaiting decolonization, and Morocco cannot include it in any agreement with another party because Morocco does not possess sovereignty over Western Sahara as clearly affirmed by the International Court of Justice in October 1975, the African Union Legal Opinion of June 2015, the High Court of South Africa in February 2018, and the European Court of Justice in December 2015, February 2018, and September 2021.
"Western Sahara has become a war zone since November 13, 2021, between the Moroccan forces of occupation and the Liberation Army of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Both countries are members of the African Union.
"The implication in any economic or investment activities in Western Sahara without the consent of the Saharawi people through its unique and legitimate representative, Polisario Front, is an open participation in acts amounting to war crimes that may expose those who participate in them to legal accountability.
"The independent and sovereign Saharawi Republic will welcome such a project only when it completes its sovereignty over its occupied lands and considers that the implementation of such projects under Moroccan occupation is condemned by the texts of international law and a violation of the rights of peoples to sovereignty over their natural resources, as it is an immoral and illegal act, as well because it contributes to raising the levels of tension and instability in the region."
Accordingly, the Saharawi Petroleum and Mining Authority called on Worley Company and other foreign companies related to the Moroccan-Nigerian gas project to abandon their activities and investments in the conflict zone and informs the African Union of the dangers of such activities taking place in the territories of its member states and called on the AU relevant decision making bodies to assume their responsibilities in defence of the sovereignty and wealth of its member states in accordance with the provisions of the Constitutive Act of the AU and other relevant legal mechanisms. 

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Thirty Nigerian citizens have been arrested in Saudi Arabia for displaying campaign posters of Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the holy mosque, Kaaba, SaharaReporters learnt.
 
The Nigerians, while on lesser Hajj, Umrah, were reportedly nabbed by the Saudi police at the holy mosque as they walk around the Kaaba with Tinubu's posters lifted up.

The incident happened during the month of Ramadan, shortly before the Eid-El-Fitr (Sallah) celebration.
 
An eyewitness, Murtala Adamu Jega, a Nigerian who also performed the lesser Hajj at the time said, "I'm a witness; I saw them lift Bola Tinubu's posters at the holy Kaaba.
 
"This is despicable. Instead of them to devout precious time to pray for peace to return to our country, 30 men made a mockery of our nation by lifting up a politician's posters in the holy place. Thank God, Saudi authorities were swift to have arrested them right there and then," he said.
 
For Zainab Abdullahi, another Nigerian who was at the mosque, "the scenario was a very bad representation of Nigeria's image before the world, and I think politicians must desist from this bad behaviour".
 
Meanwhile, a Saudi Arabian source said those arrested would be charged to court to serve their sentences.
 
Commenting on the situation, a renowned Islamic Cleric in Nigeria, Sheik Nura Khalid, commended the Saudi authorities for the arrest, saying, "Lifting up a politician's posters in the holy Kaaba has contravened Islamic traditions."

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The Nigerian Government will take over the management of the University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, Ebonyi State, as a Federal Medical University.
President Muhammadu Buhari made the pronouncement at a state dinner in his honour on Thursday, in response to a request by Governor Dave Umahi on the university located in the Ohaozara Local Government Area of the State.

The President told the people of Ebonyi that the process for the change of ownership of the university is on and “will be concluded soon,” Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, said on Friday in a Facebook post.
On the request by the state governor to buy airport equipment valued at N10 billion, the President promised to find out the position of the Ministry of Aviation regarding that.
The President thanked the state government for the honour of naming the State International Airport and magnificent 4-way Light Tunnel after him.
He expressed confidence that the facilities and many more will further the frontiers of economic development in Ebonyi State in particular and the nation at large.
President Buhari, who assured the government and people of Ebonyi State of the support of his administration to enable the Governor to accomplish his vision for the State, thanked them for the reception accorded him during the two-day State visit.
''Thank you for keeping faith with our administration’s development programmes and the manifestoes of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC),” he said.
The President recounted that the last time he visited the state in 2017 in the 2nd quarter of the first tenure of Governor Umahi’s administration, he had witnessed “the commencement of mind-blowing projects”.
“I remember with pleasure, the hospitality that I received, how I was given a Chieftaincy title as ‘Enyioha 1 of Ebonyi State’ and ‘Ochioha 1 of South East’ by the Traditional Rulers of Ebonyi State and South-East respectively,” he said.
“I commissioned two twin-flyovers, 14 km Abakaliki – Afikpo Road, performed the foundation Laying Ceremony of the Shopping Mall as well as the 4-way Light Tunnel named after me.
''At that time, your administration was in the opposition party, and yet you accorded me a spectacular reception. I thank Your Excellency and the good people of Ebonyi State.”
He also commended the state for emerging as the second overall best in fiscal performance in Nigeria and for soaring high in fiscal discipline, transparency and accountability in the use of public resources, saying: “It shows you have zero tolerance for corruption and waste of public funds. Indeed, people of proven fiscal discipline and track records of performance are desired in our quest for nation-building.”
Umahi, while thanking the President for the various assistance to the state, said the financial assistance of infrastructural refund, payee refund, Paris club, bailout funds, agricultural loans, fertiliser support and budgetary funds are instances of Buhari administration's support to all states of the federation. 

