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Tag: Victims

  • UNIJOS mourns seven blast victims

    UNIJOS mourns seven blast victims

    Seven final year Medical Laboratory Science students of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) were among those killed in the twin blasts of May 20 in the Plateau State capital. ESTHER MARK (UNIJOS graduate) reports.

    · Two nursing mothers among the dead

    Jos, the Plateau State capital, was in the news last week, following the twin blasts at the Terminus Market. No fewer than 118 people, mainly traders, died in the blasts; scores were injured.

    The University of Jos (UNIJOS) lost seven final year Medical Laboratory Science students – Francisca Nwafor, Oluwadolapo Komolafe, Vivian Chioma Obilor, Mike Ogbole, Millicent Yusuf, Monday Wingak and Doris Udegbunem.

    That fateful day, the late Mike called out Christian faithful in the hostels for prayer – he had been doing this for years as a member of the G-Force Fellowship. After the prayer, he left for lectures. By 1pm, he was done and he headed home to eat. That was the last his classmates saw of him.

    The late Millicent was said to have got up early to prepare her eight-month-old baby for the crèche. She left for school afterwards. By 1:30pm, the lectures were over. The late Millicent, according to her classmates, left the school immediately to take her baby and return to her off-campus hostel.

    The late Francisca, the late Lydia, the late Vivian, the late Monday and the late Doris also had one or two things to do that day. They might have looked forward to returning home to rest, but they never had that chance. About 30 minutes after Haematology lecture, they left for the Terminus Market, close to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), where medical students receive lectures. They all died in the blasts.

    Some of their colleagues were still in the classroom when the incident occurred.

    Following the blasts, CAMPUSLIFE gathered that Daisy Odey, the victims’ classmate, told others that the deceased would have been on the scene. She mobilised others to search for their seven classmates.

    The late Mike, who hailed from Benue State, was described as a “dedicated Christian” by hostel mates, who were still in shock when they spoke to our correspondent.

    His close friend, Hendrick Idajo, who was in tears, said: “If I were to receive virtues from you, I would have your zeal to serve God, moral decency and wisdom to handle issues. I love you, Mike, but God loves you more.”

    A classmate of the late Mike, who did not give his name, wrote on the board: “Mike, to think you are no more is rather shocking. What a life you have lived. Since our paths crossed in 100-Level, you became my Bible teacher. It was just like yesterday. It is so hard to believe you are gone. You were an icon; the bearer of the light. I will continue to remember you until we meet to part no more.”

    Mike’s remains were buried last Thursday in Benue State.

    The late Monday was also a member of the G-Force Fellowship. The late Francisca was described as a “beautiful scientist” by classmates.

    Unlike others, the late Doris and the late Millicent left behind babies whose ages are between eight months and one year. The duo got married before their final year.

    While others seem to have accepted their fate, friends and family members of the late Vivian  believe she is not dead. To them, she is missing and admitted in a hospital where she has not been identified among the charred bodies removed from the scene.

    Chizaram Orji wrote on the late Vivian’s Facebook page: “My sister cannot die now. It is not yet her time. I believe she is somewhere. She is not dead. She is still alive. May Almighty God protect her and make her to find her way back home, in Jesus Name. Amen.”

    In honour of the late students, the UNIJOS management declared last Friday a lecture–free day. The  Students’ Union Government (SUG) urged the Federal Government to find the masterminds of the blasts, urging proactive steps in dealing with the rising menace.

    The Deputy Registrar (Information), Steve Otowo, urged members of the university community to be security-conscious.

  •  Fresh hurdle for Imo flood victims

     Fresh hurdle for Imo flood victims

    Not again! That has been the general cry of residents of coastline communities in Imo State as they face another threat of ocean surge.

    Nearly two years after the devastating flood that swept across many states in the country, victims of the disaster in the state are still grappling with its challenges.

    But to worsen their ordeal, there are fresh concerns that what happened before could happen again if nothing urgent is done to avert it.

    Although the state government has consistently claimed to have put palliative measures in place to cushion the effects of the flood, the victims are still battling to pick up the fragments of their lives after losing everything to the rampaging flood.

    Some of the villages along the popular Oguta Lake in Oguta Local Government Area are in imminent danger as it gradually overflows its bank. The lake was once a tourist attraction, but now the residents view it as a potential source of anguish.

