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  • Benefits of marrying an Igbo or Yoruba girl

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Love is a beautiful thing. The Holy Book says that it is not good for a man to be alone, and that a man must leave his father and his mother and will get married to his wife and the two of them will become one.

    Marriage is revered and it is carefully entered into. A man is always careful to choose the wife he marries, as it is widely believed that 90 per cent of the success or failure of a person depends on the person he or she gets married to in life.
    There are however things to know if a man gets married to a girl from the two major tribes in Nigeria. There are inherent benefits of marrying an Igbo girl from the South-East and a Yoruba girl from the South-West.

     

    IGBO

    One quick advantage to mention about Igbo girls is that it is widely argued that they are extremely beautiful and considered the best when it comes to cooking.

    Other advantages may include:

    1.            She will raise your children with love and teach them her local language

     If you marry an Igbo girl, you can be sure that your children would speak the Igbo language whether you like it or not. She would raise the children with love and instill the right values and morals into them.

    The Igbo people value their culture a lot and would make sure they pass something from it onto their children- your children.

    This means that your children would be able to speak more than one language.

    2.            Her family members will always visit

    There is nothing like total privacy if you marry an Igbo woman. Her family members would always visit and the house will always be full.

    This has advantages and disadvantages as you may spend more seeing to their affairs while playing the perfect in-law but you can be sure it would be fun all the way.

    This would make your wife happy and more contented.

    3.            They are very religious

    Igbos are very religious people and their preferred religion is Christianity. Most Igbo girls are brought up in strict religious homes and as such, they have the fear of God and the belief in His supremacy instilled in them.

    Even when they leave their parents, they still carry those values with them into their marriage and homes. So prepare yourself for church every Sunday, and get ready to observe religious holidays and church programmes once married to an Igbo girl, because they hardly compromise on this or convert to other religions

    4.            Do not cheat on an Igbo girl if you still want to live

     They may not kill you physically but be sure that life will be very difficult for you and your mistress if you get caught. If you want to marry an Igbo girl, then you should know that as subtle and sweet as they are, they could be highly venomous when pushed and taken for granted.

    They are not ladies who would fold their hands while you cheat on them. They would confront you and your lover with their findings and would deal with both successfully.

     

    YORUBA

    1.            Yoruba girls are very respectful

     The moment a child is born in Yorubaland every elder around him or her suddenly becomes his/her parent as he or she is not only restricted to receiving discipline from the biological parent. This has made it very easy to inculcate habits like being respectful in the young child.

    Yoruba girls are brought up to totally give respect to whoever it is due. The Yoruba culture says that when a youngster meets an elder, she must kneel down to greet as a sign of respect.

    This is a major reason why Yoruba ladies top the list of respectful tribes in Nigeria

    2.            Yoruba girls are hardworking

    A lot of Yoruba girls grew up with the teachings of self-reliance. This is because at a tender age, they get taught how to do major household chores and how to exceptionally take care of the house, the man of the house and the children.  So, it is safe to call a Yoruba girl a better “helpmeet”, as she would help with her hardworking, enterprising spirit in shaping your life.

    3.            Yoruba girls are highly Intellectual

    A high percentage of Yoruba girls take school and education seriously. This gives them an edge over other ladies from other tribes in Nigeria.

    A typical Yoruba girl would prefer to go to school, get her degrees and certificates before thinking of marriage, which is rare in some tribes. This help them plan their lives well enough; get prepared for the future before jumping into it.

    4.            Yoruba girls age gracefully

    Because most Yoruba girls keep themselves before marriage, there are better chances for them to look way younger than their real age. They are ever agile even in old age to tend to their family. Just like fine old wine, Yoruba girls get stronger as they grow older.

    So, guys, which one do you want?

  • FG to release millions of sterile tsetsefly to fight trypanosomiasis

    To effectively fight the scourge of trypanosomiasis, the federal government has approved the construction of a modern tsetse mass rearing facility in Vom.

    The facility is to generate millions of sterile male tsetse flies for field release to mop-up populations that may persist after suppression to achieve eradication.

