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A former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday says he once tested positive for the coronavirus.

Obasanjo disclosed this in Abeokuta while speaking at a colloquium put in place to celebrate his 84th birthday.

The programme was held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta.

He said, “It will surprise you that I was tested positive for covid-19. I called them to come and test me, they came on a Saturday, I didn’t get the result till Wednesday and it came out positive but I didn’t see any symptoms.

“When they came three days after, they tested me and said I was negative, that is three days after I tested positive.

“My daughter, Iyabo, is an epidemiologist and I called her to explain. She said maybe they tested me at the later stage of my being positive.

“I told her I had no symptoms and she said it could be a faulty result. But I was tested positive. Since then I have been tested three times negative, so, if you want to come near me, you can come near me.

“It is nothing to worry about, when I was tested positive, my household were running from me, I told them to stay in their place while I stay in mine.”

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Beef traders in Ogun and Lagos states on Friday disregarded the “Anything But Cow Day Campaign” launched by some Yoruba elders in response to the blockade of food items from the Northern region of the country to the South.

SahararaReporters had reported that the campaign would be launched by the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere; activist, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho; the Are Ona Kankanfo, Iba Gani Adams; and the Oodua Peoples Congress.

But visits to some abattoirs and beef markets on Friday showed a lack of compliance with the boycott order as they were fully opened.

At the Kara market in the Akute axis of Lagos, butchers and other business dealers were fully operating — except for the limited number of cows for slaughter.

When asked if the “Anything But Cow Day” order had not got to them, a butcher identified simply as Sulaiman, said he and his colleagues had not heard about such.

He said: “What's that? They mean we should not sell beef? Do they want us to die of hunger? For over a week now, our business has been slow and we know the impact of this on our families. Things were very uncertain but now that the embargo has been lifted, some sets of persons said we shouldn't sell? That's absolute nonsense!”

Sulaiman stated that even now that the strike has been called off, the cost of a cow is still outrageous.

Corroborating Sulaiman’s claim, Tunde, another butcher, said as of Friday, the cost of one cow was N700, 000 – a sharp increase from what it used to be.

According to him, on Friday morning, there was a clash at the borders which delayed the movement of the cows to their markets.

He said, “There was a clash at the borders, they didn't allow the trucks to come in. Even today, there was a fight among traders and military men. Why are we just slaughtering cows at this time? It's already noon and we are just slaughtering a cow. On a normal day, we start our jobs in the morning but since the beginning of this week, it has been different.”

Asked if he had heard of the campaign, he quipped, “What is 'Anything But Cow Day'? Who organised it? We have not heard anything like that.

“By the time we join in the campaign, how will our families eat? Which one is 'Anything But Cow Day'? Is it only beef that was stopped from coming in? They should launch a campaign against the consumption of tomatoes, pepper, and every other food item that couldn't come in from the North?”

Another butcher said jokingly, “Don't you know that some people may not survive if they do not eat beef in a day? On a serious note, some people have mastered cooking with different types of meat, especially beef. With the way they garnish the food with beef, you'll think that is the only thing they cook.

“If only they knew how the strike affected butchers and even people's livelihoods, they would find a lasting solution to whatever issue the North has with the South. We are all dependent on one another. As long as we remain one Nigeria, the South will always need the North and the North will always need the South. It's as simple as that.”

He stated that the butchers have been told that there will be an end to the scarcity of beef by next Monday.

Aside from the boycott of the campaign by beef sellers, it also had no significant engagement on social media. It was expected that hashtags such as #EndCOWVID-21 would trend on Twitter.

But SaharaReporters observed that the Twitter hashtag, #endcowpandemic.org, did not trend as expected though it had been used by some people for some days now.

This was despite the fact that some users had earlier drummed support for the campaign while vowing to promote it using the necessary hashtags on the scheduled date.

Demolapraise @demolapraise2 had earlier tweeted, “Southerners can survive without north but northerner can never survive without southerners. #endcowpandemic.”

Dipo Dairo @desaintsoul, “I hear we are to boycott beef (aka cow meat) from tomorrow 5th March 2021...#NOBEEFDAY #ANYTHINGBUTBEEF #ENDCOWVID21 #ENDCOWCONSUMPTION #NOMORENÒMÒ #EndCowPandemic.”

Arinze Chukwu @Arinzecom1981, “I think the #endcowpandemic campaign starting on Friday, will yield more positive results for Southerners than the #EndSARS protest. At least Fulanis can now discover that human beings are more important than their #cows which is not even the healthiest meat to consume.”

@itsteebleeze tweeted, “This is the main road linking many communities in Ifo Ogun state. I read about the #SouthWest governors who had banned open grazing but clearly, they have no authority even in their states. #endcowpandemic #EndSarsNow.”

