The Nation Newspaper

Tag: attacks

  • Another Bangladesh blogger killed

    Another Bangladesh blogger killed

    Just approximately 9days after the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) celebrated World Press Freedom Day in Riga, the capital city of Latvia, an attack has been made against the profession.

    There is no denial that an attack on a professional is an attack on the profession he or she practices. Sadly, a secular blogger was on Tuesday hacked to death in north-eastern Bangladesh.

    According to local police, the death of Ananta Bijoy Das marks the third of such deadly attacks since the start of the year, saying that Das was attacked by a masked gang wielding machetes in the city of Sylhet.

    Mr Das wrote blogs for Mukto-Mona, a website once moderated by Avijit Roy, who was also hacked to death in February for criticism on religious intolerance.

    The publisher lost his life in a machete attack while he was visiting the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, as he returned from a book fair in the city with his wife (now a widow) who also suffered head injuries and lost a finger in the attack.

    Lawyer and human rights activist, Sara Hossain, revealed to BBC that Mr. Das and Mr. Roy were on a list of targets for a while before they were attacked.

    She noted: “They’ve always believed and written very vocally in support of free expression and they’ve very explicitly written about not following any religion themselves,” she told the BBC World Service’s Newsday programme.

    “These last two have been part of a blog called Mukto-Mona (Free Mind), which is about free thinking and is about explicitly taking on religious fundamentalism and particularly Islamic religious fundamentalism. Their names have been on lists of identified targets.”

    Last month’s attack on Mr Roy prompted massive protests from students and social activists, who accused the authorities of failing to protect critics of religious bigotry.

    Sometimes in March, another blogger, Washiqur Rahman, was hacked to death in Dhaka for which an Islamist and two madrassa students were arrested over his murder.

  • Xenophobic attacks: Indigenes warn S/Africa

    Federal Capital Territory (FCT) indigenes have threatened to close down South African businesses operating in the nation’s capital as a reprisal for the Xenophobic attacks in that country.

    The group has given the South African Government 48 hours to apologise to Nigerians and other nationals of African countries for the wanton killings during the xenophobic attack.

    The group also demanded that concrete steps be taken by the South African authority to tackle the menace.

    The threat was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the FCT Residents Association meeting in collaboration with some traditional rulers in the territory, which was jointly signed by the Secretary-General of the Forum, Comrade Yunusa Yusuf and the Eze Igbo of Abuja, His Royal Highness (HRH) Ibe Nwosu and made available to reporters.

    The natives stressed that Africans must integrate as a continent to battle the xenophobic attack in South Africa. They said: “We pledge to remain our brother’s keeper irrespective of nations, tribes and tongues and we will continue to act as such within the limit of our laws and international conventions.

    “That there have been relentless attempts by the South African Government to undermine peace in the continent and replace it with a different ideology based on xenophobia. We are confident that the Federal Government of Nigeria will handle the situation in South Africa at the international level.

    “That we the host community of multi-nationals including South Africa business community, are not happy with the onslaught in South Africa on flimsy and baseless guise of xenophobia.

    “That, having studied the situation in South Africa vis-a-vis the trauma our brothers are subjected to in the past weeks, we have resolved to give the South African Authority Forty Eight (48) hour’s ultimatum to apologise to Nigerians and other nationals of other African countries for the wanton killings and destruction of property of other nationals resident in South Africa.

    “That failure to come up with permanent solution within the stipulated 48 hours ultimatum, drastic measures, including attacks on the business interests of South Africa in the Federal Capital Territory will be ruthlessly carried out as a reprisal to the ongoing xenophobia attacks.

    “That the business interests of South Africa operating in the Federal Capital Territory listed for attack include but not limited to Shoprite, DSTV, Barcelos, Pick ‘n’ Pay, Spar, Steer, MTN, Debonairs, Hungry Lion and Mr. Price, among others”

    The group regretted that despite that South Africa businesses operating in the FCT have continued to marginalise Abuja natives in area of employment, Abuja natives have allowed them to operate without intimidation from any quarters, stressing that the South African Government should forthwith demonstrate the spirit of brotherhood towards other nationals resident in South Africa or face the consequences.will be ruthlessly carried out as a reprisal to the ongoing xenophobia attacks

  • Outrage over S/Africa attacks

    Outrage over S/Africa attacks

    There was outrage yesterday against attacks on African immigrants in South Africa, which has led to the death of no fewer than six people and massive destruction and looting of property.