    Read Also: OPPI: Army nabs 5 key logistics suppliers, fighters

    Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, said that tsetse fly poses very serious problems to livestock production in Africa as well as human health.

    He said that Nigeria is willing to lead Africa in the fight against tsetse fly and will work closely with other nations in Africa to reclaim land presently occupied by the insects.

  • Tickets To Europe… (2)

    APRIL 2017

    Nigerians were greeted with jaw-opening and eyes-popping news, stories and details about fellow Nigerians’ deaths and sufferings in Libya. There was unison in believe of the gory stories. Those who made it alive back to the country were the narrators.

    There have been several batches of Nigerians trafficked to Libya, who have been returning to the country since April 2017. And many more trafficked Nigerians are still stranded in Libya and several other countries such as Egypt, Morocco, amongst others.

    TOBORE OVUORIE, who has been following the lives of trafficked persons and survivors, will in this continuous migration series, titled: Tickets To Europe, bring to the fore lives of trafficked Nigerians before, during and after their ordeal. In this second part of the series, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), takes responsibility for all medical and surgical expenses of Tunmininu- a trafficking survivor, whom this reporter, in 2018, had written about. Tunmininu was set ablaze in Libya by her captor. And, survivors lament over rejection and stigmatization by their family members and the society.

    International Organization for Migration Foots Medical, Surgery Expenses Of Returnee Set Ablaze In Libya

     Following The Nation Newspaper’s earlier publication about the plights of returned Nigerians who had been trafficked to Libya, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said it will foot all medical and surgery expenses of Tunmininu, a human trafficking survivor who was set ablaze by her madam while a slave in Libya.

    The IOM made the disclosure in an official response exclusively availed this reporter who had been in touch with the United Nation’s organization since March 8th, 2018 over the story.

    The first part in the developing series was first published: https://www.google.com/amp/s/staging.thenationonlineng.net/rejected-stigmatized-trafficking-survivors-shun-libyan-horrible-experiences-ready-to-travel-again

     Tunmininu, a gospel artiste, trafficked by her mother’s friend, February 25th, 2016 aged 20, returned to Nigeria April 25th, 2017. While a slave in Tripoli, Nurian, the Libyan woman whom she served, January 10th, 2017 set her ablaze after drugging the tea given her. Some parts of her body were severely burnt. Tunmininu before the ugly incident had been sold several times by Nigerian slave dealers before arriving Tripoli and while in Libya.

    In the official response to this reporter, the IOM in the second to the last paragraph said “IOM Nigeria has further pursued the case, and as of April 17, 2018 Tunmininu has been traced by IOM medical team and her situation accessed with a recommendation of her visiting the nearest hospital for her medication. IOM will pay for her medical bills and will continue monitoring her situation until she fully recovers.”

     

    Since April 2018 when IOM’s medical team had first contact with Tunmininu, the global migration organization  has lived up to her words, while this reporter continues following up on both parties.

    National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) says in Nigeria, the two most reported human trafficking cases are foreign travels which promote prostitution and employment of children as domestic workers and inflicting grievous harm. Most of these victims are women but children and men  these days, now consist larger shares than they did 10 years ago. The anti-trafficking agency’s 2017 report states in the country, 0.1 percent of trafficked victims are men while 25 percent are females. Globally, 51 percent of trafficked persons are females and 21 percent are males. Traffickers, the report indicates are often males but women comprise a large number of convicted offenders.

    NAPTIP, in an earlier report, states in 2014, children comprised 28 percent of detected victims, and men, 21 percent. Thus, 51 percent were women. It indicates about four in 10 victims detected between 2012 and 2014 were trafficked for forced labour, and out of these victims, 63 percent were men.

    The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in her 2016 Global Report On Trafficking In Persons says globally, more than 500 different trafficking flows were detected between 2012 and 2014. Forty-two percent of detected victims between 2012 and 2014 were trafficked domestically, while 21,251 total victims were detected.