@orekeatinukee said, “Before today, Southerners didn't eat cows and tomatoes from the North...we have ours and we can survive without the North. Please let the strike continue while we continue with #endcowpandemic, afterwards, we will move onto regionalisation or total breakup. We will all be fine.”

@Lasheun2 had written, “End CowVid-21. #EndCowPandemic. They have just only opened our eyes in the South via the silly blockage of food items from the North.”
 

Food Markets Trade News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Beef traders in Ogun and Lagos states on Friday disregarded the “Anything But Cow Day Campaign” launched by some Yoruba elders in response to the blockade of food items from the Northern region of the country to the South.

SahararaReporters had reported that the campaign would be launched by the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere; activist, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho; the Are Ona Kankanfo, Iba Gani Adams; and the Oodua Peoples Congress.

But visits to some abattoirs and beef markets on Friday showed a lack of compliance with the boycott order as they were fully opened.

At the Kara market in the Akute axis of Lagos, butchers and other business dealers were fully operating — except for the limited number of cows for slaughter.

When asked if the “Anything But Cow Day” order had not got to them, a butcher identified simply as Sulaiman, said he and his colleagues had not heard about such.

He said: “What's that? They mean we should not sell beef? Do they want us to die of hunger? For over a week now, our business has been slow and we know the impact of this on our families. Things were very uncertain but now that the embargo has been lifted, some sets of persons said we shouldn't sell? That's absolute nonsense!”

Sulaiman stated that even now that the strike has been called off, the cost of a cow is still outrageous.

Corroborating Sulaiman’s claim, Tunde, another butcher, said as of Friday, the cost of one cow was N700, 000 – a sharp increase from what it used to be.

According to him, on Friday morning, there was a clash at the borders which delayed the movement of the cows to their markets.

He said, “There was a clash at the borders, they didn't allow the trucks to come in. Even today, there was a fight among traders and military men. Why are we just slaughtering cows at this time? It's already noon and we are just slaughtering a cow. On a normal day, we start our jobs in the morning but since the beginning of this week, it has been different.”

Asked if he had heard of the campaign, he quipped, “What is 'Anything But Cow Day'? Who organised it? We have not heard anything like that.

“By the time we join in the campaign, how will our families eat? Which one is 'Anything But Cow Day'? Is it only beef that was stopped from coming in? They should launch a campaign against the consumption of tomatoes, pepper, and every other food item that couldn't come in from the North?”

Another butcher said jokingly, “Don't you know that some people may not survive if they do not eat beef in a day? On a serious note, some people have mastered cooking with different types of meat, especially beef. With the way they garnish the food with beef, you'll think that is the only thing they cook.

“If only they knew how the strike affected butchers and even people's livelihoods, they would find a lasting solution to whatever issue the North has with the South. We are all dependent on one another. As long as we remain one Nigeria, the South will always need the North and the North will always need the South. It's as simple as that.”

He stated that the butchers have been told that there will be an end to the scarcity of beef by next Monday.

Aside from the boycott of the campaign by beef sellers, it also had no significant engagement on social media. It was expected that hashtags such as #EndCOWVID-21 would trend on Twitter.

But SaharaReporters observed that the Twitter hashtag, #endcowpandemic.org, did not trend as expected though it had been used by some people for some days now.

This was despite the fact that some users had earlier drummed support for the campaign while vowing to promote it using the necessary hashtags on the scheduled date.

Demolapraise @demolapraise2 had earlier tweeted, “Southerners can survive without north but northerner can never survive without southerners. #endcowpandemic.”

Dipo Dairo @desaintsoul, “I hear we are to boycott beef (aka cow meat) from tomorrow 5th March 2021...#NOBEEFDAY #ANYTHINGBUTBEEF #ENDCOWVID21 #ENDCOWCONSUMPTION #NOMORENÒMÒ #EndCowPandemic.”

Arinze Chukwu @Arinzecom1981, “I think the #endcowpandemic campaign starting on Friday, will yield more positive results for Southerners than the #EndSARS protest. At least Fulanis can now discover that human beings are more important than their #cows which is not even the healthiest meat to consume.”

@itsteebleeze tweeted, “This is the main road linking many communities in Ifo Ogun state. I read about the #SouthWest governors who had banned open grazing but clearly, they have no authority even in their states. #endcowpandemic #EndSarsNow.”

@orekeatinukee said, “Before today, Southerners didn't eat cows and tomatoes from the North...we have ours and we can survive without the North. Please let the strike continue while we continue with #endcowpandemic, afterwards, we will move onto regionalisation or total breakup. We will all be fine.”

@Lasheun2 had written, “End CowVid-21. #EndCowPandemic. They have just only opened our eyes in the South via the silly blockage of food items from the North.”
 

