A human rights activist and convener of the Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju has said President Muhammadu Buhari needs prayers for saying his administration has performed better than previous democratic governments since 1999.
He criticised Buhari for speaking about the discovery of the alleged sponsors of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu and Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, and failing to talk about the sponsors of Boko Haram terrorists, who have killed thousands of Nigerians and displaced millions.
Adeyanju added that it was inconceivable to see that Buhari applauded the military personnel who have failed to defend the territorial integrity of the nation.
The activist noted that North-West Nigeria and the Middle Belt have been completely ravaged by terrorism and banditry, yet the President praised the Army for its failure to combat these criminals.
Adeyanju said this while reacting to Buhari’s speech on October 1 to commemorate the 61st Independence Anniversary of Nigeria.
The statement, titled, ‘Buhari mocked Nigerians with his Independence Day speech –Adeyanju’, was obtained by SaharaReporters on Friday.
It said, “The whole country knows that this is the worst government in the history of our nation.
“It is beyond sad to hear president Buhari commending the military for failure in his Independence Day speech. The North West, North Central and almost the entire country is almost a NO-GO AREA due to widespread insecurity. Terrorist groups control over 10 local government areas in the president’s home state of Katsina and collect taxes from residents openly and unchallenged.
“So many people who were killed by terrorists in Southern Kaduna were buried yesterday. Dora Akunyili’s husband was gunned down recently in the South-East yet the president praises the military for failure.
“The president also said he has discovered sponsors of IPOB and Oduduwa agitators but failed to talk about sponsors of Boko Haram that Dubai revealed recently because they are from his zone.
“The president apparently needs prayers for saying his administration is the best since 1999 and that Nigerians have never had it so good. It is unthinkable that the president of a nation should openly peddle so much falsehood as Buhari has just done.
“For context, cooking gas is N7,200 from N3,000 in 2015. $1 is N575 from N200 in 2015. The list goes on and on of the inflation records of the current administration. Nigeria has fallen completely to terrorist groups. This is a government that kills protesters but negotiate with terrorists.”
The leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky says the Muhammadu Buhari-led government has no solution to the insecurity ravaging all parts of the country.
The Islamic cleric also accused the government of gross violation of his fundamental rights by being disallowed to travel out of the country for treatment despite his deteriorating health condition.
He disclosed this while responding to questions in an exclusive live programme with the Iranian Press TV.
It is his first interview with the media since he regained freedom on July 28, 2021.
He had been arrested and detained since December 2015.
He said, “Myself, I can say I don’t know what these people want to achieve by setting the country in such chaotic condition. It appears that they have no solution to these problems, yet they continue to create more.
“Like the attack on us, why attack on peaceful protesters when you have people you call bandits attacking innocent people all over the country. Why not take up the matter with them (bandits)?
“They are claiming they are fighting these local bandits or so-called Boko Haram, yet these people are always on the wing, they are using sophisticated weapons, guns. The military authorities keep giving information that they are getting setbacks. Why all this insecurity and kidnapping all over the country? Who is benefiting from it?”
Thousands of wailing villagers, Thursday afternoon, swarmed around 38 coffins bearing the corpses of people killed by murderous herdsmen in Madamai and Abum villages in the Kaura local government area of Southern Kaduna.
They were violently killed on Sunday, September 26, 2021.
No official of the Kaduna state government was present at the emotion-filled funeral.
But the Senator representing Kaduna South Senatorial Zone, Danjuma Laah told the villagers that they are being killed because the government has failed to defend them.
The Catholic Bishop of Kafanchan, Diocese Most Rev Julius Yakubu Kundi said also noted that the ruling class in Southern Kaduna have betrayed their people.
These were revealed to SaharaReporters on Friday in a statement issued by the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union’s spokesman, Luka Binniyat.
The statement is titled, ‘38 Coffins Of Killed Villagers In Southern Kaduna Stir Anger At Funeral Mass.’
