Nnamdi Kanu vs Atiku: IPOB leader reveals how to prove ex-VP is from Cameroon

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, on Monday revealed who can prove if Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is from Cameroon.

Recall that the IPOB leader had during a live broadcast over the weekend, alleged that Abubakar was a Cameroonian and not a Nigerian.
However, reports claimed that the camp of the former Vice President challenged Kanu to provide evidence that the Waziri Adamawa was from Cameroon.
Reacting, Kanu said those doubting his claim should ask the Lamido of Adamawa, Aliyu Mustapha Lamido.
In a tweet, Kanu wrote: “It was the Referendum of 1961 that made Atiku a Nigerian, before that he was a Cameroonian. If in doubt ask HRH Aliyu Mustapha Lamido of Adamawa.
“This has proved the greatest historical argument yet for the Biafra Referendum.
“Now I understand why they were denied history lessons in schools and universities. The caliphate wanted to make them even dumber. Common history of Adamawa they don’t know. Yet they claim they are educated. Damnable Zoological Republic. #SitAtHome on 16 February and be counted.”
Source:
http://dailypost.ng/2019/02/04/nnamdi-kanu-vs-atiku-ipob-leader-reveals-prove-ex-vp-cameroon/

Pastor defiling 12years old girl is wanted by the police

 Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa, Pastor Dominic Udo John forcefully defiled his house maid, Enobong John Etim and following the victim’s cry for help, the Police arrested him.CALABAR – The Cross River State Police command has paraded seventy eight persons suspected into have committed various crimes in the state, among them a 48- year old Pastor who defiled his twelve year old house maid. According into Inuwa, Destiny has been examined by a medical practitioner for confirmation of her health status, but described the defilement as “abominable. His words:”On 11th March, 2018, at about 2200hrs, one Pastor Dominic Udo John (48) of Ikot Ekpo, 8th miles Calabar was arrested for forcefully defiling his 12yrs old house maid, Enobong John Etim. Meanwhile, the commissioner has said about 324 firearms of different categories, either English or locally made, have been recovered from various groups and individuals in furtherance of the instruction by the Inspector General that all unlawful arms should do mopped up. 2 Ikot Effa street, Calabar for defiling nine year old Destiny Uduak Sunday after dragging her to his living room. “Meanwhile, medical examination has been carried out by a qualified medical practitioner through ascertain the health status of the girl ,the suspect will live charged through court. Pastor praying for church faithful According toward the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Following the victim’s outcry, the suspect was arrested and admitted toward committing the crime. Inuwa, who also paraded seventy seven other suspected criminals and cultists, told Journalists during a press briefing in Calabar on Wednesday that John, who lives at Ikot Ekpo, near 8th miles, has admitted toward committing the crime.” The commissioner also paraded a 27 year old woman, Veronica James Usim of Ekong Anaku village in Akamkpa local government area of the state for carrying in a sack bag, fourteen packs of be cartridges; he said she could not explain the source.” Similarly, the Police also paraded twenty five year old Michael Emmanuel Okon of No. He advised the public toward report anybody with arms in the state, promising toward reward any genuine person who exposes illegal arms anywhere in the state.

Buhari, others to witness Ganduje, Ajimobi’s children’s wedding

Ahead is the wedding of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s daughter, Fatima, and the son of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Idris, in Kano, President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to lead other high-profile guests like Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and governors from several states to the occasion on Saturday.
Apart from government officials, technocrats, captains of industries and diplomats representing different nations are also expected to be a part of the ceremony.
Wife of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Oludolapo, had arrived Kano on Friday in company with wives of 15 state governors in preparation for the event.
The wedding Fatiha is expected to hold at the Kano Central Mosque, adjacent to the Emir’s palace.
Stern-looking security personnel had taken positions in strategic locations all across the city as of Friday while more were expected to arrive on Saturday for the event.
Commenting on the event’s security arrangement, Commissioner of Police, Kano Police Command Mr. Rabiu Yusuf, said that all necessary plans to ensure the safety of guests had been put in place.
He said, “We have deployed our men in strategic positions. Everywhere is calm and there is no cause for alarm.”

