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  • Xenophobia: Fed Govt warns against attacks on foreigners

    THE Federal Government on Thursday warned hoodlums and miscreants who are attacking foreigners and business premises over Xenophobia clashes in South Africa.

    It added that some unscrupulous people were engaging in disinformation to inflame passion by using fake news and videos of non-related attacks.

    The government said hoodlums have hijacked the peaceful protests by some Nigerians to loot shops at Shoprite and other malls in some locations across the country.

    Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed warned those attacking foreigners, including South Africans, to desist or face justice.

    He said: “Of course, a number of other measures are also being considered by the government to keep Nigerians in South Africa safe. But the purpose of this press conference is to reiterate the appeal to Nigerians, who are justifiably angered by the attacks on their compatriots in South Africa, not to resort to self-help by carrying out reprisal attacks against South African businesses in Nigeria; to alert Nigerians to the fact that some unscrupulous people are engaging in disinformation to inflame passion by using fake news and videos of non-related attacks; to very strongly warn the naysayers and hoodlums who might want to capitalize on the widespread disenchantment and anger of Nigerians over the attacks in South Africa to foment mayhem, and to appeal to Nigerians, especially opinion leaders, not to allow raw emotions to guide their response to the attacks.

    “ I will take the issues one by one, starting with the attacks on South African businesses in Nigeria. Reports of these attacks, which have dominated the social and traditional media in the past two days, are quite disturbing and depressing. Obviously, hoodlums have hijacked the peaceful protests by some Nigerians to loot shops at Shoprite and other Malls in some locations across the country.

    “ A Nigerian lady whose shop was looted at the Novare Mall in Lagos said she lost millions of naira to the hoodlums who looted her shop. The offices of the MTN nationwide have either been attacked or threatened. Other South African firms have either shut their doors or are open under heavy security.

    “As we said in our intervention on Tuesday, Nigerians own and run the shops in the various Shoprite malls across the country. Nigerians work there also. MTN is listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the investors in this company are Nigerians. The workers are mostly Nigerians. Same applies to other South African businesses in the country. By attacking them, we are hurting our own people. That is the blunt truth.

    “Some hoodlums have also targeted foreigners under the guise of protesting against the xenophobic attacks in South Africa. This is saddening.

    Read Also: South Africa’s Ramaphosa says at least 10 killed in riots

    “If we are complaining that South Africans are attacking Nigerians in South Africa, how then can we tolerate Nigerians attacking  Nigerians and foreigners right here in Nigeria? What purpose do such attacks serve, other than for Nigerians to lose their investments and jobs?

    “Must we cut our nose to spite our face? It is in this light that I want to assure all Nigerians, and indeed foreigners living in Nigeria, that the Federal Government has put in place adequate security measures to protect the lives and property of all.

    “The security agencies have been put on high alert, and looters will be arrested and made to face justice.”

    Mohammed said it was unfortunate that some Nigerians had been using old video clips to instigate some hoodlums to attack foreigners and South African businesses in the country.

    He asked Nigerians to be circumspect of fake videos which had been designed to inflame passion.

    He said three of such videos on alleged killings of Nigerians in South Africa were fake.

    He advised those behind the videos to  immediately desist from doing so forthwith.

    He added: “ I also want to use this press conference to alert Nigerians to the video clips being circulated on the social media, purportedly showing how Nigerians are being killed in South Africa. Three of such videos come to mind:

    • One video shows a man who has been set ablaze trying to escape, and those circulating the video identified the man as Nigerian. This is not true. The video shows Mozambican Ernesto Alfabeto Nhamuave, a victim of xenophobic violence in South Africa in 2008, and it is not that of a Nigerian being attacked in 2019.
    • Another video shows those said to be Nigerians jumping down from a multi-storey building that was purportedly set on fire by xenophobic attackers in South Africa. This is fake news as the video is that of a Suraj Coaching Centre in Gujarat State, India, that was gutted by fire on May 24, 2019, leaving about 18 people dead.
    • The third video, purportedly showing the bodies of Nigerians who were burnt in xenophobic attacks, is the raw footage of those who were killed in a Tanzanian fuel tanker explosion in Morogoro that left at least 60 dead on Aug. 10 2019.

