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Tag: attacks

  • Police arrest eight herdsmen over attacks

    Police arrest eight herdsmen over attacks

    The police in Benue State have arrested eight herdsmen over the killing on Monday of 20 residents of Guma and Logo Local Government councils.

    Police spokesman Moses Yamu said in a statement that “eight herdsmen, six in Guma and two in Logo, have been arrested in connection with the attacks.”

    He said the command had made additional deployments in the area to forestall further occurrence and restore confidence.

    Yamu stressed that the situation in the two local government areas had been brought under control while investigation was ongoing.

    He said: “They attacked Tomater village in Sengev Council ward, Akor village in Nzorov council ward and Bakin Kwata village in Umanger council ward of Guma LGA.

    “Among those killed were seven (7) members of Benue State Livestock Guards, their vehicle burnt and an uncertain number of persons injured in separate attacks between 31/12/2017 and 02/01/2018.

    “Again, Agba-Uko near Azege village and Tse-Aga village of Logo LGA experienced the same fate, where one person was killed, one motorcycle burnt and four persons injured.

    “All the injured from both LGAs are currently undergoing treatment in various hospitals in the state.”

    According to him, five combined teams of mobile and conventional policemen, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Operations, ACP Emmanuel Adesina have engaged the armed herdsmen in a gun duel in Guma.

    The Benue Anti-Open Grazing Law came into effect on November 1, 2017 to forestall attacks on Benue communities by suspected herders.

    The law stipulates five year jail term or an option of N1 million fine for violators.

    The attack is the first by suspected herdsmen since the law came into effect.

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN),Benue State chapter, accused the Presidency of prolonged silence over the killings of Benue citizens by Fulani herdsmen.

    Its chairman Rev. Akpen Leva told reporters after meeting with Governor Ortom yesterday at the Benue Peoples House, that President Muhammadu Buhari should protect Benue people from the militia.

    The CAN chairman said they had organised a three-day prayer and fasting for all Christians to seek God’s intervention in the matter,saying as a Christian State, Benue would resort to praying to God.

    House of Assembly Speaker Terkimbi Ikyange blamed the killings on the inability of the Federal Government to take threats by the Cattle Breeders Association serious.

    Mr. Ikyange recalled that, when the national leadership of the cattle breeders association, under the aegis of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, openly threatened to mobilise herdsmen across the country to oppose the implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition Law, the Assembly in a unanimous resolution, called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector-General of Police to get them arrested.

    He lamented that in spite of the threats and subsequent reaction by the Assembly and Benue State Government, no efforts were made by the Presidency and other security operatives to prevent them from carrying out their well-planned attack against the defenseless people.

    Ikyange described the attack as barbaric and an affront on the rule of law, stressing that the resolve of Benue people to stop open grazing is unwavering.

    The Ushongo representative re-echoed the call for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the national leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore as a way of halting the renewed violence against Benue communities.

  • Ondo monarchs decry attacks on colleagues

    Ondo monarchs decry attacks on colleagues

    Traditional rulers in Ondo State, under the auspices of “130 Crowns Club”, have said government no longer values their revered stools.

    They premised their conclusion on the alleged failure by security agencies to arrest and prosecute some hoodlums in Ilaje Local Government Area who attacked the Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, at his palace.

    The monarchs said it was downgrading for the leader of the suspected hoodlums, identified as Tale Iwatan, and his gangsters to be walking freely after they were allegedly identified to be responsible for injuring Oba Odidiomo.

    The Olu of Igbokoda narrowly escaped death after he was macheted by some suspected hoodlums in his palace about two weeks ago.

    But the state police command said it arrested two of the suspects while Iwatan was declared wanted by the force.

    The 130 Crowns monarchs, who spoke through their President, Oba Olusegun Akinbola, the Aladeokun of Alade-Idanre, said they found it unpalatable that the police and the government were foot-dragging in prosecuting the thugs and their sponsors.

  • ‘Boko Haram killed 357 persons in 55 attacks ‘

    THREE hundred and fifty-seven persons died in 55 Boko Haram attacks in the last 11 months, the Senate heard yesterday.

    Former Senate leader Mohammed Ali Ndume gave the statistics during plenary.

    Titled: “The worrisome state of security in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States”, the lawmaker said the three states had come under attacks from insurgents, adding that if something is not done to halt the trend, the gains made in the fight against terrorism will be eroded.