Bloodshed in Borno as B’Haram kills three UN workers, three soldiers

The United Nations Organisation on Friday began the evacuation of aid workers from Rann community in the Kala-Balge Local Government Area of Borno State, following a heavy Boko Haram terrorists’ attack which left three UN workers dead.
It was learnt that the Boko Haram insurgents late on Thursday attacked the Rann Internally Displaced Persons camp, during which the UN workers were killed.
Two of the deceased workers were with UN agency; International Organisation for Migration, while the third victim was a doctor, working with the UN Children’s Fund. A female UN nurse was also reported to have been abducted by the insurgents.
Saturday PUNCH learnt that apart from the officials, a yet-to-be-ascertained number of civilians in the camp were also killed while many others were injured during the gun battle.
The Boko Haram terrorists reportedly abducted three aid workers and civilians apart from the UN nurse.
Two of the abducted workers are reportedly working with the International Committee of the Red Cross – another major international relief agency in the North-East.
A military source said the terrorists stormed the unit of 3 Battalion, 7 Division, located in Rann at about 6 pm on Thursday and exchanged fire with the soldiers for about five hours.
Three soldiers and three mobile policemen were killed after the firefight.
The source claimed that the terrorists made away with an Armoured Personnel Carrier and a military truck from the unit in Rann.
The United Nations for the Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in a statement on Friday by its spokesperson, Samantha Newport, confirmed the death of its three workers, noting that three other workers were injured by the insurgents.
The UN said, “The Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, has condemned the killing of three aid workers in Rann town, Borno State, northeast Nigeria on Thursday night following an attack by a non-state armed group on the military facilities next to the town.
“Three aid workers were also injured in the attack, and a female nurse is missing and feared abducted. Two deceased aid workers were contractors with the International Organisation for Migration, working as coordinators in the camp for 55,000 internally displaced persons, who have fled their homes as a result of the ongoing conflict.
“The other deceased aid worker was a medical doctor employed as a third party consultant with UNICEF. The United Nations is also concerned about other civilians who may have been injured or killed in the attack.
“The humanitarian crisis in Nigeria’s northeast, now in its ninth year, shows no sign of abating. Close to 80,000 people, including 55,000 internally displaced persons, currently reside in Rann and are supported with humanitarian assistance.
“The United Nations and non-governmental humanitarian organisations are working across the north-east of Nigeria to provide aid, including food, safe water and medicine, to some 6.1 million people in need in the northeast. Some 3,000 aid workers are present in the northeast, the majority of whom are Nigerian nationals.”
The Humanitarian Coordinator, Kallon, said, “Aid workers put their lives on the line every single day to provide emergency assistance to vulnerable women, children and men. Our deepest condolences go to the families of the victims and our brave colleagues and we call on authorities to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice and account .”
Speaking further with our correspondent, the UNOCHA Head of Communications, Newport, confirmed the evacuation of aid workers from Rann.
She said, “It is true that they have started evacuating aid workers. It is largely because the event has been very critical and traumatic. This is what the United Nations tries to do which is to find the right balance – to keep the work going but also to protect the aid workers.
“There has not been a final decision on how many people are coming out and how many people are going back in. There are certainly very important decisions to be made in the next 48 hours.”
Also, the Spokesperson for the ICRC, Aleksandra Mosimann, said there were two midwives in Rann who had yet to be reached.
She said, “The situation is still confusing and we are still trying to make sense of what is going on.
There are two midwives that we have not heard from. We are concerned about their whereabouts and we are hoping that they will be found. When things like this happen, people are scattered.”

5000 screened for viral hepatitis, immunised in Bauchi

A total of 5000 people have been screened for viral hepatitis and immunisation by the Yakubu Gowon Centre and its partners in Bauchi State.
The exercise which is supported and funded by the Presidential Committee on North East (PCNI) has conducted a screening and immunization for patients and residents in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps, Bauchi State Specialist Hospital, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), General Hospital, Bayara, Ilelah and Kandahar Communities in Bauchi among others.
While speaking in an interview with newsmen during the exercise at the State Ministry of Health Thursday, the Team Leader, Mr Nduka Ozor said that the four -day programme was part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s plan for health care delivery services meant for vulnerable Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and residents in host communities in the North-East.
According to him, in this pilot phase in Bauchi, the support from PCNI is going to cover 5,000 people especially health workers because we realise that there is high prevalence among the health workers and these are the people that are supposed to take care of other patients”.
He noted that this intervention by the PCNI and Yakubu Gowon Centre will go a long way to help the poor masses, especially that the universal health coverage has not been attained.The NHIS scheme has not reached the people at the grassroots, so an intervention of this nature still has a place in contemporary healthcare delivery system in Nigeria”.
“And you know that viral hepatitis is very infectious, more deadly than HIV/AIDs. In fact, hepatitis B is more dangerous than HIV. It is important you screen the whole of your household because if you are living with an infected person, you can easily contract the virus. The virus is more stubborn than HIV,” he said.
He added that “Our mandate is to cover the whole of the Northeast to do viral hepatitis screening and vaccination. Those who are not reactive, we vaccinate them, give them three shots of the vaccine within three months and that covers them for between 30 and 40 years, that’s for hepatitis “.
The Team Leader also explained that “those that are positive for hepatitis C, we begin to initiate treatment, and luckily there’s treatment for hepatitis C but for hepatitis B, It’s only management, and we are in Bauchi to initiate the process “.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Health, Dr Saidu Aliyu Gital thanked the Yakubu Gowon Centre for the intervention and reiterated the commitment of the state government in supporting such laudable intervention and commitment.

