Nigerian soldiers flee as bandits unleash horror on Sokoto community, killing 150 civilians

No fewer than 150 people were killed in bandits attack on Goronyo township in Sokoto State after Nigerian soldiers abandoned their equipment and fled the area, Peoples Gazette has learnt.

Last Sunday, the bandits stormed the town in Goronyo Local Government Area of the state on over 100 motorcycles and opened fire on residents in the attack that lasted for hours.

The state governor initially said over 30 people were killed, but later confirmed 43 dead.

“The number of people that died in Goronyo; I did say it was above 30. I was not categorical about the figure,” he was quoted in a statement by his media adviser, Muhammad Bello.

“We just finished a meeting with some stakeholders and I have confirmed that we lost 43 people, unfortunately to that incident. May God Almighty have mercy on their souls,” Governor Aminu Tambuwal later said.

However, sources told The Gazette that the assailants killed over 150 persons after soldiers who were on Shinaka-Sokoto Road abandoned their trucks and fled the area.

“The bandits came in on motorcycles that were more than 100. The soldiers who were on Shinaka-Sokoto Road abandoned their trucks and equipment and fled.

“This gave the bandits free passage and they spent many hours killing and looting people,” Adamu Ibrahim, a resident of the town, told The Gazette on Wednesday morning.

Mr Ibrahim said the attack lasted hours following the disappearance of security personnel, and with no help of rescue due to telecommunications services shut down in the area.

“There was no communication or security so the bandits had many hours to carry out their evil killing and they also carried people’s properties with them when they left,” he said,

“We counted more than 150 bodies because they were arranged in rows and some rows had 10 bodies while some had 15 or 25 bodies. We counted more than 150 bodies,” he added.

“Some of us who escaped the killings came to Sokoto to complain that there were more than 150 people who lost their lives but the government was giving different statements saying 30 or 40 people were killed. They later said 43 but still very far from the people killed.”

Another resident, Muhammad Makintami also told The Gazette more than 150 people were killed. 

“We met witnesses who ran to Sokoto from the affected local government and they gave a clear account of dead bodies,” Mr Makintami said, adding that “They were in their hundreds and at least 150.”

When contacted for comments on the incident, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Onyema Nwachukwu denied the casualty figure, saying, “I wonder from what source this false information is emanating.”

He added, “The COAS has visited troops in their locations and deployments, where he addressed the troops and made assessments of ongoing anti-banditry operations. Please discountenance this rumour.”

The attack came days after some youths in Goronyo town took to the streets to protest against insecurity, which has forced many to flee the town.

In September, the state government shut down telecommunications services across Gada, Goronyo, Gudu, Ilela, Isa, Kebbe, Sabon Birn, among other local government areas to curtail increasing levels of insecurity across the state.

The same month, it capped the maximum amount of petroleum product motorists and tricycle operators can buy per time at N5,000 and N500 respectively. 

(Gazette)

HURIWA WARNS BUHARI NOT TO SHUT DOWN TURKISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS

As fears surfaced in diplomatic quarters that the visiting TURKISH President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan would again ask the Nigerian government to close down schools linked to the Gulen Movement when he meets President Muhammadu Buhari during his ongoing four-day diplomatic tour of three African countries, leading civil rights advocacy group-: HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to accede to such anti-peoole’s and anti-democratic demands if such comes up. 

HURIWA in a media statement by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf, also expressed apprehension that the official visit of the President of Turkey to Nigeria may motivate Islamist and terror affiliated groups going by the allegations that the Turkish leader is an Islamist who backs terror movements operating in Libya and parts of Africa including the North East of Nigeria. 

The Rights group is not happy that since around 2016 that a certain Turkish Airlines flight was intercepted at the International Airport in Lagos with large consignment of guns and bullets including other sophisticated military hardwares, Nigerians are still not aware of the details of the investigation by Nigerian Customs on the ownership of those weapons just as the Rights group expressed worries that the Airline was never sanctioned by the Nigerian authority.  

HURIWA recalled that there are considerable suspicion that the Turkish government wants to take over the schools upon their closure by the Nigerian government going by fact that these schools are linked to the Gulen Movement, an international, faith-based civil society organisation, is led by United States-based Turkish Islamic scholar Fethulah Gulen.

Gulen is alleged to be the mastermind of the July 15, 2016 bloody coup which attempted to remove Erdoğan from power.