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The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has urged the governors of the six states in the South-West region to inject at least 15 percent of their annual budget into agriculture to provide sustainable food production for the region.

He spoke on Friday during a meeting over the recent protest and strike by the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AUFCDN), leading to the blockade of food items from the North to the South.

Gani Adams

He advised South-West governors to adopt the model and expertise employed by Rwanda to transform its agricultural sector.

According to him, investment in agriculture will provide food security, employment, improve IGR, reduce urban congestion, and help farmers build capacity to achieve more productivity through mechanised farming. 

He said, “It is embarrassing for the North to threaten our region with an unwarranted blockade that is of no use to us. I have it on good record that the South spends over N8 billion daily on cow consumption.

“It is an embarrassment for the North to think that they are doing the South a favour. I also have figures of the several billions of naira we spend daily on perishable products, but the truth is that the blockade that had been suspended now seemed to be a blessing for us because it will trigger an agricultural revolution in the South-West that will definitely change the ugly narratives of the past.

“So, I think it is the responsibility of all the South-West governors to swiftly respond to this threat and seek a better approach to enhance both small and large scale farming across the region and further strengthen the security architecture of the region.”

Insecurity News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has urged the governors of the six states in the South-West region to inject at least 15 percent of their annual budget into agriculture to provide sustainable food production for the region.

He spoke on Friday during a meeting over the recent protest and strike by the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AUFCDN), leading to the blockade of food items from the North to the South.

Gani Adams

He advised South-West governors to adopt the model and expertise employed by Rwanda to transform its agricultural sector.

According to him, investment in agriculture will provide food security, employment, improve IGR, reduce urban congestion, and help farmers build capacity to achieve more productivity through mechanised farming. 

He said, “It is embarrassing for the North to threaten our region with an unwarranted blockade that is of no use to us. I have it on good record that the South spends over N8 billion daily on cow consumption.

“It is an embarrassment for the North to think that they are doing the South a favour. I also have figures of the several billions of naira we spend daily on perishable products, but the truth is that the blockade that had been suspended now seemed to be a blessing for us because it will trigger an agricultural revolution in the South-West that will definitely change the ugly narratives of the past.

“So, I think it is the responsibility of all the South-West governors to swiftly respond to this threat and seek a better approach to enhance both small and large scale farming across the region and further strengthen the security architecture of the region.”

Insecurity News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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President Muhammadu Buhari has challenged the service chiefs to secure Nigeria within a few weeks, before the start of this year’s rainy season.  

Buhari spoke on Friday shortly after decorating the new service chiefs with their new ranks at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to him, the service chiefs should strive to justify their selection in ongoing efforts to safeguard the country, especially as farmers are preparing for the rainy season.

The president said achieving the target has become imperative to enable farmers who had fled their farms in different parts of the country to garner the needed confidence to return to their farms.

He said: “During our four-hour security meeting, I have taken the responsibility as the Commander-in-Chief for you to go out into the field and secure the country.

“I have accepted responsibility for your action on the field. It is up to you to identify your competent officers irrespective of seniority and paper qualification and deploy them to make sure that we secure this country.

“You have got a few weeks to do that because, by the rainy season, we expect people to develop confidence and go back to the land so that we don’t get into trouble by being away from the field and therefore unable to produce enough food for the nation.”

Those decorated with their new ranks include the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru; Chief of Naval Staff; Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amoo.
 

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President Muhammadu Buhari has challenged the service chiefs to secure Nigeria within a few weeks, before the start of this year’s rainy season.  

Buhari spoke on Friday shortly after decorating the new service chiefs with their new ranks at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to him, the service chiefs should strive to justify their selection in ongoing efforts to safeguard the country, especially as farmers are preparing for the rainy season.

The president said achieving the target has become imperative to enable farmers who had fled their farms in different parts of the country to garner the needed confidence to return to their farms.

He said: “During our four-hour security meeting, I have taken the responsibility as the Commander-in-Chief for you to go out into the field and secure the country.

“I have accepted responsibility for your action on the field. It is up to you to identify your competent officers irrespective of seniority and paper qualification and deploy them to make sure that we secure this country.

“You have got a few weeks to do that because, by the rainy season, we expect people to develop confidence and go back to the land so that we don’t get into trouble by being away from the field and therefore unable to produce enough food for the nation.”

Those decorated with their new ranks include the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru; Chief of Naval Staff; Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amoo.
 

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The deadly attack by bandits in Sabuwar Tunga village, Dankurmi district of Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara state in which scores of people were killed was in retaliation for the killing of a leader of the banditry group by residents of the community.

SaharaReporters had last Friday reported how gunmen invaded the community, killing over 40 people.