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The detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has expressed confidence in pending court cases, one of his lawyers, Aloy Ejimakor, said on Thursday.
The cases are pending before courts in Umuahia, Abia; Abuja, Nigeria; Kenya; UK; UN; AU and the International Criminal Court (ICC), Ejimakor added.

Bruce Fein, Kanu’s international lawyer recently petitioned the ICC, asking that the Director-General of Nigeria’s secret police, Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi should be charged.
He also recently petitioned the UN Security Council, seeking the probe of Nigeria and Kenya over the roles they played in the arrest and rendition of the IPOB leader to Nigeria from Kenya.
Kanu was arrested in Kenya last June and brought to Nigeria after he had fled to the United Kingdom in 2017 following the invasion of his home by the military.
The Nigerian government has filed charges bordering on terrorism and treason against him.
Speaking about the routine visit of Kanu’s legal team to the detained IPOB leader on Thursday, Ejimakor noted, “UPDATE: I just concluded a visitation with Onyendu #MNK in the company of my colleague, Barr Habilla from Barr Ejiofor’s office. MNK is cheery & he remains confident in the cases pending in Umuahia, Abuja, Kenya, UK, UN, AU & ICC. He salutes all that labor in defense of freedom.”
 

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President Joe Biden on Thursday named Karine Jean-Pierre to be the next White House press secretary, the first Black woman and openly LGBTQ person to serve in the role.

Incumbent Jen Psaki is set to leave the post next week, US News reports.

Jean-Pierre takes on the role as the White House faces an uphill battle to help Democrats hold onto the House and Senate in this fall's midterm elections, and as the administration struggles to address Americans' concerns about soaring inflation and the state of the economy.

She also comes into the job as Biden faces a daunting array of foreign policy challenges, including the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and North Korea's escalating nuclear testing program.

Biden is set to visit South Korea and Japan later this month and Europe in June.

Biden is also bringing back longtime Democratic strategist Anita Dunn as his senior adviser. She had served in the Biden White House last year for several months after Biden was sworn into office.

“Karine not only brings the experience, talent and integrity needed for this difficult job, but she will continue to lead the way in communicating about the work of the Biden-Harris administration on behalf of the American people," Biden said in a statement praising Jean-Pierre, who has served as his principal deputy press secretary since Inauguration Day.
 
Psaki, who leaves the White House on May 13, praised her successor as a “partner in truth,” noting the significance of the history-making appointment.
 
“Representation matters and she is going to give a voice to so many and show so many what is truly possible when you work hard and dream big," Psaki said.
 
Taking the lectern briefly while Psaki briefed the press Thursday, Jean-Pierre said she was “still processing” the significance of her hire, calling it “an honor and privilege to be behind this podium."

“This is a historic moment, and it’s not lost on me," she said. “It's a very emotional day.”

Psaki said Biden offered the job to Jean-Pierre Thursday in the Oval Office. White House staffers were gathered after the offer and greeted Jean-Pierre with applause, an official said.

Two “warm bottles” of champagne were procured for a toast in White House paper cups, the official added, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe the internal gathering.

Jean-Pierre had occasionally taken the lectern in the press briefing room instead of Psaki and more frequently held off-camera “gaggles” with reporters when Biden was travelling on Air Force One.

She travelled with Biden to Europe last fall and in March instead of Psaki, who had tested positive for COVID-19 before both trips.
 
Before joining the Biden presidential campaign, Jean-Pierre was the chief public affairs officer of the progressive group MoveOn.org and a former political analyst for NBC and MSNBC.

She also worked in political affairs in the Obama White House and on his reelection campaign.
 
The press secretary is responsible for holding daily briefings with the news media and leading a department of more than a dozen staffers who help address queries from the press.
 
When she took the job, Psaki, who has two young children, said publicly she aimed to remain in the job for about a year. She is expected to join MSNBC later this year. She was expected to remain the public face of the administration until her departure next Friday.
 
Biden said Psaki “has set the standard for returning decency, respect and decorum to the White House briefing room."
 
“I want to say thank you to Jen for raising the bar, communicating directly and truthfully to the American people, and keeping her sense of humor while doing so,” Biden said. "I thank Jen for her service to the country, and wish her the very best as she moves forward.”

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Ms Uju Ohanenye, a legal practitioner, has become the first female presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after buying the party’s Expression of Interest and Nomination forms on Thursday.

“My fear is that men will want to muscle me out, but I am standing firmly for the people I am here to protect,” she told journalists after picking the forms in Abuja, NAN reports.

“They will want to push me over, but I cannot be intimidated. I have been emboldened.”

The APC Presidential Nomination and Expression of Interest forms sell for N100 million, but female aspirants, youths and persons with disability vying for any elective office on the platform of the party are to pay 50 per cent of the cost.
 
Ohanenye said like the male presidential aspirants, she had what it would take to lead the country to the next phase of development.
 
She said she would withdraw from the race for any aspirant with the vision and desire to address growing poverty and insecurity in the country.
 