    Nigerians living in South Africa are not spared as no fewer than 50 have been rendered homeless  after being displaced by the attacks. About 300 others are displaced near Johanesburg.

    Although the Federal Government said it would begin the evacuation of Nigerians, who are interested in relocating from yesterday, it could not be ascertained whether the evacuation had started.

    The South African embassy in Abuja was picketed by members of the Advocacy for Peoples Rights and Justice (APRJ). They carried placards denouncing the attacks.

    In Benin, the Edo State capital, the office of MTN Nigeria, South Africa’s largest company operating in Nigeria, was picketed.

    In Kaduna, youths staged a protest on the streets. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) urged the South African Government to end xenophobia by addressing its cause.

    Human rights groups also issued statements condemning the attacks.

    The anti-immigrant attacks, which began last month in the coastal city of Durban, has spread to other parts of the country, forcing thousands of migrants to leave their homes. The arrow heads of the attacks are targeting African migrants who they accuse of stealing their jobs and businesses. It is the deadliest spread of xenophobic violence South Africa has seen since 2008, when 67 people were killed.

    Business was stalled at the MTN office in Benin during the protest.

    The protesters barricaded the entrance to the office on Murtala Mohammed Way as early as 7a.m.

    They carried inscriptions, such as “Xenophobia is Inhuman” “Zuma call your boys to order”; “S/Africans can’t be making money from us and killing us”; “Nigerians boycott South Africa companies”.

    Speaking for the protesters, Austin Enabulele, said the action was a warning to the South African government to stop the attacks on Nigerians or risk losing its investments in Nigeria.

    Enabulele said the attack on foreigners was inhuman and condemnable.

    He said: “We are all Africans. We wonder why they should attack our fellow Nigerians who are doing their legitimate businesses in South Africa, when we have shown them love to operate in Nigeria.

    “We have come here to say to (President Jacob) Zuma to call his people to order because if he fails to call them to order we will do the needful. We are aware of all their businesses in Nigeria.

    The vice president of the group, Gloria Noren, said South Africans were not showing gratitude for the financial support from Nigeria during the apartheid era.

    She said: “We have videos of Nigerians that have been killed; I personally watched the video. How can someone come out to say that we are taking their jobs from them? What about the money they are making from us?

    “Nigeria spent over N60 billion fighting apartheid for them. Why should we exchange love to them and they extend hatred to us. It is totally inhuman, distasteful; it is disgusting.

    “We are sending this message to our Nigerian government to go ahead and retrieve all Nigerians from South Africa because we cannot keep losing our brethren.”

    The youths who stormed the major streets of Kaduna said South Africans were being ungrateful to nations that stood by them during their struggle against apartheid.

    The coordinator of the movement, Comrade Yusuf Yusuf said the death of General Murtala Mohammed, a former Head of State, was to some extent associated with the struggle to liberate southern African countries, including South Africa, and it is disheartening that South Africa has now turn its weapon or war against African countries that stood by them.

    He added: “For weeks now,  we have been receiving distress calls from our loved ones residing in south Africa and some of them have left behind their property which are being looted by the miscreants.

    “They are out there on the street, hunting and killing those they tag foreigners and taking over their businesses while their government turn a blind eye towards the violence.

    “We want to remind South Africans-that their call for all foreign Nationals to leave their country simply means that they in turn should expect the recall of their countrymen back home.”

    The NLC said in Abuja yesterday that the South African government must take steps to end the attacks.

    The Congress said in a statement that it was unfortunate that the attack is targeted immigrant workers from countries that contributed immensely to the fight against apartheid.

    In the statement signed by the President of the Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, entitled “Hold the South African Government responsible for the safety of all immigrants”, the NLC said the South African government must evolve policies that will create jobs for its citizens.

    It also said that the South African government must bear in mind that there are South African businesses in countries whose citizens are being attacked, pointing out that these businesses are vulnerable to severe danger if positive steps are not immediately taken.

    The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) also urged the South African Government to urgently address the causes of the xenophobic attacks.

    In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its Chairman, Ibrahim Zikirullahi,  the TMG said: “It is ironic that a section of the South African citizenry has chosen to vent its anger on peoples from fellow African countries, which stood in solidarity with South Africans at a time the evil system of Apartheid held sway in their country.

    “TMG recalls that several African countries, with Nigeria leading the charge, put their interests on the line and toiled to ensure the end of white minority rule in South Africa.

