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Conservation groups say naturally restored forests can help in the fight against climate change.

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The WHO says the B.1.617 mutation spreads more easily than other variants and requires further study.

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Five journalists and activists who fled Myanmar's violence are on trial for illegally entering Thailand.

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Georgia becomes the first US state to make the move, which was spurred by a black man's shooting.

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The results add pressure on Beijing to boost measures for couples to have more babies.

Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai has revealed the reasons why his government refused to negotiate with bandits to secure release.of abductees. 

El-Rufai disclosed this while speaking on the release of 27 students of Federal College of Forestry, Afaka in webinar, zoom lens interview organised by African leadership group.

Gunmen had on March 12, 2021 invaded the institution and abducted 39 students, including a pregnant woman.

A day after the abduction, a video surfaced online, where the students were seen sitting on the ground in an unknown location and guarded by armed men whose identities were concealed.

The victims, who were seen being tortured by the armed men, appealed to the government to rescue them.

Between April 5 and April 8, the bandits released 10 of the abducted students after payment of ransom by parents and school management.

Their abductors had initially demanded a N500 million ransom from the Kaduna state government but El-Rufai ruled out the option of negotiation, saying bandits deserve to be killed.

Speaking during the webinar hosted by the Pastor of Trinity House Church, Ituah lghodalo, the governor said the Air Force and Army had assured of the strategy they were going to use. 

El-Rufai who restated his earlier stance against negotiating with bandits, said their rejection of negotiation does not mean they were not doing anything, insisting that military force would be used in rescuing abductees.

"We're not just saying we'll not negotiate with bandits, we try to track them, engage them using military force.

“We know it's risky, we know in the process we may lose some the students,” he said.

According to him, the Army already knew the area the students were before they were released.

He, however, lamented that the military rescue plan had been drawn up but was aborted at the last moment when the bandits shifted base.

The governor further explained that the strategy was that while the Air Force would strike from the air, the Army would engage them on the ground.

"We're going to attack them, we may lose a few students, but will attack the bandits and recover some of the students, that is our plans and that's the plan of the army,” he said.

He said the they were circled before the bandits shifted through the cordon of the army, which was the reason why they were not engaged before the students were released.

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The Presidency has confirmed an attack on the residence of Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, inside Aso Rock.

An online platform, Peoples Gazette had earlier reported that both Gambari and an administrative officer at the Presidency simply identified as Maikano, were robbed.

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According to the report, which has been trending online, armed robbers invaded Aso Rock and emptied the residences of Gambari and Maikano.

Responding in a statement on Monday night, Malam Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, said there was an attempt to burgle the residence of the Chief Of Staff.

The statement read, “The Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari has confirmed that there 'was a foolish attempt' to burgle his residence at 3:00am this morning but it turned out to be unsuccessful.

“Professor Gambari, whose house is on a street next to the Villa has assured that there is nothing to worry about from the incident.”

Gambari succeeded the late Abba Kyari, who died in a Lagos hospital while treating coronavirus in April 2020.

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Two ex-students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno state, Joy Bishara and Lydia Pogu, who escaped from Boko Haram militants in 2014, have graduated from Southeastern University in the United States.

Bishara and Pogu were among the 276 girls first kidnapped by the insurgent group on April 14, 2014.

The duo managed to escape captivity by jumping off the truck while they were being taken away by the kidnappers.

Bishara bagged a degree in social work, while Pogu earned a degree in legal studies; both graduated on April 30.

Commenting on their ordeal and success, Bishara recalled how in a few seconds, she had to decide if she was going to die from an accident or in the hands of the insurgents.

“I remember thinking about what my mum would do at that moment then I prayed. I just remembered a voice in my head saying ‘jump out’. I knew I was going to die either way. I chose to die and that was how I jumped out,” Bishara told GMA3.

Asked how she felt on the day of her graduation, she said: “It was awesome, I felt great. I remember being told that I wasn’t going to be able to finish high school; that I was dumb. I never gave up or listened to all the negative talks. It was exciting to walk on that stage after being told ‘you can’t do it’.

“It was exciting to walk on that stage after being told you can’t do it.”
 
On her part, Pogu said she had decided against going back to school after her escape until she was contacted by the US embassy.

“I’m trying to get my master's in human services and going back to law school when I’m done with my master's,” Pogu said.

Both girls had graduated from Canyonville Christian Academy in Oregon in February 2017, after which they met with ex-President Donald Trump. 

Meanwhile, 112 of the Chibok girls are still in Boko Haram captivity.

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Two ex-students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno state, Joy Bishara and Lydia Pogu, who escaped from Boko Haram militants in 2014, have graduated from Southeastern University in the United States.

Bishara and Pogu were among the 276 girls first kidnapped by the insurgent group on April 14, 2014.

The duo managed to escape captivity by jumping off the truck while they were being taken away by the kidnappers.

Bishara bagged a degree in social work, while Pogu earned a degree in legal studies; both graduated on April 30.

Commenting on their ordeal and success, Bishara recalled how in a few seconds, she had to decide if she was going to die from an accident or in the hands of the insurgents.

“I remember thinking about what my mum would do at that moment then I prayed. I just remembered a voice in my head saying ‘jump out’. I knew I was going to die either way. I chose to die and that was how I jumped out,” Bishara told GMA3.

