Taliban order Afghan shop owners to behead mannequins

The Taliban have ordered owners of clothing shops in Afghanistan’s western Herat province to remove the heads of mannequins.

Aziz Rahman, head of the ministry for the propagation of virtue and prevention of vice, said mannequins are unIslamic.

The ministry had earlier banned the use of mannequins but relaxed it to just removal of the heads after complaints that it could affect sales.

Rahman claimed that the presence of the heads on mannequins, even if covered, will prevent angels from entering and blessing the shop or homeowners.

“We have ordered the shopkeepers to cut the heads off mannequins as this is against (Islamic) Sharia law,” Rahman said.

Since seizing power, the Taliban have made several moves to clamp down on activities and items they say are against Islamic injunctions even though Youssef Wafa, governor of Kandahar, Afghanistan’s second-largest city, had said they will not force their rules on anyone.

Last week, Taliban authorities said women seeking to travel long distances should be accompanied by close male relatives.

In September 2021, barbers in Helmand province were banned from shaving or trimming beards while university classrooms were segregated along gender lines.

In Nigeria, the Kano Hisbah board, in July 2021, banned the use of mannequins for clothes display at shops, public and private places.

TheCable

BREAKING: FG Declares Bandits as Terrorists, Releases Gazette

The Nigerian Government has officially proscribed banditry in Nigeria.

This development was contained in a statement sent to POLITICS NIGERIA by the Ministry of Justice on Wednesday. It can be recalled that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) disclosed that the Federal Government was planning to officially designate bandits as terrorists because the government is following international best practices.

He said his office was in the process of gazetting a court judgement that ordered the government to declare bandits as terrorists, adding that the process would be concluded in a matter of days.

Speaking on Tuesday to NTA, Malami had stated; “Government has a responsibility to act but within the context of acting, you equally expected to operate within the confines of international best practices associated with engagement and one of such best practices is that you can only use maximum force on groups, individuals that are declared terrorists and that is where the application of the Terrorism Act comes in place.”

“With that in mind, Nigeria acted, first by proscribing IPOB, taking into consideration the threats to lives and properties they have caused in the nation. Boko Haram was proscribed.”

“The gazetting of a court order or judgement is a process but what matters fundamentally within the context of international convention is the judicial declaration and that has been obtained; the court has declared bandits, kidnappers, cattle rustlers as terrorists.”

“So, with or without the gazette, what gives effect to such declaration is a judicial pronouncement but the gazette is a mere formality and it has been on and I believe within a matter of days, it will be concluded.”

Politics Nigeria

Zamfara Police Rescue 97 Kidnapped Victims Including 19 Babies, Pregnant Women

The Zamfara State Police Command has confirmed the rescue of 97 persons abducted by bandits in Shinkafi and Tsafe Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

Briefing newsmen at the Command Headquarters in Gusau on Tuesday January 4, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ayuba Elkanah, revealed that those freed included seven pregnant women, 19 babies, and 16 minors.

The CP explained that 68 people were released in Shinkafi while 29 others regained freedom in Tsafe.

“Following an extensive pressure mounted as a result of the ongoing Military operation around the camp of a notorious bandit’s kingpin known as Bello Turji that covers Shinkafi, Zurmi and Birnin Magaji Local Government areas. On 3rd January, 2022, Police Tactical operatives deployed at Shinkafi axis received an intelligence report that, some kidnapped victims were seen stranded in the bush,” the police commissioner stated.

“The Police operatives in collaboration with genuine repentant bandits and vigilante swung into action and rescued sixty eight (68) victims from the forest. The victims were in captivity for over three months and they include 33 male adult, 7 male children, 3 female children and 25 women including pregnant/nursing mothers respectively. The victims held from Magarya, Maradun, Gusau of Zamfara State and Sabon Birni LGA in Sokoto State.”

The police boss said that 29 victims were rescued from 60 days after they were abducted from three villages in Tsafe Local Government Area.

“On Monday 3rd January, 2022, Police Tactical operatives deployed in Tsafe axis acted on intelligence report and stormed Kunchin Kalgo forest in Tsafe LGA and rescued twenty nine (29) kidnapped victims unconditionally,” he said.

“The victims were abducted for over 60 days from three villages namely; Adarawa, Gana and Bayawuri in Rijiya District of Gusau LGA, they include 25 female including pregnant/nursing mothers and 4 male children. The victims were said to have been abducted by a Bandits’ kingpin Ado Aleru

“All the rescued victims are currently receiving medical treatment from the joint medical teams of the State Government and the Police. They will be debriefed, hand over to the State Government before being reunited with their families.”

IGTV

2023: 100 Bishops Announce Prayer For Yahaya Bello At Unity Fountain

No less than 100 Christian clerics, mostly Bishops, have announced their intention to hold a three-day prayer and fasting for Governor Yahaya Bello’s emergence as president in 2023.

According to a statement signed by the convener, Bishop Jonathan Praise, on Tuesday, in Abuja, the clerics are drawn from each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

He noted that over 1,000 church leaders are also expected alongside their pastors at the Unity Fountain Abuja, the venue of the prayers.

Bishop Jonathan said the purpose of their gathering is to provide a spiritual shield and support for Governor Bello, who according to him is “God’s anointed choice to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari”.

Like the Biblical account of David, he explained that Governor Bello is a man after God’s heart and must be protected by all means to fulfil his purpose.