    “Those who are circulating these videos should immediately desist from doing so. Apart from inflaming passion, the videos are also complicating the efforts of the government to calm frayed nerves at home in the wake of the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

    “Recall, gentlemen, that we alerted Nigerians to the dangers posed by fake news and disinformation when we launched our National Campaign Against Fake News on July 11 2019. That campaign is more urgent now than ever, and I implore the media, in particular, to give it a renewed play. Fake news and disinformation represent a clear and present danger to every society.

    “We want to appeal to our opinion leaders and celebrities to be guarded in their utterances and comments on the xenophobic attacks and  the reactions from Nigerians. Words have meaning, and wrong words are like poisoned darts. In the words of the Buddha, ‘’Better than a thousand hollowed words, is one word that brings peace.’’

    Mohammed assured that the government will protect Nigerians wherever they might be all over the world.

    He said other measures are being considered to tackle xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

    But, he was silent on the contingencies being put in place by the Federal Government.

    He avoided questions from reporters  to avoid, what a source described as “joining the fray.”

  • Oyo APC scores Makinde low on performance in 100 days

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has accused Governor Seyi Makinde of having nothing tangible to celebrate for 100 days in office after he allegedly deceived voters to win the election.

    The party in a statement on Wednesday said Makinde had deceived voters by promising to end joint ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso and stop the state’s reliance on federal allocation within months of assuming office as governor. The party added that rather than build on the sterling performance of his predecessor, Abiola Ajimobi of the APC, he has allegedly reduced governance to purchase and supply exercise.

    In the statement, by its Assistant Publicity Secretary, Prince Ayobami Adejumo, Oyo APC berated Gov. Makinde “for bowing to pressure and allowing his subjects to embark on a comedy show in the name of celebrating fake achievements which cannot even stand the test of public scrutiny.”

    It read in part:  “As a progressive entity, we are deeply concerned about the future of the Pacesetter State in view of the fact that the tempo of purposeful governance went away with the immediate former governor. We now have an administration which does not seem to know what governance entails. Obviously, handlers of the current PDP government are grossly incompetent and the earlier they realize this, the better for the future of our dear state.

    Read Also: Why APC won 2015 general elections, by Fashola

    “If not a theatre of the absurd; how does a mere plan to purchase pleasure cars amount to a giant stride in enhancing security? How does the rebranding and unveiling of exercise books inherited from the successive administration change the face of education for the better in a state? How does a mere pronouncement change the status of Adeoyo State Hospital to meet up with the value of the University College Hospital, Ibadan?

    “On many occasions in the last three months, we have had Gov. Makinde speak on probing the administration of Sen. Ajimobi on the spurious allegations of graft in the morning and also come out in the evening of same day to applaud most of his policies while in office. Rather than engaging in bitter politicking and unnecessary grandstanding, we urge him to borrow a leaf from Ajimobi and come up with only programs and policies that could move the state forward in no time.

    “Rather than roll out drums and make noise through media patronage to cover the track, Gov. Makinde should apologize for his failure to deliver on his campaign promises. Basically, people care to know why the governor has not secured sole ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso for Oyo State as promised. Why has the governor refused to pay the 30 thousand naira minimum wage to workers? Why has Gov. Makinde not been able to wean the state from being dependent of monthly federal allocations and loans? After all, it is dawned on the people that all he (Makinde) was to take an advantage of the people and make fake promises just to be a governor.

    “However, now that Gov. Makinde is preparing to commission most of the Model Schools built by the administration of Sen. Ajimobi, we are appealing to him to monitor and support all the contractors handling various developmental projects across the state and, at the same time, endeavor to give due credit to the APC government since government is a continuum. Since Ajimobi left office, no single pot hole has been fixed on any road anywhere in the state and this is rather unfortunate.”

     

  • Obasanjo to cattle breeders: Peace must return to Southwest

    FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday met with leaders of   Fulani cattle breeders in the Southwest as well as  Kogi and Kwara States, over the wave of   banditry and insecurity across the region

    Obasanjo said what people knew about the security challenges in the Southwest before were  all myths and not clarity, darkness and not light, hence the need for the meeting to properly interrogate the root cause of the banditry, kidnapping  and other security challenges in  Yorubaland.

    He charged the group to evolve a system that would enable them effectively police their settlements in the Southwest so that the region could enjoy once more the peace it once knew.

    The elder statesman addressed the meeting at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta.