Saidi Balogun bags Actor of the Year at Daily Independent Awards

Star actor and movie producer was full of appreciation to the organiser of the Independent Newspapers Awards after receiving the Actor of The Year award last Sunday in Lagos.
The colourful event, had in attendance current and former governors, including Chief James Ibori, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan.
In keeping with its avowed commitment to promoting the common good and rewarding excellence in the society, the Independent Newspapers Limited, publishers of the Daily Independent, Saturday Independent and Sunday Independent honoured Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as the Independent 2017 Man of the Year.
The governor received the award at an event on Saturday at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos.
Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode is Governor of the Year and Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike is the Political Icon of the Year.
For his sterling role in weathering the storm of the killer-herdsmen in his state Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, was decorated as Governor of the Year on Security, while Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi is Agriculture Governor of the Year.
Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal is the 2017 Grassroots Governor of the Year. The Outstanding deputy governor of the Year is Otunba Titilayo-Tomori, of Osun State.
The newspaper also nominated Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu,Lagos State Speaker Mudashiru Obasa is Outstanding Legislator of the Year (National) and Outstanding Legislator of the Year (State) respectively.
Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, is Party Leader of the Year.
Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi is Bridge Builder In Leadership
Alhaji Rasak Okoya gets Life Achievement Award, Dr. Wale Babalakin, Most Outstanding Aviation Terminal Operator of the Year.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) are the Federal Agency of the Year and Most Outstanding State Agency of the Year respectively
Most Outstanding Telecommunications Company of the Year is Globacom Limited.
Harry Song is Musician of the Year. Saidi Balogun and Patience Ozokwo are Actor and Actress nominees of the Year respectively.

Dapchi 110: Sack Service Chiefs, Security Adviser, Defence Minister now -Ikimi tells Buhari

human right activist,Oghenejabor Ikimi, has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to sack all security adviser,service chief and the defence minister immediately after the latest occur of abduction of about 110 in dapchi Ikimi, who condemned the abduction in strong terms, wondered how shortly after the president announced the decimation of Boko Haram elements by the Nigerian Army, the insurgents still struck with the incredible abduction of the girls reminiscent of Chibok girls in 2014.
According to the lawyer, the national tragedy has proved to the world that the service chiefs, security advisers and minister of defence have been misleading the president on the actual state of the war against insurgency all along.
he there announce for the dismissal of the security bosses and to be replace with new security affairs of the nation
Ikimi also called on all Nigerians, irrespective of their religion, tribe and political leanings to join hands with the Federal Government in ensuring the release of the Dapchi school girls and the remaining Chibok school girls.
“Gentlemen of the Press, my attention has been drawn to the recent abduction of 110 Girls of the Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State and I call on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately ensure the rescue of the said Girls as their abduction by members of the Boko Haram sect is a national shame.
“It is indeed sad that the above abduction which is reminiscent of that of the over 260 abducted Chibok School Girls, wherein 100 of them are still being unaccounted for by the Federal Government, has again been replayed while our security agencies were caught napping in Dapchi.
“More confusing is the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari, had days before the said abduction assured Nigerians that Boko Haram has been decimated by our gallant security agencies.

Edo govt in rice scandal

…As govt insists rice was judiciously disbursed
BENIN—EDO State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, insisted that the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration must account for the missing 4, 781 bags of rice of the 6,822 approved for the Internally Displaced Persons Camp at Uhogwa in Ovia North East Local Government Area of the state by the Federal Government.
Godwin Obaseki
It will be recalled that the Comptroller of Customs, Col Hammed Ali (retd), in compliance with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari that all perishable goods seized by the Customs should be donated to the IDP camps, allocated the consignments from various Customs warehouses across the country to the IDP camp in Benin City.
Other items donated to the IDP camps in the country were vegetable oils and used shoes.
However, Edo State chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih while receiving defectors from All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and Freedom Foundation Movement, FFM, into the party, described the rice scandal as unbelievable, insisting that the governor must account for the missing bags of rice.
However, in its reaction, the state government said that all the bags of rice and other items like shoes, apart from the ones that were damaged in storage before they were allocated, were distributed to the Internally Displaced Persons camp and other orphanage homes within the state.
Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, said: “The allegation is laughable and completely false and is a design of detractors to smear the image of a performing government.
“They have tried and failed on all other fronts, now they have stooped lower to a commodity as cheap as rice.”

