The Nation Newspaper

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  • ‘Badoo boys’ is creation of media, killings exaggerated, says Ex-Police boss

    A former Commissioner of Police in Lagos and Benue states, Mr Fatai Owoseni said the news of the dreaded ‘Badoo boys’ is a mirage and creation of the media, adding that the issue of incessant killings in the Southwest is exaggerated.

    Owoseni who is currently the Special Adviser (Security) to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde made the assertion during an enlightenment talk on security matters at an event organized by the Ibadan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Ibadan.

    While responding to a call made by the President of the Chamber, Mr Ismaila Alapa who said it was imperative to put an end to incessant killings in the country and in the state, in particular, said stories about killings in the Southwest were the creation of the media.

    He said, “It is our nature to denigrate Nigeria Police Force. No institution in Nigeria that has the number of lawyers and graduates that Nigeria Police has. I want to tell you that the issue of incessant killings was exaggerated because Nigeria is dysfunctional.

    “Our political leaders, because of their failure, they decided to exaggerate things and colourate crimes politically and religiously. They are only looking for a fault line. They say religion is the opium of the people. They can easily gather people in the church and mosque to tell them lies and we believe it. We are gullible. The social media platforms have added to it.

    Read Also: Police arrest soldier for allegedly stabbing man to death

    “The major problem we have in the country are those elites. Once they are out of power and they are not able to manipulate the person in power, they look for how to run that person down. That is what is happening in Nigeria. It is not that we don’t have deteriorating security situation but is there any country where you have a perfect situation?

    “The so-called incessant killing when it comes to Southwest is not as bad as it is being portrayed. Traditionally, we have our own people who are criminals.

    “Don’t let us join the bandwagon of press people who probably don’t know the meaning of what they said. Because if you said incessant that means it happens constantly and regularly. No. One isolated problem can’t be regarded as incessant. We are not used to the truth in Nigeria. If we do full disclosure we are helping ourselves.

    “The Badoo thing is a mirage. It is the creation of the media people. Go and look at our criminal law is there anything called Badoo there? Even in Lagos when the noise was much in Ikorodu, I can tell you, it is not that I’m condemning Ikorodu people. Somehow, Ikorodu is known for certain thing.

    “In the days of ‘essential commodity’ during the Shagari regime, if they know that essential commodities were coming from Apapa, once you drive down Odogunyan, that Army Barracks, it is gone because of ‘Eluku’ or whatever, you hear that somebody has got missing.

    “So, when those incidents were happening in Lagos and people were talking about ‘Badoo’ if you watched when I was on television, I debunked it. We had murder cases, there is no doubt about that. Murder cases that have the coloration of ritual killings. For God sake, police can’t be everywhere. Where it happened are the houses that are remotely located. Police are not ‘babalawo’s’”.

    Owoseni lamented that murder cases borne out cultism attacks and hooliganism are prevalent in the state, disclosing that there were 357 murder cases in Oyo State from January to June 2019 which are borne out of the act of hooliganism.

    The former police chief decried cultism which he said is rampant among the youths including artisans who are not students, urging “all and sundry to take security serious because security is a personal task”.

    Decrying the low financial allocation to the police, the former Commissioner of Police maintained that funding is key in policing.

    Earlier in his remarks, the President, ICCI, Mr Ismaila Alapa called on the state government to unfold plans to tackle the security challenge, pointing out that international investors are scared from investing in the state as a result of insecurity.

  • BREAKING: Tribunal dismisses PDP’s petition against APC

    The Taraba State National and State House of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja has dismissed the petition by Hassan Bappa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the victory recorded by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jalingo/ Yorro /Zing Federal Constituency.

    Aminu Malle contested the election held on February 23, 2019 as the APC’s candidate and was declared winner.

    But, before he could assume office, the Supreme Court voided his candidacy in a judgment given on June 13, 2019 and ordered that he be replaced by Kasimu Bello Maigari, who was later issued with the certificate of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Read Also: Tribunal upholds Bwacha’s election for Taraba South Senatorial district

    In its judgment on Saturday, the tribunal held that Bappa and the PDP failed to prove their claims that the election was marred by irregularities and held in substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

    The tribunal also held that it was a fatal error on the part of the petitioners not to have included Maigari as a party in the case after the name of Malle was deleted, as the first respondent in the petition, after the Supreme Court judgment.

  • Police recruitment: successful candidates begin screening Sept. 9

    The Kaduna State Police Command, says successful candidates for recruitment into the Nigerian Police Force will undergo medical screening between Sept. 9 and 14, at all zonal Police headquarters.

    The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Yakubu Sabo, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, in Kaduna.

    “The command wishes to inform the general public, particularly successful candidates, who passed the recent Police recruitment aptitude test that, there is going to be Medical Screening Exercise nationwide.

    “It is scheduled to take place between Sept. 9 and 14 at all Police zonal headquarters simultaneously.

