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Tag: Nigerian news

  • DSS arrests human rights activist, Chido Onumah

    The Department of State Security Service (DSS) has arrested a human rights activist, Dr. Chido Onumah.

    According to a statement by The African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), the activist, who authored a nook called, “We are all Biafrans”, was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on his return from a trip abroad.

    Onumah has just completed his PhD course.

    But there were fears that Onumah was picked up by operatives following inscriptions on his T-shirt, suspected to have reflected the title of his book.

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    The statement by AFRICIMIL, which was signed by Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, said it was alarmed over the arrest of its Coordinator, Mr Chido Onumah, this evening, by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS).

    The stayement said: “Onumah was picked up at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on his return from a trip abroad.

    “AFRICMIL condemns in strong terms the unjustifiable arrest of Onumah and demands his immediate and unconditional release.

    “Waylaying law-abiding citizens should not be turned into the preoccupation of an entire security outfit.”

  • 11 things you should know about Nigeria

    11 things you should know about Nigeria

    Below are 11 important facts about Nigeria:

    – Nigeria is the 32nd-largest country in world with a landmass of 923,768 km2 (356,669 sq mi).    – The highest point in Nigeria is Chappal Waddi at 2,419 m (7,936 ft) in Taraba state.- Late Benedict Odiase, a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police, composed the music of the national anthem.

    – The words of the national anthem was composed by four Nigerians: Dr. Omoigui, John Ilechukwu, Eme Etim Akpan, B.A Ogunnaike, and P.O Aderibigbe

    – There are  37 federal owned Universities, 37 State-owned and above 50 private owned universities.

    – The 2006 census puts Nigeria’s population at 140,431,790 million – although there is now an estimate of about 170,000,000 Nigerians.

    – The name Nigeria was coined by Flora Shaw, wife of Lord Lugard, a British colonial administrator.

    – Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the seventh most populous country in the world

    – On 1 January 1901, Nigeria became a British protectorate, part of the British Empire.

    – On July 6, 1967 a 30- month war begun with a long siege of Biafra and its isolation from trade and supplies. It ended in January 1970

    – Nigerians went through 33 years of military rule (from 1966 until 1999).

    -Ever heard of the Ship House? That is the name of Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters

  • INEC loses Taraba REC, Yusuf

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Taraba state, Alhaji Baba Abba Yusuf, is dead.

    Announcing the death of Yusuf in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, INEC’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, said the late REC died on Saturday night at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Maiduguri, Borno State.

    According to Oriaran-Anthony, Yusuf, who had previously served as REC in both Benue and Adamawa states, was buried in Maiduguri, in accordance with Islamic rites.

    She described the late REC as one of the most experienced hands in the Commission, having been appointed a state commissioner in 2010.

    READ ALSO: Kogi/Bayelsa guber polls: INEC axes 14 candidates

    “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regrets to announce the death of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Taraba State, Alhaji Baba Abba Yusuf. He died last night at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Borno State, where he was on admission for sometime.

    “He will be buried today Sunday 29th September 2019 at 4pm in Maiduguri. The Commission will be represented at the funeral by a delegation of National and Resident Electoral Commissioners.

    “Alhaji Yusuf was one of the most experienced RECS in the Commission, having been appointed in 2010. He had served as REC in Benue and Adamawa States. His experience has been invaluable to the Commission over the years”, the statement said.

  • Six disasters to watch out for in the ‘ember months’

    Many Nigerians perceive the ember months — September, October, November and December- to be synonymous with mysterious happenings.

    Within these four months, a fever, perhaps sort of anxiety, grips most Nigerians.

    Without doubt, the ‘ember’ months are always the busiest on roads for many reasons and the air of festivity within these periods makes everyone ecstatic.

    From the religious perspective, many people believe these tragic occurrences are caused by evil spirits associated with these months.

    They argue it is a season when prayers should be intensified to curtail the incidence of evil.

    While this fear for the ‘Ember months’ seems to be a natural phenomenon, it is important that we also pay attention to the dangers that have now been associated to what is now termed “the ember months”.

    Fire Outbreak – Fire is one of the major causes of accident during Ember months because the air becomes dryer, thus encouraging chain reaction of fire.