    “Many Nigerians donated personal funds, wrote letters, sang songs and performed small, but brave acts to help our brothers and sisters in South Africa break off the shackles of domination and abuse by the Apartheid system.”

     

     

     

  • Ex-ASUP chair condemns attacks on Auchi Poly’s Rector

    A former Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) at the Auchi Polytechnic, Pastor Okosun George Okosun, has condemned what he called the sponsored attacks on the school’s Rector, Dr. PhiIipa Idogho.

    Okosun was reacting to a magazine’s story, which accused the rector and her husband, Dr. Idogbo, of running the institution as their personal estate.

    The former union leader described the allegations as products of a disenchanted and disgruntled group of people clamouring for the removal of the rector for no just cause.

    He said the incitement against the rector had become a blessing in disguise.

    Okosun said: “In Dr Idogho’s administration, overnight we see monumental growth and development of infrastructure simultaneously taking place on campuses with the construction of inter-connecting access road network within campuses stretching between Auchi-Ibie to Aviele axis, zooming out in Iyekhe Girls’ Grammar School’s gate like a holy cross.

    “Public expectation goes beyond destructive criticisms for which, if Sharia laws were to be evoked, that crooked hand of Esau but the voice of Jacob would have suffered outright amputation.”

  • Rivers NUJ, doctors protest attacks on members

    Rivers NUJ, doctors protest attacks on members

    Journalists and doctors in Rivers State yesterday protested what they called “unwarranted attacks” on their members in the line of duties.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) State Chairman Opaka Dokubo said if the attacks continued, “journalists will not attend any political event without adequate provision for their safety”.

    He added: “Enough is enough.”

    Dokubo spoke against the background of the attack on journalists at the All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Okrika, Rivers State.

    The NUJ chairman condemned the attack on Channels Television reporter, Mr Charles Erukaa, and other reporters covering the rally.

    He recalled that Erukaa “had a bottle broken on his head and the same weapon used to stab him on the throat. He now lies critically ill in the hospital”.

    Dokubo said: “It is clear that of all the dead and injured, it is this hapless reporter that was directly attacked for no other reason than being a journalist.”

    The Rivers State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) also protested the abduction of doctors.

    NMA State Chairman Dr. Furo Green told reporters that three doctors had been abducted by gunmen in the last one week.

    Furo said the first doctor was released with a gunshot wound while the second was still being held.

    He said: “In the last five days, two doctors have been kidnapped and the third was shot, following an unsuccessful attempt at kidnapping him…”

  • PDP sponsoring attacks to shift polls -APC

    PDP sponsoring attacks to shift polls -APC

    The attacks on President Goodluck Jonathan in Katsina and Bauchi were engineered by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  to demonise the opposition and force postponement of next month’s general elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged yesterday.

    The “coordinated hysterical reactions to the attacks by the presidency, Senate President David Mark and the leadership of the Ijaw nation,” the APC said clearly exposed the brains behind the violence.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said in a statement that “those who have gone into frenzy in condemning the attacks should direct their anger at the PDP, which hired the hoodlums who attacked the President in Katsina and Bauchi and gave them brooms to make them look like APC supporters.

    ”Information is now in the public domain that these attacks were self inflicted with the aim of demonising the APC and instigating retaliatory attacks in the southern states, thus precipitating chaos which the PDP and the Presidency will then use as an excuse for the postponement of the elections

    ”Apparently they did not envisage that the information about their complicity over the attacks will leak to the public. It is common knowledge that the security around the President is such that no hoodlum can come close enough to pelt him with stones.”

    And responding directly to claims by the Presidency on Friday that the APC should stop the ‘nonsense’ of attacks on the President, the party said the Presidency was wrong to accuse it of breaching the Abuja peace accord that was signed by the presidential candidates of the various political parties, saying “the PDP and its band of thugs did not allow the ink with which the agreement was signed to dry before they started breaching it.

    ”The second attack on our offices in Rivers took place after the pact was signed, just like the serial attacks on our supporters in Sokoto, organised by a PDP stalwart in the city and aided and abetted by the police.

    “The death-wish-for-Buhari advert by the incautious Gov.Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State in the name of President Jonathan, which could have triggered unimaginable violence if not properly managed by the APC, also breached the agreement.

    ”Where was the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, when all these breaches were taking place? Not once did he issue a statement to say ‘this nonsense must stop’.

