The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Human trafficking: 20,000 Edo, Delta girls in Mali, says NAPTIP

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) said about 20,000 trafficked girls from Edo and Delta are currently in Mali for prostitution.

    Its Benin Zonal Commander, Nduka Nwanwenne, said this yesterday at Okpekpe, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo, during the “I’m not for Sale” campaign in the area.

    Nwanwenne said though human trafficking was a global issue, recent statistics revealed that it was more prevalent in Edo and Delta.

    The zonal commander in charge of Edo and Delta, also said though there were other reasons for human trafficking, prostitution was the most common.

    He said since 2004 when NAPTIP was established in the state, about 50 ladies of Etsako extraction had been returned to Nigeria from other countries.

    Read Also: Woman arrested for forcing daughter into prostitution

    Nwanwenne added that an organ harvesting was the latest angle to human trafficking.

    He said in view of this, there was need for protection of the children and youths.

    The zonal commander, who also said human trafficking occurred internationally and locally, revealed that in the next few weeks, the agency would raid suspected hotels in the state where the act took place.

    He said the agency had beamed its searchlight on hotels in the zone for some time now and had a list of suspected ones.

    Meanwhile, Mrs Blessing Eshilama, the Ughwuede of Okpekpe and NAPTIP’s partner on the sensitisation programme, said that trafficking in women was a new form of slavery.

    Eshilama also said extant literature had shown that human trafficking in the country thrived  as a result of deep-rooted system failure.

    She stressed that there was urgent need to prevent human trafficking and sexual exploitation of youths and children, especially girls.

    “The life of every Okpekpe son and daughter matters; no Okpekpe indigene should fall for the tricks these human traffickers employ,” she said.

  • Police arrest 53 suspected cultists in Anambra

    Anambra State Police Command has arrested 53 suspected cultists in their hideouts.

    Police spokesman Mohammed Haruna, said on Thursday in Awka that the raid was sequel to the increasing cases of cult activities in the state.

    The operation, he said, was carried out by operatives attached to the command’s ‘Operation Puff Adder’ in conjunction with Special Anti-Cultism Unit.

    According to Haruna, “At  Abba/Abagana axis, 15 suspected cultists were arrested;  at Ukwulu, six suspected cultists were arrested; at Oko/Amaokpola/Awgbu axis, eight suspected cultists were arrested.”

    He added that 24 of the suspects were arrested at Nteje, Ogidi, Amawbia, Urum and Ihiala areas of the state.

    Read Also: Army arrest suspected cultists in Abia Poly

    Some of the items recovered from the suspects, he said, include four axes, three cutlasses, some quantities of dry leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa and a substance suspected to be cocaine.

    He said out of the 53 arrests, 15 were screened out, nine were charged to court while 29 were undergoing investigations

    ”In a related development, police detectives attached to Ogidi Division in conjunction with Puff Adder operatives, following intelligence report stormed the hideout of a notorious armed robbery suspect, one Emeka at Ikenga Ogidi and recovered a double barrel Pistol. Emeka escaped through the back door and effort is ongoing to get him arrested,” Haruna said

  • Nigeria writes British Parliamentary group, denies persecution of Christians – Presidency

    The Nigerian Government has repudiated claims by a group styling itself as Northern Christian Elders Forum, who alleged that the Muhammadu Buhari administration is practicing bigotry and alienating Christians.

    Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

    According to Shehu, the Nigerian Government’s response is contained in a letter to the British Parliamentary Group, signed by Nigeria’s High Commissioner to UK, Mr George Oguntade.

    The presidential aide said “Two letters were addressed to Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, a former secretary of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) and now Head, “Independent Review of Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Support of Persecuted Christians, “and Baroness Berridge, the Chair of “All Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief.”

    Oguntade, in the correspondences, said the Nigerian government strongly dismissed as inconceivable and outrightly false, allusions to the effect that the Boko Haram terrorism served a government agenda against Christians.

    “It would be useful for me to engage with this process to ensure that you are thoroughly briefed on the situation in Nigeria,’’ the High Commissioner wrote in the correspondences.