    Ndume said: “The insurgency in the Northeast is resurfacing. If we need to invite the security chiefs to brief the Senate at a closed-door session, I will formally move the motion.”

    According to him, 76 civilians were killed in November, with 11 soldiers dead in the same period.

    Two hundred and twenty of the 357 were killed between June and November, Ndume said.

    He added that 83 child-bombers were used; 55 were girls below 15 years.

    The senator told his colleagues that 14.8 million people were affected by the crisis, putting the damage at $9 billion (N2.75 trillion).

    He said: “This year alone, more than 257 civilians have died in 55 attacks in the Northeast. The deadliest month was August, when the militant group killed 100 people, followed by November, with 76 people.

    “Recently, three soldiers and a child were killed in Magumeri, Borno State; several civilians were killed in Madagali, Adamawa State, and eight soldiers killed in Sasawa, Yobe State.

    “Over 83 child-bombers were used in 2017; this is four times as many child-bombers used in 2016. The United Nations agency said of the 83 children, 55 were girls, mostly under 15 years, and 27 were boys. One was a baby strapped to a girl.

    “About 14.8 million people are affected by the crisis. The estimated cost of destruction is put at over $9 billion. About 80 per cent of the destruction is in Borno. Up to 1.8 million people are IDPs, of which more than 80 per cent are living in host communities.”

    Ndume urged the Senate to invite Service chiefs to brief them on the worrisome insecurity.

    The Senate, however, referred the matter to the Ahmad Lawan-led Committee on Insecurity.

  • FFK’s unwarranted attacks on Osinbajo

    In the age of “alternative facts”, the media has been awash and desecrated with fake news, “post-truths” and outright untruths; where people who claim to be authors or journalists in their write-ups gleefully revel in these three 21st century media-related anomalies.

    And it seems a few notable names, including a former minister of aviation, have since been co-opted into the small, bitter crowd that dishes out such anomalies, disjointedly stewed with plenty of bile and hateful statements.

    Such persons have also attempted to denigrate the personality of Vice President Yemi Osinabjo, SAN, by giving their forced readers a bumpy ride with personal biases and bitterness in their words.

    Albeit, in the real world, where truth, fairness and objectivity, not alternative facts, still count for something, such articles are, at best, inconsequential, as these articles only succeed, in the end, to be indigestible to objective, sane minds, and also leave a bad taste, even in the mouths of neutrals.

    Let’s face the facts, instead of being clouded by the unreason in these disjointed articles against. Osinbajo, including one written by a former minister of aviation.

    The man who is sometimes referred to as FFK need to be reminded that officials under the former administration of Goodluck Jonathan were involved in corruption that stank to the heavens.

    On the Vice President’s comments that “100 billion naira and $289 USD million was withdrawn in cash by President Goodluck Jonathan two weeks before the presidential election ostensibly for security. This was unprecedented stealing and it led to the economic recession that we are suffering today”, FFK didn’t even present one fact when he alleged that it was “wild, baseless and frankly absurd allegations and willful and premeditated display of perfidy”. All he attempted at were unwarranted personal attacks on the Vice President, with unfounded statement and libellous claims.

    It should be pointed out to FFK that Osinbajo only scratched the surface when he mentioned that amount. Since 2015, Nigerians have come to realise the monumental corruption that happened under Jonathan’s watch; from former Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Allison Madueke, to former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, and many other officials in the former administration that have been accused of corruption. The list goes on. Nigeria is still recovering from this wanton thievery of its national purse.

    To cover his lack of facts, he based his false claims on false claim; that he could only support with more false claims.

    Again, for the umpteenth time, there is no $25 billion NNPC contract scam anywhere. A quick reminder for FFK: no contracts were procured by the NNPC. Prof. Osinbajo, while as Acting President, only approved Joint Venture Financing arrangements.

    Also, there is no agenda by President Muhammadu Buhari to Islamise the country. Like Osinbajo noted, both the Islamic Development Bank and Sukuk bonds are not evidence of any plans by the present administration to Islamize Nigeria.

    For instance, Nigeria joined the bank in 2005, under the administration of a Christian, President Olusegun Obasanjo, while the country is today the fourth largest shareholder of the bank.