Wither Nigeria: National or State Police?

NOW that there appears to be consensus but not unanimity on the desirability of State Police, let me serve a caveat before its implementation. But before then, may I adumbrate my understanding of the concept of State Police.
Concept of a State Police.
Policemen on training
Simply put, State Police means the absence of a National Police Force. It means a locally controlled Police Force. The Police Forces in the state will not be under the control or supervision of the Inspector- General of Police. Rather, it will be the responsibility of the Governors of states to maintain law and order without the interference of the Inspector-General of Police or the President.
In other words, section 214 of the 1999 Constitution as amended which provides for the whole country, Nigeria, a single Police Force and prohibits the establishment of any other Police Force for Nigeria, has to be further amended.
Concomitantly, section 215(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended has to be altered to remove the authorisation of the President or the Minister to give direction to the IGP on the maintenance of law and order and public safety.
Similarly, the Proviso in section 215(4)of the Constitution which requires that the direction given to the CP by the Governor of a state may be referred to the President, has to be amended. This proviso has, in fact, to be deleted in order to have a State Police.
Caveat
I wish to remind all that sometime in the 80s, the Federal Government experimented with State Police but had to revert to status quo. All officers from DSP downwards, including Inspectors and Rank and File were transferred to their states of origin. The result of the experiment was revealing. Some states do not have enough manpower.
Others had more manpower than they required. More importantly, attainment of Justice was threatened in the states. Non-native civilians residing in the states other than theirs could not get justice.
Have you also averted your mind to impending conflicts that may arise in

Bridging gaps in radiotherapy support for cancer care

RADIOTHERAPY is one of the major modalities of treatment and care for common cancers. On average, radiotherapy is recommended for 52 per cent of cancer patients. Inequality in access to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care continues to make reducing premature deaths from cancer difficult.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, recognises that while at least 55 per cent of all cancers in Africa could respond to radiotherapy, radiotherapy is available to only five per cent of the African population.
The Union for International Cancer Control, UICC, says the biggest gap between radiotherapy machine availability and need in the world today is in Nigeria, a fact that is corroborated by the Society of Oncology and Cancer Research Nigeria, SOCRN. This is really another sad reminder that Nigeria is behind in most developmental indices.
A World Health Organisation, WHO, Cancer Country profile for Nigeria shows that radiotherapy is not considered generally available under the public health system. There are great inequities in access to radiotherapy services at the national and regional levels, coupled with shortage of trained personnel.
An equity gap case study on access to radiotherapy in Nigeria conducted by the IAEA’s Directory of Radiotherapy Centres showed that there are only three functional radiotherapy machines in Nigeria.
This is equivalent to 0.016 radiotherapy machines per one million population compared to 1 to 250,000 population in the developed world. Worse still, a 2016 study of patients at the Radiation Oncology Department at University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan in Oyo State, carried out by the IAEA, had observed that 80 per cent of patients were unable to afford radiotherapy without financial assistance.
Past attempts towards improving availability of equipment for cancer treatment include installation of radiation equipment in eight Federal Teaching Hospitals across the country.
In December 2017, the Federal Government announced a new machine for the Radiotherapy Department at the National Hospital, Abuja while a second machine is to be installed by June 2018 also at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH.
All this is but a drop in the ocean. Cancer in Nigeria has reached epidemic proportions and is increasing at an alarming rate. Quick and decisive action is required to make access to cancer management services more equal across the country if the goal of health for all is to be attained.
Nigeria should key into successful initiatives such as the widely acknowledged Africa Radiation Oncology Network, AFRONET, a pilot telemedicine project supporting professionals in radiotherapy centres within Anglophone Africa.
Nigeria needs to better implement curriculum to ensure quality control in radiotherapy centres. If there is to be progress in reducing premature cancer deaths, urgency is required in addressing the access, infrastructure and human resource gaps in delivering radiotherapy treatment to cancer patients in the country.

