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Tag: violence

  • Itsekiri leader raises alarm over violence in Niger Delta

    Itsekiri leader raises alarm over violence in Niger Delta

    An Itsekiri leader, Chief Rita Lori Ogbeboh, has warned that the violence being perpetrated by kidnappers in the Niger Delta could lead to anarchy. She said that judges were being held to ramsom by the kidnappers, thereby preventing them from performing their duties.

    The woman activist recalled that she had petitioned the relevant authorities to take prompt actions to arrest the dangerous trend warning that “delay and complacency could be dangerous.”

    Ogbeboh told reporters in Lagos that, if the kidnap of judges persisted, plaintiffs and lawyers may also become victims of kidnapping and assassination.

    She said the trend is worrisome, recalling that Justice Flora Azinge of Otor-Udu High Court, Delta State, could not sit for two months “because kidnappers had asked her to pay a ransom of N20m or she would be abducted.”

    She said: “A judge, Justice Okon, who was to deliver an interlocutory injunction over a parcel of land belonging to the Okereke people was kidnapped on his way to court and the case has been a subject of incessant adjournment till date. Another judge, Justice Mukoro, who took over the case from Azinge was also waylaid by unknown gunmen who attempted to kidnap or assassinate him. They riddled his car with bullets on his way to the court from Ugheli, thereby instilling fears in him to prevent him from adjudicating on the matter.

    “Justice Mukoro Ogbeboh was also in charge of another case between the Oil Producing Communities and the Delta State Oil Producing Commission (DESPADEC), in which the communities were asking the commission to account for a sum of N1bn allegedly diverted to private businesses”.

    She added: “I have petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), urging them to quikly do something drastic to curb the anarchy that is gathering momentum on daily basis. If the judiciary that is the last hope of everybody is dragged in the mud, the consequences would be so grievious that all the security agencies combined together would become helpless when people resort to self help.”

    Ogbeboh objected to the drafting of soldiers to “harass, intimidate and persecute innocent citizens as Delta State government continues to erect structures on the land under litigation”. She urged the Chief of Army Staff to withdraw his men to the barracks.

    She said: “We should not forget the fact that there is money in Delta State and there are also guns. If we allow the people to resort to self help to demand for their rights, the Bokoo Haram problem would just be a child’s play. And that is why we are calling on the whole world to focus on Delta State to make it safe for human habitation. Bad precedence Delta State is laying, if the whole country catches the bug, things will totally fall apart,” the concerned woman warned.

    She added:“If a High Court Judge was prevented from doing his duties to the country, then, aren’t we heading for anarchy. Even when I threatened to go to court, if nothing was done on the matter, mum, sadly is the word, even with no indication that the matter is being investigated. Justice is being arrested and I am therefore, vindicated. There is no guarantee of justice again in Delta State and the state is descending into anarchy.”

     

  • Fayemi urges Nigerians to shun violence

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has urged Nigerians to shun violence and embrace peace.

    According to him, this is the essence of all religions, including Christianity and Islam.

    The governor’s advice was contained in a Christmas message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode and made available to reporters in Ado-Ekiti.

    Noting that Jesus Christ lived up to his appellation as the Prince of Peace, Fayemi enjoined Nigerians, irrespective of religious beliefs, to accept peace, which he said the country needs most at present.

    He advised Christians to live with their neighbours in peace, love and tolerance.

    The governor noted that God used the birth of Jesus Christ not only to pass the message of peace and love to the world, but to make peaceful relations among mankind an essential component.

    He said being alive to witness another Christmas is a privilege judging by the prevailing circumstances in the nation in particular and the world at large. This, he added, calls for celebration.

    He urged Christians to celebrate in moderation and devote more time to appreciating God for His mercies.

    Governor Fayemi enjoined Ekiti State indigenes to pray for the success of his administration in the implementation of its eight-point agenda, which is geared to take the state to greater heights.

    He charged the people to learn the lessons of humility from Christmas, which God passed by making the King of kings and Saviour of the world to be born in a humble place- the manger.

    Said he: “God has used Christmas to teach us the lesson of humility and that He has the power to do all things.