The bandits also abducted over 100 people, including 80 nursing mothers and children during the attack.

However, the Zamfara state government refuted the report.

The state governor, Bello Matawalle, represented by his deputy chief of staff, Bashir Maru, during a press conference on Friday said no life was lost in the attack.

“A certain online newspaper went further to report that the bandits also killed 40 people in the said attack. Gentlemen of the press, nothing could be farther from the truth than this fabricated information.

“It is worthy to ask yourselves as media practitioners why those who gave you the false information of 40 people killed by the bandits (which in itself is blatantly false) refused to give you the information of the bandits killed by sheer efforts of the resilient people of Ruwan Tofa (which in itself is the truth)?” he said.

Speaking to SaharaReporters on Friday, some residents of the community condemned the statement made by the government.

They insisted that over 40 villagers were buried a day after the incident.

Narrating how the incident happened, the residents said the armed men earlier invaded a nearby village called Koda with the intent of rustling cattle but met fierce resistance.

They added that the leader of the gang of bandits was killed in a shootout and all their rustled cattle were recovered.

The gunmen were said to have organised themselves again and laid siege when most of the residents were attending a weekly market trading in Dankurmi community.

“They asked some traders to come for a meeting, and when they came around for the purported meeting, they shot almost all of them in the head at close range. They also went to a mining pit and started shooting the miners at close range, killing over 30 of them.

“The governor and his officials should be ashamed of themselves,” a resident told SaharaReporters.

Deadly attacks have raged across Zamfara state where bandits have thrived.

Farming and herding communities in the state have long been terrorised by gangs who raid villages, stealing cattle and kidnapping residents for ransom.

On Friday, 279 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in the Talata Mafara Local Government area of the state were abducted.

The gunmen were said to have arrived the school around 1 am and loaded the girls in buses.

The students were released after negotiations between the government and the kidnappers.

In 2019, the state government entered a peace agreement with the gunmen.

About 15 brand new Hilux vehicles and cash gifts were also given to leaders of different 'repentant' gangs of bandits by the governor in 2020.

But despite all these, communities in the state are still being attacked and residents kidnapped and/or killed.

Insecurity Insurgency Terrorism News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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The deadly attack by bandits in Sabuwar Tunga village, Dankurmi district of Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara state in which scores of people were killed was in retaliation for the killing of a leader of the banditry group by residents of the community.

SaharaReporters had last Friday reported how gunmen invaded the community, killing over 40 people.

The bandits also abducted over 100 people, including 80 nursing mothers and children during the attack.

However, the Zamfara state government refuted the report.

The state governor, Bello Matawalle, represented by his deputy chief of staff, Bashir Maru, during a press conference on Friday said no life was lost in the attack.

“A certain online newspaper went further to report that the bandits also killed 40 people in the said attack. Gentlemen of the press, nothing could be farther from the truth than this fabricated information.

“It is worthy to ask yourselves as media practitioners why those who gave you the false information of 40 people killed by the bandits (which in itself is blatantly false) refused to give you the information of the bandits killed by sheer efforts of the resilient people of Ruwan Tofa (which in itself is the truth)?” he said.

Speaking to SaharaReporters on Friday, some residents of the community condemned the statement made by the government.

They insisted that over 40 villagers were buried a day after the incident.

Narrating how the incident happened, the residents said the armed men earlier invaded a nearby village called Koda with the intent of rustling cattle but met fierce resistance.

They added that the leader of the gang of bandits was killed in a shootout and all their rustled cattle were recovered.

The gunmen were said to have organised themselves again and laid siege when most of the residents were attending a weekly market trading in Dankurmi community.

“They asked some traders to come for a meeting, and when they came around for the purported meeting, they shot almost all of them in the head at close range. They also went to a mining pit and started shooting the miners at close range, killing over 30 of them.

“The governor and his officials should be ashamed of themselves,” a resident told SaharaReporters.

Deadly attacks have raged across Zamfara state where bandits have thrived.

Farming and herding communities in the state have long been terrorised by gangs who raid villages, stealing cattle and kidnapping residents for ransom.

On Friday, 279 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in the Talata Mafara Local Government area of the state were abducted.

The gunmen were said to have arrived the school around 1 am and loaded the girls in buses.

The students were released after negotiations between the government and the kidnappers.

In 2019, the state government entered a peace agreement with the gunmen.

About 15 brand new Hilux vehicles and cash gifts were also given to leaders of different 'repentant' gangs of bandits by the governor in 2020.

But despite all these, communities in the state are still being attacked and residents kidnapped and/or killed.

Insecurity Insurgency Terrorism News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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There have been targeted attacks on police stations and policemen in the South-East and South-South regions of the country recently. 

