HURIWA CONDEMNS KILLING OF SOLDIERS, BURNING OF TRADITIONAL RULERS PALACE IN IMO AND ‘POLICE ABDUCTION’ OF TRADO RULER IN ENUGU

Prominent pro-democracy and Not-for-profit organisation- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has advocated the impartial investigation of the persons responsible for the alleged killing of two soldiers and the subsequent invasion by armed soldiers and burning down of the palace of traditional ruler of Izombe community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo. 

HURIWA said it was absolutely unlawful for the military to use extralegal execution of citizens no matter the level of perceived offence just as the Rights group said it has emerged that it was the killing of a young man by soldiers that led to the revenge killing of the two soldiers which in itself is barbaric and unlawful. 

The Rights group is proposing the setting up of an independent judicial commission of inquiry by the Imo State government to identify the arsonists amongst the soldiers that petrol bombed the palace of the traditional ruler just as the Rights group has called for justice and closure for all those killed including the two soldiers reportedly set ablaze by some irate youths. 

The Rights group expressed worries that the Nigerian military is yet to understand that under constitutional democracy,  no institution has the legal authority to take the law into its hands no matter the provocation or anger just as setting ablaze the housing assets of the traditional ruler has been described as an act of primitive brutality and an uncivilised modus operandi which must be decisively dealt with and stopped forthwith. 

The Rights group quoted the news media as reporting that many houses, including the palace of the traditional ruler of the Aborshi-Izombe community, Pius Muforo, were burnt down just as it was gathered that Izombe, Eziorsu and Osobod communities have been enmeshed in oil bunkering operations.

HURIWA recalled that a community leader from Umuokwu village, Mr James Imo, claimed that over 50 houses have been burnt down.

His (James Imo)  words: “I was informed that two military men were killed and their vehicle set ablaze after the two military personnel had killed one young man, Chukwunonso Iherue, in Umuokwu-Izombe.The problem arose from misunderstanding between the youth and soldiers over crude oil bunkering activities”.

HURIWA which condemned the cowardly actions of the irate youths for allegedly murdering the uniformed men of the Nigerian Army,  however stated that in as much as the brutal criminal act of killing  law enforcement agents is totally condemnable and remains absolutely despicable and reprehensible,  the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA insisted that what is lawful is for the Nigeria Army to report to the police who will immediately swing into action and arrest the suspected killers of the two soldiers so they are prosecuted for murders and not for the soldiers to resort to self help measures of invading communities and burning down houses and shooting randomly at everything moving in those communities just to revenge the alleged brutal killing of two of their colleagues who in any case had allegedly killed a young man extralegally. 

HURIWA charges the Chief of Army staff Lieutenant General Yahaya Faruk to escalate his announced programme of professionalisation of the Armed Forces and to work out ways and means of ensuring that henceforth soldiers do not resort to self help measures such as invading a community whereby any of their members are killed on the line of duty or even for committing atrocious act of extrajudicial execution  of a citizen and for the invading soldiers to extend this revenge mission to adjourning communities means that these are crimes against humanity.

The Rights group thinks this tendency of invasion and arson by irate soldiers belongs to the medieval period and is totally unconstitutional and infact amounts to terrorism because in the process of the soldiers exacting revenge, many innocent people are killed which is reprehensible and absolutely criminal. 

Besides, the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has charged the Inspector General of Police Alhaji Usman Alkali Baba to investigate the extensively damaging accusation that Policemen in Nsukka Enugu State invaded the home of a traditional ruler, destroyed the property, maimed visitors, manhandled the traditional ruler and apparently abducted him to an unknown torture centre because of alleged land related dispute the traditional ruler had with another resident of the community. 

HURIWA affirmed that report says that the traditional ruler of Ihekwuenu autonomous community in Aku, Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, HRH, Igwe, Christopher Okwor was on Thursday allegedly beaten and dragged to an unknown location by men suspected to be policemen.

The wife of the traditional ruler, Martina Okwor who was also allegedly beaten by the officers who had invaded the residence of the traditional ruler in Umakashi, Nsukka said the incident occurred at about 10 pm on Thursday.

HURIWA said thus: ” We hereby appealed to the Chief of Police of Nigeria to investigate the circumstances surrounding this disgraceful and criminal allegations against his men and officers and to arrest, investigate and charge any of his operatives indicted for participating in this illicit raid of the home of a citizen and reportedly destroyed the housing assets in a crude attempt to harass, intimidate and ambush a citizen on the strength of a so called petition filed by another citizen especially bordering on land related disputes. The Nigerian Police Force must begin the period of sanitisation and cleaning up of the vestiges of professional misconducts and all tendencies that had brought bad publicity and global opprobrium on the institution such as this type of illegal orchestration and misuse of power by the police”. 