    “For the King of kings and Lord of lords to be born in a manger, a place of abode for livestock, is a great mystery and a lesson in humility.

    “The birth of Jesus Christ has made the salvation and redemption of man to be possible and this is the greatest gift of God to mankind.

    “God is in control of the affairs of Ekiti. This state is heading for the Promised Land judging by all indices of development and we crave the prayers of our people to ensure the completion of this onerous task.”

  • Damaturu: JTF recovers 11 riffles

    The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Yobe on Sunday recovered 11 rifles in Kandahar Area of Damaturu, two weeks after 5,000 rounds of ammunition were discovered in the area.

    In a statement issued by the JTF spokesmen, Lt. Eli Lazarus, in Damaturu, he said the taskforce recovered nine Fabric Nationale and two riot gun rifles in Kandahar.
    “The JTF in a cordon and search operation in Kandahar area of Damaturu recovered nine Fabric Nationale (FB) and two riot guns, making a total number of 11 riffles recovered,” he said.

    The taskforce appealed to members of the public to report any suspicious persons, movements and objects in their areas for prompt response.

    Eli assured that any information supplied to the JTF, would be treated with utmost confidentiality.

    “We appreciate every piece of information that will assist the JTF in its operation toward restoring peace and security across the state.’’

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that business activities were gradually picking up in Damaturu as residents who fled had made a u-turn following the improved security situation in the state.

  • A national carnival of violence and killings

    A national carnival of violence and killings

    Nigeria now seems to be cavorting in a carnival of violence and senseless killings. Apart from the cataclysmic months that preceded the civil war, it is doubtful whether in a very long time Nigeria has had intensely dramatic days as it witnessed in the first two days of this week. Forgive the hyperbole. But on Sunday, suicide bombers, perhaps two of them, audaciously attacked the prestigious Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, in Kaduna State killing about 17 people and wounding scores more. AFCSC is not just prestigious, it accommodates the Infantry Centre and School, the Nigerian Army Peace Keeping Centre, and the Armed Forces Command Staff College. Only recently, it also became the home of the Nigerian Army Counter Terrorist and Counter Insurgency (CTCOIN) Centre.

    While the country was still reeling from the audacious bombings, and also counting the physical, psychological and reputational cost of the Sunday attacks, gunmen believed to number about 40 attacked the police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) facility in Abuja for reasons that are still unclear. In the attack, about 30 detainees were freed – though 25 were rearrested – and two policemen were killed. SARS is the dreaded police outfit robbers feared the most. Yet, the facility was attacked in the early hours of Monday. If the Jaji attack was audacious, the Monday attack in Abuja was even more so, considering how that number of gunmen organised and stormed a law enforcement facility in the federal capital.

    And while the country was still wondering in bewilderment at the two very bold affronts to the security establishment, a different group of bandits of indeterminate number on Monday evening stormed Auchi, a town in the northern part of Edo State, and attacked a police station, three banks and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) office. The attackers completed a triangle of mayhem that shocked Nigerians and silenced the town for hours. Now, everyone is getting a depressing sense of how unsafe the country has become, and how utterly naked we are in the face of lawless and maniacal groups.

    This feeling has been building up in the past two years or more. It became so bad last month, given the regularity of the killings strangulating the country, that Hardball, in a piece entitled “Sitting comfortably on a powder keg” made the following observations on October 18: The list of killings is endless and growing. Kidnapping is the order of the day, and highway robbery has made travelling by day or night an ordeal. The police are hardly able to compose themselves in the face of the massive lawlessness permeating the country; and in spite of the notable effort of the police leadership to inculcate discipline and higher degree of responsibility in policemen, officers have also affronted the law with embarrassing industriousness. What is obvious is that there are no realistic and practicable ideas from the federal government to arrest the dangerous lurch towards apocalypse. More than this, it is also indisputable that beyond general initiatives, which have neither been proffered nor tested, the structure of the country is simply too weak and even inoperable to stabilise a country of more than 250 cultures, rapidly expanding population, varying and competing religions, and intolerably high youth unemployment…

    The country is not only in ferment, it is seething. It is time the government recognised that these problems will not go away on their own accord or succumb to exhaustion. It will have to be more proactive, imaginative and aggressive to arrest what seems like a looming apocalypse. Of all the problems besetting the country, from Boko Haram to police killings, and from herdsmen versus farmers’ deathly struggles to boundary conflicts, and from communal wars to the gory sport of indiscriminate lynching and kidnapping, the government has solved none. Worse, there is nothing to show that these problems are receiving the intelligent attention that gives hope the country would overcome its afflictions soon. This must be the worst powder keg any nation can sit on.