Most of these assaults on security agents are carried out by suspected armed hoodlums. And sadly, some police officers lost their lives in the attacks. 

Some people have linked the occurrences to a statement made by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, that with the existence of the Eastern Security Network, the regions do not need the services of the Nigeria Police.

10 Policemen Murdered By Gunmen In Cross River

In the last recent weeks, not less than ten policemen have been brutally murdered by gunmen in 2021. 

It was first reported that gunmen stormed a checkpoint in Obubra on the Calabar-Ikom highway, and killed six policemen while a soldier was injured. Barely two weeks later, four policemen were killed at a checkpoint in Idundu, near Calabar.

Also, several policemen were injured and said to be receiving medical attention at an undisclosed hospital.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Irene Ugbo, in a telephone interview with some journalists confirmed the incident but insisted that only two policemen were killed and a soldier injured in the attack that occurred on Tuesday night.

It reportedly gathered that the gunmen drove in a sienna car attacked policemen at a checkpoint at Onyadama and killed four of them and also took away their weapons.

A source said, “The same gang drove down to Ofatura checkpoint and shot sporadically and the policemen at the checkpoint took to their heels but two were shot at the back and they died.”

Two Policemen Killed As Hoodlums Burn Police Stations In Abia

On February 23, suspected hoodlums attacked a police station at Abayi, Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area close to Aba.

The heavily armed gunmen, in a report, stormed the station around 2:00 pm and burnt the building. 

The Police Public Relations Officer, Geoffrey Ogbonna, while confirming the attacks promised that the perpetrators would be apprehended.

Early that month, February 1 precisely, suspected gunmen had attacked Umuoba Police Station in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State and killed a police inspector.

The attack was carried out around 3:00 am. In the attack, the police station was razed and operational vans were burnt as well.

The PPRO confirmed, saying, “In the course of that attack, one inspector lost his life, another policewoman was seriously injured. The hoodlums then broke into the armoury and stole some arms, including the gun of the inspector who was killed.

“They also burnt down the station and the vehicles parked on the premises, including one of our serviceable patrol vans.”

The spokesperson said the inspector’s corpse was conveyed to the mortuary, while a female officer injured was receiving treatment in hospital.

Two Policeman Killed, Three Injured In Imo Gun Duel With Armed Criminals

Suspected Gunmen, on February 5, in a night attack at Obowo Divisional Police Headquarters, located at Umulowe area of Imo State, killed two police officers who were on duty.

The hoodlums also injured three other cops who repelled them from gaining access into the headquarters.

Their invasion met with rigid opposition from police officers who were on duty when they tried to access the police premises, which led to a gun battle that claimed the lives of the security agents.

One of the hoodlums was killed in the gun duel but the hoodlums drove off with their member's corpse.

The source said, "Two policemen died in the incident. Three were wounded. One of the hoodlums was also killed but they drove off with him. The policemen who were killed were the ones who repelled them."

A spokesperson for the state police command, Orlando Ikeokwu, established that the hoodlums killed two police officers.
He also said that the three other policemen who were wounded during the incident had been discharged from a local hospital where they were rushed to and transferred to a better hospital in the state capital.

Three Police Officers Shot Dead, Two Injured In Abakaliki

January 9 recorded a sad occurrence of three police officers killed by suspected hoodlums while two others sustained serious bullet wounds at Onueke Police Station in Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

These gunmen invaded the police station in the night and opened fire on the security operatives on duty.

The murdered officers were two inspectors and one female who was relaxing in her room when the hoodlums attacked.

It was also gathered that the criminal invaders took away two AK 47 rifles kept at the station.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mrs. Loveth Oda, who confirmed the incident said the corpses of the slain officers were deposited in a mortuary while the two who sustained gunshot wounds were receiving treatment.

While the police commands of the affected states promised a series of interrogation to nab the culprits, they also vowed to prevent such occurrences in future. 

Police News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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There have been targeted attacks on police stations and policemen in the South-East and South-South regions of the country recently. 

Most of these assaults on security agents are carried out by suspected armed hoodlums. And sadly, some police officers lost their lives in the attacks. 

Some people have linked the occurrences to a statement made by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, that with the existence of the Eastern Security Network, the regions do not need the services of the Nigeria Police.

10 Policemen Murdered By Gunmen In Cross River

In the last recent weeks, not less than ten policemen have been brutally murdered by gunmen in 2021. 

It was first reported that gunmen stormed a checkpoint in Obubra on the Calabar-Ikom highway, and killed six policemen while a soldier was injured. Barely two weeks later, four policemen were killed at a checkpoint in Idundu, near Calabar.

Also, several policemen were injured and said to be receiving medical attention at an undisclosed hospital.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Irene Ugbo, in a telephone interview with some journalists confirmed the incident but insisted that only two policemen were killed and a soldier injured in the attack that occurred on Tuesday night.