    The UNODC reports 69 countries reported to have detected 21,251 victims from Sub-Saharan Africa between 2012 and 2014. Nigeria had 1030 detected trafficking victims. Of these, 322 were adults (61 males, 261 females) and 708 were children (458 boys, 250 girls). Like NAPTIP, the UNODC also indicates while traffickers are overwhelmingly male, women comprise a relatively large share of convicted offenders, compared to most other crimes. This share, according to the UN organization, is even higher among traffickers convicted in the victims’ home country. Court cases and other qualitative data indicate that women are often used to recruit other women. It disclosed trafficking in persons recorded 400 offenses in 2012, 407 in 2013, 603 in 2014 and  334 in 2015. However, in 2012, it disclosed 185 males and 147 females suspects and arrests were made.

     

    HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS/LIBYA RETURNEES LAMENT REJECTION, STIGMATIZATION BY FAMILY MEMBERS, SOCIETY

    Over 8000 Nigerians trapped in Libya have voluntarily returned to the country since April 10th, 2017, through the European Union/IOM and Federal Government airlifting assistance and partnerships. Since their return, the EU/IOM and NAPTIP have began reintegrating the returnees back into the society through vocational skill acquisition programmes. This, NAPTIP’s immediate past Acting Lagos Zonal Commander, Mrs. Kehinde Akomolafe says, in addition to psychotherapy which NAPTIP for instance provides, will help the trafficking survivors have means of livelihood, and pick the pieces of their lives.

    However, survivors who returned to the country two years ago from Libya whom this reporter spoke with, say all is not well. Resident in six states; namely: Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Lagos, Edo and Ondo states respectively, the 26 trafficked men and women say they are ‘back to square one’: experiencing terrible economic hardship. This time, worse than that which made them embark on the risky journey by road to Libya. That is not all. Their pains are garnished with family members, friends and the society treating them with much disdain. Many of their friends now avoid them. All the 26 returnees whom this reporter spoke with, say they are having a very difficult time reintegrating into the society. Some have fled their homes to destinations not known by their family members.

    “I got tired of being treated like excreta by my mother and brothers. When I returned to Nigeria, I was told my father slumped and never recovered when he heard Asma boys have captured me in Libya. My family are angry that I returned to Nigeria instead of crossing to Italy. They say I am worthless. Who goes abroad and returns empty handed? My mother and brothers say only useless girls like me do such to their family” Progress (surname deliberately withheld) narrated in vernacular to this reporter.

    Armed with only her Senior Secondary School Examination certificate, she has been hunting for a job since her return to Nigeria to no avail. Her mother wants her to embark on another journey; to Spain or Holland.

    “She always tells me graduates, even people with Masters degree and PhD are having difficulty getting jobs. Is it me with incomplete SSCE result that would get a job in this Nigeria? I am tired of being told I am worthless. I am sick of being compared with my age mates who are going to Italy and sending money home. So, I ran away from Benin to Ogun state. My family members don’t know where I am. I want peace. I want to start all over again. I want to forget everything that happened to me in Libya. But how can I when my family and everyone else call me terrible names and treat me like trash?” Progress narrated amidst sobs while being comforted by the friend she now lives with.

    The 25 other returnees interviewed by this reporter shared same horrendous stories of woes, rejection and being shamed by their families, friends and communities.

    “My mother said until I produce the dollars I was given in Libya, I must not come close to her door”. Grace, 23, an indigene and resident of Ondo state told this reporter. She is still in shock though it’s been well over a year since her arriving Nigeria from Libya. Her mother doesn’t believe anyone can live ‘abroad’ for two years and return to Nigeria without foreign currencies- dollars. Grace was trafficked January 2015 by her mother’s friend who had assured her of free university education in Sweden only to take her to Libya to become a sex slave. She was rescued and returned to Nigeria by the IOM April 10th, 2017.

    “I have sent many people to beg my mum. Maami ki n se eran riro o (My mother is not a pushover). She said I must either produce all the dollars or I stay away from her. At least, I have a very good OND (Ordinary National Diploma) certificate. I can’t afford the school fees of a regular university, so, I will attend National Open University (NOUN) so I can work and go to school”.