    Recall that the entire riverside communities of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta local government areas were submerged by last year’s flood disaster which washed away their homes and farmlands.

    Findings revealed that the flood victims who had earlier returned to their dilapidated homes are currently experiencing fresh challenges as the water has risen to an alarming level and may flood the communities any moment.

    One of the victims, Nze Mathias Ahanna, who spoke with our reporter, lamented, saying: “We are yet to recover from last year’s disaster and it is obvious that we may suffer the same fate again this year. We don’t have any other place to go to. We will continue to wait until something is done to assist us.”

    The father of eight, who lost his house and crops in last year’s disaster, decried what he called government’s indifference to the plight of the victims.

    He said: “During last year’s flood disaster, it was turned into a political affair where politicians fought to outwit one another in scoring political points with the misfortunes of the people. They abandoned them thereafter.”

    He noted that the state government did not put anything in place to check a re-occurrence even after collecting the intervention fund from the Federal Government.

    “Our major problem now is that we don’t know where to relocate to,”Ahanna said. “We have raised the alarm several times but no response has come from any quarters.”

    Also bemoaning the situation, a petty trader, Mrs. Carolina Azubuike, a widow, said, “After we lost our means of livelihood, we were given paltry sums of money. Now we are experiencing another challenge.

    “We are appealing to the state and Federal Government to come to our aid. It is even necessary that they should dredge the lake or construct embankment along the bank of the river to stop it from running over the communities.”

    She noted that the relevant authorities had enough time and warning to have swung into action to forestall a re-occurrence of the flood disaster. Rather, they preferred to wait for the disaster to happen.

    She said: “This case is unlike when the flood occurred without prior warning. But even at that, the government has remained adamant to our complaints.”

    Meanwhile, controversy has continued to trail the disbursement of the N400 million Federal Government’s intervention fund for victims in the state. While the communities accuse the state government of misappropriating the funds, government agencies have continued to insist that the fund was put to use in the best and overall interest of the victims.

    The coastline communities in Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta local government areas which were areas affected by the flood disaster, accused the Imo State Flood Relief Management Committee of diverting the intervention fund to personal purposes after disbursing a paltry N67 million.

    Speaking on behalf of the victims from Oguta council area, a community leader, Mr. Ozor Chimuanya disclosed that the committee set up by the state government to manage the fund, did not consult with the affected communities to find out how best to assist in cushioning the effects of the flood.

    He observed that one year after the flood devastation that rendered most of the people homeless, with their means of livelihood submerged, “the government is yet to come up with a comprehensive action plan that will address the immediate challenges or proactive measures to forestall a possible re-occurrence.”

    The embittered community leader also lamented that the little money released to the communities through government officials have torn the communities apart. “Some of the communities, as we speak, are at war over how to share the little money given to them. The aides of senior government officials in whose names the cheques were issued have insisted on taking a certain percentage from the money. This is not what the money was meant for.”

    Giving a detailed account of how the money was disbursed in Oguta Local Government Area, Chimuanya listed the benefitting communities to include: Mgbele (N2m), Osuobodo (N3m), Oguta (5m), Osemoto (N2m), Eziogu (N3m) and Egwe (N3m).

    Others are Egbuoma (N3m), Mkpesi (N2m) while Mmekuku got N2 million.

    Corroborating Chimuanya’s claims, former chairman of Oguta Local Government Area, Hon. Emma Mazi, added said: “The money, as we were told, was meant to alleviate the sufferings of the flood victims. But the Imo State government diverted it to other uses which have not reflected on the well-being of the suffering victims.”

    Mazi noted that the proposal by the government to build town halls in the communities was not only amusing but a deliberate misuse of public funds. “How can they build town halls in the communities? How does that assist the flood victims? In all these communities, there are existing town halls. For instance, in Oguta community, we have two town halls already,” he said.

    However, the Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Obi Njoku, had dismissed the allegations as unfounded and frivolous.

    He said: “Every kobo of the intervention fund is accounted for. Apart from the N67 million earlier disbursed to the affected communities, which we are monitoring, the state government is currently building farm settlements in the 16 communities at the cost of N25 million each. This will serve as rehabilitation centres.”

    He further explained that before the receipt of the intervention fund, the state government had swung into action to assist the victims by resettling them and providing relief materials running into several millions of Naira. These included medications and food items.