Gulen had denied involvement in the coup but the Turkish government insists he was behind the coup which involved an assassination attempt on Erdoğan and loss of over a hundred lives.

The Gulen Movement owns a chain of 17 high profile educational establishments in Nigeria.The educational institutions owned by the Gulen Movement in Nigeria include: Surat Educational Ltd., Abuja; Nile University in Abuja; and the Nigerian Tulip International Colleges (NTIC), which was formerly known as Nigerian Turkish International Colleges (NTIC).The NTIC colleges, regarded as prestigious educational institutions, are located in several major Nigerian cities, including Abuja, Lagos, Kano, and Kaduna.

HURIWA recalled that the Turkish government’s clampdown on the Gulen schools forced the change of name in 2017, from Nigerian Turkish International Colleges to Nigerian Tulip International Colleges, but the management of the institutions had explained that the name change was informed by a desire to separate academic activities from politics.

The educational institutions, run by the Gulen Movement which the Turkish government had since designated as a terrorist organisation, have been operating in Nigeria since 1998. The Gulen Movement runs schools and universities in more than 160 countries.The organisation also owns the Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja.

HURIWA however stated that the schools formerly known as Turkish International Colleges in Nigeria have contributed massively to scholarship just as the Rights group said acceding to the political demands by the Turkish leader by closing the schools in Nigeria would undermine Nigeria’s Sovereignty and drastically lead to dwindling foreign direct investments into Nigeria because potential international investors won’t trust a Country that can play politics with investors assets to satisfy and whimsically massage the ego, whims and caprices of foreign dictators. 

HURIWA warned that President Muhammadu Buhari must never subject Nigeria to the global opprobrium of negotiating away the ownership of massive educational assets of genuine international investors who brought these huge assets with humongous values to Nigeria and established a World class educational brand in Nigeria that has produced dozens of academic scholars of Nigerian origin.

HURIWA also wants Nigerian President to demand reports on the accusations that Turkish Airline commercial flights are used to fly in weapons of mass destruction which are sent to Islamic terrorists in Northern Nigeria. 

#EndSarsMemorial: Abuja Man Dares Military Men, Blocks Their Cars And Denies Them Exit From Street

By Beevan Magoni

There was a mild drama on Wednesday morning in the Mpape Area of Abuja when a landlord parked his car and refused to give way to two military vehicles who had parked their cars beside his house thereby blocking the road.

The landlord had overnight come back home to meet the military armored Hilux vehicles parked beside his house and decided to park his behind theirs.

At dawn on Wednesday, the military men said they were on their way out of Abuja, as they were part of a governor’s convoy, and then called on the man to move his vehicle and create space for them to exit the area, but it did not get down well with the man who refused to move his car.

Neighbors on hearing the commotion interceded on behalf of the military men but the man refused. The military personnel had to call for a backup from some of their colleagues who arrived in another armored Hilux van to which the man locked his house and watched as the military men rage and threaten.

Despite pleas and warning shots fired into the air by neighbors and the military men, the man refused, which left the military men with the option of moving the car out of the way by pushing it. While that was going on, the man stood on his balcony with a bottle of beer in his hand, at the same time videoing the whole process.

It took the military men four hours to finally leave the area as the man comes out to apologize and pacify his neighbors stating personal reasons why he did not come out to remove the car and paving way for them.

#EndSARS Protests Anniversary-: HURIWA Wants National Assembly To Set Up Protests Protection Board

Describing as absolutely unconstitutional,  unlawful, despicable,  primitive and reprehensible the actions of the Lagos State’s Police Command for disrupting some PROTESTS and illegally clamping down of peaceful civil Protesters, the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has called for the unconditional release from detention of all the protesters arrested by police for marking the one year anniversary of the October 20th 2020 massacre of protesters by armed forces ofNugeria in Lekki Tollgate. 

HURIWA described those who participated in the anniversary protests as heroes of constitutionalism who rather than being victimised, humiliated, harassed or tortured should be awarded National honours of bravery and courageous defence of Constitutional democracy and the Rule of law which constitute collectively the bedrock of the human rights provisions enshrined on chapter 4 of the GrundNorm. 