The aspirant stressed, however, that as a mother, she had the magic wand to do things better.
 
“It is so obvious and all of us know that it is time for a mother to come on board.
 
“As it is today, considering the state of insecurity in the country and other things, children need motherly care; we can understand that from their attitude.
 
“I have never been a politician, but because of what I have seen, I just felt I should come on board.
 
“The major solution I am bringing on board is to involve the commoners and the less privileged in the governance of the country,” she said.
 
Ohanenye said there was the need to involve the common man in the governance of the country and to create job opportunities for the teaming unemployed youths.
 
She said Nigerian youths were very intelligent and should not be allowed to be engaged in anti-social activities.
 
“I am going to localise the construction of roads and many other things.
 
“I won’t copy the Westerners all through because they have their ways of constructing roads which makes the construction very expensive,’’ she said.
 
She explained that locals would be engaged in road construction to get them involved and to enable them to earn incomes to reduce unemployment and keep the people busy and out of mischief.
 
Ohanenye explained that she was not interested in contesting for the governorship seat in her state because she doesn’t want to be limited to a particular region or place.
 
“I want to be out for all Nigerians be you Christian, Muslim, male, female; I don’t care. I just want to be there to ensure that everybody feels good.
 
“Lack of love, selfishness and bias are the causes of insecurity; people no longer feel any sense of belonging or reason to live,’’ she observed.
 
She said she would support the speculated consensus option to pick APC’s presidential candidate on the condition that the major reason for her joining the race was addressed.
 
“Those issues concerning the downtrodden must be addressed.
 
“I don’t really care if any other person other than I takes up the responsibility, but the person must be one who will look into solving the problems of Nigeria,” she said.

She has joined a long list of presidential aspirants in the party that includes Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; former Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu; Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige and Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba.

Others include Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi; Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti; Pastor Tunde Bakare and former Ogun governor, Ibikunle Amosun.
 
The APC special presidential primary convention is scheduled to hold from Monday, May 30 to Wednesday, June 1.

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The United Kingdom has recognised the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation and a group that uses violence to achieve its aims. 

 

The United Kingdom Visas and Immigration office disclosed this in its May 2022 policy update.

UKVI clearly referred to IPOB whose leader, Nnamdi Kanu is currently in the custody of Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) as a terrorist organisation to be excluded from its asylum programme for violent crimes in Nigeria’s South East.

 

“IPOB is proscribed as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government, and members of the group and its paramilitary wing – the Eastern Security Network (created in December 2020) – have reportedly committed human rights violations in Nigeria,” UKVI said in its policy notes.

 

“If a person has been involved with IPOB (and/or an affiliated group), MASSOB or any other ‘Biafran’ group that incites or uses violence to achieve its aims, decision makers must consider whether one (or more) of the exclusion clauses under the Refugee Convention is applicable.

 

“Persons who commit human rights violations must not be granted asylum.”

 

In 2017, the Nigerian government declared IPOB as a terrorist organisation.

 

In recent times, the proscribed group has been accused of perpetrating violent attacks in the South East in order to achieve its secession agenda but IPOB has repeatedly denied being behind the attacks.

 

Ivan Sheehan, an American academic who is the executive director of the school of public and international affairs at the University of Baltimore recently asked the United States government to designate the group as a terrorist organisation.

 

According to Sheehan, the establishment of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) by IPOB signalled the end of the group’s “pretenses of being a peaceful movement”.

 

The American academic also accused IPOB’s leader, Kanu of supporting terrorism and issuing threats via Radio Biafra.

 

“Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB’s leader, is clearly unconcerned. That he feels no need to even disguise his support of terrorism is worrisome,” Sheehan wrote.

 

“Through its online platform, ‘Radio Biafra’, and other social media, IPOB have increasingly used inflammatory rhetoric to encourage secessionist aspirations and resistance to the authorities, including violence (see Overview of groups, Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of ‘Biafra’ (MASSOB) and Separatist groups outside of Nigeria).

 

“Sources reported that the security forces have arrested hundreds of IPOB supporters at different events, particularly between 2015 and 2017 and including during raids on homes of IPOB leaders. Since 2015, IPOB has also claimed that the security forces have used excessive force, including killing and injuring hundreds of its supporters (see Indigenous People of ‘Biafra’: Clashes between state and secessionist groups and Treatment of IPOB).

 

“Several sources also reported clashes between IPOB and the authorities during 2018 and 2019. Further clashes and violence occurred between security forces and IPOB in August 2020 in the city of Enugu, and in October 2020 during confrontations in Rivers State. In November 2020, there were reports that security forces carried out operations against IPOB in the Oyigbo area of Rivers State. However, these reports were denied by state governor Nyesom Wike. These incidents resulted in the arrests and deaths of IPOB supporters as well as security force personnel (see Indigenous People of ‘Biafra’: Clashes between state and secessionist groups and Treatment of IPOB).

 

“In December 2020, IPOB is reported to have set up the Eastern Security Network (ESN), a para-military force (see Overview of groups, Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of ‘Biafra’ (MASSOB) and Separatist groups outside of Nigeria).