    “The state government augmented the intervention fund with about N129 million. That is why we are able to build the farm settlements which will be delivered soon. I think the cause of these controversies is our blunt refusal to hand over the fund to certain individuals in these communities who had thought it was another windfall.

    “Our insistence that the money will be invested in the welfare of the victims did not go down well with some people, especially the community heads who are bent on appropriating the funds without giving the flood victims priority in their sharing plan,” he stated.

    However, when our correspondent visited one of the temporary camps in Oguta, the victims had deserted the decrepit camp as many of them were said to be forced out by poor living conditions occasioned by negligence by government.

    A victim, who pleaded anonymity, told our reporter that, “we were exposed to all forms of danger in that camp and the government abandoned us immediately they resettled us there. So, we were left with no alternative than to leave the place and continue with our lives.”

    But the chairman of the committee debunked the claim, explaining that “we provided medication, feeding and clothing for all the victims at the various camps. But you know our people; they are not used to staying in one place and waiting for help. So, they moved away voluntarily to join their kinsmen rather than be seen as refugees.”

  • Victims of demolition cry out in Bayelsa

    Victims of demolition cry out in Bayelsa

    I have been doing business in this park since 2001. This is the only place l know. I don’t have any other place to go to. This demolition has seriously wounded me. How do l manage my life now?”

    This was the lamentation of Mr. Samuel Odii, whose stall at the popular Ekeki Park, was pulled down by the Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

    Before the incident, Odii was famously known in the park as a stationery and radio dealer. He occupied a makeshift shop located on a spot at the expansive park. From the proceeds of his business, he eked out a living for his wife and four children.

    In fact, Odii had at the beginning of the year prayed for fortune to smile on him. He wanted more customers to enable him make more money for members of his family to live better and more comfortable lives. He also had other plans which were all tied to his humble business.

    But his aspirations took a backward dimension on Monday when army of youths hired by the local government authority stormed the park. They were armed with objects of demolition such as hammers, saws and machetes. In the presence of Odii and other traders, the local council warriors who enjoyed police protection vented their anger on the stalls.

    Without bulldozers, the shops fell like pack of cards and formed mountains of refuse. The traders, some standing akimbo, others supporting their chins with the palms watched their shelter of livelihood collapse.

    “I felt like crying. I was confused”, Odii said. He, however, added that the council had before the incident given them a seven-day ultimatum to relocate their goods.

    “They gave us only seven days to find another place. After the expiration of the seven days, they gave us additional two days. But in Bayelsa, where can you get a new place within seven days?

    “It is difficult because accommodation here is not just expensive but scarce. People especially politicians are not building houses for residential purposes, they only prefer hotels”, he said.

    Odii who hails from Onicha in Ebonyi State said nobody’s goods were destroyed during the demolition as the traders had moved their wares out of their shops before the incident.

    On the allegation that the stalls were illegal structures in the park, Odii disagreed with the government and said the same local government authority collected rents from them for the shops in the past.

    He said: “Before 2013, we used to pay N12,000 annually to local government authority. But in 2013, we paid N10,000. Apart from that we paid N40 daily and N300 monthly to the park authority as park maintenance.

    “We also paid N2000 for sanitation despite the fact that we are the ones that hire people to clean this place. But we were surprised that just at the beginning of this year, when we expected them to come and collect the money, they came with quit notice. The notice was too short.”

    Odii said the traders were not happy especially as all of them were non-indigenes. He asked the government to tread carefully to avoid its action being misunderstood to a witch-hunt against non-indigenes.

    “Their excuses that the stalls are blocking where vehicles are supposed to pass are not tenable. Our stalls are not close to where vehicles are supposed to pass. We are appealing to them to relocate us. I am not happy personally. How do l feed my family now?” He lamented.

     

    Also, Samuel Uchenna, 28, said all his life he had been battling to engage himself in a meaningful venture. He said the drive to contribute in the informal sector brought him to Yenagoa.

    “I don’t want to steal and l don’t want to engage in illegal business. I am simply parching up my life with his business. I sell cloths and l have been making kobo kobo from it since 2009 here”, he said.

    On the allegations that street urchins hide under the stalls to sell and some Indian hemps and other hard drugs, Uchenna who hails from Ohaozara in Ebonyi State said such illegality no longer existed.

    “They no longer sell things like that. But the truth is that we are confused and we don’t know what to do. We want the government that took these stalls from us to help us”, he said.