Besides, the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA,  a Prominent pro-democracy and leading civil rights advocacy group,  has asked the National Assembly to create the NATIONAL BOARD FOR THE OROTECTION OF CIVIL PROTESTERS to be governed just like an independent and totally autonomous body of few experts and civil society leaders to provide advocacy platforms supported by corporate Nigeria to promote, advance, canvass and teach younger Nigerians on the essence of peaceful Assembly and protests and to monitor violations of the fundamental rights to civil protests by state security agencies and the Nigerian police Force. HURIWA upbraided the National Human Rights commission for spectacularly selling out to reactionary elements in government. 

HURIWA said the call for a creation of an independent,  autonomous but strong national agency to focus on Promotion of attitudes of positive, democratic and peaceful protests has become increasingly necessary as a way of mainstreaming the democratic virtue of civil protests which are critical elements for the sustenance and survival of Constitutional democracy in the Country. It said the body shouldn’t be another avenue to create jobs for the boys but should be a body to be constituted by less than 36 staff and hierarchy with offices in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. 

HURIWA condemned the medieval mindset of the Nigerian Police and other security agencies towards organisers and participants in civil protests just as HURIWA said that the continuous attacks by police and security agencies of protesters are weakening Constitutional democracy and turning Nigeria into a brutal tyranny and dictatorship which it insists must be resisted because dictatorship isn’t different from slavery. 

The Rights group called for the legal sanctions of Police operatives fingered in the multiple extrajudicial killings by SPECIAL ANTI-ROBBERY SQUAD of the Nigerian Police which was reportedly disbanded on paper as a consequence of the demands of protesters at last year’s #ENDSARS PROTESTS nationwide. HURIWA condemned the slow progress at the various judicial panels investigating the #ENDSARS PROTESTS just as it asked state governments to enforce the decisions reached by the panels. 

HURIWA said the so called disbandment of the notorious SARS was a smokescreen and a charade because the Nigerian Police are still protecting their operatives with blood of the innocent in their hands just as extralegal killings of suspects are still going on in most police detention centres. It called for the passage of a legislation to open up all detention centres to the visitation of civil society leaders and private members of the public so as to ensure that the use of physical torture and forced disappearances are curbed. 

In a media statement by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf,  HURIWA said: “HUMAN and CIVIL RIGHTS to protests are safeguarded under sections 38, 39, 40 and 41 of the Constitution. It is a fundamental human right of the people to voice out their displeasures, disappointments and frustrations.

The right to protest is the manifestation of first, the right to freedom of thought and conscience and religion (Sec. 38) which precedes rights to freedom of expression (Sec. 39) followed by the right to peaceful assembly and association (Sec. 40) and accompanied by right to freedom of movement (Sec. 41). Right to protest also “embodies the exercise of a number of indivisible, interdependent and interconnected human rights” like right to life (Sec. 33), right to dignity of human person (Sec. 34), right to personal liberty (35), right to fair hearing (36), right to private and family life (37), and right to freedom from discrimination (42). The Court of Appeal upheld the right to protest in the case of IGP V. ANPP (2008) 12 WRN 65 that “certainly in a democracy, it is the right of citizens to conduct peaceful processions, rallies or demonstrations without seeking and obtaining permission from anybody. It is a right guaranteed by the 1999 constitution and any law that attempts to curtail such right is null and void and of no effect.”

Under the International Law, the right to protest is equally protected. Articles 18, 19 and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Right, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right and the UN Human Rights Council’s Resolution at its 38th Session on Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the context of Peaceful Protests are quite apposite.

Principle 1 of the Resolution on Promotion and Protection of Human Right in the context of Protest recognizes that a protest can engage in actions targeting any audience, including public authorities, private entities or individuals, or the general public and may annoy or give offence to people who are opposed to the ideas. It also recognizes that protest may temporarily hinder or obstruct the activities of third parties.

Principle 2 then imposes obligations on States/countries to respect the right to protest. States should not prevent, hinder or restrict the right to protest; States should protect the right to protest and should undertake reasonable steps to protect protesters by adopting measures necessary to prevent violations by third parties; States should fulfil the right to protest by establishing an enabling environment for the full enjoyment of right to protest.”

HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has therefore called for the arrest and prosecution of the police operatives seen mistreating and physically attacking peaceful protesters because even under the recently signed Anti Torture law, nobody is permitted to inflict physical, emotional or psychological torture on citizens. 

Hired Pro-Buhari Protesters Stage Procession Against #EndSARS Memorial Protest In Abuja

Pro-Buhari protesters have staged a counter-protest at the Unity Fountain, Abuja against the #EndSARS memorial protest. 