    ”Where was the Senate President, David Mark, when these breaches were taking place? He was never on record as condemning the attacks on the APC offices and its supporters or the irresponsible and downright repugnant advert by Gov. Fayose. Are those in the opposition not Nigerians who also deserve the care and attention of the nation’s number three citizen?’”

    ”Mr. Senate President, sir, if any party is guilty of ‘despicable desperation’ as you claimed, it is your party, the PDP. Which party has been using all the cheap tricks in the books to postpone the lections at all cost? Which party has been sponsoring attacks against itself to demonize the opposition and force a postponement of next month’s election?

    “Which party has deviated from issues and become fixated on the person of the APC Presidential Candidate, savaging and lying against him at every point? Mr. Senate President, remember the saying that he who must come to equity must come with clean hands.”

    APC also slammed what it called  the self-serving, self-styled leadership of the Ijaw nation for vowing retaliation over the sponsored attacks on the President in the north and threatening the very existence of Nigeria if President Jonathan is not elected into a second term.

    It wondered where in the world threats have ever won an election.

    ”The last time we checked, elections are won and lost by the votes of the people, not by infantile threats. The last time we checked, no one is guiltier over attempts to undermine the oneness of Nigeria than some self-styled leaders of the Ijaw nation.

    “Had they been duly prosecuted and punished in accordance with the laws of the land, they would not have dared to continue hreatening the nation’s existence, even as those saddled with the responsibility of preventing suchthreats look on,” the party said.

    APC appealed to its members and supporters nationwide to continue to maintain peace in the face of the most egregious of provocations in order not to play into the hands of the PDP and the Jonathan Administration who are incredibly terrified of the forthcoming elections and will do anything to make sure they do not take place.

  • Belgium thwarts jihadist attacks

    The Belgian authorities have prevented several attacks by jihadist fighters returning home from Syria and by sympathisers with the Islamic State extremist group, a report said yesterday.

    The daily L’Echo cited unnamed sources as saying the planned attacks could have been similar to the one on the Jewish Museum in central Brussels in May which left four people dead.

    The suspect in that case, Frenchman MedhiNemmouche, spent more than a year fighting with Islamist extremists in Syria and is now being held in Belgium on charges of “murder in a terrorist context”.

    Up to 400 Belgian nationals are estimated to have gone to fight in Syria, with about 90 known to have returned home, L’Echo said.

  • Okorocha demands apology from Ihedioha over ‘attacks’

    Okorocha demands apology from Ihedioha over ‘attacks’

    •’It’s governor who should apologise’

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha demanded yesterday an apology from the House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, for allegedly embarrassing him at Ahiazu Mbaise in Aboh Mbaise Local Government during the ‘Iri Iji’ Mbaise Festival at the weekend.

    Ihedioha, when presenting kolanut to the governor, allegedly taunted him for non-performance and neglect of Mbaise people.

    He said: “My governor, we are happy to have you in our midst at this time. Mbaise people are peace- loving and hospitable. As our governor, who has graced this occasion for the first time since assuming office, we are glad that you will address issues of neglect of Mbaise people before handing over to Owerri Zone and particularly to me next year.

    “It is our collective wish that the issues be addressed soon as the 2015 general election is approaching when you will leave office for my administration as the governor to address neglect and decay.”

    But Okorocha in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, described the deputy speaker’s outburst as an unwarranted, unnecessary and unprovoked verbal attacks on his person and office.

    The statement reads: “After those attacks and the fruitless effort made to prevent the governor from addressing his people, we waited till August 17 to see whether the deputy speaker or leaders of the Mbaise nation could be guided by the rules of decency to apologise to the governor for those needless attacks and actions, but to no avail.

    “It should be stressed that before the event, Okorocha and Ihedioha had no problem to the best of the knowledge of Imo indigenes and Mbaise people in particular, except that Ihedioha is aspiring to succeed Okorocha next year, which is not an offence.  But this should not  warrant verbal attacks against the governor, especially when the deputy speaker is not yet a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but only an aspirant.”Mbaise people and indeed, Imo people, who were at the Iriji Mbaise festival, saw that Ihedioha began his verbal attacks against the governor when he was given the kolanut for the event to present to the visitors. Instead of performing that traditional assignment, he took on the governor, telling him how he would not return to the Government House in 2015 in a very disrespectful manner as if he is the mind of Imo people.

    “As if that was not enough, when Ihedioha was called upon to address the people, instead of using the opportunity to tell the crowd what he has attracted to the area in the 12 years he has been in the House of Representatives or what the PDP-controlled Federal Government has done for Imo people, he opened another round of attack on the governor, telling the people that the projects of the Okorocha administration were inferior.