     

  • Ajimobi alleges plan to unleash violence in Oyo

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday alleged that some “disgruntled” politicians have been holding nocturnal meetings with some state officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), who are on the police wanted list.

    He alleged that the meetings were aimed at causing violence in the state.

    The governor spoke at the foundation-laying of Funduk Intravenous Fluid Factory in Ibadan, the state capital.

    He said: “The government is aware that many of those who benefitted from the past reign of terror have been holding nocturnal meetings with some wanted men of the NURTW to return Oyo State to that despicable time.

    “I assure you that this government will not allow that. We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring peace and tranquility. We shall not allow the return of violence, brigandage and a culture of impunity in our state.”

    The governor urged residents to be vigilant and alert security agencies of suspicious activities.

    He said: “But for the peace and tranquility that God has helped us to bring to Oyo State, it would have been very difficult for Funduk to invest in our state.”

    Ajimobi described the establishment of the factory as a milestone in his administration’s quest to industrialise Oyo.

    He said: “This administration believes industrialisation is the guarantee for economic development and the social and economic advancement of our people.

    “We have formulated many initiatives to encourage investors, including the reduction in the cost of land, provision of public infrastructure and tax rebate.”

    Minister of Trade and Investment Olusegun Aganga agreed with the promoter of the intravenous industry, Prof. Dupe Olatubosun, that it was difficult to obtain credit in Nigeria.

    He said the President Goodluck Jonathan administration was doing everything possible to address the issue.

    Aganga said through the Bank of Industry (BoI), the government had been luring investors to the country.

    He said Nigeria was one of the most worthy ports of investment in the world.

    Olatubosun said 95 – 98 per cent of intravenous fluid used in Nigeria was being imported.

  • Benue PDP supporter dies in poll violence

    Security agents in Asunkunya, Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State have killed a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporter, Terkaa Atsehe, for allegedly attempting to attack an Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Youth Leader, Suuter Agbe, during Saturday’s council poll.

    Tarka is the home of Senate Minority Leader George Akume of the ACN.

    It was learnt that violence had erupted between ACN and PDP supporters a week to the election.

    An eyewitness, Justine Anjembe, said after the results were collated in the local government, some hoodlums attacked ACN supporters.

    Atsehe, with other suspected PDP thugs now on the run, allegedly attacked Agbe with cutlasses.

    Some security agents, who reportedly witnessed the violence, shot the late Atsehe, the suspected ring leader. The others ran away.

    Atsehe’s body has been deposited at the Wannune General Hospital.

    Also yesterday, ACN supporters in Tarka Local Government protested the outcome of the council poll.

    Their spokesman, Justine Anjembe, alleged that the Returning Officer for the council disappeared after voting ended.

    He said the people would not accept any illegal result declared in Makurdi, the state capital.

    According to him, Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) officials should return to the area and announce the right result.

    At press time yesterday, the electoral body was still preparing to announce the result of the council poll.

    PDP Publicity Secretary Godwin Ayihe dismissed the allegations that his party attacked ACN supporters.

    He said as the ruling party, the PDP has the power to cause violence but restrained its members to ensure a free and fair election.

    The party chief hailed BSIEC for conducting what he called a transparent council poll.

    Police spokesman Daniel Ezeala, a Deputy Superintended (DSP), said he was not aware of any killing in the area.

    He, however, promised to inform our correspondent if he confirmed the information with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Tarka Local Government.