It reportedly gathered that the gunmen drove in a sienna car attacked policemen at a checkpoint at Onyadama and killed four of them and also took away their weapons.

A source said, “The same gang drove down to Ofatura checkpoint and shot sporadically and the policemen at the checkpoint took to their heels but two were shot at the back and they died.”

Two Policemen Killed As Hoodlums Burn Police Stations In Abia

On February 23, suspected hoodlums attacked a police station at Abayi, Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area close to Aba.

The heavily armed gunmen, in a report, stormed the station around 2:00 pm and burnt the building. 

The Police Public Relations Officer, Geoffrey Ogbonna, while confirming the attacks promised that the perpetrators would be apprehended.

Early that month, February 1 precisely, suspected gunmen had attacked Umuoba Police Station in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State and killed a police inspector.

The attack was carried out around 3:00 am. In the attack, the police station was razed and operational vans were burnt as well.

The PPRO confirmed, saying, “In the course of that attack, one inspector lost his life, another policewoman was seriously injured. The hoodlums then broke into the armoury and stole some arms, including the gun of the inspector who was killed.

“They also burnt down the station and the vehicles parked on the premises, including one of our serviceable patrol vans.”

The spokesperson said the inspector’s corpse was conveyed to the mortuary, while a female officer injured was receiving treatment in hospital.

Two Policeman Killed, Three Injured In Imo Gun Duel With Armed Criminals

Suspected Gunmen, on February 5, in a night attack at Obowo Divisional Police Headquarters, located at Umulowe area of Imo State, killed two police officers who were on duty.

The hoodlums also injured three other cops who repelled them from gaining access into the headquarters.

Their invasion met with rigid opposition from police officers who were on duty when they tried to access the police premises, which led to a gun battle that claimed the lives of the security agents.

One of the hoodlums was killed in the gun duel but the hoodlums drove off with their member's corpse.

The source said, "Two policemen died in the incident. Three were wounded. One of the hoodlums was also killed but they drove off with him. The policemen who were killed were the ones who repelled them."

A spokesperson for the state police command, Orlando Ikeokwu, established that the hoodlums killed two police officers.
He also said that the three other policemen who were wounded during the incident had been discharged from a local hospital where they were rushed to and transferred to a better hospital in the state capital.

Three Police Officers Shot Dead, Two Injured In Abakaliki

January 9 recorded a sad occurrence of three police officers killed by suspected hoodlums while two others sustained serious bullet wounds at Onueke Police Station in Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

These gunmen invaded the police station in the night and opened fire on the security operatives on duty.

The murdered officers were two inspectors and one female who was relaxing in her room when the hoodlums attacked.

It was also gathered that the criminal invaders took away two AK 47 rifles kept at the station.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mrs. Loveth Oda, who confirmed the incident said the corpses of the slain officers were deposited in a mortuary while the two who sustained gunshot wounds were receiving treatment.

While the police commands of the affected states promised a series of interrogation to nab the culprits, they also vowed to prevent such occurrences in future. 

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Operatives of the Ondo State Security Network, also known as Amotekun Corps, have arrested two men allegedly caught having sex with each other.

The two men, Seyi Balogun alias Amunidara, and Tosin Arifalo, were arrested at Kajola in Ijoka area of Akure.

File photo used to illustrate story.

Speaking to journalists, Balogun, a native of Isua Akoko, claimed that Tosin that lured him into the act.

"I was never into it before, it was Tosin that came to me saying he loved me. I don’t like the act, he seduced me, he lured me into it. I told him to give me rest of mind, but when he was threatening me, I had to obey him. Since then, we have been having sex together. What I can say is that the devil caused it, and I have warned him not to come to my house again," he said.

However, Tosin from Iro in Akure, countered the claims, stating that he was, instead lured by Balogun into having sex with him three times.

Tosin stated that anytime Balogun wanted to have sex with him, he would take him to his house at Kajola in Ijoka where they engaged in the immoral act.

He further alleged that Balogun introduced him to one of his friends, Olojijo, who had sex with him many times.

According to reports, both men have been handed over to the state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for investigation and prosecution.
 

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Operatives of the Ondo State Security Network, also known as Amotekun Corps, have arrested two men allegedly caught having sex with each other.

The two men, Seyi Balogun alias Amunidara, and Tosin Arifalo, were arrested at Kajola in Ijoka area of Akure.

File photo used to illustrate story.

Speaking to journalists, Balogun, a native of Isua Akoko, claimed that Tosin that lured him into the act.

"I was never into it before, it was Tosin that came to me saying he loved me. I don’t like the act, he seduced me, he lured me into it. I told him to give me rest of mind, but when he was threatening me, I had to obey him. Since then, we have been having sex together. What I can say is that the devil caused it, and I have warned him not to come to my house again," he said.