    Furthermore, Emmanuel James, was affected by the demolition. James who hails from Akwa Ibom State, said he had found home in Bayelsa. He, however, decried the demolition and said it had dislocated him. He begged for assurance from the government.

    “I sell compact disc here. I have been here for years. I didn’t know that this year will be different. There is no place to go to. This government has dealt with us and we want them to resettle us”, he said.

    To John UK, his family will be worse for it. “I have three boys and a wife and all of them depend on this my radio-selling business. I have nothing to do again. These people came with hammers, saws and other tools to pull down our stalls.

    “They came with police protection. The government should not be seen as dealing harshly with the same people they are supposed to protect and encourage. We beg them to help us”, he said.

    But a member of the top management staff of the local council who pleaded anonymity said there was no plan to relocate the dislocated traders. He said the park was turned into a hideout for hoodlums and other illegal activities including selling of illegally refine petroleum products.

    “I can authoritatively confirm to you that there was a depot where illegally refined fuel was sold in the park. People also converted a section of the park to a mechanic workshop. The park was constructed to have to outlets but people converted it to fiver outlets. We are going to close them”, he said.

    He, however, said that the present administration of the council which started in March last year had not collected money as rents from the owners of the demolished stalls. He said the quit notice has been in existence since last year.

    “The plan to sanitise the park started last year when the park chairman wrote to us and complained against illegal activities in the park. We established a park management committee which investigated the development and reported back to us.

    “It was since then that we concluded that illegal structures in the park would be removed and we made our intentions known to the people concern. Those in lock-up shops were not affected. We didn’t also destroy newspaper stand.

    “We don’t have any plan to relocate anybody. They should go and look for somewhere else because we want to renovate the park. We didn’t collect Maloney from them as rents. Maybe they paid to the last administration”.

     

  • Resettlement camp coming for disaster victims

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is set to build resettlement camps in three different locations that will accommodate victims of any disaster that may occur within the territory.

    These camps that will be set up in Gwagwalada, Maitama and Kuje areas will be equipped with all the necessary facilities needed including a school and clinic, for people affected by any form of disaster that may have displaced them from their homes.

    This was disclosed by, the Director General (DG), FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Abbas Idris in an interview, where he said that the FCT is prepared to manage all emergencies and disasters within the territory in order to avert or mitigate it.

    His words: “We are now trying to put up permanent resettlement camps so that by the time, there is any form of disaster we will simply evacuate people, instead of taking them to schools like is normally done, we will take them to permanent camps which will be equipped with all facilities, like water, light, we will have a clinic there and their education will be taken care of as well so that children of those affected will not miss out on their education, that will be in next year’s budget.

    “The camps will be in three locations of Gwagwalada, Maitama and Kuje, this is an emergency contingency for disasters that can happen at any time.”

    He said that the agency which was set up about 6 months ago has some emergency equipment that it inherited from departments within the FCT administration that were carrying out such functions and who have always had equipment.

    Idris said: “such as the fire service which is fully equipped and have equipment  that can put off fire in as far as a fifth floor, some forecasting facilities, ambulances etc when such emergencies happen, these departments which are also stake holders will be there to help out.

    “What we are doing right now is the prevention of emergencies; we are getting the equipment, setting up the camps because preparation leads to prevention if possible or mitigate where we cannot prevent.

    “We believe that prevention is more cost effective so we try to spread our tentacles to the grassroots to make sure that everyone is enlightened, we are planning on having a massive educational and enlightenment program through the media, we will also engage voluntaries to educate the people in their own languages to enable them be aware of what to do in terms of disasters.”

    He confirmed that the agency collaborates with National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in all things as the national body.

    He also said that FEMA is constantly in touch with parts of the FCT that were affected by the last flooding on the river Niger during the raining season in conjunction with the development control in the FCT to ensure that people do not return to the river banks.

     

  • Jonathan rules out compensation for Boko Haram victims

    Jonathan rules out compensation for Boko Haram victims

    •To set up advisory committee on continuous dialogue

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday ruled out payment of compensation to victims of terrorists attacks carried out by Boko Haram and other groups.

    He spoke while receiving the report from the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North at the Presidential Villa.

    The President said the government would only look at ways to help the victims get back to their businesses.

    Despite the challenges faced by the committee at its inauguration, he said it has laid the foundation for follow up action which would lead to the eventual control and end of the crisis.