    Grace who learned tailoring alongside while studying for her OND at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, now sews from the house of her former school mate whom she squats with at the moment in Lagos state. When she arrived Nigeria two years ago, the IOM gave her some money. She used it to buy a sewing machine and external whipping machine. “These (the two machines) are my means of survival right now. I am saving most of my earnings to buy at least four more sewing machines and one internal whipping machine,” she told this reporter smiling, seated behind her sewing machine. She had been working on customers’ clothes since 6.30am that day but stopped work by 10am when the interview for this story began.

    According to her business plans (jottings in her diary) which she showed this reporter, she is working towards having a fashion training institute with stylists who will work in her shop while she studies for a degree at NOUN.

    “I am living with my former school mate so that I can save money to buy more machines and go back to school. God has been faithful. I have saved some money and still saving. By God’s grace, latest by October this year, I will be sewing in my own rented shop and will start the fashion classes by December.

    “When business is settled, by God’s grace, I will go back to school in 2020. I have made enquiries at NOUN. I was told to apply when forms are out. I will. I need money to pay my bills, so I can’t be a full-time student in a regular university” Grace’s oval face decorated with such bright eyes was alive with smiles as she shared her dreams with this reporter.

    Notwithstanding all these progress made since her return to Nigeria April 2017, her mother and family still treat her like an outcast.

    “Except she is honest enough to produce all the dollars she made in Libya, you people should stop disturbing me. Stop begging me on her behalf. Tell her to bring all the money or don’t come a centimeter close to my door” Grace’s mother, a retired headmistress sternly warned this reporter when the latter visited her in Ondo state over Grace.

    Another returnee in Benin, Edo state, Larry Udugba, said his father had driven him out of the family house since his return from Libya, calling him ‘a failure and never-do-well.’

    Twenty-eight years old Udugba said he paid N70,000 to a certain middleman, who assisted him to get to Libya, only to be sold as a slave there.

    “Even as a slave in Libya, I was better off than a free-born in Nigeria. We agreed to be rescued on the assurances given us that we would be rehabilitated in Nigeria, only for them to bring us here, feed us for a few weeks and throw us into the streets,’ Udugba lamented.

    He said, while out in the cold, some vagrants had tried to lure him into armed robbery, but that, guided by his Christian background, he shunned the temptation.

    Udugba noted that a year after their return, most of the Libyan returnees in Edo state had become worse by lack of job and social rejection.

     

    SOCIETY DIVIDED OVER ACCEPTABILITY OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS/LIBYA RETURNEES

    The United Nation Trafficking in Persons Protocol, Article 9 section 1 states: Parties shall establish comprehensive policies, programs and other measures: (a) To prevent and combat trafficking in persons; and (b) to protect victims of trafficking in persons, especially women and children, from re-victimization. Though policies have been put in place in Nigeria, trafficking survivors and victims are not only being re-victimized, but shamed, rejected and stigmatized.

     

    In an independent digital survey conducted by this reporter in 2018, the global community is still divided over accepting human trafficking survivors and Libya returnees. This reporter conducted the first survey via WhatsApp. Eleven of the 22 participants live in Lagos, six in Abuja, two in Ogun state and one each in Oyo, Rivers and the Republic of Benin respectively. While 14 males and eight females who consist: civil servant, book publisher, journalists, politician, life/relationship coach, IT/Brand consultants, trader, artisan, rights activists, teacher, caterer, realtor, lawyers, fashion designer and medical doctors participated in the survey.

    https://youtu.be/X-EhTScVLnk

    Titled: ‘Societal Acceptance Of Libya Returnees/Human Trafficking Survivors,’ 10 respondents of the 22 participants in the survey said they can marry the trafficked survivors. Nine on the other hand refused, while three were uncertain.