However, Tosin from Iro in Akure, countered the claims, stating that he was, instead lured by Balogun into having sex with him three times.

Tosin stated that anytime Balogun wanted to have sex with him, he would take him to his house at Kajola in Ijoka where they engaged in the immoral act.

He further alleged that Balogun introduced him to one of his friends, Olojijo, who had sex with him many times.

According to reports, both men have been handed over to the state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for investigation and prosecution.
 

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Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed at least 15 people in Tanau village, Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto state.

SaharaReporters gathered that the bandits with sophisticated weapons stormed the village on Friday morning and started shooting indiscriminately.

According to a source, the gunmen also abducted over 100 villagers, including nursing mothers and children. 

He alleged that the attackers were Fulani herdsmen who have been attacking the villages persistently.

“They carried out deadly attacks and looted our village. At least 15 people were killed while over 100 people were abducted. They were shooting sporadically, they did not even spare any one, including women, nursing mothers and children. They herded them into bush,” the source said.

Sokoto is one of the most terrorised Northwest states in Nigeria. Its residents have been severely troubled by bandits and kidnappers. 

The state government in 2019 entered into a peace accord with the bandits.

But despite the accord, communities in the state are still being attacked and residents kidnapped and/or killed. 

Insurgency Terrorism Breaking News News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed at least 15 people in Tanau village, Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto state.

SaharaReporters gathered that the bandits with sophisticated weapons stormed the village on Friday morning and started shooting indiscriminately.

According to a source, the gunmen also abducted over 100 villagers, including nursing mothers and children. 

He alleged that the attackers were Fulani herdsmen who have been attacking the villages persistently.

“They carried out deadly attacks and looted our village. At least 15 people were killed while over 100 people were abducted. They were shooting sporadically, they did not even spare any one, including women, nursing mothers and children. They herded them into bush,” the source said.

Sokoto is one of the most terrorised Northwest states in Nigeria. Its residents have been severely troubled by bandits and kidnappers. 

The state government in 2019 entered into a peace accord with the bandits.

But despite the accord, communities in the state are still being attacked and residents kidnapped and/or killed. 

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The Zamfara State Government says a Nigerian soldier and his girlfriend have been arrested for supplying ammunition and military uniforms to armed bandits in the state.

The governor of the state, Bello Matawalle, represented by his deputy chief of staff, Bashir Maru, disclosed this at a press conference on Friday.

File Photo

He said the soldier and his girlfriend were arrested by the military through community-driven intelligence.

Bandits terrorising the state are often seen in military fatigues. 

“The military recently arrested an army officer and his girlfriend who were engaged in assisting bandits with military uniforms and ammunition in active connivance with other saboteurs. This arrest was only made possible through community-driven intelligence,” he said.

“While the state government awaits the action the military will take on this matter and make an official statement, the development has further proved the position of Governor Bello Mohammed that unless the fight against banditry is cleansed of bad eggs and saboteurs, we may not record the desired success in the fight.

“Let me use this medium to salute the courage and patriotism of the individual who came forward with information that led to the arrest of these traitors. Our gratitude knows no bounds.” 

Farming and herding communities in Zamfara and the wider region have long been terrorised by gangs who raid villages, stealing cattle and kidnapping residents for ransom.

Few days ago, 279 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in the Talata Mafara Local Government Area of the state were abducted.

The schoolgirls were released some days later. 

The gunmen were said to have arrived at the school around 1am and loaded the girls in buses.

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The Zamfara State Government says a Nigerian soldier and his girlfriend have been arrested for supplying ammunition and military uniforms to armed bandits in the state.

The governor of the state, Bello Matawalle, represented by his deputy chief of staff, Bashir Maru, disclosed this at a press conference on Friday.

File Photo

He said the soldier and his girlfriend were arrested by the military through community-driven intelligence.

Bandits terrorising the state are often seen in military fatigues. 

“The military recently arrested an army officer and his girlfriend who were engaged in assisting bandits with military uniforms and ammunition in active connivance with other saboteurs. This arrest was only made possible through community-driven intelligence,” he said.

“While the state government awaits the action the military will take on this matter and make an official statement, the development has further proved the position of Governor Bello Mohammed that unless the fight against banditry is cleansed of bad eggs and saboteurs, we may not record the desired success in the fight.

“Let me use this medium to salute the courage and patriotism of the individual who came forward with information that led to the arrest of these traitors. Our gratitude knows no bounds.” 

Farming and herding communities in Zamfara and the wider region have long been terrorised by gangs who raid villages, stealing cattle and kidnapping residents for ransom.