It reads, “The coffins which were brought to the village square of Mallagun, about 6km from Madamai by the Kagoro-Samaru Kataf expressway for a funeral mass, also inspired fiery speeches, as Kaduna State government and even serving government officials that are of Southern Kaduna origin shunned the event.
“It could be recalled that Madamai and its smaller neighbour Abum, came under invasions of armed herdsmen last Sunday, leaving at least 38 people killed, 9 severely injured and 40 homes burnt.
“The first attack on Madamai was on the 15th of August 2021 in which 5 persons were killed and 26 houses burnt. No one has given reasons for the bloody crime.”
Addressing the mourners, Senator Laah, in his message, said it was left for the people of Southern Kaduna to decide whether they want to go into extinction or not.
“I have witnessed too many mass burials in Southern Kaduna. There was a time we buried 134 people in various mass graves in 2 days. If you still think that there’s going to be a government that is going to defend you . . . well, I am sorry for you.
“This mass was organised for the world to see the kind of evil that has been visiting us and we have been burying our kinsmen silently, just to await the next mass killings. But this time, the world must see this and bear witness that we are under genocide. If we the leaders speak against it, we are branded haters of peace,” Laah said.
In his speech, Kundi said, “These innocent, poor villagers lying in these coffins would have not been there if you, our elites and politicians did what you should do. Because I know that you have the means of doing it, when you know that we have no one to protect us. But because of greed and lack of foresight, you have abandoned our people.”
In his sermon, Fr. Billiyok Joseph Abba, said, “The people that committed this heinous crime against this Christian community may have injured us physically, but our Faith in Jesus Christ remains unshakable.
“They have cut down the lives of these brethren, but they have only hastened them into martyrdom and immortality with our Maker.
“We must not be moved into the ways of the aggressors, because the anger of our Lord would soon be unleashed on our enemies very soon.”
But the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State Chapter, Rev. Joseph Hayab, took a different view from Abba.
“We have written enough petitions, written too many press statements, organised Press Conferences and held several protests. No one appears to read or see us. The only time they will listen to us is if one day they enter a village and they are surrounded and none of them comes out. That day, they will listen,” he said to the loud approval of the moaning crowd.
SOKAPU President, Jonathan Asake on his part, said there was a well-designed agenda to chase out natives of Southern Kaduna from their communities and supplant a hostile, foreign one.
“As I stand here today, 104 of our communities in Southern Kaduna have been captured by armed herdsmen and thousands have been displaced with no consequence to the assailants.
“Our people are under a clear genocidal threat and the government must be held responsible for all these massacres.”
Meanwhile, the Kaduna state government clearly avoided the ceremony as not a representative of the government was present. Also, not a single serving government official, whether elected or appointed from Southern Kaduna was present at the event. The caskets were later laid in a mass grave dug by an excavator at Madamai, amidst more wailing around 5 pm.
Kaduna based controversial slamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has urged security operatives to stop killing bandits that are ravaging villages, abducting schoolchildren and killing Nigerians.
The controversial cleric asked that they should rather be respected and accorded human rights.
“The bandits also have empathy as we have; they have families, children. The first step is to use psychology on them. They aired their grievances and are ready to change.
“They should be respected and should be given all the human rights everybody has,” Gumi said Thursday at a peace conference by the Center for the Advancement of Human Dignity and Value held at Arewa House in Kaduna.
The controversial self-appointed mediator to assist in finding a solution to banditry, Gumi, said Nigeria will spend less to enlighten bandits than it is spending on arms and ammunition, Peoples Gazette reports.
“Some are suggesting killing them. All because they are killing. For three year’s you have spent $1 billion, and now you need another $1 billion. But, I said one-third of that will enlighten them, and they will stop killing. Have you tried it? Nobody tried it,” Gumi said.
Contrary to Gumi’s stance, Katsina Governor Aminu Masari said he bemoans that bandits have continued with their criminal activities despite being granted amnesty.
In several coordinated attacks, the criminals have kidnapped hundreds across North-East states, forcing school closure in Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger and Zamfara at different points.