Asked how she felt on the day of her graduation, she said: “It was awesome, I felt great. I remember being told that I wasn’t going to be able to finish high school; that I was dumb. I never gave up or listened to all the negative talks. It was exciting to walk on that stage after being told ‘you can’t do it’.

“It was exciting to walk on that stage after being told you can’t do it.”
 
On her part, Pogu said she had decided against going back to school after her escape until she was contacted by the US embassy.

“I’m trying to get my master's in human services and going back to law school when I’m done with my master's,” Pogu said.

Both girls had graduated from Canyonville Christian Academy in Oregon in February 2017, after which they met with ex-President Donald Trump. 

Meanwhile, 112 of the Chibok girls are still in Boko Haram captivity.

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Nearly a year after the murder of Uwa Omozuwa, a 22-year-old 100 level student of the University of Benin who was raped and killed right inside a church, there is no justice in sight. 

Uwa was killed by some men after she was raped inside a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) parish on May 27, 2020, during her study hours.

The young lady had reportedly made a habit of using the church hall, during the lockdown, to study.

On the said date, when the night guard at the church resumed duties a little after 7 pm, he found the lady on the floor in the church half-naked and in a pool of blood.

According to reports, she was allegedly raped and hit with a fire extinguisher which caused many injuries that finally led to her death.

Her murder had sparked outrage and calls for justice on social media platforms for months. See Also Sahara Reporters UNIBEN Rape, Murder Victim, Uwaila Omozuwa, Buried In Edo 0 Comments 5 Months Ago

The hashtags #JusticeForUwa and #WeAreTired trended on social media as Nigerians and even international bodies called on the government to ensure justice is served.

Amnesty International also condemned the murder while calling on the authorities to do better.

“Rising cases of rape across Nigeria is a result of the failure of law enforcement to ensure that rapists face justice. We are deeply concerned that perpetrators of rape in Nigeria invariably escape punishment. #JusticeForUwa #RapeIsACrime," the Human Rights group said.

The Edo state government, however, promised to investigate the incident and fish out the perpetrators.

In August 2020, the Edo State Police Command paraded six persons arrested in connection to Uwa's rape and brutal murder: Nelson Ogbebor, Akato Valentine, Tina Samuel, Mary Ade, Nosa Osabohien, and Collins Ulegbe.

The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo, told journalists that the suspects have already made confessional statements to the Police.

"What we are seeing today, is a result of the uniting efforts of the police to get at the root of the crime," Kokumo said.

Osabohien, a phone repairer, was the first to be arrested by the police because he bought Uwa's phone for N17,000, prompting him to lead authorities to Ulegbe who's been identified as the principal suspect.

Ulegbe confessed to hitting Uwa with the fire extinguisher that has been identified as the murder weapon and recovered from the scene of the crime. See Also Sahara Reporters Civil Society Coalition Demands Justice For Killing Of George Floyd, Omozuwa, Other Nigerians Through Rape, Police Brutality 0 Comments 11 Months Ago

He named Ogbebor and Valentine as other suspects who were at the scene of the crime with him. They both denied their involvement.

Ade, identified as the mastermind, allegedly offered the sum of N1 million to the gang to kill Uwa for ritual purposes.

She denied the allegation and said she would prove her innocence in court.

Samuel was arrested for allegedly assaulting police officers who wanted to arrest her son, Lucky, who has also been identified as a suspect but remains at large.

She said she hadn't seen her 21-year-old hairstylist son in five months.

Ulegbe denied that he was involved in gang-raping Uwa, but Kokumo said a post-mortem examination confirmed that she was, in fact, raped.

However, one year after Uwa's death, there is no justice yet for the young lady who was raped and murdered.

When SaharaReporters spoke with Uwa's sister on Monday, the young lady said seeking justice for her sister has been a turmoil of court cases and adjournments. 

She said, “There has really been nothing. The first time my family went to the court, there was no much deliberation and the case was adjourned. Then on March 29 was another court day but the sitting was adjourned again because only one of the suspects was present but I really don't have an idea why the other one was not present. Nothing really, it's just about going to the court and they're always adjourning.”

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Nearly a year after the murder of Uwa Omozuwa, a 22-year-old 100 level student of the University of Benin who was raped and killed right inside a church, there is no justice in sight. 

Uwa was killed by some men after she was raped inside a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) parish on May 27, 2020, during her study hours.

The young lady had reportedly made a habit of using the church hall, during the lockdown, to study.

On the said date, when the night guard at the church resumed duties a little after 7 pm, he found the lady on the floor in the church half-naked and in a pool of blood.

According to reports, she was allegedly raped and hit with a fire extinguisher which caused many injuries that finally led to her death.

Her murder had sparked outrage and calls for justice on social media platforms for months. See Also Sahara Reporters UNIBEN Rape, Murder Victim, Uwaila Omozuwa, Buried In Edo 0 Comments 5 Months Ago

The hashtags #JusticeForUwa and #WeAreTired trended on social media as Nigerians and even international bodies called on the government to ensure justice is served.

Amnesty International also condemned the murder while calling on the authorities to do better.

“Rising cases of rape across Nigeria is a result of the failure of law enforcement to ensure that rapists face justice. We are deeply concerned that perpetrators of rape in Nigeria invariably escape punishment. #JusticeForUwa #RapeIsACrime," the Human Rights group said.