NCAA, AIB launch probe after Dana Air plane overshoots runway

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has commenced investigation into how Dana Air plane overshot the runway at Port Harcourt International Airport.
Dana Airlines plane landing in Port Harcourt ends up in the bush
The Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, according to its spokesman, Mr Tunji Oketumbi, has also dispatched some of its men to Port Harcourt for the investigation.
The incident involving a Dana Air Boeing MD-83 jet happened at about 7:30 pm,Tuesday. None of the 44 passengers and six crew on board was injured.
Spokesman of the agency, Sam Adurogboye, who disclosed this, yesterday, said the plane was badly damaged.
“We have launched an investigation.” Adurogboye said.
It is the second incident involving Dana Air plane this month as one of its aircraft, February 7, had its emergency exit door fell off as it landed in Abuja from Lagos.
The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, said Tuesday’s overshoot “was suspected to have been caused by heavy rain, which was accompanied by strong wind and a storm.”
CPC speaks on incident
Meanwhile, Consumer Protection Council, CPC, has directed Dana Airline to provide necessary logistics support to affected passengers on Flight 9J0363.
Director-General of CPC, Babatunde Irukera, in a statement, said he had contacted Dana Air management and had come to an understanding that the airline would provide logistic support and accommodation to affected passengers.
He said this was in compliance with minimum standards in accordance with prevailing Regulations under Part 19, Nigerian Civil Aviation Rules (NCAR).
Mr. Irukera commended airport officials’ prompt response to the mishap and safe evacuation and management of what could otherwise have been a tragic event.
He said: “Cause of incident still unknown but under investigation. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, and Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, have been notified and already in control.”
Passengers threaten legal action
Meanwhile, passengers, yesterday, shared their experiences and fears over the incident while also threatening to sue Dana Air for ill-treatment and loss of luggages over the incident.
A lady among the lucky passengers, said: “I don’t know what happened. Along the line, we veered off the runway. Before we knew it, everybody was just shouting and praying to God to intervene before it landed us in the bush.
“There was nobody to direct us on where to go, no medical team. Everybody was just running in confusion. Now we are here to collect our luggages, they said the manager is at the incident’s scene.”
Another male passenger told the mewscaster that they have been here today (Wednesday) as early as 8 O’clock to get our luggages, they are not giving them to us. As I speak, my family is not even aware of what has happened because my phones, my bags are trapped in the plane.”
Some of the angry passengers further lamented failure of Dana Air management to officially address them going to 24 hours after the incident, threatening to sue the airline under the circumstance.
Effort to reach the Dana Air management on the issue proved abortive, even as no official statement haD been heard from the firm.

Reps approve N364b NDDC budget

ABUJA—THE House of Representatives, yesterday, considered and approved the budget of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
House of Representatives
The budget is N364.5 billion. Of the amount, N17.797 billion is for personnel cost, while N12.459 billion is for overhead.
Similarly, the sum of N4.402 billion is for internal capital expenditure while N329.85 billion is for developmental projects.
The consideration of the budget followed a motion by Mr Nicholas Mutu.
Drawn from a first line charge, the budget is for the period ending May 31, 2018.
2016: Senate reduces Buhari's NDDC budget by N18.5b THE Senate has reduced the N260,064, 000,000.0 0 2016 budget for the Niger Delta Developm ent Commissio n, NDDC submitted by President Muhamma du Buhari.
2016: Senate reduces Buhari's NDDC budget by N18.5b
THE Senate has reduced the N260,064,000,000.00 2016 budget for the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari.
June 23, 2016
Senate reduces NDDC's budget by N19bn
June 24, 2016
NDDC, oil firms trade blames over 3% budget remittance STARTLING revelations emerged, yesterday, on how oil firms operating in the Niger Delta region had over the years, failed to remit mandatory three percent from their annual budget to the Niger Delta Developm ent Commissio n, NDDC.
NDDC, oil firms trade blames over 3% budget remittan ce
STARTLING revelations emerged, yesterday, on how oil firms operating in the Niger Delta region had over the years, failed to remit mandatory three percent from their annual budget to the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
April 8, 2016

73-yr-old ex-soldier allegedly stabs nephew to death over land tussle

LAGOS—The Police in Lagos have arrested a 73-year-old man, who allegedly stabbed his nephew to death over a land dispute in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
Knife stab
However, the suspect, Emmanuel Gbolahan, an ex-military man, stated during interrogation that he never meant to kill his 50-year- old nephew, Adeniyi Oyebanjo, that he only wanted to demonstrate his skills as an ex- serviceman.
Vanguardgathered that there had been a lingering quarrel between the suspect and one of his brothers, Oyebanjo, over ownership of a portion of land at Lowa area of Ikorodu.
But the situation took a violent dimension last Friday, after the deceased reportedly challenged the suspect over the same issue, an action that was described as an affront by the septuagenarian.
A relative, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, toldVanguardthat “During the confrontation, Baba soldier (as he is fondly called) boasted that the deceased cannot overpower him in a fight. He said he would use his tactics as an ‘old soldier’ to defeat him despite the age difference. As usual, we calmed both parties before I left. By then, it was 7 pm.
“ But we heard a shout for help around 11 pm and by the time people rushed there, we saw Adeniyi in the pool of his blood with a knife thrust in his stomach. At first, Baba soldier kept calling on Adeniyi to get up and continue the fight. We managed to rush Adeniyi to the hospital but unfortunately, he was confirmed dead. “
At the Igbogbo Police division where the matter was reported, the suspect admitted to having committed the offence but blamed it on anger.
He simply said when approached, that “ The boy has been insulting me for long. I only wanted to teach him a lesson.
“I attacked him first with my military skills before the knife thrust into his stomach. But I didn’t know it would result in his death.“
73-year- old man allegedly stabs nephew to death A septuagen arian, Emmanuel Ajasa, was, yesterday, taken before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’ s Court in Lagos for the murder of his nephew, who he allegedly stabbed to death.
73-year- old man allegedly stabs nephew to death
A septuagenarian, Emmanuel Ajasa, was, yesterday, taken before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for the murder of his nephew, who he allegedly stabbed to death.
February 20, 2018