    Responding to the interim report on Foreign and Commonwealth Office Support for Persecuted Christians, Oguntade, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, told Rev. Mounstephen:

    “The safety and security of all Nigerians, whatever their faith, is a fundamental priority of the Buhari Government. The government knows that Nigeria can only achieve its potential if there is religious tolerance and cooperation.”

    The High Commissioner explained that President Buhari’s deputy is a Pastor, adding that the President “has befriended Church leaders and church groups both within and outside Nigeria.”

    He added that the President’s cabinet is balanced between Muslims and Christians, noting that he himself was a former Chancellor of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

    According to Justice Oguntade, Vice President Osinbajo has maintained regular contacts with Christian and Muslim leaders as part of efforts to build and sustain interfaith dialogue.

    While stressing that the country’s security challenges had no ethnic and religious colourations, the High Commissioner said the farmers/herders clashes predated the Buhari administration.

    He noted that such clashes bordered on the desire for pasture by the herders and the desire to protect crops from encroachment and destruction by the farmers.

    Read Also: Why Nigeria ranks 181 out of 193 countries of women in politics

    Oguntade explained that these clashes had a long history and the Buhari administration had taken major step to address the root cause of these crises and violent clashes pitting Muslim and Christian farmers alike against the herders.

    According to the High Commissioner, the issue of grazing routes is historically central to these conflicts and the Buhari administration is taking a holistic approach to the matter with a view to ending it once and for all, so that Nigerians can live in peace with one another.

    He, therefore, assured the international community that the Buhari Administration would ensure that “the competition over scarce land is resolved peacefully for the benefits of all parties.”

    The Nigerian government also rejected attempts by the reporting group to link Boko Haram terrorism with official policy, stating clearly that these violent acts by the terrorist group predated the Buhari administration, like many others that were inherited on coming to office in 2015.

    The Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK said criminal groups such as the Boko Haram terrorists “who kill Muslims and Christians do not represent Muslims.

    “Boko Haram is a murderous death cult whose savagery has destroyed thousands of lives.

    “The Government is totally dedicated to eradicating their stain from our land.

    “Since the Buhari administration has been in power, Boko Haram has been significantly degraded – with the support and assistance of the UK Government. We shall not rest until this mission is completed and the people of North East Nigeria – both Christians and Muslims – can live in peace again.’’

    The two letters were each accompanied by a copy of an opinion article signed by the President and published on Nov. 30, 2018, by London-based “Church Times,” entitled: `DON’T POLITICIZE RELIGION IN NIGERIA’.

    In the article, President Buhari, among other things, said Muslims and Christians can flourish together.

    “These two great religions (Islam and Christianity) can not only peacefully coexist but flourish together. But we must first turn to one another in compassion. For as Amos teaches us: “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to meet?”.

    “We must resist the temptation to retreat into our communities because if we do, our palette of possibilities will remain primary. It is only when we mix them together that we can imagine new and greater possibilities.

    “As our constitution spells out, politicizing religion should have no place in Nigeria. However, it is all the more reprehensible when in doing so; it feeds fears and plays to man’s baser instincts.

    “For it makes us turn away from one another; it makes us retreat into our communities and walk different paths; and it blinds us to each other’s God-given dignity, ” the President said in the article published in Church Times.

    (NAN)

  • Police arrest cop for allegedly killing man in Enugu

    The Police Command in Enugu State has arrested a cop for allegedly killing a middle-aged man in Inyi community within Oji River Local Government Area of the state.

    The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Ebere Amaraizu, said in a statement on Thursday in Enugu that the unfortunate incident happened on June 25.

    Amaraizu said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Sulaiman Balarabe, had expressed displeasure on the unfortunate incident.

    “It was gathered that the erring cop identified as Corporal Peter Anor on duty at a commercial bank located at Inyi community had hit the victim, Sunday Arinze, 28, from Umuchime Village in Inyi Community with stick.

    Read Also: Police to charge houseboy with employer’s death today

    “This made him, the deceased, to be unconscious and was subsequently rushed to Genesis Foundation Hospital, Inyi, where he was confirmed dead by a doctor on duty,’’ he said.