    “Ihedioha began that speech and ended it with attacks on his governor. The number six citizen did not deem it fit to welcome his governor to an event he (Ihedioha) was listed as the chief host. That his governor attended such function should have been hailed by him.

    “Although those at the event were disappointed at the attacks, it should not stop at that. Ihedioha should be honourable to apologise to his governor for the attacks. The leaders and traditional rulers of Mbaise should do same.

    “It is important to use this opportunity to urge the governorship aspirants to appreciate the advantages of others over them. Okorocha has earned for himself an enviable popularity among the Imo populace. They admire him because of his sterling performance.”

    Ihedioha, in a statement by his Media Assistant, Mr. Chibuike Onyeukwu, said: “It is the governor who has embarrassed Imo people with his disrespect for traditional institutions that should apologise to Mbaise people for desecrating their New Yam Festival, which has been held successfully over the years without his presence.

    “He should also apologise to the Imo people for turning our once respected state to a laughing stock. The governor also acted similarly during the Oru Owerri Festival, where he disrupted the festival and turned it into a political event. He threw decency to the winds with his hired thugs, knowing that he has no support in Mbaise, being the strongest base of the deputy speaker.”

  • Kwankwaso attacks Jonathan again

    Kwankwaso attacks Jonathan again

    •Fed Govt promoting hatred, corruption

    President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s administration promotes hatred, enmity, ethno-religious rivalry and corruption, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State said at the weekend.

    Kwankwaso, who spoke to reporters in his office, said the inability of President Jonathan to tackle insurgency in the North and insecurity in other parts of the country exposes his incompetence to preside over Nigeria’s affairs.

    According to him, the real cause of insecurity is bad leadership being experienced in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government.

    “We have good materials in APC; we have people, if given the opportunity, I have no doubt in my mind we can perform creditably. Look, I am conversant with that Villa for over 20 years now. From the days of my membership of the House of Representatives as Deputy Speaker, I know what the Commander-In-Chief should be doing under these circumstances.

    “Now, they are just using propaganda. Look at this Chibok girls, for three weeks, they were arguing—where are the names, who are they, where are the photographs; they didn’t believe that over 200 children were abducted. Haba! Even if it is 20 tortoise or goats! Won’t you look for them? One of the reasons why I love this country is that we have people of high calibre in all the regions, in all the states. Look at my former colleague, former Minister of Education Dr. Oby Ezekwezili.

    “This is somebody who worked with the World Bank, but now she has devoted her time. She is not from this part of the country, but she felt she had to take the bull by the horns and that is what we are seeing in developed countries—fight injustice, save people, help them, if you have the opportunity to do so. They sent some hawks to go and stop the protesters. The other day I went to Abuja, I saw an advertisement while she is saying ‘BringBackOurGirls’.  Some people are saying ‘vote for us, we want to stay and maintain the status quo; look at my photograph, I am smiling.’ And they don’t know time is of essence.”

    Kwankwaso accused President Jonathan-led administration of operating a government based on ethnic sentiment and religious bigotry.

    He advised the Presidency to reduce the level of hatred and bitterness among Nigerians, if the government is actually interested in resolving insecurity.

    “At the moment, the country is in a critical situation, and if this madness is not stopped and if  it is allowed to degenerate, and becomes the order of the day, whereby innocent people are being killed every day, then something is wrong with the leadership.

    “What Nigeria requires now is a strong leadership that can effectively tackle the insurgency in the Northeast and other topical security challenges,” he said.

    On the impeachment saga in Adamawa and Nasarawa states, Kwankwaso said: “My opinion is if there is anybody that should be impeached, it is them, who are in the headquarters of corruption— that is the headquarters of bad politics— that is the Headquarters of everything evil.”

    To the governor, the suicide attack on APC’s national leader, General Muhammadu Buhari is “unfortunate”. He pointed out that it was God that saved Nigeria from a serious crisis, which would have occurred, if those who attempted to kill Gen. Buhari had succeeded.

    His words: “First of all, let me take this opportunity once again to commiserate with General Muhammadu Buhari and, of course, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, their families, their relations and, of course, anybody that is close to them. While commiserating with them, I think I should also congratulate Nigeria in the sense that the lives of these two leaders were saved. I am congratulating Nigeria because only God knows what would have happened in this country if either of them and, at worst, two of them lost their lives on that day. It is very sad that they had to go through this trauma at their age and their level and position in the society.