    Even with the progress made in the fight against terrorism in the north, he maintained that the war is not yet won.

    He said: “We also noted the suggestion about the victims’ support because that is one of the terms of reference; how will government help to see that we can assist. Government is not going to compensate. It is not an issue of compensation but how do we assist people who have suffered to get back to business one or the other.”

    “Government will look into this and other recommendations in your report and see that the right decisions are taken.”

    “Incidentally, we have security council meeting because this committee was an offshoot of the security council and we will review some aspects of this report and probably set up a team to look at it and work out a planned programme in terms of implementation of the recommendations.” He added

    On the challenging assignment, he said: “First, let me on behalf of government welcome you to the State House and indeed, thank you for accepting to serve for the period you have served. Even the day we inaugurated you, we noted that it was quite a challenging job. Its not a ballroom dance because you were asked to meet the kind of characters you cannot even predict their behaviour.”

    “It is quite risky and I believe that some of you within this period, your immediate families believed that if they used to pray two times before, they will be praying ten times because of the assignment to make sure that God see you through.”

    Stressing that Nigeria was going through a challenging period he pointed out that the sect had become one of the most vicious in the world.

    He continued: “We never experienced this kind of internal terror, even external terror. Nigeria has never been a victim of external terror not to talk about internal terror group that came up surprisingly and became so violent that almost becoming classified as one of the most violent group all over the world.”

    “This is a country that never knew terror. Some countries have been passing through terror for years even before the Boko Haram came on board. But within the short period Boko Haram is operating, globally, it is being classified as one of the most deadly terror groups.”

    Maintaining that the recommendations of the committee would be looked into to ensure the right follow up actions, he agreed with the recommendation of the committee towards setting up an advisory committee on continuous dialogue with the terrorists.

    A team, he said, would be set up in the National Security Council to review the recommendations.

    He said: “You have made recommendations, one of them you have suggested the setting up of an advisory committee on continuous dialogue. This I also believe in. We always say that even in war situations, finally, people must discuss at the conference table to make sure that people live in peace.”

    “Force alone, no matter how, cannot bring peace. People must be willingly ready to live in peace. We agree with you that even though this committee is today winding down its activities, we need to set up a follow up committee that will concentrate on dialogue so that some of these issues you raised, that committee will be able to anchor them properly working with other departments of government.” He stated

    Chairman of the Presidential committee and Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Kabiru Turaki observed that some of the difficulties working against productive dialogue included failures of past attempts at negotiations and resultant distrust by insurgents, and the refusal of their leaders to submit to dialogue.

    He said: “However, many of the key members of the insurgents both in detention and at large have positively responded to contacts and have accepted the dialogue option as capable of fully resolution of the conflict.”

    The committee, which was set up in April, observed that the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country exacerbated conflicts and circle of violence in the country.

    It also found out that there is “palpable impunity” in committing crimes and other acts of violence in the country due to the absence of deterrent measures taken to punish perpetrators.

    Turaki also claimed that there is an absence of effective conflict early warning, early response mechanism for anticipation and preventing violent conflicts.

    Noting that the situation of security agencies in the country needed urgent attention to improve their condition of service, equipment and training, he said that problems of synergy and collaboration existed among them.

    Traditional rulers, he said, are not fully involved in security management, which he said resulted in avoidable lapses in the country.

    Among the committee’s recommendations were continuation of the dialogue process through an advisory Committee on Continuous Dialogue and the setting up of a victims support fund.

    Turaki told State House correspondents: “The experience is a very rewarding one because we met with a group of people who passionately believe in something, even if the basis of the belief is a misguided one. We believe there has been a lot of over-radicalisation, we believe there is a lot of misconception particularly of some of the Islamic principles and dogma that have been made the basis of their agitations.”

    “Overall, it has afforded members of the committee opportunity not only to have an overview of the problems afflicting security in this country, but also to understand certain underlying factors that have precipitated acts of insurgency in this country.”

    On amnesty, he said: “I think it is important for Nigerians to appreciate that this is not an amnesty committee. This is a dialogue committee. Our mandates have been among others to go into the field, interact and then have dialogue with key members of the insurgents in addition to bringing a framework that will make a recommendation to government in a way and manner that government will now form to grant support to victims of these various acts of insurgency.”