    All the article raised were simply a long list of personal grievances against the person of the vice president and the fact that he is committed to the service of his fatherland. FFK, as a former minister, should know and understand the chain of command and being under authority. Both President Buhari and the vice president are united and work together to achieve a common goal of this administration: to make Nigeria better.

    Sadly, it seems the necessary qualities of leadership, among which is service, is lost on FFK who was once a minister. It now seems that he was more focused on pursuing his selfish motives than working for his country and in tandem with his former principals.

    Also, President Buhari’s comments to the World Bank were taken out of context. The Presidency and the World Bank have since come out to clarify this. The North-east was what the President asked to be given more priority, and the north-east of the country is just a subset of northern Nigeria. In case he pretends not to know, international agencies like the World Bank and NGOs usually give more priority to crisis areas like the North-east that had been ravaged by insurgency.

    The vice president, also has condemned, in strongest terms, every form of religious, tribal or ethnic sentiments and violence by any group or individual. He also condemned hate speech, which he described as acts of terrorism.

    Even attempting to explain the bulk of disjointed statements in the article is labouring, as it lacks substance; it is almost akin to giving prominence on the table to a badly prepared dish.

    Many have adjudged the vice president, Prof. Osinbajo, to be forthright and honest. FFK and co should ask the Niger Delta elders forum, PANDEF, Christian and Muslim leaders, some of whom came to visit the Presidential Villa, Abuja recently, or even the man on the streets about the vice president’s leadership, his selfless service to fatherland and his candour. Then people should ask the same of FFK. The answers, I am certain, would be as different as night and day.

    Nevertheless, I refuse to go low, like FFK, with a series of needless personal attacks. But I would kindly leave him and his likes the wisdom in the words of the former First Lady of the United States, the elegant Michelle Obama, whose husband former US President Barack Obama, embodies everything that FFK has, sadly, shown he isn’t; leader, patriot and role model:

    “How we urge them to ignore those who question their father’s citizenship or faith. How we insist that this hateful language they hear from public figures on TV (or online) does not represent the true spirit of this country. How we explain that when someone is cruel or acts like a bully, you don’t stoop to their level. No, our motto is: when they go low, we go high.

    “With every word we utter, with every action we take, we know our kids are watching us. We, as parents, are the most important role models. And let me tell you, Barack and I take that same approach to our jobs as President and First Lady, because we know that our words and actions matter”.

  • Imam, four others killed as Boko Haram attacks motorists

    Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members have attacked motorists on Damboa/Biu highway in Borno State.

    A source said the gunmen attacked travellers at Wajirko village, adding that Adamu Garba, of Bongore village, was injured.

    He said other travellers ran into the bush.

    A police source has confirmed the invasion of Kurmiri village in Magumeri Local Government of Borno State by suspected insurgents, who allegedly killed the chief imam and four other villagers.

    The source said the terrorists were armed with AK 47 rifles and knives, which they used to kill the chief imam and others.

    He added that the attackers avoided the use of guns, not to attract attention, preferring to kill their victims with knives.

    The Caretaker Chairman of Magumeri Local Government, Alhaji Abubakar Abdulkadir, who confirmed the incident in Maiduguri, said: “The chief imam of Kurmiri village and four others were slaughtered by suspected Boko Haram members last night.

    “We woke up this morning (Monday) and received a distress call that one of our communities was attacked by insurgents.

    “Five people were killed, including the chief imam of Kurmiri village. We pray Allah to grant Aljanah Firdaus to the deceased and give their families the fortitude to bear the loss.

    “I hail civilian JTF members and security agents for their bravery, which led to the arrest of one of the attackers.

    “I urge the public not to panic. They should go about their business, as the situation is under control.”

  • Fed Govt warns against attacks on law enforcement agents

    THE Federal Government has declared that it will no longer tolerate the spate of lawlessness and attacks on law enforcement agents.

    Acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation Dr. Habitat Lawal gave the warning at a management strategic session of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Abuja.

    A statement by FRSC Corps Public Education Officer Bisi Kazeem quoted the Acting SGF, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary (General Services) in her office, Dr. Ugo Roy, as reminding security agencies of their duty to ensure that citizens obey the laws.

    She said the citizens, on their part, must submit to rules and regulations, and realise that the law enforcement agencies are there to secure their lives and property.