    “Kaduna State indigenes who were successful, should be in Abuja for their medical screening at Zone 7 Headquarters.’’

    Sabo said the candidates were to appear at the screening centres in white round neck T-shirt, white shorts and white Canvass.

    He said they were also to report at the venues at 7:00 a.m., with original print-out of their Guarantor’s Form, Acknowledgement Letters and two white background recent passport sized photographs.

    Read Also: Police arrest soldier for allegedly stabbing man to death

    “Candidates who are yet to see their Names can equally check on the Nigeria Police recruitment portal (www.recruitment.npf.gov.ng) as released by Department of Training and Development, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

    “Members of the general public who are not part of the exercise are hereby advised to stay clear of the screening venue as stringent measures have been put in place to deal with such people,’’ he said.

    According to Sabo, the Commissioner of Police in Kaduna, Ali Janga, enjoins the good people of the state to go about their lawful businesses as the Command is doing everything possible to ensure safety of lives and property of citizens.

  • BREAKING: Tribunal upholds Bwacha’s election for Taraba South Senatorial district

    The Taraba State National and State House of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja has upheld the election of Senator Emmanuel Bwacha representing Taraba South Senatorial District on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    A three-man panel of the tribunal, led by Justice E. I. Oritsejafor, in a unanimous judgment on Saturday, dismissed the petition by Bauka Ishaya Gamgum of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Read Also: Tribunal dismisses petitions against Wamakko, others

    Justice Oritsejafor, in the lead judgment, held that the petitioners failed to prove their claim of over-voting and substantial non-compliance.

    Earlier, the tribunal upheld the preliminary objection of the 2nd and 3rd. respondents – PDP and Bwacha – on the grounds that the petitioners did not pay the required filing fees as at the point of presenting the petition before the tribunal’s secretary on March 14, 2019.

    Details shortly.

  • ‘My fiance got married to another woman the same day he engaged me’

    “I have dated this guy for 8 years when he had nothing, I sold all my parents properties when they died to him through school.

    “Now, he has gotten a job, he proposed to me yes but is saying that he won’t marry me in court I refused and he threatened to call off the engagement so I agreed.

    “Only for me to search his laptop bag today while I was looking for something and found a photocopy of a court wedding certificate, I wanted to trash it but I just decided to read it, I saw that my boyfriend got married the day he engaged me, he wedded another woman in court in Asaba while we live in PH .

    “I remember he engaged me that morning made love to me and traveled that day.

    Read Also: ‘I mistakenly cheated on my wife with her kid sister’

    “I found it really difficult to cry and was just laughing and been laughing since I found this out. He just came back and I picked his phone and went to his WhatsApp found nothing, then went to his gallery found nothing before I finally went to his deleted items and found pictures of this particular girl.

    I am still laughing because I know what to do. My only question is how? Not physically but I will make sure his life is miserable. I am so broken that I can’t even cry. I just wanted to unburden my heart it is too heavy for me.”

     

     

    Bom

  • Why Anthony Joshua is scared of Andy Ruiz

    Anthony Joshua has claimed “sometimes the ones who are calm and chilled can bark”, when speaking about Andy Ruiz during a press conference in London on Friday.

    The Briton also rated Ruiz as “the best heavyweight out there”.

    Both boxers went face to face in London, as their three-day press tour ended, ahead of their December 7 rematch in Saudi Arabia.

    Asked about again being a challenger to the world heavyweight championships, Joshua said: “It’s a great mindset to have and you can’t lose that. The minute you lose it, you’ve got to retire. You’ve got to be hungry.

    Read Also: Anthony Joshua insists: I won’t quit boxing

    “I had a blip. We go again. I’m not shy. No fear.”

    Joshua said about his upcoming opponent who took his IBF, WBA and WBO belts earlier this year: “Ruiz Jr is calm but he can fight. He is not a fake character who puts on a persona.

    “Sometimes the ones who are calm and chilled can bark back, and can definitely fight.”

  • Samuel Eto’o ends football career after 22 years

    Ex-Barcelona and Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o has announced his retirement from football at the age of 38.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that after a trophy-laden 22-year playing career, Eto’o has decided to hang up his boots.

    Widely regarded as one of Africa’s greatest-ever players, Eto’o will be most fondly remembered for his time at Barcelona, where he won four La Liga titles and two Champions League trophies.

    After five years at Barca, he joined Inter Milan in 2009. While at Inter Milan, Eto’o won the treble under the guidance of Jose Mourinho that included a third European Cup win.

    Short spells in the Premier League soon followed, with Chelsea and Everton among the 13 professional teams Eto’o represented during his memorable playing career.

    On the international scene, he was the youngest player at the 1998 World Cup after making Cameroon squad at the age of 17.

    Eto’o claimed gold at the 2000 Olympics as well as two Africa Cup of Nations titles in 2000 and 2002 with four African Player of the Year crowns – a record he shares with Ivory Coast’s Yaya Toure.