In July, bandits bombed a Nigerian Air Force jet in Zamfara and attacked the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna in August, killing two and abducting a Major.
Zamfara State governor, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, has ordered for the restoration of telecommunication services in the state capital of Gusau with immediate effect from Friday, October 1, 2021.
This was contained in a statement signed by the special adviser on public enlightenment, media and communications to the governor, Zailani Bappa.
He stated that the restoration of the service was imperative following the tremendous success recorded by the security operatives in the fight against banditry in Zamfara State.
Governor Matawalle further noted that the restoration of the telecommunication services would ease the hardship faced by both private and public sectors while reaffirming the government’s commitment in the protection of lives and properties in the state.
“The restoration of the service at the state capital becomes imperative following the tremendous success recorded in the fight against banditry in the state and to ease the hardship faced by both the private and public sectors of the state.
“Government finds it necessary to ease the tight measure after the recorded success desired of it which has no doubt destabilsed the syndicate of criminals terrorising the state leading to the successes recorded against them by the security operatives.
“Governor Matawalle promises that his administration will continue to monitor closely the unfolding developments and will announce further decisions of government on measurs being taken appropriately,” he stated.
The head of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis has condemned the spate of killings and kidnappings in Southern Kaduna and Northern Nigeria in general and called on President Buhari to guarantee the safety of all Nigerian citizens.
The Pope expressed his solidarity with Nigerians after 38 people were gruesomely murdered in villages in the North-Western state of Kaduna on Sunday 26th of September 2021.
“I pray for those who have died, for the injured and for the entire Nigerian population. Pope Francis said during his Wednesday’s General Audience at the Vatican City.
The head of the Catholic church described the attacks as senseless killings of Nigerians by suspected jihadists and noted that massacres were not only happening in southern Kaduna, but all over the country.
“I learnt with pain the news of the armed attacks that took place last Sunday against the villages of Madamai Abun in northern Nigeria…I hope that the country always guarantees the safety of all its citizens,” he said.
Calls For The Release Of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu And For IPOB To Embrace Genuine Dialogues.
“Not too long ago, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and the Harvard Kennedy School in the United States said in a report that Nigeria as a nation is at the point of no return, having showed all the signs of a failed nation. Upon giving examples of other failed states in the world, the Report added: Each lacks security, is unsafe, has weak rules of law, is corrupt, limits political participation and voice, discriminates within its borders against various classes and kinds of citizens and provides educational and medical services sparingly. Most of all, failed states are violent. All failed states harbor some form of violent internal strife, such as civil war or insurgency. Nigeria now confronts six or more internal insurrections and the inability of the Nigerian state to provide peace and stability to its people has tipped a hitherto very weak state into failure”.
Provoked by the above and as Nigeria marks her 61st anniversary of independence, the foremost civil rights advocacy group; Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has berated the woes and disaster brought upon Nigeria by the incompetence, ineptitude, insensitivity, high-handedness and nepotism of the political class over the past many years since independence. The group said the current administration has lowered the bar of good governance and has abandoned Nigerians to the vagaries abd uncertainties of conflicts entrepreneurs, arms smughlers, terrorists and the Rights group said the President made the mistake of a life time by surrounded himself with ethnic warlords such as his Senior Special Assistant on media and Publicity Alhaji Garba Shehu who is clearly working to advance the selfish and pedestrian interests of his Fulani and Islamic groups and affiliations using Public platform and resources. HURIWA has also challenged the President to initiate concrete, genuine and deep national reconciliation and dialogue and check the rising Ethno-religious vendetta and diatribes being stoked by Garba Shehu abd other Ethno-religious warlords embedded in his government.
In a statement, signed by the National coordinator; Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA carpeted the nation’s political class for their collective and classical lack of leadership acumen and capacity to manage the country’s diversities just as the rights group highlighted the gross incompetence of cabinet ministers in handling the complexity of modern governance coupled with their overwhelming abd overbearing toxic clumsiness in grappling with the sophisticated challenges of development and their feeble approach to complex dynamics of global politics contributed into plunging Nigeria to her current gulf.