    The statement said: “This nation can longer tolerate flagrant disobedience to laws, assault, maiming, killing as well as abduction of security operatives.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • APC seeks end to xenophobic attacks on Nigerians

    APC seeks end to xenophobic attacks on Nigerians

    •Party advises govt to demand compensation

    The All Progressives Congress, South Africa Chapter (APC-SA), has condemned alleged xenophobic attack on Nigerians in Pretoria West.

    It urged the Federal Government to demand an apology from South African authorities and seek compensation for victims. In a February 19 letter to the Secretary General of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), the party said the attacks were predicated on the notion that Nigerians and certain other nationals were criminals, drug dealers, human traffickers and prostitution barons, and had denied South Africans opportunities in their country.

    The letter, signed by Chairman Bola Babarinde, and Secretary Prof. Oludayo Fasina, said: “While we believe South Africans have the right to protect their society, the APC-SA condemns taking such decision on wrong premises and fallacies perpetuated by lack of information.

    “We believe in the rule of law and expect that criminal elements observed and picked from the society be handed over to the law enforcement agents, who have been mandated to ensure that justice is carried out without fair or favour.

    “Jungle justice, as perpetuated by some criminal elements within South Africa in the case above, is prone to abuse, vendetta, settling of scores and miscarriage of justice and will surely draw any country into more violence.”

    According to APC-SA, not all Nigerians are criminals, and the South African universities, hospitals, workplaces and government offices were replete with good Nigerians doing honest work.

    It said the myopia of labeling all people of a country by such label of criminality showed how uninformed a society is and should be condemned by all well-meaning South Africans.

    APC-SA urged the Federal Government to demand an apology from the South African authority and find a way to document and get adequate compensations for victims.

  • Presidency to South Africa: end attacks on Nigerians

    Presidency to South Africa: end attacks on Nigerians

    The Presidency yesterday condemned the killing of Nigerians in xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
    “We have lost about 116 Nigerians in the last two years and in 2016 alone, about 20 were killed. This is unacceptable to the people and government of Nigeria,” the Presidency said in a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
    The Nigerian community has continued to live in fear. Some of its members were yesterday receiving calls threatening more attacks against their homes and businesses.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some South Africans launched xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other foreign nationals in Pretoria West at the weekend.
    No fewer than five homes and businesses belonging to Nigerians were burnt by a mob.
    Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, President, Nigeria Union, South Africa, told NAN on telephone from Pretoria, that some Nigerians received calls asking for payment to protect their homes and businesses.
    “ Some Nigerians and other foreign nationals in Pretoria West now live in fear. Some have started packing their belongings for fear of more attacks.
    “ They confirmed to the union that some South Africans were calling and   threatening to unleash more mayhem against them.
    “The callers asked for money to be spared the attacks.
    “ The union is worried about the development because the South African police are  yet to arrest those who perpetrated last Saturday`s attacks,” he said.
    According to Anyene, the union has pleaded with Nigerians to take precautionary measures and remain law abiding.
    “ We also urge the Federal Government to persuade its South African counterpart to  put in place measures to guarantee the safety of Nigerians,” he said.
    The Presidency urged restraint and called on Nigerians to be extra cautious.
    The statement called on the South African government to take decisive and definitive measures to protect Nigerian citizens and other Africans within South African borders.
    Anyene added: “As we speak, five buildings with Nigerian business, including a church, have been looted and burned by South Africans.”
    Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said that the African Union (AU) was being called upon to intervene because there was credible information that more xenophobic attacks on foreigners will take place on February 22 and 23.
    Two weeks ago, Mrs Dabiri-Erewa met with South African High Commissioner in Nigeria Mr. Lulu Aaron-Mnguni, on the killing of Nigerians in South Africa.
    Mr. Mnguni said the government was investigating the matter.
    The Senate and the House of Representatives Committees on the Diaspora also yesterday condemned the attacks.
    The committees asked the Federal Government to take a harder stance against attacks on Nigerians in other countries.
    The condemnation was informed by alleged killing of many Nigerians, including Tochukwu Nnadi, a 34-year-old businessman by South African police on December 29, 2016.
    Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Diaspora Senator Rose Oko said her committee wrote to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to furnish it with details of the killing.
    She said: “We have written to Ministry of Foreign Affairs to avail us with what happened in South Africa between the police and the man.
    “We condemn in very strong term these attacks on Nigerians. There are extra-judicial killings in South Africa and there are Xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
    “You aware that in 2016 alone, about 20 Nigerians were killed in extra-judicial manner. Before this time, several others have been killed in extra-judicial manner. There are several incident of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
    “You are also aware that Nigeria/ South Africa have excellent diplomatic ties. In 2013, when there were xenophobic attacks, our former President signed Memorandum of Understanding to re-enforce diplomatic ties.”
    The Cross River North lawmaker said killing of Nigerians in South Africa is against all known laws across the globe.
    She noted that even the constitution of South Africa guaranteed human rights and fair hearing.
    Senator Oko recalled the contributions of Nigeria towards the liberation struggle in South Africa.
    The House Committee on Diaspora did not spare the Federal Government, criticising it for doing nothing to stem the attacks.
    Speaking with reporters at the National Assembly Chairperson Rita Orji  said she was not going to be part of the “conspiracy of silence”.
    According to her, Nigerians in the Diaspora are only dear to the government because of the funds they remit home.
    She accused the government of over-protecting the businesses and interests of South Africa to the detriment of Nigeria.
    The government, she said, “is not taking a critical look at what Nigerians in Diaspora face in the countries in which they are”.
    She urged the Foreign Affairs Ministry to call for a full briefing from the Nigerian Embassy in South Africa “on how many Nigerians were killed and how many houses were burnt and property looted.
    “The South African Government should bear in mind that Nigerians know that they have interests, they have  businesses here and they have South Africans here. They should not put their people in jeopardy.”
    Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim told the committee that though it was the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to protect the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians abroad, funds were not made available to the ministry until the 2017 budget proposals.
    The minister said: “It is estimated that there are up to 15 million Nigerians abroad. It is, therefore, a herculean task for the ministry to provide protection and welfare assistance when no provision was made for that purpose in the missions’ budget.
    “Other countries make financial provision for repatriation of remains, lost income and loss of passport, funeral expenses, medical bills, among others, which our missions can’t, due to the paucity of funds. Yet, Nigerians expect, unrealistically, missions to offer these services.”
    According to her, it is only in the 2017 budget that the sum of N400,000,000.00 ($1.3 million) was appropriated.”