The Edo state government, however, promised to investigate the incident and fish out the perpetrators.

In August 2020, the Edo State Police Command paraded six persons arrested in connection to Uwa's rape and brutal murder: Nelson Ogbebor, Akato Valentine, Tina Samuel, Mary Ade, Nosa Osabohien, and Collins Ulegbe.

The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo, told journalists that the suspects have already made confessional statements to the Police.

"What we are seeing today, is a result of the uniting efforts of the police to get at the root of the crime," Kokumo said.

Osabohien, a phone repairer, was the first to be arrested by the police because he bought Uwa's phone for N17,000, prompting him to lead authorities to Ulegbe who's been identified as the principal suspect.

Ulegbe confessed to hitting Uwa with the fire extinguisher that has been identified as the murder weapon and recovered from the scene of the crime. See Also Sahara Reporters Civil Society Coalition Demands Justice For Killing Of George Floyd, Omozuwa, Other Nigerians Through Rape, Police Brutality 0 Comments 11 Months Ago

He named Ogbebor and Valentine as other suspects who were at the scene of the crime with him. They both denied their involvement.

Ade, identified as the mastermind, allegedly offered the sum of N1 million to the gang to kill Uwa for ritual purposes.

She denied the allegation and said she would prove her innocence in court.

Samuel was arrested for allegedly assaulting police officers who wanted to arrest her son, Lucky, who has also been identified as a suspect but remains at large.

She said she hadn't seen her 21-year-old hairstylist son in five months.

Ulegbe denied that he was involved in gang-raping Uwa, but Kokumo said a post-mortem examination confirmed that she was, in fact, raped.

However, one year after Uwa's death, there is no justice yet for the young lady who was raped and murdered.

When SaharaReporters spoke with Uwa's sister on Monday, the young lady said seeking justice for her sister has been a turmoil of court cases and adjournments. 

She said, “There has really been nothing. The first time my family went to the court, there was no much deliberation and the case was adjourned. Then on March 29 was another court day but the sitting was adjourned again because only one of the suspects was present but I really don't have an idea why the other one was not present. Nothing really, it's just about going to the court and they're always adjourning.”

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The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has revealed that Northern Nigeria will never support secession calls because there's nothing wrong with the extant structure in the country.

Across the country, calls for secession have continued to gain momentum.

There are the Indigenous People of Biafra in the South-East while there are agitators for the independence of the Oduduwa nation in the South-West.

But in an interview with SaharaReporters on Monday, ACF's spokesman, Emmanuel Yawe, said the North can never support secessionists because Nigeria is relatively okay the way it is.  

Yawe further stated that secession attempts would only worsen the problems ravaging the country and could even lead to a civil war.

He said, “There is no way any part of Nigeria will secede without a civil war. We are so integrated that it is impossible for us to sit at a conference table and allow each part to go their ways, it's not possible, it's not a tea party, there will be war. If any part of Nigeria wants to secede, there will be war, maybe even more serious war than what we had before between 1967 and 1970. So, if anyone is calling for secession, he's calling for war.

“And we in the North fought the war to keep this country together, so it will be a contradiction for those of us who tried to stop this country from breaking up to now be engaging in activities that will break this country; we don't want this country to break up. Nigeria is a great country as it is. We have problems but those problems are not enough for us to break up.

“We believe these problems can be remedied and these problems will only be multiplied if we go into war. We love the country. We don't like what some people are doing with the country but for us to have come from the biggest black nation on earth, it is an honour and we should try to preserve this honour. We should try to see how we can use the resources we have to build a great world power. The rest of Africa is looking up to us and they feel sad when we behave as if we want to break up the country they all look up to. We don't want the country to break up. It is better the way it is, even with all the problems.”

The national leader of the pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, Ayo Adebanjo, had also earlier explained why the North would never want the country to break up.

Adebanjo, who had always consistently called for restructuring, recently condemned the unyielding attitude of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to calls for constitutional reforms and resource control.

Adebanjo had over time explained that the current constitution favourably places Northern Nigeria over the South.

He was quoted as saying, “...The constitution we have now is an imposed constitution by the military and the problem we are having in the country now is because of this constitution.

“People should get that clear. It appears both Garba Shehu and his boss, Muhammadu Buhari, don’t want to address the question. I have said that this constitution is a fraudulent constitution; it is not the constitution we agreed on at independence. It is not the constitution Sir Ahmadu Bello, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the founding fathers of this country agreed on at independence. Whether you are talking about resource control, state police, all these agitations have been settled and that is what is causing the crisis in the country today.

“So, when the military said they are going back to the barracks in 1999, Afenifere and the National Democracy Coalition (NADECO) said ‘send us back to the constitution you met us with because this is not the constitution of our founding fathers.’ So, the question of restructuring is to restructure the country back to federalism which our founding fathers agreed on.

“This unitary form of government with all its impositions which have enslaved the South to the North was imposed on us by the military.

“It is the military that created more states in the North; it is the military that created more local governments in the North. It is the military that said that revenues would be shared on the basis of local governments and you people are not addressing it. These are questions you need to answer; why is that so? You don’t stay in a club that is not favourable to you.”

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has revealed that Northern Nigeria will never support secession calls because there's nothing wrong with the extant structure in the country.

Across the country, calls for secession have continued to gain momentum.