“It is an axiom that Nigeria is richly endowed by providence with human and material resources critical for national development and advancement. However, the experience of Nigerians since 2015 has been piercing. Before then, Nigeria was the third fastest growing economy in the world next to China and India with a growth rate of close to seven per cent. The economy contracted immediately after the swearing in of President Buhari who took more than six months to constitute his cabinet and sadly the cabinet ministers are mostly opportunistic cash guzzling politicians with zero commitment to Nigeria’s national economic revolution and advancement.
“Growth rate collapsed to less than two per cent. Since then there have been two economic recessions, with the dollar value of the naira dipped as inflation and cost of living went to the blues. Inability of Government to arrest the decline has led to loss of confidence in the government, which has been overpowered by an unprecedented security challenges that made insurgency, kidnapping, bloodletting and sophisticated criminal activities daily characteristics of terribly struggling nation.
“Thus, Nigeria has continued to meander the path befitting failed, weak and “juvenile” states. A state that had very great prospects at independence and was touted to lead Africa out of the backwoods of underdevelopment and economic dependency, Nigeria is still stuck in the league of very poor, corrupt, underdeveloped, infrastructurally decaying, crisis-riven, morally bankrupt and leadership-deficient countries of the South. Rather than become an exemplar for transformational leadership, modern bureaucracy, national development, national integration and innovation, Nigeria seems to be infamous for whatever is mediocre, corrupt, insanely violent and morally untoward”, HURIWA noted.
Hence, HURIWA posited that Nigeria is a victim of poor leadership and convoluted systemic corruption, which in the rights group’s analysis has become pervasive and cancerous in the country’s national life while adding that several pundits have identified the inexorable nexus between leadership crisis and corruption in the country as the continued reason for Nigeria’s inglorious economic throes, political convolutions and national underdevelopment.
Continuing, HURIWA averred that it is disturbing to note that while Nigeria is the third most terrorized country in the world, next to Afghanistan and Iraq, Federal Government actions presently are centered on cows in such a way that Cows are more secure in Nigeria than Nigerians just as the herders are armed to the teeth to the knowledge of Government authorities.
“Security challenges have gotten to the highest level in Nigeria with bloodletting becoming normal. Insurgency, kidnapping and sophisticated criminal activities are daily features of terribly stressed citizenry. In the past few months, about 2000 Christian lives have been lost in various theatres of “war” in the country.
“Between December 2020 and March 2021, gangs of bandits seeking lucrative ransom kidnapped a total of 769 students from their boarding schools and other educational facilities across northern Nigeria in at least five separate incidents. Leaders take sides with cows than with Nigerians”.
Also, HURIWA revealed that Nigeria’s public debt stock, which has reached $84billion with debt service costs gulping about 80 percent of entire government’s revenue, Nigeria’s external debt increased by 117.4 per cent from $12.6 billion in 2015 to $27.4 billion by the end of 2019.
Furthermore, the rights group expressed worries that between March and June 2020, a total of $10.26 billion new debt was approved by the National Assembly while other approvals for more loans were also given this 2021.
“These have ominous economic implications particularly with intangible evidence of what these funds are being invested in. With low productivity of the Nigerian workforce, the Federal Government has no repayment plan that will not be very hurtful to the unborn.
“As such, the burden is already very heavy. The recently published 2021 budget implementation report stated that the Federal Government spent a total of N1.8 trillion on debt servicing in the first five months of the year, representing about 98 per cent of the total revenue generated in the same period. These are indicators that the current leadership in Nigeria suffers from extreme moral depravity and attitudinal debauchery.
“Of the four administrations who have led Nigeria since her return to democracy in 1999, the current administration holds the worst record in terms of economic growth. Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime from 1999 to 2007 had an average growth rate of 6.9 per cent. His immediate successor Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua did even better in his two years with an average growth rate of 7.6 per cent while Goodluck Jonathan delivered 5 per cent growth rate in his six-year term as President that ended in 2015.