    Some of their responses include:

     

    “SOME PEOPLE’S CHARACTER WORSE THAN BEING LIBYAN RETURNEE”

    Mrs. Temitope Igbodipe, Chief Executive Officer and Creative Lead, Cream Stitches-a Bespoke fashion firm in Lagos, says Libyan returnees are not only humans but are even better than many persons who have never been trafficked. Mrs. Igbodipe who teaches trafficked survivors fashion designing for free, told this reporter there is no saint anywhere as some persons’ character are worse than having being a sex slave.

    “I might see someone or someone might ask me out seeing me looking holy and churchy, or I could be a Muslim covering my face, my hand and everything to the ground and I might be two-faced. You can’t really tell my actual attitude. I might be even worse than the person who went to Libya and returned. The person went under circumstances for crying loud. It wasn’t by choice actually, so there is no saint anywhere.

     

    https://youtu.be/uB-dac19uAg

    “Some people’s character are worse than prostitution. Anybody that gets married will also copulate, so the number of times actually doesn’t count. If you have done something bad and you repent, you can have a good life. Nothing stops us from having a good life. As a religious person, what if God says this person is your husband or wife, and because that person has certain background, will you now deny your destiny?”

    Asked if she would support her daughter or son to marry a Libyan returnee or human trafficking survivor, she said: “ Definitely. So far, studying the person afterwards and I am satisfied with what I see, definitely. There is no saint anywhere, so I will say definitely.

     

    BLAME THE GOVERNMENT, SAYS CACOL

    Rationalising the plight of the returnees, the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has slammed the Federal Government for not providing a conducive environment for the development of youths in the country, generally.

    The group blamed the government for the harsh economic situation in the country, which it said caused the tragedy, adding that the government, at both federal and state levels, must tackle the rising rate of unemployment in the country to curb the menace of human trafficking.

    CACOL Director, Comrade Debo Adeniran said, “The problems of illegal migration and trafficking are an accumulated issue. We have a high population of children and youths in this country and we are not planning for their future. Workplaces are winding up and no new jobs are springing up.

    “This is why people want to leave and look for the proverbial ‘greener pastures’.”

     

    OATH SWEARING AND DRAGGY JUDICIAL PROCESS

    Mrs. Akomolafe highlighted oath swearing and Nigeria’s draggy judicial process as major obstacles in securing more convictions. She told this reporter, oath taking is the tool used to stop victims from testifying against traffickers. She noted NAPTIP now engages juju priests to break such oaths. Then, voodoo doctors found culpable are prosecuted for their roles played in trafficking the victims.

    https://soundcloud.com/user-66302873/human-trafficking-former-naptip-lagos-zonal-commander-says-effect-of-oath-sworn-by-victims-is-real

     

    But for Dr. Bolanle Ola, Consultant Psychiatrist and Head of Psychiatry, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja oath swearing is unreal. The psychiatrist said it is simply a way of brainwashing people into silence and obedience. Victims vulnerable to mental heath problems, he said, after traumatic stress, would breakdown. This is due to the hazardous experience, not oath taken.

    Established in 2003, NAPTIP has secured 339 convictions, 73 of which is by the Lagos command with over 100 cases in court. Some of the cases, according to Ms. Akomolafe, last for five years.  She said if a judge is transferred or promoted to a higher court, even when the case is at the final stage- final address for the court to make a decision, the case starts afresh when a new judge resumes.

    Mr. Festus Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) explained that the Nigerian law doesn’t allow, especially in criminal cases, another judge to take over a case and continue from where the first stopped. In the country’s jurisprudence, he said, the new judge must have a complete impression of a case from beginning to the end in order to make a just decision. He must see all witnesses that were earlier called, take note of their demeanor; whether they are telling the truth or lies.

    He emphasized it actually hampers the speed of justice, hence a need for the law to be amended. Mr. Keyamo advocated if a judge has cases in advanced stages and is elevated or transferred, the judge should be allowed by law to return to the lower court to finish those cases, whilst resuming in the higher court. To him, it will help a lot in decongesting the courts and ensuring speed of trials.

     

    SPECIAL COURTS TO THE RESCUE!