 

“In February 2021, the Nigerian military launched land and air operations against ESN operatives (see Aims, Activities, Indigenous People of ‘Biafra’: Clashes between state and secessionist groups and Treatment of IPOB).

 

“Clashes between IPOB and the authorities continued into 2021. The group were involved in attacks reported to have taken place in April 2021 in Imo State where a police headquarters was destroyed and over 1,800 prisoners were reported to have escaped from a prison, although IPOB denied involvement in the attacks. In May 2021, clashes between state security forces and IPOB resulted in the deaths of both members of IPOB/ESN and the security forces. Sources also reported in June 2021 that the Nigerian Army had stated that IPOB/ESN had killed 128 military and police, 15 Civil Defence officers and 31 community policing members as well as over 100 people for not supporting IPOB. Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB, denied this claim. Clashes between state security forces and IPOB/ESN continued throughout the second half of 2021 into 2022. Media sources reported the deaths of 11 security forces in June 2021, with a further 22 deaths between October and December 2021 inclusive (see Aims, Activities, Indigenous People of ‘Biafra’: Clashes between state and secessionist groups and Treatment of IPOB).

 

“Following an attack on police stations by IPOB members in Rivers State in October 2020, the governor offered a reward for information that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of the IPOB state leader, Stanley Mgbere. Kanu publicly issued a N100m (c. £170-175,000) bounty on the governor in response. CPIT could find no further information in the sources consulted that Mr Mgbere had been located and arrested. In November 2020, 2 unnamed suspected senior IPOB leaders were reportedly arrested in Rivers State (see Clashes between state and IPOB and Bibliography).

 

“As well as arrests of IPOB supporters/armed activists, a number of IPOB senior members have been arrested including the IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, who was originally jailed in 2015 for 2 years and then subsequently released on bail. Following a clash with soldiers at his home in Abia state in 2017, Kanu fled Nigeria whilst on bail facing charges of terrorism and incitement. In June 2021 the Nigerian government announced he had been arrested in a third country and returned. Kanu remains in custody in Nigeria and is subject to ongoing legal proceedings (see Arrest and detention).”

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nigeria-country-policy-and-information-notes/country-policy-and-information-note-separatist-groups-in-the-south-east-nigeria-march-2022-accessible

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Omoyele Sowore

The African Action Congress (AAC) has said human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore remains its National Chairman, while imploring members and Nigerians to disregard the lies being peddled by “rogues” who are reportedly working for the Muhammadu Buhari regime.

The AAC in a statement on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Femi Adeyeye, obtained by SaharaReporters, stated this, adding that Buhari's government was as usual unsettled by the ongoing mobilisations for Sowore. 

Omoyele Sowore

Adeyeye said the regime has therefore resorted to political gimmicks.

The party said, “It has come to the notice of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the African Action Congress (AAC), chaired by Mr Omoyele Sowore, that some misguided elements sponsored by the Maj Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd) regime are spreading false news with the aim to smear the image of the party and its leaders. This is already their stock-in-trade, and we are not moved one bit. 

“We are not oblivious of their plans, just as we understand that this renewed attack is coming at this time because of a successful trip to the Niger Delta region where people trooped en masse to receive Mr. Omoyele Sowore who visited his hometown after an unjust, cruel and inhumane restriction to Abuja for 3 years. 

See Also Sahara Reporters Plot Thickens As Impostors Backed By Buhari Regime Connive With Electoral Body, INEC To Stop Sowore’s Presidential Bid 0 Comments 1 Week Ago

“Upon return to Abuja, AAC also submitted its authentic party membership register to INEC at its Headquarters, which was duly acknowledged. They can’t recover from this huge blow they’ve suffered. These rogue elements are drowning, and it is only natural that they clutch at a straw, even though the feeble stick will end up sinking with them. 

“Setting the records straight, we wish to reiterate, for the umpteenth time, that these elements spreading fake news in the media are not members of our party. And the leader of this rogue squad was expelled as far back as 13th May 2019, after being found guilty of misappropriating party funds, gross sabotage, and numerous anti-party activities. 

“If these issues of corruption and abuse of office happened in the APC and PDP, the systems therein would probably have looked the other way. But as a revolutionary party which aspires to genuinely win the people’s mandate to rescue Nigeria, we cannot keep a thief within the party leadership. That would amount to sheer hypocrisy and a crime against the Nigerian people we swore to fight alongside with. A disciplinary committee was set up and he was afforded a fair hearing. The panel then found him guilty of the offences levelled against him and recommended expulsion, which was ratified by the NWC. See full details on AAC disciplinary portal - https://aacparty.org/case-against-dr-leonard-ezenwa/

“It should be clear that this rejoinder is not aimed at replying to a statement written by non-members parading themselves as party leaders. But it is rather a piece to inform the public and members of the press about the situation in the party, which is stable and moving very fine. 