“However, Nigeria’s GDP per capita declined by 0.02 per cent, 4.16 per cent and 1.78 per cent in 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively. In 2018, 2019 and 2020, it declined by 0.68 per cent, 0.38 per cent and 4.57 per cent. Six years of contracting per capita has wrecked grievous pain on businesses and households”, HURIWA explained.
Relatedly, HURIWA also used the occasion of the 61 independence celebration of Nigeria to call for cessation of conflicts and attacks in the South East of Nigeria so dialogue can be embraced.
“It has been over 50 years since the civil war resulted in over a million deaths. There is a need to reflect on such brutality by citizens against each other, and the reasons for the resurgent agitation for the state of Biafra five decades after the war.
“There is a need to know the roots of the agitation, understand the claim of unequal treatment in terms of federal appointments and infrastructure development, and allegations of victimhood and poor responses from the government.
“These issues have to be discussed by the government and stakeholders in the region. The government should create a forum for discussion on what needs to be done for Igbos to feel that they belong and are not alienated in Nigeria”.
“Those who howl against agents of secession without acknowledging reasons for such agitations are not sincere. There is no arguing the fact that incalculable harm has been inflicted on the national psyche. Nigerians should use the opportunity of the 61st anniversary of independence to introspect. Where did the rain start beating this once promising country? This should be a time for stocktaking.
“What are the prospects of pulling the country back from the brink? Can Nigeria rediscover itself? These are the questions that should concentrate all minds. As 2023 signals, there must be a concerted effort to walk away from the despicable subway vision of nepotism and this general anomie of despondency.
“Conscious effort must be made by all to build a nation around a vision that promotes common good. Fairness, equity and justice must be the pivot around which any agenda to save Nigeria revolves because sustenance of the Nigerian Federation demands a union of equals”, HURIWA advised.
Conclusively, HURIWA called for the strict enforcement of the suspension of the insane Monday’s sit at home order as well as the United Nations for intervention and the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. HURIWA is appealing to all aggrieved youths in Nigeria not to embrace crimes or banditry but to strive resolutely to empower themselves with whatever life skills they can lay their hands on and busy themselves with mobilising their peers for the coming polls so the political transformation we all seek may be attained when the youths decide to reject cash for votes approach of the currebt political class and elect credible persons who will govern Nigeria in the fear of God. We appeal to the aggrieved youths of the South East of Nigeria to avoid all kinds of violence and attacks against strategic national security assets in the South East and to protect the South East of Nigeria from the attacks of the so called unknown gunmen.
COMRADE EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO:
NATIONAL COORDINATOR:
HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA).
Ado Namarai during interrogation by the Katsina Police command
By
Hassan Michael
An arrested bandit by name Ado Namarai has Indicted the Kaduna state Governor Nasiru El-rufai during interrogation by the police. Ado Namarai 55, an indigene of Kaura Bugaje village in Jibia local government area of Katsina state told the police that he has killed not less than 4 people during kidnapping operations around Birnin Gwari axis of Kaduna state since he joined the kidnapping gangs he claimed to be Fulanis.
The bandit made the confession in a video posted by a Freelance Journalist named Muhammed Auwal Muasu on his Instagram page; @Hausaa_fulanii and obtained by MBT. During interrogation by the Katsina state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Gambo Isah, the bandit admitted to being part of a bandit gang operating in Kaduna state.
He told the police that prior to 4-5 years ago, he was a labourer who makes bed using raw materials from harvested maize sticks and some of his customers were bandits.
“Before I joined the kidnapping business, I was into local bed making, an improvised bed I make using sticks from harvested maize. Most times when the bandits come to buy my products, they offer me more than the cost price.
“One day, they told me that as an old man I deserve a better life and that was how they introduced me to crime.” Namarai said
in the 9 minutes video, Ado Namarai said he and his gangs were also into cattle rustling and armed robbery operations. He also confessed to killing some of their victims during kidnapping operations.