    He said that the commissioner had directed for a full scale investigation into the incident to ensure that justice prevailed, as he promised during his visit to the area shortly after the unfortunate incident.

    “The erring cop is currently helping the operatives of the homicide unit of the state Criminal Investigations Department of the command in their investigations,’’ the police spokesman said.

    (NAN)

  • Deeper Life Bible Church to host summit for young professionals

    The Deeper Life Bible Church is set to host its maiden edition of the “Mega Summit” for young professionals across various professions.

    It is part of plans to augment Federal Government’s nation-building efforts.

    The summit tagged: “Gaining the edge”, will run concurrently with the graduation ceremony of over 800 young Nigerians, who participated in the third edition of the church’s Skills Acquisition Programme (SAP 3.0) at the main bowl of its auditorium in Gbagada, Lagos on Saturday.

    The programme, which is being organised in conjunction with the Young Professionals Forum (YPF) of the ministry, is intended to bring together about 5,000 young adults to discuss salient issues relating to career growth and development, becoming an entrepreneur, growing individual businesses and remaining focused in the midst of the challenges facing the larger society.

    The overall goal of the programme is promoting integrity and hard work in their various fields of endeavour.

    The YPF Mega Summit is an annual leadership and capacity-building event for young professionals.

    It is a rounded programme for the development of the different dimensions of young adults on their way to greatness and becoming responsible leaders in the society.

    Read Also: Kumuyi to Christians: don’t attack President Buhari

    With this maiden edition, the organisers hope to expose participants to insights that will either help them land their dream job, grow on their current job or build their own business.

    “Seasoned speakers with hands-on experience will facilitate on contemporary professional expertise needed to excel in today’s workplace and businesses,” Daniel Bamigbayan, President of the YPF, said.

    Speaking ahead of the programme, Bamigbayan said preparations for the event have been in top gear. He also expressed optimism that the programme will reach the target audience in the society.

    “In YPF, integrity is our watchword and we intend to inculcate it in our colleagues in the larger society; this programme is the maiden edition and we have specifically invited various reputable speakers from all walks of life with the grand patron, Dr. William Folorunsho Kumuyi, as the chief host,” he said.

    On the sidelines of the summit is the graduation of over 800 young Nigerians, who were taught various skills as a way of empowering them to be gainfully employed and also to become employers of labour, thereby assisting government to reduce the spate of unemployment.

    The Skills Acquisition Programme (SAP), which started officially in 2018, with training in website design, digital marketing, Laptop & Phone repairs, pastry and mixology, event decoration among others, graduated 365 and 602 beneficiaries in the first and second edition of the programme.

    The high-point of the event will be the presentation of certificates of participation to over 800 successful participants of the third edition of the Skill Acquisition Programme.

  • APC greets Gbajabiamila, Sanwo-Olu

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has felicitated with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on his 57th birthday.

    The party also greeted Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as he marks his 54th birthday.

    The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu said: “The APC family attest to Gbajabiamila’s exemplary qualities as a cerebral lawmaker, detribalised Nigerian and a loyal party man who has consistently defended internal democracy, party loyalty, discipline and above all, national interest.

    “A testament to Gbajabiamila’s pedigree and appeal was in full display during his recent landslide speakership election victory, which transcended party affiliations.

    “The support of the National Assembly remains critical to enable the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration deliver on our Change Agenda and Next Level manifesto. As Minority Leader, Majority Leader and now Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Gbajabiamila’s colleagues have found in him a consensus builder, who is committed to ensuring best legislative practice and cooperation between the executive and legislative arms of government.

    “Under Gbajabiamila’s leadership, we are confident that the 9th House of Representatives will support critical legislative intervention to drive the developmental, social investments and empowerment programmes for our people.”

    Read Also: APC Women leader greets Sanwo-Olu at 54

    The statement added that Sanwo-Olu’s birthday, coming just less than a month after he assumed the mantle of leadership of the Centre of Excellence, could not have come at a more auspicious time.