    Ember months usually come with gradual subsiding of the rains and encroachment of the Harmattan haze.

    These Harmattan hazes fuel fire outbreak in marketplaces, offices, worship centers, farms, bushes

    Accidents – In Nigeria, the ember months are known as a period of hectic activity on roads.

    People use this end of year period to engage in business and travel to visit loved ones living far away.

    According to the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), a total of 5,181 Nigerians lost their lives in road traffic crashes (RTC) in 2018.

    Further analysis revealed that the top five causes of road accidents are:

    • Speed violation
    • Wrongful overtaking
    • Dangerous driving
    • Tyre burst
    • Brake failure.

    Other factors that also cause road accidents during this period are: excessive speeding, overloading and impatient passengers making passive comments to the driver while driving.

    Many drivers place their safety at risk by overloading their vehicles.

    Kidnapping – Though insecurity and kidnapping are not new in Nigeria, there are always on the increase in during the ember months.

    Kidnapping has evolved into a lingering, pervasive security threat and fast-paced and multifaceted criminal enterprise.

    It is now perpetrated by diverse armed groups and criminal gangs operating across the country

    Young and old have been victims; others have had the gruesome experience of loosing loved ones to these kidnappers.

    Robbery and other criminal activities – Some of the most common types of robberies experienced in Nigeria are home robberies, car robberies and bank robberies.

    Today, armed robbery is not only one of the biggest threat in Nigeria, but also a social scourge

    Robberies can occur almost anywhere at any time, but tend to occur more often in anticipated settings and at expected times.

    All that is necessary is a motivated robber and an unwilling victim at the wrong place at the wrong time.

    Excessive alcohol intake and smoking – Alcohol is a major factor in many speed-related crashes. Sadly, manufacturers of alcoholic beverages have not been very supportive of anti-drink drive campaigns.

    Small-sized bottles of alcoholic drinks are being consumed by drivers without a thought for safety on the road.

    In some advanced nations such as the United Kingdom, members of the public have adequate information about the legal alcohol limits.

    Reckless driving of commercial vehicles – Some drivers are very reckless. They see themselves as the kings of the road. So, they park, stop and swerve the car indiscriminately. Funny enough, they involve themselves in a car race to know who is a faster driver.

    While doing this, they mistakenly hit pedestrians crossing, traders or even bystanders. This can result in grave injuries or even deaths.

    All these acts are very dangerous to road users and needs to be looked into if we want people to be safe.

    As it has done over the past several years, it is expected that the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) will once again embark upon its annual road safety campaign.

    In all that you do during this Ember months, remember to stay safe, be watchful and careful

  • Facts you should know about Gov Oyetola at 65

    Osun Governor Adegboyega Oyetola is 65 today. Here are basic facts to know about him:

    Below are facts you should know about Oyetola

    * Oyetola was born in Iragbiji, Boripe Local Government Area of Osun on 29 September, 1954 to the family of Hammed Oyetola (the current Chief Imam of Egbeda, Iragbiji)

    * First born of 30 children, he attended Ifeoluwa Grammar School in Osogbo for his secondary school education which he completed in 1972. He proceeded to the University of Lagos where he bagged a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Insurance in 1978. Oyetola capped his education with a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in 1990 at the same university.

    Read Also: Buhari congratulates Oyetola on Supreme Court victory

    * He had his mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) between 1978 and 1979 at Potiskum, in present day Yobe State, where he lectured at the Staff Training Centre.

    * His professional career began in 1980, when he joined Leadway Assurance Company Limited as Area Manager and worked there till 1987. He took another step by taking his expertise to Crusader Insurance Company Limited as Underwriting Manager between 1987 and 1990. He moved again in 1990 to Alliance and General Insurance as Technical Controller and served in that capacity until 1991.

    * He established his firm, Silvertrust Insurance Brokers Limited, in 1991. He was the Managing Director until his appointment as Chief of Staff in 2010.

    * His other stints in business include, Executive Vice-Chairman, Paragon Group of Companies which has interest in Oil and Gas, Mining and Real Estate from 2005 until 2011. He was also Chairman of Ebony Properties Limited.