BREAKING: Prominent Taraba Monarch, Aku-Uka of Wukari Dies In Palace

The Aku-Uka of Wukari Kingdom in Taraba State, Dr Shekarau Agyo, is dead.

Daily Trust gathered that the Monarch, died on Saturday in his palace at Wukari after a protracted illness.

Late Aku-Uka, a first class chief was also the chairman, Taraba state council of Emirs and chiefs.

He was installed as the 27 Aku-Uka of Wukari in August, 1976 and was born in 1937.

Sources close to Taraba state government told Daily Trust that only the governor of the state will officially announce the death of the Aku_Uka after certain traditional rites is conducted as required by the Jukun tradition.

[DAILYTRUST]

BREAKING: Gunmen Open Fire On Police Station, Kidnap Mother, Daughter From Nearby House In Adamawa

Heavily armed bandits on Sunday morning opened fire on a Divisional Police Station in Adamawa State.

The incident happened in Ngurore, a satellite town on the outskirts of Yola, the state capital, along Yola-Gombe Road.

An eyewitness told SaharaReporters that the bandits, who came in their number, arrived in the town around 5 am. 

They subsequently opened fire on the police station and also kidnapped a woman with her daughter from a nearby house.

He said, “They came in large numbers, some in Hilux vans, others on motorcycles.

“They divided themselves into two groups, one group engaged the police station; the other group went to the residence of Alhaji Umaru.

“They have sadly succeeded in kidnapping his wife, Hauwa Umaru and her daughter.”

The police spokesperson in the state, DSP Suleiman Nguroje has confirmed the incident, saying no damage was done to the police station.

He said, “Yes, there was an attack on Ngurore police station this morning; but nothing was carted away and none of our gallant officers was injured.

“As we speak, there are also ongoing, coordinated efforts at restoring public order in the town and its environs.

“However, following the unfortunate attack on Ngurore police station and the house of Alhaji Umaru of Nasarawa B, one Hauwa Umaru and her daughter were kidnapped on Sunday, 10 October, 2021.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, has ordered the deployment of an additional operational asset including Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU), crack squad and anti-kidnapping units to Ngurore.

“The operational units are expected to carry out confidence-boosting patrols within the hotspots in coordinated operations with the gallant men on the ground to rescue the kidnapped victims and apprehend the culprits. 

“The CP assured that the Command is committed to working with other patriotic stakeholders towards restoring public order in Ngurore and other parts of the state.    

“Meanwhile, the Head of the Police Intervention Team, SP Babagana Abubakar is already on the ground to coordinate police investigative, operational and rescue response.

“The CP called on citizens to go about their businesses in the most peaceful and law-abiding manner and report any suspicious person(s) around their neighbourhoods to police,” he said.

[Saharareporters]

Kogi State Residents Live In Fear As Gunmen Abduct Two Chiefs, Kill Others

Residents of communities in Kabba town and Lokoja, the Kogi State capital are now living in fear following renewed abductions of persons by yet-to-be-identified gunmen in their areas, PM News reports.

On Friday, multiple abductions were reported in Kabba, the headquarters of the Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, and Lokoja, the state capital.

In the ancient town of Kabba where there have been series of kidnappings in the last month, the rampaging gunmen killed a man, and abducted four others including two chieftaincy title holders.

Some gunmen also abducted two persons along Zone 8 to Crusher Road of Lokoja, the state capital.

In Kabba, the kidnappers were said to have first attacked the Headmaster of Otu Egunbe primary school around Ayedun and whisked him away.

The headmaster was said to be on his way to Egbeda community for a programme before he was abducted.

The gunmen then proceeded to Kakun -Kabba where they killed one Chief Raphael Tolufashe Asa and abducted his daughter.

The gunmen who reportedly stormed the village around 8.30am also abducted one Chief Obamakun Maji, and a Fulani man whose name was yet to be ascertained.

The gunmen have made contact with families of the victims and demanded for N30million ransom as a collective fee to set the abductees free, it was learnt.

The Kogi Police Command Police Public Relation Officer, DSP William Aya who confirmed the incident, said security personnel had been mobilised to secure release of the victims.

The series of abduction is the fourth in Kogi West as the area witnessed breakdown of law and order in the past five weeks.

First, was the attack on Kabba Prison in which five people were killed and about 200 inmates were set free.