    Eto’o also represented Cameroon at four World Cups, ending up with 56 goals in 118 appearances for his country.

    Read Also: Too High for Comfort! Barcelona dumps Neymar pursuit

    In a short Instagram message on Friday night though, he announced that he would be hanging up his boots.

    He wrote: “The End. Towards a new challenge. Thank you all, big love.”

    Having spent his youth career at Kadji Sports Academy, Eto’o joined Real Madrid where he was loaned to Leganes, Espanyol, and Mallorca.

    From then his career really took off and started to blossom.

    Overall, Eto’o bagged himself 359 goals in 718 club games.

    His best return came at Barcelona, where he scored 130 goals in 199 appearances in all competitions.

  • Lagos Anglican Communion condemns attacks on Nigerians

    The Diocesan Bishop and Missioner, Lagos Diocese Anglican Communion, Rt Rev Humphrey Olumakaiye, has condemned the consistent attacks on Nigerians and other nationals in South Africa.

    Olumakaiye, who stated this in a press release made available to The Nation on Friday, said that as a church, “we are saddened by the inhuman treatment of Nigerians and other nationals in South Africa and utterly condemn xenophobia in all its appearances, whether tacitly or full blown.”

    He noted that Nigeria, through her government and beautiful people, was very accommodating to the South African nation during the ugly episode of apartheid, and so do not deserve to be paid back with this inhuman treatment of her citizens in South Africa.

    He advised the government of South Africa not to sweep the issue under the rug, saying that we are all humans created in God’s image.

    “We want to encourage the Nigerian government to explore every diplomatic avenue to put an end to this dark episode threatening to rip the fabric of friendship between these two top African nations,” the bishop said.

    He stressed that the Nigerian government should not, however, go into negotiations without demanding lasting solution.

     

    Read Also: South Africa President condemns xenophobic attacks

    “Everything necessary should be done to bring to justice those who partook in the attacks and adequate compensation should be sort for the victims and their families,” he said.

    Olumakaiye posited that it is also important to note that the response of some Nigerian youths to the news of the xenophobic attacks is an indication of an impending catastrophe, if not immediately addressed.

    He warned that under no guise would one consider the actions of these youths acceptable. “We see it as a symptom to what we have been talking about for a while now.

    “There is immense poverty in the land. The resort to looting and vandalism was not borne out of accurate information but a case of ‘an idle hand is the devil’s workshop’. This cannot be allowed to continue”.

    “And the only productive way to address it is to engage the younger Nigerians meaningfully.

    “We advise the government at all levels to sit right and address the hunger in the land.

    “The Youths are bottled up, and if care is not taken, they can upturn the future of this great nation,” he warned.

  • South African police arrest 497 as looting of shops continues

    The South African police said on Friday that they have arrested 497 suspects who have been looting shops in Gauteng Province.

    The police said they are on high alert monitoring the situation, adding that some people started looting shops since Sunday and have continued to date.

    Police spokesperson, Brigadier Mathapelo Peters, said 74 persons were arrested in Katlehong on Thursday, bringing the total number of arrests since violence erupted in Johannesburg to 497.

    She said the situation in Katlehong and other areas in the Province remains calm as the number of incidents continue to decline.

     

    Read Also: South Africa arrests 90 for xenophobic attacks, looting

    Peters said while 11 people were killed during this period, only seven deaths have been directly linked to the incidents of violence and the police will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding each death.

    Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lt.-Gen. Elias Mawela called on the people to respect the law.

    He warned the people to stop spreading fake news on the social media.

    “We must work together to make sure that no one gets to undermine the authority of the State and together, condemn the violence and criminality towards ensuring the safety of everyone in the Province.”

  • Blame our leaders for Nigerians’ ordeal in S’Africa

    Lagos- based social critic and political activist, Chief Adesunbo Onitiri, has blamed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa on bad governance by past and present Nigerian leaders.

    In a statement in Lagos on Friday, Chief Onitiri emphasised that if Nigerian leaders at federal and state levels had harnessed and utilised the available human and financial resources in the country to the benefit of Nigerians and the youths in particular, the youths would stay at home, instead of getting out of the country for greener pastures.

    “The maltreatment of Nigerians all over the world is as a result of bad governance in Nigeria.

    “This is why Boko Haram, herdsmen, kidnappers and bandits constantly and freely unleash havoc on citizens at will with the connivance of our security agencies or rather while our security agencies look elsewhere.”

    Read Also: Xenophobic attacks: NANS rejects exchange programmes with S’ Africa

    Onitiri expressed sadness that the Nigerian government could no longer provide security for the lives and property of citizens.

    “Our youths migrate massively out of the country for greener pastures. Our teeming jobless youths prefer death to staying in Nigeria,” he said.

    He called on the government to do the needful by giving the people the dividends of democracy and improve their lots, provide jobs for the teaming youths and empowering the women who he said are in the majority.