    * He had been a Director of Pyramid Securities Limited until 2011, among other business interests, before his appointment as Chief of Staff by Governor Aregbesola.

    * Oyetola is a pronounced technocrat as well as a progressive politician. He was a founding member of Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Osun State and has been a chieftain of the party through its metamorphosis to Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and now All Progressives Congress (APC).

    * He is happily married to Kafayat Olaitan Oyetola and the marriage is blessed with wonderful children and grandchildren.

    * On March 22, 2019 Osun State Tribunal nullified his election and declared Senator Ademola Adeleke winner of the poll. But on May 9, 2019, the Court of Appeal upheld Oyetola’s victory at the poll. Finally on June 5, 2019, the Supreme Court affirmed Oyetola winner of the Osun governorship election.

  • Arson: Man arrested over death of three family members in Kano

    The Kano State Police command on Saturday confirmed the arrest of a 25-year-old man, Salisu Idris, for allegedly setting a house ablaze, killing three occupants who are believed to be members of the same family.

    The incident occurred last Wednesday at Gayawa Tsohuwa village, Ungogo local government area of the state.

    Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, who confirmed the arrest, said the victims included the father, the pregnant mother and their 2-year-old daughter.

    “After the incidence, the command’s commissioner of police, Ahmed lliyasu, raised all the tactical units, the area commander of the metro division and the DPO of Zango division and he gave them 24 hours to produce the perpetrators of the heinous act.

    They immediately swung into action. Using our community policing strategies we were able to trace, track and arrest one person by name Salisu Idris at mijinbir town,where he went to take cover at the local government area,” he said.

    Read Also: Cultism: Police arrest cultist for murder of final year student

    Responding to inquiries from reporters, the suspect confessed that he was hired on a promise of N200, 000 to carry out the act. Idris, a mobile phone seller, said he wanted to use the money to enroll into the Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano. “A friend of mine asked me to accompany him to the house. He asked me to come along with him that at the end of the operation he will give me N200, 000. We came around 2pm. And when we came we both climbed unto the building with petrol and immediately the fire was ignited I got caught up and burnt my hands and legs” he confessed.

  • …Centre has no operational license – Police

    As the 300 persons evacuated from the Kaduna Islamic School were handed over to the state government, the police has said that, centre lacks operational license.

    Kaduna State Police Command spokesman, DSP Yakubu Sabo who confirmed the development in Kaduna yesterday evening, said the evacuated persons, including children would be reunited with their families by the state government.

    Some parents of the evacuated persons had on Friday protested against the raid of the Islamic center, where majority of its students were found in shackles.

    The parents equally demanded that the police release their children to them, claiming that, they took their children to the centre for correctional purpose.

    Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Sabo who reacted to the claims of the protesting parents that they took their children to the centre, said their claim does not matter to the law, but the fact that their children were dehumanized matters.

    He suspected that, the school asked some parents who were loyal to it for the protest to enable them get soft landing while facing the law.

    According him, “the children have been handed to the state government for reunion with their family, while the suspects arrested are undergoing investigation.

    Read Also: Buhari denounces Kaduna school of torture

    “Whether or not the patents were the ones who handed their children over to the Centre or not, there is limitation to what can be done to human being, even if you are the father.

    “According to law, even if the father subjects his child to an inhuman treatment, there is a level where he will be held liable for his action.

    “Besides, nobody is questioning whether the parents took their children there or not, what we are saying is that, inhuman treatment was meted out to these children, which is violation if their right as stated in the constitution.”

    On the authority of the centre, DSP Sabo said, “These people have no license to operate as well. The agencies of government that are supposed to supervise them are not put into consideration. As far as we know, they have not entered into any documents to show that they are licensed.

    “They are concurrently running both educational and correctional program which is supposed to be different institutions with different licenses. If you have license to give correctional program, that in itself does not give you order to do educational program and even if you are licensed, that does not give you a go ahead to dish out social maladjustment.

    “These are all issues that border having required manpower, skill to undergo this program. All these are not there.” He said.

    The PPRO however said that, the Command will soon complete investigation into the entire matter, after which the arrested operators of the centre will be charged to court.