    In attendance were Dayo Adewole, a cattle breeder and son of the immediate past Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, spokesperson of the Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin and a leader of the Fulani group, Alhaji Sale Bayari.

    The younger Adewole was recently kidnapped from his farm in the outskirts of Ibadan.

    Obasanjo told the Fulani group who came under   the aegis of Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN) that the Yoruba wanted peace, harmony, wholesomeness and progress in the region, stressing that the time had come for everybody to acknowledge that “bad things are happening” in the Southwest and which have been attracting bad names to the Fulani in their midst.

    He urged Nigerians to stop the culture of “passing blame” and think of a lasting solution to the menace of armed banditry and other forms of insecurity.

    He noted that the solution to the nation’s security challenges, including Southwest, should not be left to one person to address but through collective efforts.

    Obasanjo said: “I take it that you are sufficiently knowledgeable, sufficiently aware, sufficiently understanding to be able to interact actively and successfully at this meeting on behalf of those that are not here.

    “None of us here will say he doesn’t know what has been happening, what has been reported and what is being reported about the insecurity in our country generally.

    “I believe that whatever that we are able to achieve or to discuss or to disabuse in this zone will be taken as a model in other zones.

    “I want to learn from you and I hope you will learn from me and at the end of the day, we will be all wiser and we will be able to determine what should be the way forward for us to get rid of bad things in our community.

    “Let me tell you some of the reasons for our meeting. What has been happening in Nigeria, particularly in this area, the Southwest, we have got a lot of bad things happening here, let us not deceive ourselves.

    “We have got a lot of heat, not enough light. And without adequate light, we may not be able to deal with the problem the way we want to and find solution to it. We have got enough heat but we now need light to guide us so that we are all out there.

    “Secondly, we are all in darkness, all of us. We need to be in the light. And those who may want to choose to be in darkness and want to deceive themselves, we can leave them in darkness but majority of us have to be in the light and let the light shine upon us so that we can see our faces, we can see ourselves as we are, where we are naked, let us see ourselves as naked, where we are half covered, let us see ourselves as half covered, where we are fully clothed, let us see ourselves as fully clothed.

    “We are also going about among ourselves with history. Some of the histories that we are going about among ourselves are the histories we need not perpetrate.

    “We are going about with myths; we are not going about with reality. We are going about with lack of clarity so what we want to do is to push aside myth and talk about reality; we want to talk about clarity. We want to see things clearly the way they are.

    “There is criminality, there is insecurity and it has not been like that before. If this is what we have, what we want to do at this meeting is find solutions to stop it.

    “We want to interrogate and be inquisitive among ourselves about things around us but particularly about unusual things around us. We are not inquisitorial, we are not prosecutorial but we want to interrogate ourselves why is it, how is it, where is it and then we find solutions to it.

    “We want to have peace, we want to have security, we want to have harmony, we want to have wholesomeness, we want to have progress, how can we have these? We want to move Nigeria forward, irrespective of tribe, religion, ethnicity, trade, profession, where I come from, where you come from.

    “How can we together move Nigeria forward? And there is nobody else who will do all these for us; it is you, we, all of us here and all our brothers and sisters wherever they may be in Nigeria.

    “It is not one man’s job or one person’s job or one group’s job, it a job for all of us, all Nigerians and unless and until we see it that way, we should stop passing blame, everybody is wrong and everybody is right.

    “Let us take what is right in one group and join it what is right in other group and throw away what is wrong in all the groups then we will move forward.

    “Our brothers and sisters in West Africa are worried about our situation. They are wondering if Nigeria cannot manage her security, if Nigeria’s security is endangered, how can they look up to Nigeria who they normally see as big brother, that can be called upon to come and help them if they are in any type of problems. So, they are worried and we are here to assure them, to assuage their worry to be able to say yes, we are Nigerians, we can deal and we will deal with our security problem and any other problem that we need to deal with.

    “I was born in a village and grew up among all tribes that were in that area: Igbira, Egun, Igbo, Igala, we don’t even called them Hausas or Fulanis, we called them Mallams because that is what we knew them as. We knew them as Mallams and we grew up friendly. Peace was reigning but what has now changed?

    “From my own knowledge, when I joined the Army, I came back from training in 1959 to Kaduna, my interaction with the North and particularly with Hausa/Fulani is a different experience from the one that I hear and see today.