“In the spurious statement published in The PUNCH newspapers, the rogue claimed Sowore was expelled by a Convention. This is utter falsehood and in fact, criminal. You all can recall that Mr Omoyele Sowore was abducted by armed men of the State Security Service (SSS) on the night of 3rd August 2019, for calling on Nigerians to troop to the streets and protest hardship. The expelled leader of the rogue squad, working on the orders of his paymasters then seized this opportunity to organize a kangaroo convention of aliens; forged names and got some elements within INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) to supervise such illegality. It is no surprise that this event was broadcast live on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). 

“All these happened just 6 days after the abduction of Mr Omoyele Sowore. Only those pretending to be asleep would deny that this is not a case of the hand of Esau, the voice of Jacob. After losing on all fronts, the allegation of embezzlement of party funds they are trying to wrap around Sowore is the most ludicrous, as everyone who followed the 2019 electioneering can attest to the transparency of Sowore’s campaign fundraising which was mostly done on the popular live show dubbed “The Couch”.

“As a matter of fact, most of these funds donated into Sowore’s campaign account even went into funding many of the party activities. We were also the only party whose candidate, i.e Sowore, published how campaign funds were spent. See story - https://www.icirnigeria.org/sowores-presidential-campaign-organisation-publishes-statement-of-account/ Full Statement of account - http://saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/SOWORE%202019%20SOA%20new.pdf

“The thieves know themselves and they know Sowore is not one of them. We are in this with the highest form of transparency and accountability and this the public know is never in doubt. 

“As a matter of education, let it also be known that Sowore occupying the chairmanship position of the party and being its presidential candidate, is not unconstitutional or immoral. The first Convention held on 6th October 2018 ratified the protem officers of the party as substantive office bearers. The decision came as a result of the circumstance of the party, which was just a few months old, and was getting prepared for the 2019 elections, thus requiring that all hands were on deck to ensure victory.”

The AAC noted that Sowore hence “remains a staunch member of the party, a leader of leaders and a Presidential aspirant in the 2023 elections.”

“It is crystal clear that the regime is so scared of our organizing and how we’ve been able to mobilise Nigerians within the shortest time – this is the real reason for these distractions. We want to assure all faithful party members that we shall not be distracted by fake news or their mongers, including sponsored agents but shall commit ourselves more to the rescue operation we swore to uphold,” it added.

SaharaReporters earlier today reported that a group of impostors supported by the Muhammadu Buhari regime were presently plotting to use INEC and other available means to stop the presidential bid of Sowore.

SaharaReporters had learnt on Thursday that the impostors are led by one Leonard Ezenwa, who has foisted himself on the AAC party as the chairman – the party on whose platform Sowore is seeking to contest for president in the 2023 general elections.

“Ezenwa and his group were recently mobilised by the Muhammadu Buhari Regime to do everything possible to stop Sowore from contesting in the 2023 elections. Ezenwa who is also a stooge used by the INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, was bribed by some political parties,” a top source had revealed.  

“Ezenwa was recently removed as the Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC). He collected N150million from (Governor Nyesom) Wike to help him defeat the AAC candidate, Biokpomabo Awara, in the 2019 elections.

“He was known for selling party tickets to either APC or PDP cronies. He also collected N10million from Governor Yahaya Bello to endorse him in 2019,” the source had continued.

SaharaReporters learnt that Ezenwa had again been freshly mobilised to launch attacks against Sowore’s presidential bid through his cronies in the AAC and elsewhere.

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Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio

A former governor of Akwa Ibom State and serving minister, Godswill Akpabio, has said he will not resign as the Minister of the Niger Delta despite vying for the 2023 presidential ticket, because the “law does not exist.”
Akpabio also blamed the past administrations in the country for the poor state of the economy.

Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio
Akpabio, in an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, said Nigeria was very poor and shouldn’t have been one but the past administrations and the COVID-19 pandemic made it worst.
The presidential aspirant also opined that Nigerians should be grateful to the Buhari led administration as people are not begging on the streets as it is the situation with other countries.
“I will only resign before the primaries if the guidelines of the party say I have to resign before the primaries but for now the law does not exist, it has been shut down by a court of competent jurisdiction,” he said.
“Nigeria is not supposed to be a poor country but at the moment is a poor country as a result of a lot of factors; the economy is what it is today because of past administration and COVID-19 and Nigerians should be thankful to this administration because Nigerians are not begging in the streets as it is in other countries.” the APC chieftain said. 
On the price of the forms, he said, “The N100million in my view is very fair. You see, even in modern democracies like America, it is not the candidate that sends himself into presidential elections; it is the people.
“So, when you talk about Nigeria, just 100 Nigerians bringing out N1million will give you N100million.”
“I want to think that any serious presidential candidate does not need to go into his bank account and bring out N100m because you are not the person going to vote for yourself,”
“That is provided for even in the Electoral Act that the people should also contribute in order to ensure a very fantastic campaign. So, if the people have your buy-in in your coming into power, then you should also remember that you have an obligation to deliver and to satisfy them.”
“My form was picked up yesterday in Kaduna by a coalition of northern youths who believed in my capacity. The money was contributed through fundraising by the youths over a month ago in Kaduna and over a 100million was raised.”