  • Ikeja Electric alarmed over attacks on staff

    Ikeja Electric alarmed over attacks on staff

    Ikeja Electric has decried the increasing spate of violent attacks on its members of staff by some hostile customers.

    The company’s Head, Corporate Communications, Felix Ofulue, expressed shock at the level of violence towards members of staff of electricity distribution companies, citing a recent malicious incident at Akowonjo, Lagos, where an aggrieved woman allegedly stabbed a staffer of Ikeja Electric while discharging his official duties.

    He said: “It is quite disheartening that a customer will resort to such level of violence under any circumstance, to express her grievance without even considering the enormity of the action, which could have easily resulted in murder if the member of staff had died. This is appalling and totally unacceptable.”

    Ofulue stated that on a frequent basis, the field staff are attacked by aggrieved customers on matters, which are completely beyond the control of the distribution company (DisCo), such as the worsening power situation in the country.

  • Ex-militant leader laments pirate attacks in Bayelsa communities

    A former militant leader, Mr. Reuben Wilson, Saturday, raised the alarm over incessant attacks on communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayels State, particularly Koluama, by suspected sea pirates.

    Wilson, popularly known as Pastor Reuben, said the communities had petitioned security agencies over the attacks to no avail.

    The former creek warlord, who is an indigene of the Koluama clan, said the activities of the marauders crippled fishing, which is the main occupation of the affected communities.

    He said transportation and other commercial activities along the waterways were grossly affected adding that for fear of assaults, community heads were no longer having their regular meetings.

    “The attacks have become unbearable and may result into bloody confrontations between angry youths of affected communities and the sea pirate gangs”, he said.

    Wilson in a statement in Yenagoa, decried the hardship and pains inflicted on the people who constantly come in contact with gun-wielding robbers.

    He said the Pirates most times storm the communities at the fringe of the sea, attacking and dispossessing them of their cash and other valuables.

    He said: “Five boat engines are stolen daily by these hoodlums and they have stopped fishermen from going expedition because of fear of being attacked and killed.

    “The traditional rulers have abandoned their traditional role of deliberating over the affairs of their people for fear of being robbed, kidnapped or killed along the waterways by the sea pirates.”

    He called on security agencies to wade into the matter in the spirits of their constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property.