    “Normally, you know it when a stranger gets into a community, the head of that community must know and it is the responsibility of the head of that community to maintain peace and security so what is the problem with our community leaders, the chiefs while things are going wrong in your community, is it that you do not have knowledge, is it that you do not know what is happening, what exactly is the problem? Because this is what I know, this is what used to happen and part of what we have to do is what is wrong that we have to put right.

    “We must be able to have what I will call take away from this meeting. We will have positive measures that are measurable which we will put timeline to and which will be actions by individuals and groups and which we can follow and see what progress we are making and maybe before long, we can then have what I will call progress meeting to discuss what we have achieved, what is left to be achieved, where do we move to next? But we must have as take away that which will work for us individually and collectively.”

    Read Also: ACF hits Obasanjo over letter to Buhari

    Obasanjo however, tasked the GAFDAN members to evolve a system that would make the Fulani effectively police their environs in Yorubaland to enable them spot out bad eggs among them in order to sustain the peace and harmony that hitherto prevailed in Southwest.

    Some of the GAFDAN members who spoke at the meeting however, identified foreign herders, particularly from Togo and Republic of Benin as the major sources of the security challenges in Nigeria, although they said some Yoruba people are collaborators.

    GAFDAN Secretaries from Oyo, Garba Umar said the Fulani and farmers in Oyo State had evolved ways of settling disputes until the arrival of the foreign herders.

    The meeting thereafter, went into a closed-door session.

    Only about three months ago, Obasanjo branded the aim of the terror sect Boko Haram as ‘Fulanisation’ of West Africa and Islamisation of Africa.

    He urged an immediate and more aggressive approach by the federal government to deal with the current challenge of insecurity across the country brought about by the sect and its allies in ISIS.

    Obasanjo, in a keynote address at the 2019 Synod of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), in Oleh, Isoko South council area of Delta State, said government should seek the opinions of all Nigerians that matter on the security situation and then proceed to bilateral, multinational, regional, continental and global levels for assistance in making the country safe for all.

    “With ISIS involvement, we cannot but go global,” he said.

    He spoke on the topic ‘Mobilizing Nigeria’s human and natural resources for national development and stability.’

    Tracing the origin of the security threat to the Boko Haram insurgency and cattle rustling in the north, Obasanjo said:  “They have both incubated and developed beyond what Nigeria can handle alone. They are now combined and internationalized with ISIS in control.

    “It is no longer an issue of lack of education and lack of employment for our youths in Nigeria which it began as, it is now West African Fulanization, African Islamization and global organized crimes of human trafficking, money laundering, drug trafficking, gun trafficking, illegal mining and regime change.”

     

     

  • CCB orders ministers-designate to declare assets before inauguration

    The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has directed ministers-designate to declare their assets before inauguration or risk facing the wrath of the law.

    The bureau plans to verify claims submitted by the new ministers at land registry, banks and companies where they either have shares or wholly owned by them.

    It will however engage the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to confirm the assets and accounts of the ministers-designate abroad.

    The Chairman of CCB, Prof. Muhammed Isah, told The Nation that none of the new ministers would be inaugurated without first declaring his or her assets.

    He said the bureau has been liaising with the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office to ensure full compliance with the law by the incoming ministers.

    He said while some of the new ministers have collected assets declaration forms, some are yet to do so.

    “It is legally compulsory for the ministers-designate to declare their assets. If they do not declare their assets, they cannot be inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari. That is the most appropriate thing. We are determined to enforce the law,” Isah said.

    “So, the deadline for the declaration of assets is before their inauguration. From reports, a considerable number of them have collected but they have not completed the process.  Some have not obtained the assets declaration form.”

    Responding to a question, Isah said: “I have discussed the issue of declaration of assets by the new ministers with the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office. The same office has also requested for 100 copies of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act and the Code of Conduct Tribunal Act to guide the new ministers.

    “We are hopeful that CCB officers will be part of the induction for the ministers between August 15 and 16. We want them to know the dos and don’ts in public office.”

    Isah explained that the CCB will verify the claims of ministers-designate at home and abroad.

    “We engage in up site and on site investigation of the ministers’ claims. By invoking up site investigation, we will verify their claims from land registry, banks, property firms, and companies they have shares or fully owned by them.