    It said: “The party is delighted to celebrate the governor who, has within a very short time, left no one in any doubt of the positive direction he plans to take Lagos in the next four years.

    “The APC while acknowledging the multifaceted challenges confronting Lagos state, affirms the governor is ready to walk his talk against the backdrop of his administration’s pro-people actions and policies in the last one month.

    “Our great party is confident that Lagosians would not have any cause to regret voting this embodiment of hard work, commitment, loyalty and a man of vision and ideas into office as their governor.

    “We wish the governor a very happy birthday and pray to God to imbue him with wisdom and sound health to run the affairs of the state successfully for the next four years.”

  • Insecurity: Governors, Ooni, Alaafin, other Yoruba leaders meet tomorrow

    Southwest governors, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III and other Yoruba Leaders of Thought will meet tomorrow in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to deliberate on the spate of insecurity in the region.

    The organiser of the event, the Publisher of Alaroye, Mr. Alao Adedayo, in a statement yesterday, said the event is being coordinated by Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, daughter of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and Nigeria’s former Ambassador to the Netherlands.

    The statement said the meeting is a two-in-one event that would bring together Southwest governors, eminent traditional rulers, eminent scholars and other leaders of thought, to discuss the security situation in the region and plan a strategy that would assist the governments and the people of the area.

    It stated that presentation of Yoruba language version of the book, AWO (the autobiography of Chief Obafemi Awolowo) will also hold at the parley.

    Read Also: Southwest governors draw up anti-crime battle plan

    The statement reads: “We need to meet again; we just need to talk. The situation in Yoruba land now calls for the unity among our leaders because we cannot win this war against insurgents, except we form a common front. “That is why we are invoking the name of the past leader of the Yoruba people, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, to bring all of us together, irrespective of our political affiliations.

    “Our major problem here is that our leaders are not united. They disagree and fight virtually on everything. And it is all about politics.

    “Unfortunately, this is causing us a lot of damage. And when we remember that most of these politicians claim to be Awo’s political sons and daughters, there couldn’t have been a better name to invoke to bring all of us to the round table.”

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde is the host, Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji will receive other Obas at the event and Chief Kessington Adebutu will present the book on Awolowo. Professor Banji Akintoye will open the discussion on insecurity and how to protect Yoruba people and all Nigerians.

  • ‘Delta should produce chairman, MD of NDDC’

    Youths of the Niger Delta have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint Board Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and its Managing Director from Delta State.

    The youths yesterday marched on the Warri office of the NDDC to present their demands.

    They were led by Eric Omare (President of the Ijaw Youths Council -IYC); Festus Otesiri (President of Urhobo Youths Council); Ovie Emuakpor (President of the Isoko National Youths Assembly); Weyinmi Agbateyinro (President of the Itsekiri National Youths Council -INYC), among others.

    The youths warned that attempts to bend existing statutory order of succession in the NDDC may negatively affect oil production.

    The protesters noted that by the existing order of succession in the board and management of the commission, Delta State is due to produce both the board chairman and managing director. According to the protesting youths, the offices are rotational; alphabetically among the four states with the highest quantum of production and alphabetically among the nine member states on the board of the NDDC.

    Read Also: NDDC hailed for completing N24b coastal road in Bayelsa

    “The NDDC was established in 2000, with a mandate to develop the Niger Delta. Under the NDDC Act, there is a provision for its board and the management committee. It is important to note that there’s a world of difference between the board and the management committee.

    “Whereas, when it comes to the board, all the states of the NDDC are entitled to be represented on the board, that is to say all the nine states have a right to be represented and have a right to produce the board chairman. But it is the right of the major oil producing states – Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom – to produce the Managing Director.

    “From 2001 to 2018, all the major oil producing have produced the MD, so it follows logically that the office will rotate from where it started, which is Delta. Beside, currently, Delta is the state with the highest quantum of production. We are not saying it because we are Deltans, but because it is the proper thing to do. If we don’t do what is proper, if we don’t follow the rule of law, we will be creating room for anarchy tomorrow.” the protesters explained.