    NAPTIP Director General, Ms. Dame Julie Okah Donli in an interview March 2018, said before that year ends the agency would have special courts and designated judges for speedy trials of human trafficking cases.

    She warned that any person who recruits, transports, transfers, harbors or receives another person by means of giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation of that person, commits an offense. Nigeria’s trafficking in persons (prohibition) enforcement and administration act states such person is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years and a fine of not less than N250,000.

    https://soundcloud.com/user-66302873/naptip-dg-promises-special-courts-for-human-trafficking-cases

     

    Mr. Keyamo applauded it as a step in the right direction. He said to ensure speedy processes,  everything in Nigeria now requires special interventions. “If you lump it together with the general duties of that agency, or the particular agency in charge or the police force and all that, it becomes too clumsy for them”.

    https://youtu.be/xR3-Y-Sps7E

    It has been a year and five months after the NAPTIP DG said the agency would have special courts and designated judges (before the end of 2018) for speedy trials of human trafficking cases. These promises are yet to be fulfilled.

     

    Editor’s Note: The gospel singer’s real name is not Tunmininu. It was changed for her privacy. Photos and video recordings of the Libyan returnees are not used because the trafficking survivors didn’t grant permission to that effect.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Matawalle alerts on presence of Boko Haram elements in Zamfara

    Gov. Bello Matawalle Matawalle of Zamfara has alerted on the presence of elements of Boko Haram allegedly recruited by some politicians to cause havoc in the state.

    The governor made the revelation through his Director-General of Press Affairs, Yusuf Idris at a press briefing in Gusau on Monday.

    He said the state government “is in possession of credible intelligence reports suggesting that some disgruntled politicians of the state origin are making clandestine moves to destabilize the state.

    “They are intending for sinister and personal gains, collaborating with dispersed elements of Boko Haram, to launch series of attacks on innocent and peace loving people of the State in order to scuttle the relative peace being currently enjoyed as a result of the peace and dialogue process initiated by the present administration.

    “According to the intelligence report, the cruel and mischievious elements have perfected plans to launch the attacks in seven local Government areas of the state and in other strategic places within the state capital and that two important personalities of the state are also targeted for elimination should this dastardly act succeed.

    “The targeted local governments include Gusau, the state capital, Tsafe, Talata Mafara, Anka, Zurmi, Maru and Maradun while the strategic places targeted are Gusau Central Mosque and Gusau army Mammy Market where soft targets are known to gather both at day and night.

    “The Boko Haram elements, were said to have been recruited from far and wide to carry out these heinous acts slated for between Monday 23rd September to 25th October 2019.”

    Read Also: OPPI: Army nabs 5 key logistics suppliers, fighters

    The governor further said it became imperative to alert people of the state on the development to guard against panic and give update on the government preparedness in collaboration with security agencies in arresting the situation.

    He said already, security had been beefed up in all the identified flashpoints and areas while stop and search operations were being intensified in all parts of the state.

    Matawalle appreciated the people’s goodwill to his administration and assured that he would not be “deterred nor distracted by negative thinkers in his drive to improve the standard of living of the state and its people.”

    The governor also thanked repentant bandits and members of Yansakai group for sustaining the peace process initiated by his administration which had brought peace in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state has been enjoying relative peace in the past two months with over 370 kidnap victims released willingly by their abductors.

  • UPDATED: Fire razes Unity Bank headquarters

    One of the floors of Unity Bank Plc headquarters in Lagos was engulfed in flames on Monday.

    The fire which started early hours of this morning has been brought under control by the fire service. The source of the fire remains unknown.

    In a statement, the bank said: “We regret to inform the public that there was a fire incident on one of the floors of our Head Office building early this morning.

    The cause of the fire incident is yet to be ascertained but the fire service has intervened and has brought the situation under control. While the extent of damage is being assessed, we are happy to note that there was no casualty or loss of life as a result of the incident. From current observations, however, the Banking Hall and other strategic business areas were not affected”.

    Continuing the bank said: “We are grateful to all the Agencies and volunteers that supported in bringing the incident under control. Further developments regarding the incident will be communicated as it unfolds”.