    “On site investigation involves inspection of the properties or assets declared in our form. This requires our officers going to assess the claims made by the ministers.

    Read Also: Behold, the 43 ministers-designate

    “As for those with assets abroad, we will liaise with the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to liaise with relevant authorities in foreign jurisdictions to confirm the truth or otherwise of such assets.

    “Paragraph 12 of part 1 of the Fifth Schedule to 1999 Constitution confers the powers to verify assets on the Bureau.”

    It says the Bureau shall: “Examine the declarations in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct or any law.

    “Retain custody of such declarations and make them available for inspection by any citizen of Nigeria on such terms and conditions as the National Assembly may prescribe.

    “Ensure compliance with and, where appropriate, enforce the provisions of the Code of Conduct or any law relating thereto.

    “Any statement in such declaration that is found to be false by any authority or person authorized in that behalf to verify it shall be deemed to be a breach of this Code.

    “Any property or assets acquired by a public officer after any declaration required under this Constitution and which is not fairly attributable to income, gift, or loan approved by this Code shall be deemed to have been acquired in breach of this Code unless the contrary is proved.”

    “Receive complaints about non-compliance with or breach of the Provisions of the Code of Conduct or any law in relation thereto. Investigate the complaint and, where appropriate, refer such matters to the Code of Conduct Tribunal.”

  • MNJTF troops eliminate 10 terrorists in Borno

    THE troops of Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have eliminated 10 Boko Haram terrorists in Baga, Borno State during an early morning attack, the Force spokesman, Col. Timothy Antigha, said on Monday.

    He, however, said a soldier was killed by the terrorists and five others were wounded during the exchange of fire.

    Col. Antigha said in a statement that four of the 10 terrorists killed by the troops of MNJTF were suicide bombers.

    Col. Antigha said: “What was meant to be a surprise dawn attack on Multinational Joint Task Force and national troops this morning became a nightmare for the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), as 10 of its terrorists met their waterloo in Baga.

    “Specifically, at about 5:30a.m. this morning, ISWAP terrorists numbering about 30 infested troops’ defensive locality. However, vigilant troops spotted their approach and promptly thwarted what could have been an audacious assault.

    “In the process, 10 terrorists, including four suicide bombers were neutralised. Others escaped with gunshot wounds, as blood-stained tracks were observed.”

    Col. Antigha: “Additionally, assorted arms and ammunition were impounded from other terrorists, who fled in disarray. Unfortunately, a soldier paid the supreme price, while five others sustained varying injuries and have been evaluated for medical attention.

    “It must be re-emphasised that the MNJTF, acting cohesively with national forces, will continue to pursue courses of action necessary for the achievement of its mandate in the Lake Chad Basin.”

  • Kudos for Gbajabiamila on NDDC Committee Chair

    The Forum of Akoko in Diaspora (FAD) has hailed the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila for appointing a fellow Akoko man, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, as the chairman, House Committee on  Niger Delta Development Commission  (NDDC).

    A statement signed by the group’s General Secretary, Taiwo Ogidan, showered appreciation on Gbajabiamila and other members of the House Selection Committee for counting Tunji-Ojo worthy of his new national legislative assignment.

    The statement also expressed implicit faith in the ability of Tunji-Ojo not to disappoint and live up to expectations in his new responsibilities.

    “We are nonetheless very confident that Hon. Tunji-Ojo will succeed on his newly assigned responsibility. He is someone that is known to be very hardworking, innovative, cerebrally gifted and of very versatile mind.”

    The statement, however, informed that the group has dispatched a letter to Tunji-Ojo to remind him of the onerous nature of his additional oversight functions.

    It added that regular reminder would be sent to the Akoko born lawmaker on the need to ensure that deserved benefits of oil derivation get to the people of mandate areas.

  • Tinubu: Ogunleye was a true progressive

    The All Progressives Congress national stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described the former Ogun State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Abdul Rafiu Ogunleye, who died yesterday at 79 as a true progressive and an Afenifere to the core.

    In a statement on the demise of Ogunleye by his Media Office signed by Tunde Rahman, Tinubu said: “The progressive family lost another of its foremost leaders today with the passing of former Ogun State Deputy Governor Alhaji Abdul Rafiu Ogunleye, at 79.