Not long after, three poultry farmers were abducted in some communities in Kabba.

Also, there was the attack on ECWA church during Sunday service in the area.

One member of the church was killed while three others were abducted during the attack.

Chief Julius Oshadumo, a retired civil servant who was one of the abductees later died in a gun battle between kidnappers and vigilante officials who were on a rescue mission.

The worsening insecurity has forced residents and travellers around to now live in fear.

[Saharareporters]

19 Traders Gunned Down As Bandits Invade Sokoto Market

At least 19 traders were killed by bandits who raided a weekly market at Unguwan Lalle in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Friday.

The attack also left several others injured, majority of whom are currently receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Sabon Birni.

Daily Trust could not ascertain whether the attack was a reprisal as there have been tension since Yan Sakai, an outlawed vigilance group killed 11 men at Mamande’s weekly market on Thursday.

Unguwan Lalle, a community located along Goronyo-Sabon Birni road, has suffered a series of bandits attacks in recent months.

Five soldiers who were on a rescue mission in the area were ambushed and killed by bandits few months ago.

A resident told Daily Trust that, Friday’s attack happened during the market hours.

Daily Trust learnt that Unguwan Lalle market is among the popular markets in the eastern part of Sokoto state and is being patronised by traders from different parts of the state and from Zamfara, Kebbi and neighbouring Niger Republic.

However, the identities of the victims were not ascertained yet, but another source told our reporter that two biological brothers who trade in hide and skin were among those killed.

“The two brothers came to the market from the city. We just buried them at Tudun Wada cemetery in Sokoto South local government area,” our source said.

Daily Trust learnt that the attackers stormed the market shortly after all the traders had returned from the Juma’at congregational prayers.

“They came around 3pm, surrounded the market and started shooting sporadically.”

“I counted about 19 bodies and many were still unaccounted for,” it said

Sabon Birni under siege- Lawmaker

Confirming the attack, member representing Sabon Birni North, Aminu Almustapha Gobir, said the whole Sabon Birni was in a mourning state over the attack.

“Sabon Birni is under siege, this is what I have been telling you people and the government is not happy about it,” he said

Gobir, who witnessed the burial of the two brothers, noted that traders from different places were killed by the attackers.

However, the state government has blamed the traders for the attack because all rural markets in the eastern part of the state were banned as part of measures to curtail banditry.

The Commissioner for Carriers and Security Matters, Colonel Garba Moyi (rtd), stated this in an interview with our reporter.

“The state government has suspended markets in some parts of the state experiencing Banditry because these are where bandits are getting their goods.

“But some communities are not complying with this temporary measure despite the fact that it was for their own good,” he said

He said there was a task force comprising security agents, local government chairmen and representatives of district heads in each of the affected local government area.

“We will find out why they are not enforcing this order in their respective areas,” he said

Reacting to the Commissioner’s assertion, Gobir noted that, the executive order by the state government would not make any impact unless there was a serious military operation in the area.

[DAILYTRUST]

Chiwetalu Agu: HURIWA Accuses Military, DSS of Ethnic Profiling

Prominent pro-democracy and Not-for-profit organisation- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has called out the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services (DSS) for exhibiting overwhelming tendencies of ethnic profiling targeting members of the South East of Nigeria’s  Igbo speaking Ethnicity following the arrest by soldiers and eventual illegal handover to the Department of State Services of the popular Igbo Nollywoods Actor Mr Chinwetalu Agu over his choice of clothes with the flag of the defunct Biafran Republic. 
The Rights group said the military and the DSS have clearly shown their inclinations towards Ethnic profiling because on more than one occasion the Kaduna based Islamic Cleric Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi was seen holding nocturnal meetings with the Fulani terrorists who kidnapped many school children and held them hostage for months in the forests but despite the obvious evidence that the said Ahmad Gumi made many television and newspaper appearances and granted extensive interviews including the one that he accused the military of helping to weaponise terrorists in the North-West,  there was never any attempt on the part of the DSS or Army to invite him or arrest him for these treasonous acts of fraternizing and colluding allegedly with Fulani Terrorists. 
lHURIWA further affirmed that: “Also the Zaria based Islamic Cleric Salihu Zaria threatened to kill Christians over the Jos killing of Fulani travellers by Unknown gunmen but the DSS and the Army looked the other way and never made attempt to arrest these two Moslem preachers who made inciting comments which may have instigated the massacre of some Christian Military officers in a suspicious military helicopter crash whilst flying from Minna after Sheikh Gumi was quoted as claiming that only Christian military operatives are decimating and crushing Islamic terrorists in the North and then the Nigerian Defence Academy was invaded shortly after Sheikh Salihu Zaria made the threat against Christians and the invaders killed a Christian soldier and kidnapped a Plateau born Christian soldier of the rank of Major who was detained for several weeks before being rescued but the Igbo Actor Chiwetalu Agu wore just a clothe with the flag of the defunct Biafra Republic which is not unlawful but the Army tortured him and thereafter handed him over to the DSS and the DSS is now saying that justice would be done and we ask, which justice? This is pure ethnic profiling and vendetta which is unconstitutional.  We demand the immediate release of Mr Chinwetalu Agu by the DSS or they charge him to court so the World will see how low the Country Nigeria has degenerated in the practice of apartheid policies by the current administration that releases and reintegrate boko haram Islamic terrorists”.