There are the Indigenous People of Biafra in the South-East while there are agitators for the independence of the Oduduwa nation in the South-West.

But in an interview with SaharaReporters on Monday, ACF's spokesman, Emmanuel Yawe, said the North can never support secessionists because Nigeria is relatively okay the way it is.  

Yawe further stated that secession attempts would only worsen the problems ravaging the country and could even lead to a civil war.

He said, “There is no way any part of Nigeria will secede without a civil war. We are so integrated that it is impossible for us to sit at a conference table and allow each part to go their ways, it's not possible, it's not a tea party, there will be war. If any part of Nigeria wants to secede, there will be war, maybe even more serious war than what we had before between 1967 and 1970. So, if anyone is calling for secession, he's calling for war.

“And we in the North fought the war to keep this country together, so it will be a contradiction for those of us who tried to stop this country from breaking up to now be engaging in activities that will break this country; we don't want this country to break up. Nigeria is a great country as it is. We have problems but those problems are not enough for us to break up.

“We believe these problems can be remedied and these problems will only be multiplied if we go into war. We love the country. We don't like what some people are doing with the country but for us to have come from the biggest black nation on earth, it is an honour and we should try to preserve this honour. We should try to see how we can use the resources we have to build a great world power. The rest of Africa is looking up to us and they feel sad when we behave as if we want to break up the country they all look up to. We don't want the country to break up. It is better the way it is, even with all the problems.”

The national leader of the pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, Ayo Adebanjo, had also earlier explained why the North would never want the country to break up.

Adebanjo, who had always consistently called for restructuring, recently condemned the unyielding attitude of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to calls for constitutional reforms and resource control.

Adebanjo had over time explained that the current constitution favourably places Northern Nigeria over the South.

He was quoted as saying, “...The constitution we have now is an imposed constitution by the military and the problem we are having in the country now is because of this constitution.

“People should get that clear. It appears both Garba Shehu and his boss, Muhammadu Buhari, don’t want to address the question. I have said that this constitution is a fraudulent constitution; it is not the constitution we agreed on at independence. It is not the constitution Sir Ahmadu Bello, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the founding fathers of this country agreed on at independence. Whether you are talking about resource control, state police, all these agitations have been settled and that is what is causing the crisis in the country today.

“So, when the military said they are going back to the barracks in 1999, Afenifere and the National Democracy Coalition (NADECO) said ‘send us back to the constitution you met us with because this is not the constitution of our founding fathers.’ So, the question of restructuring is to restructure the country back to federalism which our founding fathers agreed on.

“This unitary form of government with all its impositions which have enslaved the South to the North was imposed on us by the military.

“It is the military that created more states in the North; it is the military that created more local governments in the North. It is the military that said that revenues would be shared on the basis of local governments and you people are not addressing it. These are questions you need to answer; why is that so? You don’t stay in a club that is not favourable to you.”

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/30jwhIk

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has revealed that Northern Nigeria will never support secession calls because there's nothing wrong with the extant structure in the country.

Across the country, calls for secession have continued to gain momentum.

There are the Indigenous People of Biafra in the South-East while there are agitators for the independence of the Oduduwa nation in the South-West.

But in an interview with SaharaReporters on Monday, ACF's spokesman, Emmanuel Yawe, said the North can never support secessionists because Nigeria is relatively okay the way it is.  

Yawe further stated that secession attempts would only worsen the problems ravaging the country and could even lead to a civil war.

He said, “There is no way any part of Nigeria will secede without a civil war. We are so integrated that it is impossible for us to sit at a conference table and allow each part to go their ways, it's not possible, it's not a tea party, there will be war. If any part of Nigeria wants to secede, there will be war, maybe even more serious war than what we had before between 1967 and 1970. So, if anyone is calling for secession, he's calling for war.

“And we in the North fought the war to keep this country together, so it will be a contradiction for those of us who tried to stop this country from breaking up to now be engaging in activities that will break this country; we don't want this country to break up. Nigeria is a great country as it is. We have problems but those problems are not enough for us to break up.

“We believe these problems can be remedied and these problems will only be multiplied if we go into war. We love the country. We don't like what some people are doing with the country but for us to have come from the biggest black nation on earth, it is an honour and we should try to preserve this honour. We should try to see how we can use the resources we have to build a great world power. The rest of Africa is looking up to us and they feel sad when we behave as if we want to break up the country they all look up to. We don't want the country to break up. It is better the way it is, even with all the problems.”

The national leader of the pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, Ayo Adebanjo, had also earlier explained why the North would never want the country to break up.

Adebanjo, who had always consistently called for restructuring, recently condemned the unyielding attitude of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to calls for constitutional reforms and resource control.

Adebanjo had over time explained that the current constitution favourably places Northern Nigeria over the South.

He was quoted as saying, “...The constitution we have now is an imposed constitution by the military and the problem we are having in the country now is because of this constitution.

“People should get that clear. It appears both Garba Shehu and his boss, Muhammadu Buhari, don’t want to address the question. I have said that this constitution is a fraudulent constitution; it is not the constitution we agreed on at independence. It is not the constitution Sir Ahmadu Bello, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the founding fathers of this country agreed on at independence. Whether you are talking about resource control, state police, all these agitations have been settled and that is what is causing the crisis in the country today.