  • Seven children killed, 57 injured after classroom collapses in Kenya

    Kenyan Government on Monday confirmed that seven pupils were killed and 57 others injured after a classroom at a primary school in Nairobi collapsed.

    Colonel Cyrus Oguna, a government spokesman said at a press conference that the classroom, at the Precious Talent Academy in Nairobi’s western suburb of Dagoretti, collapsed at 7.30 am (0430 GMT).

    A community leader said the first casualties were evacuated to a nearby Catholic clinic by motorbike, because ambulances took an hour and a half to arrive.

    The Red Cross announced on its Twitter account that it had set up information and tracing desk and would be offering psychosocial support services.

    Distraught parents and members of the public railed at the school’s administration for what they termed the poor structural quality of the collapsed building.

    Read Also: Gunmen abduct PDP chieftain in Benue 

    One parent told dpa that the collapsed building was an iron-sheet walled, one-storey building, with the first floor built of a concrete slab.

    The school’s manager, Moses Ndirangu, said the collapse could be the result of ongoing sewer works on one side of the classrooms.

    Local lawmaker, John Kiarie said the school is located in an impoverished informal settlement and the quality of the structures may not be up to par.

    Education Minister George Magoha was expected to give a report in due course.

  • JUST IN: Gunmen abduct PDP chieftain in Benue 

    Unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) chieftain Ben Akile on zaki biam on Katsina-Ala road in Benue North-East senatorial district, Benue state.

    Ben Akile was on his way from Zakibiam to Katsina-Ala town for PDP zonal meeting with Senator Gabriel Suswam.

    The meeting was to discuss and find a way out of the present insecurity situation in the zone.

    Read Also; Gunmen kidnap ASUP chair, four others in Oyo

    An eye witness Paul unande told The Nation that the victim, his aide and some PDP members were travelling to Katsina-Ala in a vehicle belonging to the State PDP Legal Adviser, Barr. Tela Mue when gunmen waylaid them on the way .

    He said they shot at them from the bush, robbed them of cash and other valuable before taking Ben Akile to an unknown destination.

    At press time, the gunmen were yet to contact the family of the victim.

  • Kidnapping: Army dismisses three soldiers in Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Sunday says it has dismissed three soldiers arrested among a kidnapping gang in the outskirts of Maiduguri.

    Maj.-Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi, the Theater Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, disclosed this while handing over the dismissed soldiers to the police in Maiduguri.

    Adeniyi disclosed that the soldiers were arrested with 22 other suspects by a joint patrol team in the early hours of Sunday at a building in the outskirts of Maiduguri.

    He said that the soldiers were initially deployed to the Operation Lafiya Dole, but engaged in nefarious activities such as kidnapping, armed robbery, killings and cultism.

    Adeniyi added that the erring soldiers were dismissed in accordance with the military procedures, warning that the army would not condone criminals in its fold.

    “The three soldiers were caught among the evil group, there was further resistance and attempt to escape, so we tied them up with ropes because handcuffs were not available.

    “In addition; we could not put violent men that do these kinds of crimes into a police van to take to the station, there will be breakout on the road and we know what would happen.

    “We have to restrain them thoroughly with ropes before we take them and handover to the police.

    “The Acting GOC, 7 Division, Brig.-Gen. AK Ibrahim, has conducted military procedures. We do not keep armed robbers, kidnappers and cultists in the army, they had been dismissed.

    “We gathered here to witness their handover to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for civic action, they are dismissed, and they are no longer soldiers of the Nigerian Army.

    “Our code of conduct is strict and high, no evil soldier will be allowed to serve in the army,” Adeniyi said.

    The commander called on the people to be vigilante and report suspicious persons, movement and activities to security agencies

    Meanwhile, the Borno Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohhamed Aliyu, said the command had arrested 25 suspects at Bagani Hotel in Abuja Sharaton Area of the metropolis.