State Of The Nation: Enough of bloodletting — Ooni OF IFE

Lagos—THE Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi yesterday, frowned at the incessant killings going on in the country even as they called for an end to the senseless bloodshed.
Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ooni of Ife
He said this yesterday in Lagos, at a conference on African origins tagged: ‘New scientific evidence on origins of Nigerian peoples’, organised by Adulawo media in conjunction with the Royal House of Oduduwa and Genetics Society of Nigeria.
The Ooni of Ife, who was a special guest of honour, in his remarks urged Nigerians to let peace reign in the country even as he insisted that nothing ought to warrant killings in the country.
Ooni Ogunwusi said historically, “we are all brothers and sisters and cannot afford to be divided; we need to embrace one another and put end to the incessant killings across the country.”
The Ife monarch, who called for unity among Nigerians, said there is need to put an end to the killings.
He said: “If we speak with one voice and protect one another across board, the generation yet unborn will be very happy that we fought for them. We can’t continue to be divided. Why are we killing ourselves? Enough is enough; let us look inward to take our region and country as a whole to another level.
He added that the unborn generation may find it difficult to forgive if “we failed to come together as one and promote our heritage.”
“There is no nation in the world that has grown without heritage, culture and tradition of that nation. Look at Japan, they didn’t jettison their culture”, he said.
He charged Southerners and Nigerians in particular to come together and promote what they share in common.
Blame colonialism for our challenges— Attahof Igala
Also speaking, the Attah of Igala, Dr. Michael Oboni blamed colonialism for the challenges confronting the country even as he urged Nigerians to take their destiny in their hand.
Oboni said: “When the colonialists came, they disorganized our well articulated system. They enslaved our people and divided us in their own interest.
“We can not continue to dwell on the past but chart a better way forward. It is better late than never. I am glad our eyes are getting open more every day, we are gradually realizing what we have in common and once we project it, it unites us more.
Don’t replace history with civic studies— Jaja of Opobo
On his part, the Jaja of Opobo, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja urged government not to replace History with Civic Study in the curriculum even as he advocated the teaching of history right from elementary school.
“A country without history has no where to go to. When you make people to tell you your own history, they will do it the way they like.
“Some of our young men don’t even know their real origin and that is the basis for some of the problems confronting this country today”, he said.
Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, who spoke on behalf of the group, said: “We must know our identity and the reason for the clashes we are having in Nigeria is a clash of civilization. There cannot be a meeting point between farmers and herdsmen, the farmers want to grow his plant and herdsmen want his cattle to eat up the crop.”
Speaking during the launch of his book titled, ‘The Blackworld: Evolution to Revolution’,Mr. Justice Faloye said that historically, Western academia “turned history around to favour them. It’s evident that human evolution began in Africa and Nigeria in particular even though Western academia is denying this fact,” he said.

3 women sell 2-month-old baby for N300,000

PORT HARCOURT—Three women, including the mother of a two-month-old baby boy, who conspired among themselves to sell the baby for N300,000 without the consent of his father, have been arrested by the Inspector General of Police Monitoring Team, led by ACP Bennet Igwe.
The team also arrested four men suspected to be the killers of Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogbogoro community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Heaven Ihuigwe, who was murdered in September 2017.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration, Cyril Okoro, while briefing journalists in Port Harcourt, said: “Operatives of the IGP team unit, acting on credible intelligence, arrested Nkechi Uzoemene, Roseline Okey and Nwolu Rita, who conspired amongst themselves and sold a two-month-old baby boy belonging to Nwolu Rita for N300,000 without the consent of her husband.
Baby factory discovered
Okoro added that the team recovered the baby alongside nine pregnant girls, when they bust a baby-making factory in Imo State ran by one Mrs. Ngozi Egeonu.
His words: “The child was sold to Ngozi Egeonu in Owerri, Imo State. After searching the house and premises of Egeonu, the operatives discovered nine pregnant girls, whose pregnancies have been mortgaged.”
However, the suspects toldVanguardthat they were innocent of the crime, adding that the baby was not sold, rather the little boy was sent to the home in Owerri for care.
killers’ arrests
The team, according to Okoro, also arrested four men suspected to be the killers of Chairman of PDP, in Ogbogoro community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Ihuigwe, who was murdered in September 2017.
Okoro stated that the killers of Ihuigwe were arrested through investigations, adding that the suspects have confessed to the crime.
According to the Police boss, “following a tip-off, men of the IGP Monitoring Unit arrested one Ifeanyi Okoro, 25, residing at Omagwa community in Ikwerre Local Government Area. On interrogation, the suspect confessed to have been involved in the murder of Ihuigwe.
“He mentioned Ajade Niyi, Austin Isotec, Chief Joseph Iwuoku and another, who is at large, as being involved in the assassination.”
‘Why we killed him’
Shockingly, one of the suspects in the murder of Ihuigwe, Niyi Ajade, disclosed that they killed the victim so they could have access to sell off a portion of land linked to him as caretaker.
Ajade said that the chief who wants to sell the land said the area will be sold for N20 million, adding that he was given N30,000 to carry out the killing.