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At least 18 bodies were recovered while six persons were declared missing after a boat capsized in the Mai’adua Local Government Area of Katsina State.
A resident, Lawal Sakatare, who confirmed the incident, said 24 persons on Sallah celebrations were onboard the ill-fated canoe when it capsized and 18 persons, majority of whom were young children, drowned.

“Fourteen of them were from Tsabu village while four were from Dogon Hawa village. Fifteen out of the 18 were buried in Mai’adua today (Thursday) while the remaining six persons onboard are still missing,” he said.
He added that a team from the affected villages was still on a search and rescue mission, trying to locate the remaining six even though hope of getting them alive had dimmed.
Police spokesman in Katsina, SP Gambo Isah, neither answered calls nor responded to a text message sent to seek his comment on the development.
In a related development, a customs patrol vehicle chasing suspected smugglers in Jibia local government area of Katsina crushed one person to death on Wednesday.
Three other persons sustained injuries in the incident.
The deceased was said to be on his way to Katsina from Jibia on a motorcycle when the fleeing vehicle, which was on a very high speed, smashed him.
The Controller of Katsina Area Command of the Nigerian Customs, Comptroller Dalha Wada Chedi, who confirmed the incident, said investigation was ongoing.

 

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The Nigerian government says it has completed repair of the track on the Abuja-Kaduna rail line damaged by terrorists on March 28.
Fidet Okhiria, Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

In the statement, which Engineer Niyi Ali signed on his behalf, the NRC Managing Director said, “The connection of the AKTS line has been achieved. This implies that the major track components (Concrete Sleepers and Rails) have been completely laid. The south end of the tracks (which was destroyed by the explosion) has been successfully joined with the north end. Track access between Abuja and Kaduna is now restored.
“The Technical Team continues with other track stablisation works including Ballasting, Temping, Fastening of accessories (clips, bolts and nuts) and Welding.”
He further stated that “loco 2502 which was involved in the accident (though not damaged) and trapped at the Rigasa end due to lack of route access has now crossed to the Idu end and taken to the Workshop for proper examination and routine maintenance.”
He said “the Abuja – Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) will resume soon with additional security measures put in place.”
He also said when the trains resumed, “passengers will be required to provide their NIN registration for verification prior to purchasing train tickets. This is for improved Passenger profiling and safety on-board.” 
Most of the victims abducted during the incident of March 28, 2022, are still in captivity.
The terrorists had killed at least nine persons and abducted over 60 of the passengers, including children and elderly persons.

 

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Abiodun Abudu-Balogun

The suspended Commissioner for Environment in Ogun State, Abiodun Abudu-Balogun, has picked the expression of interest and nomination forms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 general election.
Abudu-Balogun, who was suspended from office for alleged sexual harassment of an underage girl, seeks to represent Ogun Waterside, Ijebu East & Ijebu North Federal Constituency. 

Abiodun Abudu-Balogun facebook.com/abiodun.abudubalogun.5
Announcing his intention on his Facebook page on Wednesday, the suspended commissioner asked God to make the 2023 political contest easy for him.
He wrote, “APC EOI and Nomination form REPS 2023 obtained. Olorun a se ni irorun fun mi. Amin.”

Recall that Saharareporters in January 2021 reported how 16-year-old girl, Barakat Mayowa, accused Abudu-Balogun of sexual harassment which allegedly occurred at Ita Otu, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of the state.

See Also Breaking News BREAKING: Ogun Governor Suspends Commissioner Over Alleged Sexual Harassment Of SS3 Pupil 0 Comments 1 Year Ago
Mayowa recounted that the sexual harassment occurred on Thursday, December 31, in the commissioner's apartment. He allegedly fondled her breasts and muttered incantations while she screamed and struggled to free herself from his grip.
In her confession to the police at the Abigi Division, the victim narrated that the commissioner's aides lured her to his house and his bedroom, after which the commissioner came in and bolted the door.
In the video recording, believably done by a police investigator and obtained by SaharaReporters, the victim, a Senior Secondary School 3 student, added that the commissioner allegedly caressed her body, while offering her money.
She said she resisted the money and screamed before she was eventually allowed to go.
Mayowa had said, "What transpired between me and honourable (the commissioner) is that on December 29, which was a Tuesday, I was on my way to register for my National Identity Number. So, I came across the man who happened to be a commissioner at Waterside Park. I was with a friend.
"So, he called me and said he knew me from somewhere. I said no, he said, maybe I resembled someone he knew. He asked where I was living, and I told him. Then I left. He sent a young man after me to get my number. I said no, that my father's elder brother stays in the park and that he should get my number from him.
"There was another Austin, a friend, who teaches at a government grammar school. They know the guy. So, the guy gave them my number. It was the commissioner who sent them to get my number.
"On December 31, one Mr Lasisi came to my grandparents' place in the area and said he knew someone who needed a computer operator and asked if I knew how to operate a computer. I said, yes. Then he said I should get dressed and that we would go together to the place.
"When we got there, it was honourable's house. A lady, Maryam Odunnuga, came to pick me and took me into a living room. Mr Austin now came out and asked me to come over to a room. The honourable now came inside, and Mr Austin went outside immediately."