    Read Also: OPPI: Army nabs 5 key logistics suppliers, fighters

    Aliyu said the suspects belong to a cult group called Neo Black Movement (NBM), adding that they were arrested wearing black dresses at about 2:00 a.m., while conducting their imitation activities.

    He disclosed that preliminary investigations indicated that most of the suspects were students of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri, a medical doctor, a banker and three dismissed soldiers.

    Aliyu added that one of the suspects fired shot in the air and run when the patrol team stormed the hideout.

    He said the suspects had been terrorizing residents of Maiduguri and its environs and were involved in robbing filling stations.

    The commissioner revealed that the command had recovered calabashes, a 25-litre keg containing reasonable quantity of red substance suspected to be human blood and charms.

    Other items recovered include 20 school identification cards, four ATM cards, phones, six SIM packs, one live 7.62mm ammunition and some gun powder, among others.

  • OPPI: Army nabs 5 key logistics suppliers, fighters

    The Nigerian Army says the Operation Positive Identification (OPPI) in the North East has started yielding positive results with the arrest of five key terrorists suppliers and fighters.

    The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD), Col. Ado Isa, disclosed this on Monday.

    Isa said that the troops of OPLD had intensified searching for and arresting of all suspected criminal elements that were currently roaming parts of the North East.

    He said that the Theatre Command had enjoined members of the public to always carry valid means of identification such as National Identification Card when moving or passing through Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.

    Isa said the operation was based on credible information that some of the fleeing criminals were hibernating in some towns and villages of Borno and Yobe States in particular and North East in general.

    Read Also: Army launches Operation Positive Identification in Northeast

    “Troops are directed to strictly check legitimate means of identification such as National Identification Card, Voters Registration Card, Drivers’ License and International Passports or other valid official identification before allowing such persons passage.

    “Consequently, the operation is seriously ongoing across the region and five key terrorists logistics suppliers and fighters have so far been apprehended.

    “Members of the public are requested to cooperate with the troops by moving along with valid identification cards and present same to the troops in the efforts to rid the North East zone of criminals fleeing for safety,” he said.

  • Hisbah destroys 196,400 bottles of beer in Kano

    Kano State Hisbah Board has destroyed over 196,400 bottles of beer in its bid to rid the state of consumption of alcohol.

    Speaking shortly after flagging off the destruction exercise at Kalemawa in Dawakin Tofa local Government Area, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje said Islam has strongly condemned drinking of alcohol and all other intoxicants that can distort mental capability of a person.

    “ln Islam, drinking of Alcohol is strongly forbidden being one of the back bones of committing sins either big or small and that has been stated out at several places in the Holy Qur’an.

    “Our Islamic Scholars, religious and community leaders should join hands in the crusade against such social vices because issue of taking alcohol is not only Islam that forbids it. To good Christians, consuming Alcohol is also prohibited,” he said.

    Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, the governor assured that all other Shari’a agencies in the State would enjoy similar promotion and support with State Hisbah Biard to enable them discharge their mandates.

    He said: “This government is a Shari’a compliant Government. We will continue to support the Hisbah Board more especially as we witnessed the launched of New Hisbah Commanders of all the 44 Local Government Areas and also witnessed the re branding and taking the State Hisbah Board to the next level “.

    Ganduje implored people in the State to accord the needed support and cooperation to the officials of the Hisbah Board, pointing out” giving them all the supports to discharge their duties will not only promote their work but ensure that our society become free from evil social acts “.

    Read Also: Police shut down O’Pay Kano office

    Commander General Kano State Hisbah Board Sheik Haroon Muhammad Sani ibn Sina disclosed that the board had succeeded in preventing selling and drinking of alcohol under the provision of penal Court section (401) of 2013 shari’a law in Kano.

    According to him, the Board has obtained Court orders under this section to destroy over 12 tippers of alcohol confiscated while trying to bring them in to the State which are meant to distort the life of the teaming youth.

    “It is against this background, I call upon the suppliers and those that consume the alcohol to shun away from this act as Hisbah Board will not relent on its effort to fish out the perpetrators and take them to court at any given time for prosecutions ” he assured.