  • Violence: Nasarrawa bans ethnic militias

    Violence: Nasarrawa bans ethnic militias

    The Governor of Nasarawa State, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, has banned all ethnic and cultural militias in the state. The ban is coming in the wake of a violent communal clash that led to the death of nine people at Agyaragu in the southern part of the state.

    The governor had earlier stated that “Government is no doubt aware that in all instances, ethnic militias under various guises are being used as tools to unleash mayhem and blood-letting on innocent people.” He also directed security agencies in the state to immediately swing into action and arrest the masterminds of the dastardly act, saying they will be brought to book.

    However, Senator Solomon Ewuga has described as uncharitable attempts to link the recent killings and mayhem in Agyaragu, Nasarawa South, to his perceived ambition to succeed the governor in 2015.

    Ewuga, who is also a chieftain of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the state, said it was unfortunate that the Eggons, his ethnic group, have been caught in the web of the crisis. He called on the government to deal decisively with anyone found to be involved in any act of criminality.

    The governor said ban and consequent enforcement of the order by the security agencies is to serve as a demonstration of his administration’s resolve to check the spate of violence in the state. Describing the crisis as unacceptable, he, however, warned against inflammatory statements and politicisation of the crisis, saying that everybody should be “seen to be directing our productive energies to the construction, not destruction of our dear state.”

    Al-Makura also pointed out that “any person or group of persons caught causing panic through the spread of inciting information will be apprehended by security forces and made to face the full wrath of the law.” Condoling with those affected by the crisis, the governor told them to take what has happened as an act of God.

    Advising them not seek vengeance, he said efforts was being made to provide succour to the displaced persons, adding that peace and harmonious coexistence was cardinal to the quest for sustainable socio-economic development of the state.

    On his part, Senator Ewuga while debunking the claim by some persons that the repeated cases of violence in the senatorial district could be linked to his ambition to succeed the incumbent governor by all means possible, he pledged his commitment to the success of the Al-Makura-led government and his desire to build an economically-viable state.

    A statement signed by him and made available to our correspondent in Abuja said: “In all the call I have received, the concern is on my perceived standing in the society and also on the feeling that these repeated cases of violence involving the Eggons are manifest of my hidden ambition to succeed Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura by all means, I like to categorically state that it is far from the truth.

    “What is paramount and more important to me and any sensible person in these wholesome situations is for a peaceful coexistence of all ethnic groups in Nasarawa State.

    “It is pertinent to restate that those of us who played key roles in the advent of this government are committed to the success of the Governor and cannot be found to be subverting or undermining his wish to create a new Nasarawa State, by instigating any form of violence.

    “My prayer is for all of us to join hands in giving Nasarawa State a new lease of life and not to continuously pervert the peace and harmony it is known for.”

     

  • CPC to PDP: we don’t support violence

    CPC to PDP: we don’t support violence

    The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has faulted the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) for calling it a violent party.

    The party alleged that the PDP is rather a nest of killers. The CPC, which replied the ruling party in a statement in Abuja through its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, raised six posers for PDP to answer.

    The statement read: “The CPC noted the disparaging commentary of Chief Olisa Metuh, the National Publicity Secretary of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) wherein he characterized the CPC as a party that “believes in violence and religious politics.” As a party, we have come to understand the PDP, as a party peopled by egregiously violent ones, which earned it the sobriquet: ‘nest of killers.’

    “We know that the image makers of the PDP have penchant for conjectures, insinuations and unsupportable assertions. We, in the CPC, would prefer to confront this latest impudence by the PDP image launderer with verifiable facts.

    “The CPC, as a party, under the leadership of unquestionably disciplined Nigerians, has never been involved in acts capable of injuring the fragility of the social-political equilibrium in Nigeria . Our national leader, General Muhammadu Buhari(GMB), was rigged out of national elections three times and in these times, he ventilated his aversion to the anomalies in the Law Courts!

    “The PDP leadership, having mismanaged Nigerians’ expectations for good governance in the last 13 years, now feels comfortable throwing tantrums in very despicable manner. We are very certain that the Nigerian people, being the best judges, are capable of seeing through all the carefully woven obfuscation. On our part, we remain unfazed and would continue to pursue the agenda of peace and ethno-religious harmony of the Nigerian people. God bless Nigeria”.