    “That has been our key mandate and that is what we have done. It is when you now reach the conclusion of the dialogue, peaceful resolution point where ceasefire agreement is signed and other things follow up including issues of disarmament, that is when the issue of amnesty will in the end be an option and be considered by government.”

    “But our mandate does not include the issue of amnesty. Of course, government has asked us to look at situations as they affect the people that we interact with and see where members of insurgency have keyed into the dialogue option and come out to make clear and conscious contributions in such a way and manner as to enable and facilitate peaceful resolution of this matter, we could recommend amnesty in deserving situations.” He added.

  • JTF troops rescue two kidnap victims

    JTF troops rescue two kidnap victims

    •Arrest member of Kelvin’s gang

    The Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta ‘Operation Pulo Shield,’ yesterday reported the rescue of two kidnap victims in Delta State.

    The wife of Dr. Ona Ekhomu, a chartered security professional and President of Trans-World Security Company, who was kidnapped around Auchi, Edo State on Friday evening, was rescued in Sapele.

    Also, the younger brother of Chief Great Ogboru, governorship candidate of the Democratic Peoples’ Party (DPP), was freed at Effurun, last Friday after he was abducted in nearby Osubi, Okpe LGA.

    One of the kidnappers of Ekhomu’s wife, suspected to be a member of the gang led by the notorious Kelvin Oniarah, was arrested in Sapele after a gun battle with troops of the 19 Battalion of the JTF.

    Two vehicles, a Toyota Prado Sports-Utility vehicle and a BMW salon car were recovered.

    Mrs. Ekhomu, her husband and others were on their way to Irrua, Edo State for a social engagement when the gunmen struck around a notorious spot on the Auchi-Benin road where several persons including famous lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhoma, have been abducted lately.

    Although Mr. Ekhomu escaped with gunshot wounds, his wife was taken away in his vehicle.

    However, luck ran out for the criminals when they were accosted by men of the 19 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Sapele local government area of Delta state.

    The criminals were overpowered by the troops, forcing them to abandon a Toyota Prado Sports-Utility Vehicle and the victims.

    The arrest was made around the popular Eku Junction near Amukpe, raising speculation that the criminals were heading towards Kokori when the troops struck.

    After rescuing the victims, the soldiers launched a manhunt at about 3am, culminating in the arrest of one suspect and seizure of an AK-47 rifle.

    The BMW car was recovered when members of the gang reportedly made a spirited effort to pick-up their members who ran into the bush.

    Confirming the report, the Commanding Officer, 9 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Koko, Lt. Col FS Etim, said the gang member was arrested when his men engaged the kidnap suspect in a shootout.

    He said the criminals abandoned the suspect and the vehicle when his men closed in on them.

    A security source close to the investigation that there was “strong evidence that the criminals are members of the Oniarah gang.

    “From the preliminary investigation, we are convinced that they are members of the same Kelvin gang and we are sure they were heading to Kokori area, which has become a notorious den of kidnappers when our men struck,” the source added.

    In a related development, troops of the 3 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Effurun foiled an attempt to kidnap the brother of Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) leader in the state.

    Ogboru was kidnapped by armed men in Osubi, Okpe local government area of the state and was about being whisked out of the state when troops of the JTF were alerted.

    The suspects had already sneaked the victim through a back road from Osubi to the Warri/Benin highway when the troops, acting on a tip-off, swooped on them and freed him on Friday night.

    The driver of the getaway cab used in the operation and another accomplice were arrested.

    There are being detained at the Effurun Barracks at the time of this report.

  • N1.58b for Bauchi post-election violence victims

    Bauchi State Deputy Governor Sagir Aminu Saleh yesterday urged the eight-man joint-committee set up by the federal and Bauchi State governments to judiciously share the N1.58 billion compensation for victims of the 2011 post-election violence in the state.

    Saleh, who is also the Chairman of the committee, spoke at the inaugural meeting of the committee in his office at Bauchi.

    He noted that the money would give succour to victims of the post-presidential election violence, which occurred in 12 local government areas.

    Ten members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), among other residents, died in the violence.

    Property estimated at millions of naira were also destroyed.

    Saleh said: “There is nothing one can do about it.” He, however, prayed that “such does not happen again”.

    The committee, which has two weeks – with effect from September 14 – to complete its assignment, is “to disburse the N1.58 billion to victims of the 2011 post-election violence in the state; pay to the victims of the 2011 post-election violence whose names appear on the authentic list”.