 

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Journalists were on Thursday manhandled by security details attached to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, during his presidential consultation visit to Cross River State.

Cross River Watch reports that the journalists, numbering over 15 were harassed and chased out of the venue.

According to the report, a huge dark-skinned man who could easily pass for one of the anchors of the event picked up the microphone and said harshly: “If you’re a journalist; whether from the print or electronic media, take your leave, the Vice President will talk to you outside, excuse us and stay outside. 

“It is strictly a private meeting with the Vice President.” 
He, however, added: “I will make sure he talks to you when he is done.”

The journalists had to move out of the hall to the reception of the hotel with hopes of getting a chance for an interview with the VP.

However, shortly after, his security details came in their numbers, harassed and chased the men of the Fourth Estate of the Realm out of the premises.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, also reportedly ordered journalists out of the building saying journalists from the state are not needed because the Vice President came with his entourage from the State House Press Corps, Abuja.

The incident comes two days after the World Press Freedom Day celebration aimed at protecting journalists in the line of duty.

SaharaReporters earlier on Thursday reported how Osinbajo distributed $300 each to about 400 presidential nomination delegates in Adamawa and Taraba during his visit to the states on Wednesday.

The Vice President reportedly switched from doling out money in naira to hard currency to stay on top of the competition to buy delegates.

At meetings held behind closed doors in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital and Yola, in Adamawa State on Wednesday, Osinbajo gave each delegate to the APC National Convention US $300.

"I was handed an envelope containing $300 shortly after the Vice President left the hall," a delegate had told SaharaReporters while displaying the money.

He was said to have pleaded with the delegates to favour his candidacy above all others in the race, arguing that he had more experience in governance at home and on the international stage than all his competitors.

SaharaReporters also reported on April 22, 2022, that some presidential delegates of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the South-West last Friday went home with N250,000 each after attending a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Ibadan, Oyo State.

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The Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU) has accused the federal Government of pumping money into insecurity and ignoring the educational sector.
ASUU through its chairman, University of Ibadan chapter, Prof Ayo Akinwole, said it wondered if there would be a country since the government was ignoring the root cause of the insecurity.

“The union is afraid if there will be a country in the nearest future since “it seems more money is being pumped into security for war entrepreneurs to become millionaires and billionaires without addressing the causes of insurgency and terrorism,” ASUU said.
Akinwole noted that a reasonable way to preserve the country would have been for the Buhari-led government to fund education by committing to an agreement with the Union to bring the almost three months’ old strike to an end.
“ASUU started the ongoing strike on February 14, 2022, to force the government to implement outstanding 2009 agreements on revitalisation funding, earned academic allowances, the proliferation of universities and sign a re-negotiated agreement with the Union,” he said.
He also stated that the government needed to focus on factors causing insecurity and stop feigning ignorance of the ongoing strike as it was only children of the poor who bore the brunt of such actions.
According to the ASUU chairman, he said although the Federal Government has stopped the salaries of the striking lecturers, it will not make the union suspend the strike.
ASUU said it was now more energised to fight to have a country and a future for the children of the poor from the traders of collective patrimony in government.
“If those in government are smart, they should have seen evidence that pumping trillions of naira into fighting insecurity without getting results is a result of not doing the right thing. If you fund education, the minds of the educated youths will be built to resist being used for criminality but since the government has been irresponsive, funding war may have become another opportunity where some people are making millions.
“They don’t care about the increasing number of out-of-school children and they are not concerned about what facilities Nigerian children are exposed to. For ASUU, a smarter way of controlling growing insecurity and redirecting the minds of Nigerian youths to constructive and developmental activities is to build their human capacity and minds through purposeful funding of education by federal, State and local governments in Nigeria.”
Aside ASUU, other sister Unions within the university system have also downed their tools due to the irregularities associated with the Implementation of the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System, IPPIS.

 

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Omoyele Sowore

A group of impostors supported by the Muhammadu Buhari regime are presently plotting to use the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other available means to stop the presidential bid of human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore.

SaharaReporters learnt on Thursday that the impostors are led by one Leonard Ezenwa, who has foisted himself on the African Action Congress (AAC) party as the chairman – the party on whose platform Sowore is seeking to contest for president in the 2023 general elections.

Omoyele Sowore BBC

“Ezenwa and his group were recently mobilised by the Muhammadu Buhari regime to do everything possible to stop Sowore from contesting in the 2023 elections. Mr. Ezenwa is also a stooge used by INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu to boost the image of INEC and bribe political parties to look away from INEC infractions,” a top source revealed.  

“Ezenwa was recently removed as the Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC). He collected N150 million from (Governor Nyesom) Wike to help him defeat the AAC candidate, Biokpomabo Awara, in the 2019 elections.

“He was known for selling party tickets to either APC (All Progressives Congress) or PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) cronies. He also collected N10 million from Governor Yahaya Bello to endorse him in 2019,” the source continued.

SaharaReporters learnt that Ezenwa had again been freshly mobilised to launch attacks against Sowore’s presidential bid through his cronies in the AAC and elsewhere.