    The six posers raised by the CPC for the PDP to respond to or controvert are: “Fact one: On 29th November, 1999, a PDP-led Federal Government- less than one year in office- ordered the violent invasion of Odi, a predominantly Ijaw community in Bayelsa State. It is note-worthy to state that this community was not in any secessionist plot against the Nigerian state. After the dust of the invasion cleared, the Human Rights Watch concluded that “the soldiers must certainly have killed tens of unarmed civilians and that figures of several hundred dead are entirely plausible.”

    “Fact two: The same PDP-led administration, under the leadership of the progenitor of the PDP, between October 22 and 24, 2001, ensured that some communities in Benue State were violently and crudely invaded, which led to the deaths of no fewer than 300 people. The affected communities were Zaki-Biam, Tse Adoor, Gbeji, Vaase, Anyiin, Iorjaa, Jootar, Sankera and Kyado. Though the Federal Government agreed to a N41 Billion compensation for this act of unmitigated violence, we believe that the indiscretion that led to these extra-judicial killings could have been avoided.

    “Fact Three: In the eight-year rule of the same regime (1999-2007), the Nigerian polity virtually became a Sanguinary with the unresolved wicked assassinations that characterized everyday living. More bewildering was the fact that a serving Attorney General and Minister of Justice, the late Chief Ajibola Ige, was murdered in his home – in the full glare of his security details- with the origin of the murderous violence yet to be unraveled!

    “Fact Four: In October 2009, a chieftain of PDP, Chief Bode George, was convicted by a Court of competent jurisdiction for 63-count charge bordering on financial violence on the Nigerian state and sentenced to two-year jail term. After his prison sentence, the PDP apparatchiks, in a bizarre show of ethical violence on the Nigerian people, rolled out the drums and trumpets to welcome him back home.

    “It is on record that, rather than putting this man through a structured party discipline for his misdemeanor, the PDP has continued to throw him up as its champion in obscenity and indecency!

    “Fact five: On 19th February, 2011, Chief Olisa Metuh, as National Vice-Chairman (South-East) of the PDP, invaded British Nigerian Academy, Prince and Princess Estate, Abuja (the former school of his son, Derrick) and assaulted the Vice Principal, Mr. Kola Pele, a 67-year old man, for seizing a phone that Derrick had, against school rules, given to other students to use.

    “A gestapo-style invasion of the school by Chief Metuh saw him holding Mr. Pele by the throat for the effrontery in seizing his son’s phone. The PDP, being a shelter for violently unstable minds, went on to appoint Chief Metuh as its National Publicity Secretary!

    “Fact Six – Aside the violent crater the PDP dug to the nation’s resources in prosecuting its 2011 presidential electioneering campaigns, there were also tales of tears and blood. From Kaduna to Port-Harcourt (where gates were shut against people’s will and 25 people were killed), the campaigns were trailed with violent tales all over.

    “Fact Seven- In the history of the Nigerian nation, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had always maintained its apolitical status. In the run to the 2011 Presidential election, Pastor Ayodele Joseph Oritsejafor, the President of CAN, presented to the Nigerian Christians the PDP candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, as the ‘anointed of the LORD’ in a manner that offended the non-partisanship of the religious body.

    “The subsequent call for the arrest of the CPC candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB), by Pastor Oritsejafor for unsubstantiated allegations of sponsoring the post-election violence in the North, further lends credence to the fact that, through the instrumentality of PDP’s coercive politics, CAN (under Pastor Oritsejafor) is the religious arm of the PDP!

    “Would that explain why Mr. President attended a ceremony (on Saturday, November 10, 2012) where Pastor Oritsejafor was presented with several-billion-naira worth air plane?”, the CPC querried.

     

  • Violence mars Ondo guber election

    Violence mars Ondo guber election

    •Commissioner, council boss arrested over arms possession

    •Thugs on  rampage in Idanre, Okitipupa, Ido- Ani, others

     

    Promises by the security agencies to keep the peace during yesterday’s governorship election in Ondo State failed to materialise in many parts of the state just when it mattered most.