SaharaReporters observed that the protesters, reportedly paid by the government who are less than 15 arrived at the venue with placards; one of which reads, “EndSARS was an insurrection against the state”.

The leader of the protest said they had gathered against the #EndSARS protest because no one had died at the Lekki toll gate. 

He said, “We have come here because we found out that some miscreants hiding behind #EndSARS have planned to come here to hold #EndSARS memorial. We are here to set the records straight. If there was a massacre, where are the bodies?

“We are here to put those lies to rest. There was no massacre anywhere in Nigeria. If there was a massacre; let an incontrovertible evidence be produced. We are here to stop those that want to destablilise our country. We will resist them, fight them because we are patriots that believe in the Nigerian project. We will not allow elements sponsored by foreign interests. We have no other country than Nigeria.”

(Saharareporters)

BREAKING: #EndSARSMemorial: Police arrest protesters at Lekki tollgate

Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested two protesters at the Lekki tollgate where the #EndSARS Memorial Protest is scheduled to hold in the state today.

One of those arrested claimed to be a journalist while the other was seen carrying a placard.

The police had reportedly warned that anyone seen at the tollgate without an ID card will be arrested.

The arrested journalist told newsmen that he works with LegitTV and that his phone, driver’s license and other documents were taken away from him.

Speaking from a Lagos State Task Force van where he was kept by the police, the journalist who identified himself as Abisola stated that he lost his ID card in transit.

About 30 police trucks and armed personnel are currently at the tollgate to enforce a ban on protests issued by the police command.

A car procession in honour of those believed to have lost their lives at the tollgate when soldiers dispersed #EndSARS protesters on October 20, 2020, is scheduled to hold at the tollgate today.

What #EndSARS protests were about

The #EndSARS protests which were held in October 2020 were against the activities of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a unit of the Nigeria Police Force which was accused of police brutality.

The epicentre of the protests was the Lekki tollgate in Lagos where many youths gathered day and night to air their grievances against police brutality and bad governance.

They were dispersed from the location by gun-wielding soldiers on October 20, 2020, an action which some quarters believe led to the loss of lives.

This was followed by the destruction of private and public properties by hoodlums in Lagos, an incident that informed the latest warning issued by the police in the state.

(Punch)

Army operations have helped to return farming activities in Kebbi – Gov. Bagudu

Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi says the anti-banditry operations of the Nigerian Army have increasingly enabled farmers in the state access to their farms without threats.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement, said the governor made the observation when he received the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya in Birnin-Kebbi on Tuesday.

Bagudu said the farmers in Danko Wassagu in the southern part of the state had returned to their farming occupation, urging army to sustain the operations and bring about lasting peace in the state and Nigeria.

He commended the Nigerian Army for providing aid to civil authority at a critical period when non-state actors who were engendering insecurity in the society were being shielded by unpatriotic citizens.

Bagudu urged the army to continue to synergise with other security agencies and stakeholders to rid the north-western part of the country of banditry.

He pledged the state government’s commitment to collaborating with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to tackle insecurity in the state.

The governor introduced some reconfigured operational vehicles constructed by the state government to the COAS.

He said the operational vehicles were reconfigured with the supervision of the Deputy Governor, retired Col. Samaila Dabai, to provide operational platforms for troops.

He assured the COAS that the vehicles would soon be handed over to the troops for deployment.

The COAS commended the state government and people of Kebbi for their support to Nigerian Army.

Yahaya added that renewed measures would be taken to address the security challenges affecting the state while calling on the government to sensitise the public to the danger of colluding with bandits to create panic within their communities.

He also noted that all hands must be on deck to resolutely deal with the prevailing security situation.

At the palace of the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammadu Bashar, the COAS appealed to traditional leaders to guide the conduct of members of their communities against providing tacit support to bandits.

He added cooperating with troops would add value to the relentless effort of security operatives to restore law and order in the north west geopolitical zone of the country.

Responding, the emir commended the COAS for embarking on an operational tour of formations and units to give direction and guidance on how to overcome security challenges confronting the country.

Duringoperational visit to 1 Battalion in Birnin Kebbi, the COAS urged the troops to remain focused and professional in the conduct of every operation.

He assured them of adequate provision of more and modern equipment to enable them to carry out their mandate effectively…

(NAN)

JUST IN: Gunmen Open Fire At Traditional Rulers Meeting In Imo

No fewer than five traditional rulers have been reportedly killed during an attack by gunmen at Nnenasa community Headquarters of Njaba local government area of Imo State.