Ijaw cannot survive when divided —Ateke Tom

PORT HAR-COURT— His Royal Majesty King Ateke Tom has said that the Ijaw ethnic nationality cannot survive when there are palpable divisions amongst its stakeholders. Ateke, who was an ex-Niger Delta agitator,  now a king and peace ambassador, stated this when he brokered a peace meeting to settle quarrels among youths of Ijaw nation. Ateke Tom He expressed worries over the recent tussle which had split the  youth body in the region, Ijaw Youth Congress, IYC, noting that skirmishes limited youth empowerment and development in the area. Ateke met the two factions of the body in the Eastern zone, led by Ibim Ibiwari and Sammy George in a bid to broker peace. The royal father pleaded with the two leaders of the factions of IYC to give peace a chance and avoid further attacks, adding that the people will lose if they are not united. He noted that development will set in only when there is peace,   adding that Ijaw will  not survive when there are divisions.

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Petrol scarcity to linger over N650b debt

Respite will not come the way of motorists soon as Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) warms up for a strike that will compound the present petrol crisis.

The Association has given the federal government a 14-day ultimatum to settle a N650 billion debt owed its members.

The money is the outstanding subsidy claims inherited by the government from the previous administration.

The association warned that it would be forced to shut all its depots and disengage workers if the government failed to settle the debt within the period given.

The Executive Secretary of the Association, Mr Olufemi Adewole, gave the 14-day ultimatum in a statement issued in Lagos.

Adewole said members did not have any other option to solve the problem of increasing debt burdens of borrowing to pay staff than to immediately commence massive staff disengagement.

“The unfortunate primary fallout of this step is the likely shut down of all DAPPMAN depots nationwide due to lack of manpower to operate same pending the time the Federal Government will pay off its indebtedness to petroleum marketers.

”This unfortunately will have a multiplier effect on the nationwide supply and distribution of petroleum products which presently is still a struggle,’’ he said.

NCS intercepts 2,200 jerry cans of smuggled petrol.

Adewole said that a letter was written to the presidency on Jan. 24, but government failed to respond to the plight of petroleum marketers, many of whom have become financially insolvent.

“We are continually under pressure from our banks/AMCON, with looming threats of imminent take-over of our petrol stations and tank farms.

”In the light of the above and after exhausting all formal avenues to secure payment of these debts, we have given government notice to the likelihood of disengaging our personnel.

”The unfortunate primary fallout of this step is the likely shut down of all DAPPMAN depots nationwide due to lack of manpower to operate same pending the time the government will pay off its indebtedness to petroleum marketers.

”This unfortunately will have a multiplier effect on the nationwide supply and distribution of petroleum products which presently is still a struggle,’’ he said.

According to him, this letter serves as a reminder and an opportunity for government and its agencies to speedily approve and pay off its remaining subsidy era indebtedness to all the association’s members and all petroleum marketing companies.