    Violence erupted in Idanre, Igbotako, Ilu-Titun, Okitipupa, Ido-Ani and Ifon to mar an election the authorities had touted as a model for future polls in the country.

    It was so bad at Okeluse that the result for the area had to be cancelled.

    Thugs believed to be working for the Labour Party (LP) went wild in those towns and the riverine areas hijacking ballot boxes and harassing supporters of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and People Democratic Party (PDP).

    Two key actors –Mr.Niran Sule, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Mr. Tunde Ojomo, chairman of the Owo Local Government-were arrested by security agents for being in possession of six AK 47 rifles.

    They were taken to Akure for interrogation.

    Anxiety filled the air last night in Ondo State as residents and stakeholders awaited the result of the election.

    Tension was particularly high at the Alagbaka, Akure secretariat of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the campaign offices of the three leading candidates in the poll-Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of the ACN, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of LP and Mr. Olusola Oke of PDP, as results began streaming in from the wards and local government areas.

    Yet to be confirmed reports showed that the ACN led in the North Senatorial District followed by LP and PDP, while LP led in the Central District with ACN second and PDP in the third position.

    PDP however, led in the South Senatorial District with ACN coming second and LP a distant third.

    All together ACN has reportedly won eight out of the 18 local government areas in the state–four in the north, two in central and two in the south. PDP on the other hand won five and LP five too.

    Although, the Central District has the largest number of votes, whatever edge the LP had there may not stand in view of its poor showing in the North and South.

    This holds out the possibility of the election being resolved through run-off polls.

    Turn out for the election was generally high across the state although electoral materials got to many polling units late.

    Despite assurances by the security agencies, thugs were unleashed by desperate politicians in many places to intimidate or scare away voters.

    Fifteen youths had earlier been arrested on Thursday at the Akure house of a chieftain of Afenifere for allegedly stuffing ballot boxes with thumb-printed ballot papers in favour of the Labour party.

    Six chieftains of the party in Ese-Odo Local Government area went under-ground on Friday after reports of their own thumb-printing leaked.

    As voting got underway yesterday, suspected thugs of Labour Party were said to have exploited the inadequate security to scare away ACN voters.

    In fact, Sunmonu Famoritiye, a chieftain of the ACN was said to have been arrested on the orders of Mimiko. As of the time of filing this report his whereabouts was unknown.

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said the armed thugs attacked his party’s agents and intimidated its supporters, especially in the rural areas.

    He said: ‘’If those saddled with the responsibility of providing adequate security are unable to do so, and many voters are disenfranchised because of that, then the election in the area cannot be adjudged free and fair. If thugs acting in support of the Labour Party are given a free rein and agents and voters of the ACN are scared away from the polling units, the election in the area cannot be adjudged to be credible, on the grounds of technical exclusion.”

    He also said ACN agents in several polling units were barred from the polling units because “INEC allegedly made a mistake by not inserting ‘ACN’ in the agents’ tags it issued to them.”

    Alhaji Mohammed also alleged inadequate security especially in Idanre and Okitipupa where thugs on motorcycles had a field day “harassing voters and agents of the opposition. There are also reports of stuffed ballot boxes being moved to polling booths with the protection of Labour Party thugs”.

    Security was relatively tight and the election was generally peaceful.

    Accreditation and voting began as scheduled in some parts of the state.

    As early as 6am, armed soldiers, anti-riot policemen and other security operatives had commenced patrolling major roads.

    Vehicle movement across the state was not allowed

    Intra city movement was also restricted as only vehicles on election duty, including those conveying journalists, were allowed to operate.

    Even then such vehicles and the occupants were searched .

    In some polling units, security agents were seen scanning voters before being let in.

    Police officers and DSS agents were seen on guard in polling units.

    In Unit 10, Ward V, Afulu in Oka Akoko where Senator Ajayi Boroffice registered, two regular policewomen were on ground.

    Speaking to journalists, Borroffice, who was one of the governorship aspirants on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), complained about inadequate security personnel in his unit.