    It is also “to liaise with the Sheikh Ahmed Lemu Presidential Committee on the 2011 Post-Election Violence and the State Emergency Management Agency to obtain the authentic list of victims of the 2011 Post-Election Violence in the state”.

    The committee is expected to submit a weekly progress report to the Governor’s Office through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG)” and “to submit a final report on the disbursement of the relief fund to this office (SSG’s Office) within two weeks from its first sitting”.

    Members of the committee are: Saleh, (Chairman); Ibrahim Jahun, Sheikh Ahmed Lemu, (of Presidential Committee on 2011 Post-Election Violence, the representative of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the representative of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

  • Edo pays flood victims

    The Edo State government yesterday began the disbursement of the N400million Federal Government flood relief grant to 60, 289 victims of last year’s flood.

    The Chairman of the flood relief committee, Hajia Maimunat Momodu, said the payment would be completed in two weeks.

    Mrs. Momodu said the least beneficiary would be paid N20, 000 while the highest is to get N250, 000.

    According to her, three categories were spelt out for the payment: houses destroyed by the flood, affected household and public buildings.

    The committee chairman, who did not give the number of collapsed houses, said the owners of such buildings would get N200, 000, which amounts to N273, 790, 000.

    On the other hand, she said 5, 811 households would get N20, 000 each, which amounts to N116, 220, 000 while owners of collapsed public buildings, such as mosques, churches and schools would be paid N250, 000.

    “We had to go to various villages and communities affected by the flood and verify the actual losses suffered by victims.

    “One challenge is that some of these communities are located in very difficult terrains and without doubt, I can tell you that we did a good job as everybody was captured for compensation,” she said.

     

  • Bodies of drowned victims recovered

    The remains of the victims of a boat mishap, which occurred in the Bayelsa State waterways were recovered yesterday.

    It was learnt that the bodies of Felix Azazi, a relative of the late National Security Adviser and a yet-to-be identified victim were recovered from the waterways of Ekeremor, where the incident happened on Friday.

    It was gathered that the bodies were recovered late Sunday by local divers at a place called ‘Beautiful Gate’ ,close to Torugbene, in neighbouring Delta State.

    An inhaler was said to have been found in the late Azazi’s pocket, an indication that he might have been asthmatic.

    The bodies were said to have been deposited at an undisclosed hospital in Ughelli, Delta State.

    The victims drowned when their boat capsized while overtaking another boat.

    They were said to be traveling to Ojobo in Delta State for a wake when the incident happened at about 7.30pm.

    The accident, according to sources, was caused by poor visibility.

    Azazi and the boat driver were said to have bought a torch at Tuomo waterside before embarking on the ill-fated trip.

    “The news of the tragic boat mishap and the death of two occupants is still a surprise to us.

    “The late Azazi had no bruise on his body and his inhaler was in his pocket suggesting he may have had a seizure when the boat capsized,” one of the sources said.

  • Why justice eludes rape victims -Fayemi’s wife

    Lack of strict forensic and physical evidence account for ninety-five percent of rape cases in the country, resulting in their shoddy prosecution by the police.

    Wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, said this at the weekend during a visit to the state Ministry of Health when she led members of the state’s Gender-Based Violence (Prohibition) Law (GBVL) Management Committee on advocacy.

    Fayemi lamented a situation in which “the perpetrators of rape in most cases still enjoy their full freedom.”

    As part of a stop-gap measure, the governor’s wife advocated for the establishment of rape crisis centres across the sixteen local government areas of the state, while also promising to institute the move to ensure their establishment as soon possible.

    Erelu Fayemi said such centres would give opportunity to victims of sexual assault to receive succour in an atmosphere of confidentiality, adding that when established, the ministry should deploy requisite professionals to man the centres.

    According to her, the centres would equally ensure that information and data gathered from victims were meticulously preserved to assist the police and other law enforcement officers to bring offenders to justice.

    Fayemi, who is the chairperson of the management committee, said the members had paid similar advocacy visits to critical stakeholders to stem the tide of violence against women and girls in the state.

    According to her, the team had visited the Ekiti State University, the state judiciary, Ministry of Justice and state police command headquarters in an effort aimed at promoting the GBVL.

    She stressed the need to have forensic and physical evidence that would enable the police and the courts to diligently prosecute rape and other cases of assault against women.