According to sources, the traditional rulers from the area numbering over 20 were in a meeting at the local government headquarters in the community when gunmen invaded the the place, interrupted the meeting with sporadic gunshots and killed at least five traditional rulers on the spot.

Those who sustained heavy gunshots injuries have been rushed to nearby hospital for treatment.

When contacted, the Imo state police public relations officer, Mike Abatam, said he was yet to get the full details of the incident.

More to follow . . .

[Channels TV]

Nigerian Soldiers Kill 50 Bandits in Kaduna Village

At least 50 bandits have been killed in Kaduna state on Tuesday. 

This was revealed by the Kaduna State Government. 

The government said the bandits were killed in Birnin Gwari, through the combined efforts of ground troops and air raids. 

Mr. Samuel Aruwan Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State confirmed this, in a statement. 

“In an inspiring success for the security forces, over 50 bandits have been neutralized during a combined ground and air assault in the Saulawa-Farin Ruwa axis of Birnin Gwari LGA.”

The statement said the operational feedback to the Kaduna State Government from the Command of the Joint Operations, a Nigerian Air Force helicopter gunship provided close air support to ground troops advancing from the Dogon Dawa-Damari-Saulawa axis. 

It said following extensive scans, bandits were spotted on five motorcycles, about 4km east of Saulawa, waiting to ambush the ground forces. They were engaged vigorously by the helicopter gunship, and were wiped out. 

“After this, armed bandits on about 50 motorcycles were sighted fleeing towards Farin Ruwa, and were struck effectively by the gunship. Fleeing remnants were mopped up by ground forces,” it said

He added that a second helicopter gunship joined the operations, and many more fleeing bandits were neutralized by precise strikes, adding that, an assessment, revealed that more than 50 bandits were neutralized during the joint operation. 

Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed his satisfaction at the operational feedback, and congratulated the ground troops and gunship crews on the rout. 

He urged them to sustain the momentum and bring even more bandits to their bitter end.

(Tori-Ng)

RELATIONSHIP: How To Gain Attraction For a Decent Relationship

By

Henry Okome

Have you ever meet a very pretty lady who is unable to attract any man into her life? You might think this is impossible or strange, but it happens on a daily basis. In recent time, we see so many pretty girls like angels who could not be boastful of a single man that is attracted to them.

This is contrary to popular belief that, beautiful women attract the most wonderful men around. What we all need to understand these days is that, it takes more than a pretty face and a nice figure for a man to find ladies attractive.

Though physical attractiveness is certainly important, but it is mainly useful when attracting someone who is just meeting you for the first time. But to someone who already knows you, your personality plays a major role in getting the attraction you deserved rather than your looks.

It is very possible to attract a man for the first time with your physical appearance, but it takes so many other qualities in you to keep such a man. If you are a woman who are not in possession of what most men like to see in women despite your beauty, it could be difficult to find a committed man for a healthy relationship.

Below are few things to do in order to attract men as a woman;

1. Work On Your Physical Attractiveness: To be sincere with you, physical look is one of the things that attracts men to women at the first time. I’m not saying you have to be extremely beautiful (you are not God), but you can dress up yourself to always look appreciable by men. The way you dressed determines how you will appear and also addressed. It is good to look good.
2. Build Your Self-Confidence: You have to feel secured and believe in who you are, how you look and your ability as a woman. You don’t have to keep doubting yourself or feeling unsecured. Believe in yourself, be confident. Don’t allow any man to look down on you because of the way you look down on yourself.
3. You Have To Be Relaxed When With Them: You are in the midst of men and you are not feeling comfortable. No matter how pretty you are, no man will appreciate you. Some of them may even misunderstood you to be proud or arrogant. No matter how stressful your day was, you just have to hide that, and behave calm and friendly. Make them comfortable to talk with you by creating some familiar topics of discussion.
4. Be Polite In Rejecting A Date: A wrong person asked you out and you hanged him up with the biggest insult. Don’t ever think you can do that without negative effects. No matter how pretty you are, this will surely affect the real person you want to be attracted to.
   You don’t need to disrespect anybody, just voice out your opinion in a very understandable and respectable manner. If you are fond of insulting men, it will soon go round and the real man you needed his attention may not want to come for his own share of insult. I hope these tips helps…. Have a nice day friends.