SaharaReporters had on April 26 reported that an Appeal Court sitting in Abuja reserved judgment to a later date in an appeal filed by Sowore, challenging a high court judgment on the leadership of the AAC.

Sowore had in an appeal marked CA/A/812/2019 challenged the judgment of Justice Inyang Ekwo declaring Leonard Nzenwa as Acting Chairman of the AAC.

See Also Politics Sowore Remains Our Leader, Leonard Nzenwa Is An Impostor -African Action Congress 0 Comments 2 Years Ago

At the resumed hearing of the appeal, before a three-man panel headed by Justice A. J. Adah, Sowore's lawyer, who is also the National Legal Adviser of the party, Barr. Inibehe Effiong, urged the court to set aside the judgment of the lower court and grant all the reliefs sought by the appellant.

He prayed the court to be lenient in fixing a shorter date for the judgement considering the timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the party primaries.

Effiong, who later addressed journalists on the court premises, said, "Our appeal is predicated on lack of subject matter jurisdiction, breach of Sowore and Dr. Malcom to a fair hearing and lastly on improper evaluation of evidence.

"The matter has been delayed since 2019 for several reasons but thanks to the Glory of God today, we have finally come to the last bus stop in this matter. Because today I am to announce that our appeal was heard and judgement has now been reserved for a date that will be communicated.

See Also Politics Large Crowd Welcomes AAC Presidential Aspirant, Sowore As He Campaigns Inside Ondo Lake 0 Comments 1 Week Ago

"You are also aware that after the hearing of the appeal, I did call the attention of my Lords to the INEC timetable regarding the time for primaries in pleading with the court that in fixing a date for judgement, that date should be taken into cognisance and my Lords said they are aware of it.

 "The obstacles to the hearing of the appeal on the merit were defeated today. INEC which is supposed to be an unbiased umpire filed a brief of argument and when you open the next page, you see preliminary objection and they did not respond to any of our arguments.

 "INEC agreed with us that the lower court had no jurisdiction. The same INEC speaking with the other side of their mouths said no, even though they agreed with the appellant that the federal high court had no jurisdiction. They asked that our appeal should be struck out which we had replied to.

"INEC had no option but was forced to withdraw their objection, asking that Sowore’s appeal be struck out. That application by INEC no longer exists,” the lawyer had said.

 

See Also Politics 2023: Reject APC, PDP, Embrace Fresh Ideas, Sowore Tells Nigerians 0 Comments 1 Week Ago

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File photo used to illustrate story.

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has warned that the Saudi Arabian authorities are very strict on any form of politicking while on their land, especially in the Holy Ka’aba where devotees engage in solemn prayers.
The commission condemned the trend where Nigerian politicians displayed posters of their candidates for the forthcoming presidential election in the grand mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, warning against such practice.

File photo used to illustrate story.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Hajiya Fatima Sanda Usara, affirmed that the action was tantamount to a desecration of a religious sanctuary which attracts penalties when apprehended.
The statement said, “The NAHCON leadership had observed with dismay the unfortunate trend where politicians display posters of their candidates in the grand mosque in Makkah.
“This action is tantamount to a desecration of a religious sanctuary which attracts penalties when apprehended. Hence, in the interest of the actors and Nigeria’s image, pilgrims are cautioned to desist from such illegal activities please,” NAHCON warned.
Consequently, she said legitimate complaints were invited from dissatisfied pilgrims as well as tour operators with valid contract papers signed between the two parties, noting that this would aid NAHCON in adjudicating in the matters.
Although the commission did not mention names, former Lagos State governor and APC presidential aspirant, Bola Tinubu, was one of those who participated in the pilgrimage to Makkah, fuelling suspicion that it was his supporters who put up his campaign posters at the worship facility.

 

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Soldiers attached to the 144 Battalion of the 14 Brigade of the Nigerian Army have killed about four gunmen terrorising the South-East region, and staging a broad daylight patrol in Aba, Abia State.
The gunmen had stormed some major streets in the town on Wednesday where they declared sit-at-home on May 5 and 6 in the region in protest against the two-day visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Ebonyi State.

They had also threatened to deal with anyone caught disobeying the order.
In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, some residents were captured rejoicing and hailing the gunmen.
However, while the hoodlums were going about spreading their information, they had a challenge with the soldiers which resulted in a gun duel, leading to the death of four of them.
The face-off it was gather happened at about 2pm at Uratta junction, Aba area of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.
Meanwhile, President Buhari is already in Ebonyi.
His presidential jet touched down at the Alamo Ibiam International Airport Enugu around 10:30am.
Buhari was received by Enugu Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and his Ebonyi counterpart, David Umahi and other officials of the government.
He thereafter took a helicopter to Abakaliki.
The President is on a two-day working visit to Ebonyi State where he is expected to commission numerous projects executed by the Umahi administration.
He is also billed to have a meeting with selected leaders from the South-East region.
The South-East region has witnessed increasing and regular attacks on security agencies and facilities, government institutions and high-profile individuals following the arrest of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
IPOB has been linked to the deadly attacks in the region. But the group has repeatedly denied its involvement in the attacks.

 

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