  • Edo Assembly crisis: inauguration met requirements

    Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Frank Okiye has said inauguration of the House of Assembly met all requirements of law.

    Okiye, in a statement by his spokesperson, Comrade Aigbefo Iretiose, said: “The responsibility of the Edo State Governor, with regards to the inauguration of the House of Assembly, begins and ends with the issuance of a Proclamation Letter. Governor Obaseki duly issued the Proclamation Letter and the inauguration held at the House of Assembly.

    “While the inauguration was ongoing, some of the members-elect left the venue of the news conference organised by some of them, and went to the House of Assembly, where they presented themselves for inauguration at 3:30pm.

    “The House of Assembly is open to other members-elect who want to be inaugurated, just as Sunday Ojiezele and Emmanuel Okoduwa, who were inaugurated on Monday.

    He advised the members-elect who have not been inaugurated to complete their documentation and present themselves for inauguration.

    The State Police Command has urged aggrieved parties in the crisis to seek redress in a competent court of law.

    Read Also: Edo Assembly crisis: Police urge aggrieved parties to seek legal redress

    A statement by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Tunde Sunmonu, said the commissioner disapproved any form of procession for now, and advised any aggrieved party to seek redress in court.

    The order follows a request by the Joint Action for the Advancement of Democracy in Edo (JAADE), for police patrol at a peaceful march to register its disappointment over “skewed” inauguration of the Assembly.

    The leader, Comrade Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo, who addressed reporters after aborting the procession, called for “immediate and unconditional restoration of an ideal democratic order where proper inauguration of the 24 members-elect would be done”.

    Edokpolo said the inauguration of only nine members was an assault on the people’s psyche. He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the House of Assembly reverts to the true dictates of the rule of law and nip any unforeseen breakdown of law and order in the bud.

    According to Edokpolo, the installation of minority rule in the Assembly was uncivilized, barbaric and threat to democracy and peace.

    “Political desperados should not be allowed to mar our democratic trajectory else we will regret the repercussions of our pseudo complacency. We condemn all the varying tendencies behind this impasse,” he added.

  • N7b loan: I’m shocked my good gesture evokes undue focus, says Abiodun

    Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has expressed surprise that his revelation that he borrowed N7 billion to pay May salaries of workers had elicited unhealthy attention from Ogun people and the public.

    Abiodun noted that he was palpably taken aback by the “spin” given to the essence of his meeting with the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders and chieftains on Monday by spinners, which led people to focus mainly on the N7 billion loan secured from friends.

    The governor, in a statement issued yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, however, added that the government has chosen to be forward-looking and not allow itself to be distracted.

    He explained that the meeting was called to harmonize the positions of the government with that of the party on how to move the state forward and ensure that the dividends of democracy penetrate to the grassroots level.

    The governor stated: “Rather than focus on the developmental issues  discussed, attention has been focused on the good gesture of the governor to secure a loan to pay the May salaries of the workforce.

    Read Also: N7bn Loan: Abiodun not prepared to govern Ogun – APM

    “The government chooses to be forward-looking and not to be distracted, and I would like to state that the meeting was called to harmonize the positions of the government with that of the party on how to move the state forward and ensure that the dividends of democracy percolate to the grassroots level.

    “The common agenda is operationalisation of the governor’s project of joint prosperity of all in the Gateway State and the buy-in of the leadership of the party as critical stakeholders in the scheme of things are of essence.

    “At the meeting Governor Abiodun unfolded how he would build one primary health care center in each of the 236 wards of the state, using local manpower.

    “He explained that he would rehabilitate 236 primary schools, one in each of every ward in the state, and set up a job portal for his administration to have accurate statistics of skilled and unskilled labor in the state.

    “He said he has emplaced a portal to register on a continuous basis for unemployed youths with a view to providing them jobs suitable for their trades and academic qualifications.

    “We shall be public-private sector-oriented in our governance model, he said, adding that members of the APC should not be discouraged, that we are going to have an inclusive government that will utilize valuable potentials that abound in the state, irrespective of party affiliations.