The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abdullahi Musa

  • Gunshots in Abuja as Shi’ites, police clash at Fed secretariat

    Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) again clashed with the police at the Federal secretariat in Abuja, the nation’s capital, on Thursday.

    The police fired gunshots and tear gas to disperse the protesters while five Shi’ite members were apprehended by the security operatives.

    The clash sparked panic as anxious workers, commuters and motorists fled the area in fear.

    The sect members later regrouped at another location to continue with their protest.

    They stormed the National Assembly complex last Tuesday, shot two policemen and damaged many vehicles and property.

    It was learnt that four suspects were arrested in connection with the incident.

    IMN spokesman Abdullahi Musa told The Nation that the Monday protest, despite the development, would continue.

    Musa said killing or arresting members of the group would not stop them from protesting until their leader is freed.

    He said: “The police arrested so many people. These arrests will never stop us from protesting; killing can never stop us from protesting. Next Monday, we shall continue with the protest. We shall use Friday to pray.

    “Government should free our leader, following the court ruling. Government should obey the court order. Government has no reason for keeping him in custody. The fact that he is seriously sick now shows that they want him dead.”

    Also, members of the sect on Thursday staged a peaceful protest in Lagos.

    Read Also: Fire guts Amigos Supermarket in Abuja

    They demanded the immediate release of their leader from custody.

    The protest, which started at 10:40 a.m at Maryland, terminated at the Adekunle Fajuyi, Ikeja GRA, office of activist lawyer Femi Falana (SAN).

    El-Zakzaky has been held in alleged solitary confinement at the Department of State Services (DSS) detention facility since December 2015, despite several court orders demanding his release.

    He was charged in April, last year, with murder, culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of public peace, following a bloody clash between Shi’ites and soldiers in the entourage of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai at Zaira, Kaduna State.

    There have been concerns by IMN (Shi’ites) within and outside the country as well as civil rights organisations about the continuous detention of the Shi’ite leader and security implications arising from government action.

    The continuous detention of the vocal sect leader with cult followership had led to bad blood and bloody encounters between security forces and his members in Abuja and Kaduna State.

    Marching through Ladipo and Obateye Streets as well as Oduduwa Crescent, the IMN protesters adorned yellow headbands.

    They also painted “Release El-Zakzaky” and “El-Zakzaky has been poisoned” on the fences and walls of the houses they marched past.

    They had banners with similar inscriptions on them.

    Police spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), who confirmed the protest, described it as peaceful.

     

     

  • Company constructs classes, library for college in Kano

    The Kano State Government has inaugurated a block of eight classrooms and a library constructed by Nigerian Breweries, makers of Maltina, at Government Technical College, Gwale in Kano metropolis.

    Gov. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, at the ceremony on Friday, commended the company for the gesture.

    Ganduje called on the well-meaning Nigerians and corporate bodies to emulate the gesture for the development of the education sector.

    The Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries, Mr Jordi Borrut, said that the project was part of the company’s commitment in partnership with the state government to support the education sector.

    “We believe these infrastructures will improve the standard of education in schools and complement government’s efforts in the provision of basic, qualitative and affordable education in a conducive learning and teaching environment for students and teachers in order to build our future leaders,’’ he added.

    Read Also:Glitz and fun in Ilorin Laffmatazz, Maltina Show (PHOTOS)

    The Permanent Secretary, SERVICOM Directorate, Alhaji Abdullahi Musa, said the project came to reality due to the efforts of the directorate of ensuring that individuals and corporate bodies discharge their corporate social responsibilities to the state.

    Musa thanked the state government for allowing the company to execute the project and Dorayi Babba community for donating a piece of land to the school for the project.

  • El-Zakzaky: Shi’ite Members Protest at NHRC Headquarters over Police brutality

    Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shi’ite, on Thursday, met with the the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) to intercede on what they described as unlawful prosecution of their leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

    The group who staged a peaceful protest in Maitama District, Abuja, prevented vehicular movements in the axis, while some youth were seen chanting songs with placards.

    Speaking with the NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, at the NHRC Headquarters, the protesters accused Police of injuring 23 members of the IMN in Kaduna with live ammunitions among which 10 were arrested.

    Representative of the group, Abdullahi Musa blamed the Police officials for using live ammunitions on protesters also at the district in Abuja.

    He told Ojukwu that, “The Police has continued to violate our right for peaceful gathering. Yesterday, they opened fire on us with live ammunition in Kaduna, 23 people were confirmed injured. They arrested 10 of the injured people and we have only 13 of them with us receiving treatment.”