    “Alhaji Ogunleye was an astute administrator, very principled politician and pure Afenifere. He played his part in the socio-economic and political development of Ogun State as deputy to former governor Olusegun Osoba and made important contributions to the country, particularly within the progressive camp.

    “Before he became Ogun deputy governor in the early 1990s, he was the state Auditor of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). He was also Ogun State Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy, which he later left to become the National Financial Secretary of Action Congress before the party transformed into the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).”

    The statement added: “He was a committed party man who believes in party discipline and supremacy and believes that whatever the party says should be the overriding thing.

    “Alhaji Ogunleye was one of us. He felt the ACN in Ogun was sidelined in the scheme of things in the build-up to the 2011 general election, particularly in the choice of governorship candidate.

    “Of course, I spoke with him at the time and tried to convince him against leaving the party. But Baba was already committed to his course of action and was not ready to change his position. He returned to his natural home when he rejoined the progressives by pitching his tent with the APC after the 2015 elections.

    “We pray that Allah (SWT) forgive his shortcomings and grant his soul a peaceful repose in paradise. May He also comfort his family and all those he left behind.”

  • 32-year-old charged with stealing bags of rice

    A 32-year-old man, Festus Oluwaseun, was on Monday arraigned before an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court in Osun State for alleged theft of 250 bags of rice.

    Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Idoko John told the court that the accused committed the offence on July 23 around 1:17pm at Baruwa, Osogbo.

    He alleged that the accused stole 250 bags of rice worth about N3.3 million, owned by one Fashola.

    Idoko said the offence contravened sections 419 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol.11 Laws of Osun 2002.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Defense counsel Ola Ibrahim prayed the court to grant his client bail in the most liberal terms.

    Magistrate Rofiat Olayemi granted the accused N1million bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She said the sureties must live within the court jurisdiction with evidence of tax payment and two passport photographs attached with an affidavit of means.

    The case was adjourned till September 2.

  • NDLEA seizes 702.063kg of hard drugs

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kano said the command in July seized over 702.063 kilogrammes of hard drugs.

    Commander Dr. Ibrahim Abdul, who briefed reporters on the activities of the command this month, said: “Our fight against sales and consumption of hard drugs has made Tramadol and other illicit drugs scarce in Kano.”

    He said the agency arrested over 153 suspects with hard drugs, adding that 25 of them were prosecuted and are serving sentences.

    Abdul said 72 cases are pending at the Federal High Court, Kano, noting that the command is doing everything to ensure justice is done.

    “During the month under review, we seized 523.978 kilograms of cannabis, 178.322 kilograms of psychotropic substance, three grams of cocaine and 0.3 kilograms of heroin,” he said.

    Abdul said the command had also dislodged 35 hot spots within and outside the metropolis.

    “They include Gwammaja Secondary School, Dan-agundi, Gwale Cemetery, Abdullahi Bayero Road, Sabon Gari and Limawa-Hotoro.”

  • Ex-NULGE chair abducted in Edo

    A former Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Akoko-Edo branch, Edo State, Alhaji Jimoh Olumoye, has been kidnapped while going to farm.

    He was abducted on the Igarra-Okpe Road on Sunday afternoon while driving his car to pick his children from the farm.

    A member of the family, who preferred anonymity, said his children raised the alarm when they saw their father’s car with the doors opened and his phones abandoned.

    The source said: “His children had gone to the farm early in the morning and he promised to pick them in the afternoon before he would attend a family meeting.

    “The children waited for their father and when they did not see him, they trekked home. When returning home, they saw his car with the four doors opened and his phones abandoned. After searching for their father fruitlessly, they went home to inform the family.

    “We have been praying for his safety. We are worried because he is a civil servant who also farms to augment his salary. We appeal to his abductors to release him. He has an aged mother and everybody is afraid of breaking the news to her. We are really worried.”

    The source said the family had lodged a complaint at Igarra Police Station.

    It was gathered that vigilance groups at Igarra, Ojah, Ogugu and environs in Akoko-Edo Local Government and their counterparts in Owan East have been mobilised to comb the forests to rescue the victim.

    A member of a vigilance group said: “It was only the State Security Service that responded to our call immediately we heard about the incident and called them. We have mobilised our members and we trying to track the kidnappers down in the forests so that they will not escape to neighbouring states.”

    Police spokesman Chidi Nwabuzor could not be reached for comments last night.