  • Police arrest alleged killer of three family members in Kano

    The Kano State Police Command on Saturday confirmed the arrest of a 25-year-old man, Salisu Idris for allegedly setting a house ablaze, killing three occupants who were believed to be members of the same family.

    The incident occurred last Wednesday at Gayawa Tsohuwa village, Ungogo local government area of the state.

    Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa who confirmed the arrest said the victims included the father, the pregnant mother and their 2-year-old daughter.

    “On Wednesday around 3 am, we received a report of a strange fire incident from Gayawa Tsohuwa in Ungogo local government area which we promised to investigate.

    After the incidence, the command’s commissioner of police Ahmed lliyasu, raised all the tactical units, the area commander of the metro division and the DPO of Zango division and he gave them 24hours to produce the perpetrators of the heinous act they immediately swung into action.

    “Using our community policing strategies we were able to trace, track and arrest one person by name salisu Idris at mijinbir town, where he went to take cover at the local government area.

    Read Also: Hoodlums kill policeman, seven vigilantes in Niger

    We traced him and arrested him with severe burns he sustained in his body. We interrogated him and we found out that they were two that carried out the dastardly act and the other one is at large and very soon we’ll get him.

    Responding to inquiries from reporters the suspect, confessed that he had been hired on a promise of N200, 000 to carry out the act.

    Idris who was a mobile phone seller at Farm Centre said he wanted to use the money to enrol into the Yusuf Maitama Sule University Kano.

    “A friend of mine asked me to accompany him to the house. He asked me to come along with him that at the end of the operation he will give me N200, 000. We came around 2 pm. And when we came we both climbed unto the building with petrol and immediately the fire was ignited I got caught up and burnt my hands and legs” he confessed.

    He said on getting home, overwhelmed with pains from burnt injuries he lied to his grandfather that he sustained the injuries in a fire incident at mai shayi joint.

    Idris said he was taken to a clinic in the community from where he was referred to the hospital at Minjibir from where he was traced and arrested by the police.

  • Kogi poll: SDP candidate rejects disqualification

    The Natasha Akpoti Campaign Organization has condemned and rejected the recent purported disqualification of the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Barr. Natasha Akpoti​​, on the grounds of the age of her running mate.

    In a press statement issued on Saturday by the Spokesman, Natasha Akpoti Campaign Organization, Mr. Odaudu Minister, he said this decision is inconsistent with INEC allowing gubernatorial candidates/running mates of same age with or even younger than hers in several political parties in states across the country to contest in the 2019 general elections.

    “A country’s polity is as strong and efficient as the electoral body that guides it. When the electoral body becomes a tool available to the use of politicians determined to foist their corrupt, inefficient, selfish and detrimental style of leadership on the suffering citizens, then it is unfortunate and the people must speak up and demand for fairness and justice”, the statement said.

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    “To all our friends, supporters, and members of our campaign organization, Barr. Natasha Akpoti once again expresses her deep felt appreciation of your steadfastness. Your support, loyalty and desire for a better Kogi is what drives her”.

    “We will fight this great injustice by INEC. We will conquer this challenge as usual and proceed with our plan to liberate Kogi state from poverty and ineffectual leadership,” the statement added.

  • Teacher faces trial for forcing pupils to take off trousers

    Egypt’s chief prosecutor on Saturday ordered a criminal trial for a university teacher who allegedly forced his students to take off their trousers in order to pass an exam, private newspaper al-Masry Al Youm reported.

    The teacher, an assistant professor at Al-Azhar University, a state-run institution affiliated with Sunni Islam’s key centre of learning, al-Azhar, will face trial at the criminal court on charges of dishonouring a number of students and abusing his authority, the newspaper said.

    No specific date has been set for the trial.

    Earlier this year, a video showing the academic promising at a lecture to reward male students who remove their trousers with marks in the exam went viral.

    The footage purportedly showed at least two students accepting the offer amid cheers from some colleagues.

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    The video triggered an outcry in the conservative country and prompted Al-Azhar University to sack the teacher in April.

    The university called it an “immoral act and a crime.”

    At the time, the academic, who teaches Islamic creed and philosophy, reportedly apologised for the act, saying it was meant as a test for students on his lectures about ethics.

    Al-Azhar University, which admits Muslim students only, follows a gender segregation policy.