    Read Also: Police to prosecute Shi’ites

    “These are some of the ammunitions the police used,” he added sharing pictures of the gun wounds and ammunition shells with the NHRC executive secretary.

    According to him, as at the time of filing official complaint to the ES, members of the islamic sect are being shot by the Police along Ahmadu Bello way in Kaduna.

    “They have shot a lot of people right now as i’m talking to you and the carnage continues,” he added.

    He accused the Federal Government of prosecuting leader of the group for murder case in Kaduna State High Court.

    Musa tasked President Muhammadu Buhari to free their leader, Sheik Ibrahim, who had been in detention since December, 2015.

    In his remarks, Ojukwu emphasised on the right of every Nigerian to embark on peaceful demonstration.

    He described it as a constitutional right which the NHRC is ready to protect the aggrieved group as long as the demonstration is peaceful.

    “We will stand with you as long as you are peaceful. Nobody has any right to use live ammunition on anybody carrying out a peaceful demonstration. We want to urge you to continue to be peaceful because the truth must come to light one day,” Ojukwu said.

    However, he urged the protesters to remain peaceful no matter the level of provocation with promises to engage the right authority on their petition.

    He said since El-Zakzaky had been charged to court, his members should await the court judgement stressing that no citizen is above the law.

    “It is good that somebody is taken to court than to be perpetually kept in detention because in court, unless you prove a case beyond every reasonable doubt, nothing can be done. All you need is to put evidences together, get a good lawyer and put across your case,” Ojukwu added.

    The protesters later dispersed upon Ojukwu’s advise.

  • Navy hands over impounded vessel to EFCC in Bayelsa

    The Nigerian Navy, ”Forward Operation Base” (FOB) in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa on Wednesday, handed over impounded Barge Podium of vessel to the officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ).

    The FOB Commanding Officer, Navy Capt. Adamu Yahaya, who handed over the vessel to EFCC in Formoso, Egwuama of Brass area of the state, said the vessel was laden with unspecified quantities of products, suspected to be illegally refined Automated Gasoline Oil (AGO).

    Yahaya also said the vessel was seized in May 2017 at a creek in Alaki area of Rivers, adding that the suspects on board fled when they sighted the Navy gunboat.

    He said the handing over of the vessel to the commission was in compliance with the naval headquarters’ directives.

    “The Nigerian Navy has been given the mandate to apprehend any ship suspected to be carrying out illegalities in the Nigerian maritime domain, however, by law, we are not allowed to carry out prosecution of offenders.

    Read Also: Court restrains EFCC, others from arresting lottery operators

    “We are directed to handover seized vessels to the EFCC for further investigations and possible prosecution,” he said.

    Mr Abdullahi Musa, a Senior Detective Superintendent and leader of the EFCC team from Port Harcourt Zonal office received the vessel and promised that EFCC would carry out thorough investigation into the matter.

    “We will carry out thorough investigation with a view to determining the level of involvement, content of the vessel and prosecution of those involved.”

    The News men reports that officials of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) took samples of the content of the vessels for further laboratory analysis.

    NAN

  • SSS parades Air Force man, six others for kidnapping

    SSS parades Air Force man, six others for kidnapping

    The State Security Service (SSS) yesterday paraded an Air Force Lance Corporal, Suleiman Mohammed, and six of his accomplices for kidnapping a Sokoto businessman, Alhaji Abu Dankure.

    Alhaji Dankure was abducted at his construction site in Kofar Kwari, Western Bye-Pass on November 6. He died on November 22, 11 days after he was freed by his captors.

    The Air Force man confessed to have aided the gang members in the supply of fire arms and ammunition, but said he was not directly involved in the kidnapping.

    Others paraded by the SSS were Mustapha Isah, Mohammed Abubakar, Faruku Waziri, Mohammed Bukar, Usman Idah and Abdullahi Musa.

    SSS spokesperson Ms. Marilyn Ogar, who paraded the suspects, named Isah as the mastermind of the kidnap who negotiated and received a of $290, 000 ransom before the victim was released.

    Isah, who took custody of the victim during captivity, was said to have provided his car, a Honda Hennessy with which the suspects carried out the operation.

    Ogar said an AK 47 rifle, pump action rifle and a short gun were recovered from Isah.

    The gang members were said to have shared the ransom money at Court Yard Hotel, GRA, Benin City, Edo State.

    Ogar said the suspects would soon be charged to court.