Few days ago, 279 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in the Talata Mafara Local Government Area of the state were abducted.

The schoolgirls were released some days later. 

The gunmen were said to have arrived at the school around 1am and loaded the girls in buses.

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Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has questioned the mental health of popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, following his comment that killer bandits should be forgiven. 

Gumi, in his justification for amnesty for bandits, said if coup plotters and those who instigated the civil war could be forgiven, he sees no reason why bandits can't also be forgiven. 

Gumi had said, “If the country could pardon coup plotters who committed treasonable offences in the era of military administration, the bandits can as well enjoy similar forgiveness even better under democratic rule.

“These people in the bush who have taken arms, they are criminals. I wonder who is not a criminal. Since Nigeria forgave coup plotters, forgave those that killed. Even those that instigated civil war; a civil war that millions of people died, I see no reason why we can not accept their repentance.”

Reacting to Gumi's statement, Fani-Kayode took to his Twitter handle to blast the Islamic cleric. 

He wrote, "If coup plotters are pardoned, why not bandits?"- Sheik Ahmad Gumi. Maybe we should give Hitler, Pol Pot, Stalin, King Leopard 11 of Belgium, Osama Bin Ladin, Al Bagdadi, Abubakar Shekau & every other mass murderer & genocidal maniac in world history a posthumous pardon too!

“First he urges the terrorists to target Christian soldiers, then he said that the kidnapping of children from their schools by the same terrorists was a lesser evil & now he says this. Has Sheik Ahmad Gumi finally lost his mind? Is he in desperate need of medical attention?

“Has he become the official spokesman for the terrorists that are slaughtering, tormenting, raping, mutilating & kidnapping our people all over the country? I am convinced that Gumi is no longer himself. Something has gone wrong with him. He is shrouded in darkness & deceit.

"Someone please tell him that we have had enough of these asinine, puerile, infantile, insensitive, uncharitable, wicked, dangerous & self-serving contributions & remarks. The country is already on the brink of war & fratricidal butchery: Gumi should not push us into it with his reckless provocations & deeply insensitive, callous, heartbreaking and insulting commentary.

“The terrorists he is defending are a living manifestation of pure and unadulterated evil and every single one of them deserves to be eliminated or brought to justice in a court of law for their crimes against humanity. Gumi, stop pampering bloodthirsty & blood-lusting psychopaths & murderers. Anyone that targets innocent & defenceless women & children & kills them is the scum of the earth & deserves to be sent to hell in a glorious hail of bullets.''

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Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has questioned the mental health of popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, following his comment that killer bandits should be forgiven. 

Gumi, in his justification for amnesty for bandits, said if coup plotters and those who instigated the civil war could be forgiven, he sees no reason why bandits can't also be forgiven. 

Gumi had said, “If the country could pardon coup plotters who committed treasonable offences in the era of military administration, the bandits can as well enjoy similar forgiveness even better under democratic rule.

“These people in the bush who have taken arms, they are criminals. I wonder who is not a criminal. Since Nigeria forgave coup plotters, forgave those that killed. Even those that instigated civil war; a civil war that millions of people died, I see no reason why we can not accept their repentance.”

Reacting to Gumi's statement, Fani-Kayode took to his Twitter handle to blast the Islamic cleric. 

He wrote, "If coup plotters are pardoned, why not bandits?"- Sheik Ahmad Gumi. Maybe we should give Hitler, Pol Pot, Stalin, King Leopard 11 of Belgium, Osama Bin Ladin, Al Bagdadi, Abubakar Shekau & every other mass murderer & genocidal maniac in world history a posthumous pardon too!

“First he urges the terrorists to target Christian soldiers, then he said that the kidnapping of children from their schools by the same terrorists was a lesser evil & now he says this. Has Sheik Ahmad Gumi finally lost his mind? Is he in desperate need of medical attention?

“Has he become the official spokesman for the terrorists that are slaughtering, tormenting, raping, mutilating & kidnapping our people all over the country? I am convinced that Gumi is no longer himself. Something has gone wrong with him. He is shrouded in darkness & deceit.

"Someone please tell him that we have had enough of these asinine, puerile, infantile, insensitive, uncharitable, wicked, dangerous & self-serving contributions & remarks. The country is already on the brink of war & fratricidal butchery: Gumi should not push us into it with his reckless provocations & deeply insensitive, callous, heartbreaking and insulting commentary.

“The terrorists he is defending are a living manifestation of pure and unadulterated evil and every single one of them deserves to be eliminated or brought to justice in a court of law for their crimes against humanity. Gumi, stop pampering bloodthirsty & blood-lusting psychopaths & murderers. Anyone that targets innocent & defenceless women & children & kills them is the scum of the earth & deserves to be sent to hell in a glorious hail of bullets.''

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