“We attacked some commuters along Mando-Buruku road and I opened fire. I killed four people and shot a fifth on the leg. We abducted ten people in total from the two vehicles and each of them paid N10 million in ransoms.” He said
At the nineth minutes of the video, the bandit speaking in Hausa language told the police that his gang members are in a place called Sabon Filli, a community along the Kaduna international airport.
“As I speak to you now, I am sure they may be watching, they are in Sabon Filli and they are well armed.
“They sometimes go into the village armed and collect goods without payment. Whenever any goods owner try to protest, they will shoot the person.
“El-rufai knows about the place. He concluded before the video ended.
As at the time of filling this report, MBT could not verify why the video ended at the mentioned of the name El-rufai or why the bandit who was obviously not under any compulsion mentioned the Governor’s name.
It would be recalled that a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Dr Obadiah Mailafia during an interview session with Nigerian info FM alleged that some repentant bandits commanders named certain Northern Governor of being Boko Haram commander.
Mailafia was invited by the Nigerian Services the DSS for questioning over the allegations.
The former Oxford trained Central Banker died under very controversial circumstances on the 19th of September 2021 with many Nigerians of the opinion that he may have been killed.
Kaduna state since 2015 has become the epicenter of kidnappings and attacks on communities which many blamed on Fulani herdsmen militias.
last Sunday, 38 people were killed by gunmen suspected to be Fulani terrorists in Madamai and Abun communities in Mallagum district of Kaura local government area of the the state. They were buried yesterday in a well publicised mass burial attended by dignitaries from Southern Kaduna.
When contacted, the Katsina state police public relations officer, Gambo Isah who interrogated the bandit for comments on the matter, he said he cannot comment on it.
“I cannot comment on the matter.” Isah said via a telephone conversation with MBT reporter
An excavator covering the bodies of the 38 victims of Fulani terrorists in Mallagum, Kaura LGA of Kaduna state
While Nigeria claims to be celebrating 61 years of ‘Independence’ from her formal colonial masters, Britain, the people of Southern Kaduna are mourning the gruesome and barbaric massacre of her citizens by Fulani terrorists.
Bodies of the victims loaded into a truck for evacuation
Caskets being arranged in the mass grave
A view of the loaded caskets
Truck load of Caskets containing bodiesRelatives and well wishers wailing at the arrival of the bodiesRelatives and well wishers wailing at the arrival of the bodies
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Friday said he had directed a conditional lifting of the ban placed on the operations of the micro blogging sire, Twitter, in Nigeria in June.
Buhari disclosed this in his nationwide broadcast to Nigerians to mark the nation’s 61st independence.
He described the social media as a very useful platform but regretted that some users have misused the platform to organise, coordinate, and execute criminal activities, propagate fake news, and promote ethnic and religious sentiments.
The President said, “Social media is a very useful platform that has enabled millions of Nigerians to connect with loved ones, promote their businesses, socialise, and access news and other information.
“However, recent events have shown that the platform is not just an innocuous platform for information dissemination.
“Rather some users have misused the platform to organise, coordinate, and execute criminal activities, propagate fake news, and promote ethnic and religious sentiments.
“To address these negative trends, the Federal Government of Nigeria suspended the operations of Twitter in Nigeria on June 5, 2021 to allow the Government put measures in place to address these challenges.
“Following the suspension of Twitter operations, Twitter Inc. reached out to the Federal Government of Nigeria to resolve the impasse. Subsequently, I constituted a Presidential Committee to engage Twitter to explore the possibility of resolving the issue.
“The Committee, along with its Technical Team, has engaged with Twitter and have addressed a number of key issues. These are National Security and Cohesion; Registration, Physical presence and Representation; Fair Taxation; Dispute Resolution; and Local Content.
“Following the extensive engagements, the issues are being addressed and I have directed that the suspension be lifted but only if the conditions are met to allow our citizens continue the use of the platform for business and positive engagements.
“As a country, we are committed to ensuring that digital companies use their platform to enhance the lives of our citizens, respect Nigeria’s sovereignty, cultural values and promote online safety.”