“So, when the military said they are going back to the barracks in 1999, Afenifere and the National Democracy Coalition (NADECO) said ‘send us back to the constitution you met us with because this is not the constitution of our founding fathers.’ So, the question of restructuring is to restructure the country back to federalism which our founding fathers agreed on.

“This unitary form of government with all its impositions which have enslaved the South to the North was imposed on us by the military.

“It is the military that created more states in the North; it is the military that created more local governments in the North. It is the military that said that revenues would be shared on the basis of local governments and you people are not addressing it. These are questions you need to answer; why is that so? You don’t stay in a club that is not favourable to you.”

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The US president rejects claims that unemployed Americans have less of an incentive to find work.

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The Pentagon accuses Iranian boats of acting "aggressively" near US vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

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As its neighbour succumbs to a devastating Covid crisis, fears rise in Pakistan in the run up to Eid.

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Two young girls and their asylum seeker parents remain in detention despite years of campaigning.

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Police in Colorado say the body of Amy Carlson was mishandled, leaving her family appalled.

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In one of Africa's largest countries, people worry more about security and other diseases than Covid-19.

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Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians heighten after spiralling in recent days.

A former Director of the State Security Service, Mike Ejiofor has warned that Nigeria is heading towards a state of anarchy as regions and states have resorted to floating of security networks to defend their respective lands and people.

The ex-boss of the secret police added that it is a dangerous approach for geo-political zones and states to empower groups and individuals to bear firearms, insisting that citizens have submitted their fights to the government for protection.

Mike Ejiofor ChannelsTV

Ejiofor disclosed this during a live programme, City Talks with Reuben Abati, monitored by SaharaReporters on Saturday.

While he applauded to some extent the creation of Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun, because of its legal framework, he criticised EbubeAgu for lacking legal backing and other necessary structures such as personnel and equipment.

“It is a very dangerous development. We are heading straight into anarchy. We have surrendered our rights to government to protect us and people are now establishing their own various security networks.

“To some extent, I agree with the establishment of Amotekun in the South-West because it affords collaboration. It affords unity of purpose among security operatives. And since the establishment of Amotekun, even though there is no society without crime, you agree with me that crimes have reduced in the South-West.

“Now, I don’t understand the establishment of EbubeAgu because they have no legal framework, they have no structures of their own. It’s now they are trying to put a legal framework on the ground and trying to buy equipment. I overheard one of the governors in the South-East saying they’re trying to put structures on the ground.

“How can you put the cart before the horse? Then you also have the Eastern Security Network established by the outlawed IPOB. These are challenges. It is like degenerating into a terrible situation where everybody is now,” Ejiofor said.

The security consultant, further, lamented the recent decision of the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom authorising the local vigilantes to bear weapons in the state.

Governor Ortom, Thursday, recounting how the state has been plagued with unending attacks and atrocities of the herdsmen and bandits, authorised the vigilantes to bear arms. 

 “All the vigilantes must carry weapons that are licensed so that anytime there is external aggression, they must be able to rise up to defend themselves,” Ortom told journalists in Makurdi, the Benue state capital.

Reacting, Ejiofor maintained that the governor lacks the constitutional power to instruct the local vigilantes to carry guns.

“Only recently, the Lagos State Government signed a law banning the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from handling corruption cases in Lagos State. How can that work? Now, Benue State Governor, out of frustration said he has given rights to vigilantes to bear arms. What part of Constitution gives him that right? He said it by himself that they will bear sophisticated firearms.

“The earlier we sit down and convey a conference and say what exactly our problem (is), the better for us. When you go to the East, you have Biafra. In the South-West, there is Oduduwa, it is only the South-South that is typical Nigeria now in the South. And if they start their own problems now, you know what it is. The earlier we look at our nationhood problem critically, the better for us,” ex-DSS Director said.

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The Nigerian Army has said its soldiers shot dead four bandit commanders and 48 other bandits in a clearance operation in Zamfara State in the North-West region of the country.

 

The army stated on Monday that it also rescued 18 persons held hostage by them in the first phase of its newly launched Operation Tsare Mutane, to flush out the criminals.

File Photo

The four bandits’ top commanders were; Yellow Mai-Bille, Sani Meli, Dan-Katsina and Sama’ila Bakajin Bari, while the bandits leader in the area Jummo sustained gunshot injuries.

 

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Mohammed Yerima, in a release obtained by SaharaReporters, said, “Troops of 8 Division, Nigerian Army operating in Zamfara and adjoining states made tremendous progress in the ongoing fight against banditry and other violent crimes in the North West. The division had earlier launched Operation Tsare Mutane following the directives of the Chief of Army Staff for the division to stabilise the area in order to facilitate the return of socio-economic activities.

 

“The General Officer Commanding of the division, Maj Gen Usman Yusuf launched the first phase of Operation Tsare Mutane which lasted from 23 March to 2 April 2021 in Maradun LGA of Zamfara State.

 

“The troops successfully cleared many bandits' camps in Jaya, Kadaya and Bayan Ruwa amongst several others. The troops successfully neutralised 48 bandits while the bandits leader in the area, Jummo, sustained gunshot wound to his leg. The troops rescued 18 kidnap victims from the bandits' enclave. Moreover, eight AK-47 rifles and one G3 rifle, as well as one PKT and a Machine Gun were recovered from the Bandits.