Recalling how Bello rose to become governor, the Bishop said it was not mere coincidence but destiny, adding that he would again shock critics at the next polls.

“In the Scriptures, there is no king who was the apple of God’s eye like David. The heart of God had a special affection for the man who was later described by the Lord as, a man after my heart, who will do all my will. (Acts 13:33),” Bishop Jonathan said.

“David was not perfect. He failed and sinned in many ways. So why did God love and bless him so much? Because God chose him. Yahaya Bello is our David. He embodies all his traits.

“Like David, Bello is young, focused, dedicated, charismatic, passionate, compassionate, kind. Name it. He is a man that loves God”.

Bishop Jonathan said aside from the spiritual aspects which have been revealed to him and other clerics, Bello had outperformed all the so-called aspirants.

He said the governor’s innate leadership qualities, innovations and doggedness are what is needed at this critical time in Nigeria.

” Even if we do away with the spiritual aspect and focus on the physical, Governor Bello is unmatched. He is a young man who has demonstrated that indeed quality leadership is possible in Nigeria.

“Bello is a young man with a true Nigerian spirit who has used his leadership acumen, skills and resources to promote peaceful co-existence.

“He is also a man of peace and will not only unite the various ethnic groups as he has done in Kogi State today, but will ensure that the issue of religion gradually fades out of our political life through his wisdom and understanding of ssues”.

Bishop Jonathan, therefore, called on Governor Bello to formally declare his intention to run for President.

He, however, assured the governor of the support of the church in Nigeria as soon as he makes public his intention.

TNP

Tension in Edo as suspected Fulani herdsmen take over community

There is tension in Edo state as scores of persons with some of them dressed in military uniform and suspected to be Fulani herdsman have reportedly invaded a farming community known as 2nd Abumere Ojigbelu Camp in Ovia Northeast  Local Government  Area of Edo State and chased the villagers away.

They are also alleged to have taken over their farms, homes and properties.

Some of the villagers who have run away for their lives and now taking refuge in other communities around Okada narrate their ordeal.

The armed men were said to have been chased away from the Okada area from where they ran to near Benin City.

One of the displaced farmers who incidentally is from Taraba State, Mr Mattu Alli, said:  I am short of words to explain what I witnessed, yesterday (2^nd) in our community.

“I have been here for the past 20 years with my family farming. I was in my compound with my family when we started to hear the sound of guns and people running to different directions,  I saw one Benin man running towards my compound.

“I asked him where are you running to and he said herdsmen have taken over the village chasing people away from their houses.

“So I called my wife and we had to run for our lives. I did not see my children. Every one of us ran in different directions. As I speak to you now, I don’t know the whereabouts of my wife and children.

“Another thing that put fears into our minds is that one of the Fulani herdsmen pointed a gun at me and said look man we are for peace, we would only kill you, people, if you refuse to allow our cows to feed on your crops.

“The yams you people have are for our cows, the cassava and all that you have are for our cows. If you people touch our cows we will  kill everybody in this village.

“For us to be safe we ran to the next community.” 

Another victim, Mr Sunday Chimen, said: “Suddenly we heard gunshots and people running, we later discovered that Fulani herdsmen with AK-47 have taken over our community and were threatening to kill us if we didn’t cooperate with them. We decided to run for our dear lives leaving our properties with our children running to an unknown place. 

“We are calling on the security agencies to come to our aid as our community is under siege.” 

When contacted, Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP kotongs Bello, said he has not been briefed on the development and promised to get back as soon as he finished speaking with the Division Police Officer in charge of the area, but was yet to do so as at press time. 

Vanguard

JUST IN: Terrorists Attack Kagoma-Kafanchan Road, Kill One, Abduct Others

By Steven Kefas, Kaduna

Terrorists on Saturday launched an attack on the dreaded Kagoma-Kafanchan Road in Jema’a local government area of Kaduna state, killing one traveler and abducting some.

An eye witness told Middle Belt Times that the attack took place between 6pm and 7pm on Saturday.

Honorable Josiah Yahaya a former chairmanship candidate in Kagarko local government confirmed the attack to Middle Belt Times via telephone.

He said the attack took place between Kagoma and Afana axis of the road.

“We were returning from Kafanchan where my daughter got wedded yesterday, we just passed Kagoma, approaching Afana when the bandits opened fire on my vehicle.

“I was the one driving, the fire was so intense and sporadic, I managed to move away from them but my younger brother, Engineer Joshua Akau was not so lucky as he was hit by a bullet.

“We rushed him to the hospital but on getting there the doctors confirmed him dead.” Josiah said.

The eyewitness also confirmed that another vehicle was attacked and an unspecified number of passengers were reportedly abducted along the same road.

“The soldiers who came to our rescue told us that they saw an empty vehicle parked on the road, close to the scene.

“The soldiers said the occupants of the vehicle must have been abducted by the bandits.

“According to the soldiers, an Identity card belonging to a former Federal lawmaker representing Jaba/Zangon Kataf constituency, Hon. Geoffrey Gayya was found in the vehicle.” He said.

As of the time of filling this report, Middle Belt Times could not independently verify whether the former lawmaker was among those abducted.

The Kagoma-Kafanchan road is known for criminal activities suspected to be perpetrated by herdsmen militia operating in Southern Kaduna.

Recall that in October 2021, terrorists suspected to be herdsmen attacked St. Albert the Great Institute of Philosophy, a Catholic Seminary situated situated at Fayit community, Kagoma Chiefdom in the Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State and abducted some seminarians.