Already, HURIWA has protested the dehumanization of Chiwetalu Agu by the Army in a letter of protest submitted to the Chief of Army staff Lieutenant General Yahaya Faruk on Friday in which the Rights group stated as follows: “We bring you our message of goodwill.
This is to register our strong protest over the physical torture, maltreatment and denial of RIGHTS TO DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON that was unleashed on the popular Nigerian Actor Sir Chiwetalu Agu by the Nigeria Army troop in Onitsha, Anambra State, South East of Nigeria.
 
We write this petition to particularly disagree with the statement publicly made by the spokesman of the Defence headquarters to the effect that the said Nollywood Actor was dehumanized because he allegedly advertises for the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) for putting on a clothe that has the flag of the defunct Biafra Republic.
Sir, the Nigeria Army is an institution created by law and the Army is not above the law. It is unacceptable that the Army General who spoke for the Defence headquarters has given the impression that physical, psychological torture of alleged offender (assuming without conceding that putting on one’s choice of clothes is now an offence) is permissible under the Army’s rules of engagement. 
Sir in 2017, Nigeria passed a law against torture. Nigerian constitution in chapter 4 is against torture.The Army tortured Chiwetalu Agu and these infractions must never be swept under the carpets so the Army is not accused of tolerating impunity.
We pray you to deploy an internal resolution mechanism to provide relief and redress to the victim of Army brutality Chiwetalu Agu.
As a Civil Rights body, we know that the Army is not a body that is created to torture citizens even if they are in conflict with the law. Moreover, what choice of clothe someone wears is not an item of the law. The colours of the defunct Biafra is not illegal just as wearing Arab clothes in Nigeria is not an offence.
We await your rapid action so the impression that some persons are bigger than the law is wiped away.
You would recall that the Kaduna based Islamic cleric Sheikh Gumi openly campaigns for those the government classified as bandits and even met them in the forests, but the Army has not called him in for questioning.
Why does the Nigerian Army believe that wearing one’s choice of clothes with certain colouration is against the law but it is not an offence for Gumi to consistently champion the cause of armed bandits?”
The letter of protest was endorsed by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko.   

DSS Arrests Nollywood Actor, Chiwetalu Agu After His Release by Army

Nollywood actor, Chiwetalu Agu, who was arrested by the Nigerian Army over his support and canvassing for the Indigenous People of Biafra, has been picked up and quizzed by the Department of State Services, hours after he was released by the military.

A Nigerian writer, Chiagozie Fred Nwonwu, who writes under the pen name Mazi Nwonwu, confirmed that Agu was not yet a free man.

According to Nwonwu, Agu is presently in custody of the DSS.

“Chiwetalu Agu is still not free. He is with DSS now. Colleagues say they are looking for a top lawyer to bail him,” Nwonwu wrote on his known Facebook page on Friday.

Recall that there were widespread reports on Friday that Agu had been released by the Nigerian Army, following his arrest on Thursday, for wearing the Biafran regalia.

Agu was arrested in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Thursday.

The army had come out to say it arrested Agu for soliciting support for the separatist group, IPOB.

“Dressed in a very well known attire of the proscribed group, Chiwetalu Agu was picked up for questioning while inciting members of the public to join the proscribed group. Though he attempted puting up some resistance when troops made effort to take him into custody, he was not assaulted or subjected to brutalisation.

“While the NA recognises the inalienable rights of the citizenry to freedom of movement and expression as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is apparently a violation for any individual or group to incite the public to cause mayhem or break down of law and order.

“It is therefore pertinent to state that while exercising such freedoms, it must be done within the confines of the law, bearing in mind the imperative for peace, and national security,” the army had said in a statement.