 

“Meanwhile, in continuation with the second phase of Operation Tsare Mutane, troops sacked several other bandits' camps around Gabiya, Bozaya and Mereri and the adjoining forests in Maru LGA of Zamfara State from 19 April to 3 May 2021. The areas which were heavily infested by bandits were successfully cleared by the highly spirited troops. Key bandits' leaders including Yellow Mai-Bille, Sani Meli, Dan-Katsina and Sama'ila Bakajin Bari were neutralised in the process.  

 

“Items recovered in the second phase of Operation Tsare Mutane include 4,600 rounds of ammunition, two AK-103 rifles, eight AK-47 magazines, 1,628 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, fifty four rounds of PKM as well as one motorcycle and five Techno mobile phones.”

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Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has called on the National Assembly to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari, saying Nigeria has got to a stage where the President should be impeached.

 

According to Falana, the Buhari-led administration has “outlived its usefulness” following the worsening insecurity across Nigeria.

Falana, who spoke on the sidelines of an event to mark World Press Freedom Day, said Nigeria is at war, as the current administration can no longer perform its function of securing lives and properties, The Gazette reported,

 

 

He noted that the country is plagued by security challenges such as banditry and mass abductions ravaging northern Nigeria and the South-West as well as incessant attacks on security agencies by unknown gunmen in South-East and South-South. He stated that the Boko Haram insurgents have taken over the North-East.

 

He said, “Our country is going through war. In the North-East the Boko Haram sect is having an upper hand, don’t be deceived.

 

 

“I’m sure you know what is going on in the South-East, no policeman or soldier can wear his uniform- it’s as bad. I’m sure you know what is going on in the South-West, kidnapping, ritual murders all over the place. So, nowhere is safe in our country,” he said.

 

A few weeks ago, it was gathered that Boko Haram militants had taken over communities in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, imposing VAT and income taxes on residents.

 

The state governor, Sani Bello, also announced the displacement of many residents by insurgents around Munya and Shiroro local government areas, stating that over 3,000 people have been displaced by Boko Haram’s activities.

 

Falana cited section 143 of the constitution which provides that “The President or Vice-President may be removed from office in accordance with the provisions of this section.”

 

He berated the current administration saying that “a regime that has outlived its usefulness boasts that no one can suggest that the president should resign.

 

“For them, it’s a reasonable statement to ask the president to resign. But for me I submit by virtue of section 143 and we didn’t put it. If the president is unable to perform the primary functions of his office, the National Assembly shall move for him and ensure that he is neatly taken away out power through the process of impeachment,” he said.

 

According to the lawyer, Nigeria has attained that stage because the government has failed in its primary duties.

 

“I think Nigeria has gotten to that stage because section 14 (2) (3) provides that the primary purpose of the government in Nigeria shall be the security and welfare of the people, so if the government can neither guarantee your security nor your welfare, what is left for that government to be sacked,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, Falana had once claimed that Buhari’s regime knows those that are breaching the peace of the country.

 

Insecurity has worsened under the president’s watch, a number of daily attacks leave Nigerians raising doubts if the retired major general is still in control of the country.

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Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has called on the National Assembly to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari, saying Nigeria has got to a stage where the President should be impeached.

 

According to Falana, the Buhari-led administration has “outlived its usefulness” following the worsening insecurity across Nigeria.

Falana, who spoke on the sidelines of an event to mark World Press Freedom Day, said Nigeria is at war, as the current administration can no longer perform its function of securing lives and properties, The Gazette reported,

 

 

He noted that the country is plagued by security challenges such as banditry and mass abductions ravaging northern Nigeria and the South-West as well as incessant attacks on security agencies by unknown gunmen in South-East and South-South. He stated that the Boko Haram insurgents have taken over the North-East.

 

He said, “Our country is going through war. In the North-East the Boko Haram sect is having an upper hand, don’t be deceived.

 

 

“I’m sure you know what is going on in the South-East, no policeman or soldier can wear his uniform- it’s as bad. I’m sure you know what is going on in the South-West, kidnapping, ritual murders all over the place. So, nowhere is safe in our country,” he said.

 

A few weeks ago, it was gathered that Boko Haram militants had taken over communities in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, imposing VAT and income taxes on residents.

 

The state governor, Sani Bello, also announced the displacement of many residents by insurgents around Munya and Shiroro local government areas, stating that over 3,000 people have been displaced by Boko Haram’s activities.

 

Falana cited section 143 of the constitution which provides that “The President or Vice-President may be removed from office in accordance with the provisions of this section.”

 

He berated the current administration saying that “a regime that has outlived its usefulness boasts that no one can suggest that the president should resign.

 

“For them, it’s a reasonable statement to ask the president to resign. But for me I submit by virtue of section 143 and we didn’t put it. If the president is unable to perform the primary functions of his office, the National Assembly shall move for him and ensure that he is neatly taken away out power through the process of impeachment,” he said.

 

According to the lawyer, Nigeria has attained that stage because the government has failed in its primary duties.

 

“I think Nigeria has gotten to that stage because section 14 (2) (3) provides that the primary purpose of the government in Nigeria shall be the security and welfare of the people, so if the government can neither guarantee your security nor your welfare, what is left for that government to be sacked,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, Falana had once claimed that Buhari’s regime knows those that are breaching the peace of the country.