    “This is Nigeria for you and this is the situation we all find ourselves. Everybody is having his own share of trouble, attack and so on and so forth. Dahiru Bauchi, I think he is a little bit older than my father—my father had to go through similar experience also in a mosque at Kwankwaso. They went and sprayed a small mosque where my father was praying with bullets. They had to push him into a particular corner, and so many people heaped themselves on top of him and they received all the bullets. Three people died, 13 people wounded on top of him.

    “So, you can see that now, it cuts across strata, it cuts across the different segments of our society. The late Emir of Kano (Ado Bayero) was attacked right on the streets of Kano. Other traditional rulers have been attacked in the mosque, just like my father who is a traditional ruler. So also, all other sectors of people—civil servants, politicians, police, journalists, everybody – and that is not good for any country.

    “In this particular case of Kaduna, we keep on thanking the Almighty God that they escaped death by whiskers. And I want to say we are lucky; but I believe nobody can run any country with luck. You can win election by luck if you have good luck, but you cannot run any administration, any government, serious government, by luck. Because it has its limitations; you cannot be lucky all the time.

    “I think that is what everybody should know. You see, when the issue happened, there were many people who have been pointing fingers; and that is a lesson also, especially for the leaders. Leaders should create an environment of love, so that even if bad stories happen anywhere, nobody will point at their direction—and that is what has to be done.

    “After the incident, we have seen so many commentators trying to exonerate so many people, but you see, that is not the issue because those who are saying it were saying it on papers; maybe, they are on social media; maybe they are on television and so on—but you see, under those circumstances, it is not those who even have money to buy newspaper that will take laws into their hands—that is the unfortunate thing.

    “The unfortunate thing is people who have no capacity to buy newspaper or even read it if they have it are the people who take decision; and that is such of the decisions that cannot yield anything. That is why I hope everybody is listening, their advisers, if they have any good one, should advise them to reduce the level of hatred and dislike of leaders and their followers; and I think that will probably help to ensure that even if bad thing happen (God forbid), nobody will point fingers at some persons.”

    Kwankwaso added that this is time for all Nigerians to support the Federal Government in fighting the insurgency, adding that unless something is done about Northeast, there can be no peace in the country.

    He suggested that one of the ways of restoring normalcy to the area is for the government to draw out a Marshal Plan for the region, and urged Jonathan to stamp his feet as the Commander–In-Chief of the Armed Forces to tackle insecurity.

    The governor challenged the President to take a clue from the statement of Gen. T.Y Danjuma, who suggested that the President Jonathan   should take the bull by the horns, and lead Nigerians to Sambisa forest as a way of rescuing the abducted Chibok girls.

  • The unfortunate Kaduna twin bomb attacks

    The unfortunate Kaduna twin bomb attacks

    The twin attack on the two prominent Nigerians which took place in Kaduna could be described as dangerous, callous and unfortunate to the peaceful and cooperate existence of this country.

    The attempt on the lives of the two highly respected Nigerians who are revered in different parts of this country for political and religious affiliations, shows those desperados of this dastardly act are out to throw this country into political and religious crises, which would not augur well for the peaceful co-existence of this country.

    Both Sheik Dahiru Bauchi and Gen. Mohammed Buhari have contributed to the development of this country in their chosen fields, hence their being accorded esteemed respect across the country.

    The activities of those responsible for the twin attack did not take into cognisance the great implication of what they intend to do the collective interest of the country, which would have a great impact on the stability of this country.

    We must appreciate that God in his infinity mercy did allow this unpatriotic persons to achieve this myopic and undesirable desire of plunging this country into another mayhem, which no responsible Nigerian will support.

    We should continue to be vigilant in our daily activities to stem the ugly trend we are witnessing at this critical period of our nation’s history, that has never been seen, not even during the civil war that took place in the 60s.

    No sane Nigerian would support these dastardly acts of spilling blood of innocent Nigerians who are already impoverished going about securing their day-to-day means of livelihood.

    We pray that those who lost their lives in the Kaduna twin blast would have peace of grave and God would console their families, while also praying for those injured to recover quickly.

    The government should not rest from its responsibilities by assuring the citizens of providing security to all. Nigerians should report any form of suspicious movement within their environments.

    Nigeria will surely overcome such agonising period she finds herself and

    It will continue to remain steadfast in loving one another.

    By Bala Nayashi

    Lokoja, Kogi State.