    He expressed fears that some people had threatened to disrupt voting there.

    However, he said soldiers who mounted guard about 500 meters away gave assurance that they would respond when called upon.

    Voters trooped out eagerly in Akure North local government area.

    Accreditation and voting went well at Itaogbolu, Iju, Oba Ile, Igbatoro, Eleyowo-Bolorunduro and Ayede-Ogbese.

    However, a traditional ruler in the area reportedly threatened the people to vote for Labour Party or be dealt with.

    The election was also peaceful in Ondo North Senatorial District.

    Many voters got to the polling stations as early as 6.30am.

    Accreditation began in some units promptly by 8am. In others, it began at about 9am.

    In Unit 8, Ward 6, Ayegunle, Oka-Akoko, Akungba, voters were being accredited by 8am.

    At Unit O4, in Ward II, the Presiding Officer was calling out names of registered voters as at 9am for accreditation.

    Old women, elderly men and youths gathered at the unit on Victory College, by Jubilee Market, Ugbe-Abuja Road.

    Accreditation was peaceful in the unit, but a Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPO) Oladele Adebisi, who was monitoring activities in Akoko North East, said some of the Presiding Officers did not turn up.

    He said he was trying to send more officers to units where there is a higher number of voters.

    “The people are complying, and we’re working hard to meet up with time and finish with accreditation on schedule.

    “The only challenge we have is a shortage of hands in some units. So right now I am looking for more hands for units where there are more people.

    “There is supposed to be an Assistant Poling Officer (APO), APO I and APO II in each unit. But the people we would have used are not available,” he said.

    At Unit 05, Ward 1, CAC Primary School, the Ofua of Ikareland, High Chief Alfred Omotola, described the turnout of voters as impressive.

    He said: “We are peace-loving people. We are orderly here. There is no problem at all.”

  • south south leaders warn north over violence threat

    south south leaders warn north over violence threat

    South South leaders under the auspices of Southern Mandate (SM) have lambasted former Governor of Yobe State, Senator Bukar Ibrahim, over his threat that there would be violence should President Goodluck Jonathan fail to increase budgetary allocation to the North East geo political zone.

    Senator Ibrahim, in an interview, deplored what he called the paltry allocation of N50billion to the North East in next year’s budget proposals.

    However, Southern Mandate, comprising political and business leaders from the South-East, South-south and South-West, after an emergency meeting in Effurun, Delta State, cautioned the former governor that such pattern of intimidation and harassment of President Jonathan would no longer be tolerated by the President’s kinsmen.

    They declared that no single region has a monopoly of violence.

    Dr. Godwin Omene, who addressed journalists after the meeting, said: “We note with dismay the recent threat issued by Senator Bukar Ibrahim that if President Goodluck Jonathan does not allocate more resources to the North East zone, a more violent insurgency than Boko Harm would be unleashed on Nigeria. We state that this has gone beyond mere agitation, intimidation and blackmail and has entered the domain of treasonable felony.

    “He (Senator Ibrahim) should note that the North East or any part of the North for that matter, does not have exclusive right to the use of violence.

    “We too, in the South and the Niger Delta in particular, are prepared to protect our son President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, in this unenviable task of a nation building, transformation and national unification,” the group added.

    Omene said the group and other Niger Deltans would resist any attempt by the National Assembly and some northern leaders to impeach the president.

    “It is common knowledge that the Boko Haram insurgency was deliberately masterminded to create a scenario of insecurity and portray President Jonathan as incompetent to govern the country.

    “President Jonathan is today considered weak and impeachable on account of the Boko Haram insurgency, and non-implementable resolutions from a confused National Assembly, because he has not ordered the killing of innocent people and total destruction of a town in the north over the activities of a few misguided criminals as was the case in the past,” the group added.

    “We hereby state that in the face of relentless provocation by these elements of disunity, the Southern Mandate has reviewed its earlier stance of not responding to development in the interest of peace, stability and national unity. We affirm that henceforth, we shall take commensurate measures in response to any form of attack on the interest of the South and South-South in particular.”