 

Insecurity has worsened under the president’s watch, a number of daily attacks leave Nigerians raising doubts if the retired major general is still in control of the country.

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Ejike Mbaka, spiritual director of Adoration Ministries Enugu Nigeria (AMEN), has apologised to the Catholic church over his flaws in recent times.

While delivering his sermon on Sunday in a video obtained by SaharaReporters, Mbaka asked the bishop of the diocese, Callistus Onaga, to forgive him and his followers for his comments and theirs, which have negatively affected the image of the church.

He also cautioned his followers against violence after some of them broke into the diocesan cathedral on Wednesday when his whereabouts were unknown for some hours.

He said, "I render my sincere, unalloyed apology to the Holy Roman Church and that the mother church should forgive us in any way we didn't do well. I pray for forgiveness. I am on your behalf kneeling, forgive. What has happened has happened. 

"We are to save the image of the church and save the souls. I am here for soul-saving; the church is not my property. I am asking my Lord Bishop Onaga and all the priest to rest the case.

"I have no problem with anybody. I didn't send anybody to destroy anything. Let us glorify the name of the church. We can't destroy the church we are protecting. I am happy with the mother church. I can't leave the Catholic church. May the Lord protect all of you. 

"I can't disobey the church — who am I? How can somebody who has been serving the church for 25 years come out to begin to fight the same church? Everything in my life is for the church."

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Police authorities in Italy have nabbed  23 Nigerians, 27 Albanians, 4 Italians and 1 Gambian following a crackdown on an international criminal group involved in drug dealing, Albanian Daily reports.

Led by an Albanian man called Gerado Bejaj, and a Nigerian identified as Momodu Sule, the group is accused of moving tons of marijuana and other substances outside and within Italy.

File photo used to illustrate story.

Also in the custody of law enforcement are drugs worth an estimated EUR2 million which, according to lead prosecutor Michele Prestipino, are just the tip of the iceberg. Surveillance on the group lasted for two years, police say.

Momodu and Bejaj are the arrowheads of the criminal group, which has a solid network in Albania through which consignments flowed top-down into the streets of Rome, according to investigators.

An Albanian news outlet says the pact between the Nigerians and the Albanians started in 2010.

On the Italian side, one of the suspects, an unemployed driver, has moved 382 vehicles used by the group in transporting drugs.

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The General Overseer of the Living Faith Church International (Winners Chapel), Bishop David Oyedepo, has called on the government to come to him for a lasting solution to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He stated this on Sunday during the 40th-anniversary thanksgiving service of the church in the Ota Cathedral in Ogun State, monitored by The PUNCH.

He said, "They should come to me to find out how to deal with COVID-19 at no cost."

He warned his members not to take the "deadly thing" called vaccine in the same breath.

"Let me warn you against this deadly thing circulated around the country because it has not been duly tested. An elder of this church, who works with the World Health Organisation, confirmed this, thanking me for always speaking the truth about the authenticity of the COVID-19 vaccine," he said.

He said vaccinators went to churches to get people vaccinated, adding that such was an "insult," insisting that every church "is anti-COVID-19 zone."

"What an insult! What an assault! Nobody has the right to enforce vaccination on you, and anybody cannot terminate your employment because you refuse to take the vaccine; my God will show up (for you).

"Did I tell anyone I am sick? Don't let anyone harass you into doing what you don't want to do," he added.

Oyedepo also alleged that the side effects defeated the benefits of taking the vaccine.

He said, "They wanted Africa dead. I heard them say it. When we didn't die as they proposed, they brought out this vaccination scheme. You need to hear their proclamation that Africa will lack spaces to bury corpses. But, today, the reverse is the case. Africa has the least casualty among all the other continents of the world."

The auditorium, filled to capacity, did not have anyone with masks on or following any COVID-19 procedure. Oyedepo said the foreigners who came for the anniversary had returned to their home countries in good health.

He recommended a shot of anointing oil taken to kill the virus.

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Nigerian TV evangelist, TB Joshua, says Nigeria will remain one despite instability in different parts of the country.

Joshua, a preacher whose prophecies have drawn criticism in recent times, spoke in his church on Sunday. He played a video of a 2014 prophecy he made about Nigeria.

The preacher spoke on Nigeria's current upheaval caused by the COVID-19 and unrest in different parts of the country and linked it to the 2014 prophecy.

"Beyond this crisis, Nigeria is beautiful," he says.

"Your prayer now is that you should witness it so that this crisis will not take you away," the cleric soberly declared during a service at The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN).

"It is decreed that this nation will be reckoned with as a powerful nation."

Joshua says politicians will pay for their contributions to the crisis.

He said, "Huge trouble is coming, and no human being will withstand it unless you don't have a hand in that trouble. There is a cloud that covers Nigeria… the cloud of crisis, murder, killings, destruction covers Nigeria. The cloud will go; Nigeria will remain. Power without peace is powerless…The manner you have that power will determine whether there will be peace in it.

"The power is in the heart, not in the gun, not in the White House or Aso Rock. If you live in the White House without power in the heart, it is like you live in the bush. I want to assure you: Nigeria – nothing will happen to Nigeria. Nigeria will remain one!"

Reacting to insecurity fuelled by banditry and terrorism, Joshua said, "They have infiltrated everywhere. There is no section or department in this country that these people are not there. It has become a professional job. No one is secured by power and might and gun that they cannot get unless those whom God protects – because they have infiltrated everywhere. They are no more inside the bush; they are everywhere."