The military had on Friday released Agu before he was reportedly picked up by the DSS for questioning.

[Saharareporters]

Bandits Hold On To 27 Sokoto Residents Despite Receiving Ransom From Monarch

Buzu, second in command to the notorious banditry kingpin, Bello Turji, has reportedly refused to release 27 people he kidnapped in Gatawa area of Sokoto State, despite collecting ransoms for their release.

The gunmen had recently attacked Gatawa town in the Sabon Birni Local Government Area, where residents said over 20 persons were killed and 27 persons kidnapped.

The bandits also sent one of the victims with a handwritten letter to the district head of Burkusuuma, Sarkin Rafi, asking for N20 million for the release of the victims.

According to Premium Times, the relations of the victims revealed that the bandits asked families and friends to collate the money and pay through the village head of Katsallen Kade.

The source, whose sister is kidnapped, said, “Buzu, taking decisions on Turji’s behalf, said the money should be paid through the village head. But we pleaded and negotiated with the monarch, who is afraid of going against the bandits, from N20million to N2million.”

He said the bandits were eventually given N2.2million but Buzu had refused to release the victims.

Another source from Sabon Birni, who also asked not to be named due to safety concerns, confirmed that the money was taken to the bandits but none of the victims have been released.

“The victims are being held in Suruddubu, which is all under Buzu’s territory. What I heard is that when the N2.2million was given to Buzu, he insisted that the whole N20million must be paid, and in addition to jerry cans of fuel. It is becoming scary because the issue is just like a movie premiere,” the source said.

The police spokesperson in the state, Sanusi Abubakar, did not respond to calls and SMS sent to him on the issue.

[Saharareporters]

Buhari Budgets N24.5billion For Presidency Office Building, Travels, Meals In 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari is proposing to spend N24,534,666,371 for the construction and provision of office building, local and foreign travels, meals and refreshments.

This was contained in the 2022 appropriation bill he presented to the joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday.

According to details contained in the appropriation bill, the President will spend about N2,309,066,788 on general travel and transport with code 220201 while N301,138,860 will be spent on foodstuff and catering supply.

There is an additional N30,652,500 to be spent on refreshments and meals while the provision/construction of office building takes the lion share of N21,974,763,310.

In the 2021 budget, Muhammadu Buhari had sought approval of N17.3billion to run the State House, Nigeria’s seat of power.

About N3.4billion of the approved expenditure for 2021 was also allocated to feeding and travel expenses for the Offices of the President and the Vice President.

The former gets about N2.6billion, while the latter will gulp about N873million.

[Saharareporters]

Vigilante Group Kills Imam, 10 Others In Sokoto

Gunmen suspected to be members of the outlawed Yan Sakai, a vigilance group in Sokoto State, have killed 11 persons, including an Imam, at Mamande village in Gwadabawa local government of Sokoto State.

Our reporter gathered that the victims died on the spot while four persons who sustained gunshot injuries were taken to a hospital by the local government council for treatment.

The Imam who was identified as Malam Aliyu was said to be leading prayers in one of the daily prayer Mosques in Salame.

The incident happened at about 3:30pm on Thursday.

The victims were said to have come from different Fulani settlements around the area to purchase food and other items at the weekly Mamande market.

The Yan Sakai were said to have stormed the market from Goronyo Local Government Area, attacking the victims whom they accused of aiding banditry.

A relative of the Imam, Abdullahi Riskuwa, said his brother was killed unjustifiably because he never had any criminal record.

“He is sound in religion knowledge and had been leading prayers in one of our mosques in Salame town.”

“His only sin was that he belonged to the Fulani tribe.”

According to Riskuwa, Imam Aliyu only went to the market to buy goods when he was killed.

Among those killed at the market, he said, were children and the Yan Sakai went away with their animals.

He called on the government to investigate the matter with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book.

The state chairman of Miyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, could not be reached for comment as his telephone line was not reachable when our correspondent attempted to speak with him.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Gwadabawa local government, Aminu Aya, confirmed the attack, saying the Yan Sakai were not from Gwadabawa.

According to him, the deceased were deposited at the Morgue of Specialist Hospital, Sokoto, and some of their relatives went there to recover their corpses.

He however, said that, normalcy was restored in the area.

When contacted, the Public Relation Officer of Sokoto Police Command, ASP Sanusi Abubakar, said he had not briefed about the development but promised to get the details and call back.

However, he had not done so as at the time of filling this report.

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal had prohibited the activities of Yan Sakai in the state.

[DAILYTRUST]