Senate to probe N3.4bn NNPC/Agip security account

THE Senate yesterday mandated its Committee on Public Accounts, headed by Senator Matthew Urhoghide, PDP, Edo South to thoroughly investigate the rationale behind a security account allegedly operated by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and Nigerian Agip Oil Company and report back within four weeks.
Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru
This followed the adoption of a motion moved by Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi-APC).
Moving the motion, Melaye said there was need for the Senate to unravel the objective of the account and source of its funding.
He alleged that the account opened with the name NNPC/AGIP Oil Company IPP Security Account with address NNPC Garki, Harbert Macauley way is domiciled in First Bank Nigeria Plc with account number 2006367288.
Melaye allaged that the account had an opening balance of N31.7 billion and a closing balance of N34. 5 billion as at April 25, 2017, adding that there were lodgments and withdrawals since January 2017.
“A lot of questions are begging for answers as regards this account. While we need to know the objectives of this account, we also need to know the signatories to the account ; is the account known to the Federal Government and what are the sources of the account’s funding.
“About N2 trillion is kept in various accounts of government, we are operating a Treasury Single Account yet money is kept in various personal accounts. If these monies are properly remitted to government purse, we will have no business borrowing. This Senate will continue to expose any corrupt practice in the country because it is time to protect the future of Nigerians unborn,” Melaye said.
In his contribution, Senator Sam Anyanwu (PDP Imo East), who seconded the motion, stressed that it had become imperative for the senate to carry out thorough investigation on the operation of an account by the NNPC/Agip Oil Company.
In his remarks, deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided, directed the Committee on Public Accounts to investigate the matter and report back to the senate within four weeks of the assignment.

Herdsmen take oath in Ekiti to stop killings

…As Ajimobi orders arrest of gun-wielding herdersADO-EKITI—HERDSMEN in Ekiti State have taken a traditional oath binding on them to assure the host communities in Ekiti and the South West, that they would no longer behave unruly, kill or allow their cows to stray into farms.
herdsmen
This was as Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State ordered the arrest and prosecution of herdsmen carrying guns and other dangerous weapons across the state.
The traditional oath, revealed to be an effective cultural sanction on herders as its violation, is believed to bring tragedy on the culprit, was administered by the Sarkin Fulani of Kwara State, Alhaji Ardo Mairero, at a peace meeting of all parties involved in herdsmen challenge in the state.
It was resolved at the meeting that “all herders must obey the anti-grazing and relevant laws of the land.”
Besides, the meeting commended Governor Fayose for being a peaceful leader, “who represents hope for all.”
Those present at the meeting include, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, who represented the Emir of Kano; Alhaji Mohammad Leewa, National President, Miyetti Allah, Mohammad Kiruwa, Governor Ayodele Fayose, Ekiti Deputy Governor, Olusola Kolapo; Secretary to State Government, Modupe Alade; Chief of Staff, Dipo Anisulowo; Agriculture Commissioner, Kehinde Odebunmi and other national and zonal Miyetti Allah leaders.
Also, a communiqué, co-signed by governor Fayose, Alhaji Shekarau, who represented the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, Mrs. Alade, Alhaji Kiruwa and others, was released through the office of the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Fayose, Mr. Idowu Adelusi.
Adeslusi said: “Of most significance of the peace meeting of February 19 by the stakeholders was the traditional oath taken with kola nuts as agreement that the herdsmen in Ekiti will not behave unruly any longer, kill or allow their cows to stray into farms.”
“It was administered

Herdsmen attacks: FG reorganises army command, control structure in Benue, others — Osinbajo

ABUJA— The Federal Government has reorganised the command and control structure of army formations in areas around Benue State as part of the administration’s response to herdsmen attacks in the region, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo disclosed, yesterday.
In a special statement explaining the government’s response to the spate of conflict instigated by herdsmen attacks, the vice-president further disclosed that the army will next week launch a special exercise to checkmate the activities of the herdsmen, bandits and militias in areas around Benue, Taraba, and Nasarawa states.
Herdsmen
In the statement issued on his behalf by Mr. Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity) said the approach of the government has been to deploy the security forces in the troubled areas.
He said: “The approach of the government has been to deploy mobile police forces to troubled areas and also both the army and Air Force, the Nigerian Army formations and units in Benue State for example, especially 72 Special Forces Battalion, have consistently maintained Forward Operating Bases at the flash areas covering Guma, Logo, Katsina-Ala and Agatu Local Government Areas.”
“The operation has the generic name Operation MESA, but it is nicknamed Operation ZENDA in Benue State. The Army had within the last few days scaled up the size of troops and equipment in Agatu, Guma, Katsina-Ala and Logo Local Government Areas of Benue State.
“The Army also recently deployed troops at Awe and Tunga Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State, in order to monitor and block the gaps that were presumed to be used as staging points by armed herdsmen to attack communities in Benue State.
“Additionally, troops of 93 Battalion, Takum in Taraba State, also occupy blocking positions as well as maintain constant liaison with troops in Benue State.
“Furthermore, the command and control structure of the Army formations and units in Benue and contiguous states have been reorganized.
“Accordingly, more troops were deployed and the Commander 707 Special Forces Brigade was reassigned to Taraba State for effective command and control of troops operating in the entire Benue/Taraba general area. And next week, the Nigerian Army will flag-off Exercise AYEM AKPATUMA, to checkmate the activities of armed bandits and militias in Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa and environs.”