Reacting to the political crisis in the country, Joshua said, "There will be an answer if they can pay the price; by putting their political agenda behind and discuss the unity of this nation.

"Quote me once again – security, police, guns, soldiers cannot protect anyone again because everywhere is infiltrated.

Joshua's Youtube account was suspended recently. After reviewing at least seven videos, a rights body filed a complaint showing the preacher conducting prayers to "cure" gay people.

The prophecies have attracted attention on social media, with TB Joshua listed among the recent trends on Twitter. 

Many Pro-Biafra agitators do not like the prophecies. Many Nigerians took turns to react.  

A Twitter user, identified as MBrown, wrote, "TB Joshua prophesied that Nigeria would not break up. This is Coming from the same prophet who took cameras and media crew last year to his fasting wilderness. Said Coronavirus could end before May 2020, which later prove to be a fake decree. Make everybody dey their dey."

Joshua was slammed in several quarters after his prophecy that the coronavirus pandemic would end on March 27, 2020, was not fulfilled.

Months after, the killer virus has continued to affect several countries with a second wave of the novel disease currently making the headlines.
 

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The International Container Terminal Services Inc has denied that it is owned or has affiliation with Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote. 

The company, in a statement on Sunday sent to SaharaReporters, and signed by its Senior Vice President, Hans-Ole Madsen, said it is publicly listed independent company in the Philippines. 

SaharaReporters had reported how the suspended Nigeria Ports Authority Managing Director, Hadiza Bala, was involved in a clandestine ploy to short-change a company in favour of Dangote, as documents obtained by SaharaReporters revealed.

It reported how in 2020, some coastline terminals, formerly operated by Integrated Logistics Services’ (INTELs) in Onne ports complex, Rivers State, were confiscated and subsequently awarded to Dangote through a proxy company, International Container Terminal Services (ICTS) Nigeria limited. See Also Scandal EXCLUSIVE: How Suspended NPA Boss, Hadiza Usman Awarded Coastline Terminals To Dangote's Proxy Company In Shady Deal 0 Comments 1 Day Ago

Onne Port Complex is one of the largest Oil and Gas Free Zone in Africa, where major industry players from the exploration up to the completion phases operate.

Similarly, a memo released to the press, seen by SaharaReporters, showed that Usman had transferred the berths confiscated from INTELs to ICTSI, a proxy company traced to Dangote, five months earlier.

The leaked memo, dated May 13, was signed by Yusuf Ahmed, NPA’s Director of Lands & Asset Admin, on behalf of Usman.

“Please refer to the lease of land and berths 9, 10 and 11 granted to you at FOT Onne and find attached herewith the draft Lease Agreement for a review of its possible contents before the final copy is produced for execution,” the letter addressed to the managing director of ICTSI read.

However, ICTSI in the statement said it had no links with Dangote. 

"We would like to clarify that International Container Terminal Services Inc is a Philippines publicly listed independent company engaged in the operation of 33 ports in 6 continents. 

"ICTSI ranks as a top 10 port operator in the world. Details about our ownership and financial statements can be found on www.ictsi.com. 

"ICTSI is not owned or in any way affiliated with the Dangote Group of companies," the statement read. 

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The International Container Terminal Services Inc has denied that it is owned or has affiliation with Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote. 

The company, in a statement on Sunday sent to SaharaReporters, and signed by its Senior Vice President, Hans-Ole Madsen, said it is publicly listed independent company in the Philippines. 

SaharaReporters had reported how the suspended Nigeria Ports Authority Managing Director, Hadiza Bala, was involved in a clandestine ploy to short-change a company in favour of Dangote, as documents obtained by SaharaReporters revealed.

It reported how in 2020, some coastline terminals, formerly operated by Integrated Logistics Services’ (INTELs) in Onne ports complex, Rivers State, were confiscated and subsequently awarded to Dangote through a proxy company, International Container Terminal Services (ICTS) Nigeria limited. See Also Scandal EXCLUSIVE: How Suspended NPA Boss, Hadiza Usman Awarded Coastline Terminals To Dangote's Proxy Company In Shady Deal 0 Comments 22 Hours Ago

Onne Port Complex is one of the largest Oil and Gas Free Zone in Africa, where major industry players from the exploration up to the completion phases operate.

Similarly, a memo released to the press, seen by SaharaReporters, showed that Usman had transferred the berths confiscated from INTELs to ICTSI, a proxy company traced to Dangote, five months earlier.

The leaked memo, dated May 13, was signed by Yusuf Ahmed, NPA’s Director of Lands & Asset Admin, on behalf of Usman.

“Please refer to the lease of land and berths 9, 10 and 11 granted to you at FOT Onne and find attached herewith the draft Lease Agreement for a review of its possible contents before the final copy is produced for execution,” the letter addressed to the managing director of ICTSI read.

However, ICTSI in the statement said it had no links with Dangote. 

"We would like to clarify that International Container Terminal Services Inc is a Philippines publicly listed independent company engaged in the operation of 33 ports in 6 continents. 

"ICTSI ranks as a top 10 port operator in the world. Details about our ownership and financial statements can be found on www.ictsi.com. 

"ICTSI is not owned or in any way affiliated with the Dangote Group of companies," the statement read. 

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