Zamfara State’s Unyielding Crusade Against Banditry: Governor Lawal Pledges Relentless Action

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has affirmed his commitment to the ongoing battle against banditry in the region. During a recent security council meeting in Gusau, the state capital, Governor Lawal received updates from various security agency leaders on their combined efforts against banditry.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, Governor Lawal emphasized his government’s dedication to prioritizing security concerns. He urged security heads to eradicate bandit camps throughout the state and expressed the state government’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of its citizens.

The Governor expressed particular concern about bandit activities in various areas, including the Gusau to Funtua Road, Magami to Dangulbi, Dan Kurmi to Anka Road, and Magami to Dansadau Road. He called on the military and police to deploy patrol platforms and Armored Personnel Carrier vehicles to ensure continuous monitoring of these affected major roads.

Media Suppression Sparks Outcry: HURIWA Condemns Banning Of Journalists from Presidential Villa

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly criticized the withdrawal of accreditation for journalists and media outlets covering the Presidential Villa. HURIWA condemned this move, calling it undemocratic and treacherous. They also expressed concern over the recent invasion of African Independent Television and Ray Power FM stations in Rivers State by suspected state government agents.

HURIWA, led by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, expressed shock that President Tinubu, who has a strong media background, selectively chose which media houses could cover the State House in Abuja, describing it as a disappointing irony. They emphasized that this decision is irrational, undemocratic, and unconstitutional, and it goes against the principles of a free press outlined in Nigeria’s 1999 constitution.

HURIWA also highlighted a related incident where the Rivers State Government shut down the operations of Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower FM in Port Harcourt. They called on the Minister of FCT to intervene and lift the ban on AIT in Rivers State, emphasizing that such actions are against the public interest and affect the livelihoods of employees in the region.

Urgent Plea for Enhanced Security: HURIWA Calls for Specialized Units to Safeguard University Hostels

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called upon President Bola Tinubu to direct his Education Minister, Tahir Mamman, to collaborate with security forces in establishing specialized security units within state commands. This call comes in response to the ongoing security breaches plaguing universities, including attacks on female hostels and sexual violations by armed individuals, which HURIWA characterizes as coordinated acts of terrorism and a national crisis.

Emmanuel Onwubiko, the National Director of HURIWA, expressed deep concern over the escalating menace and urged the government to prioritize the security of university assets. He strongly criticized the lack of effective and proactive security measures from both federal and state governments to combat the rising tide of crime. Onwubiko stated, “We find it disconcerting that for many years the tertiary institutions in Nigeria are being attacked and female students systematically raped and violated, but these heinous crimes against humanity have not received the kind of attention from the office of Nigeria’s president as it should.”

He emphasized the urgency of the situation and proposed the creation of an immediate security taskforce to address these issues comprehensively. Onwubiko pointed to specific incidents, including a recent attack at the University of Calabar, a robbery at Rivers State University in Port Harcourt, and a robbery targeting students at the University of Ibadan, as alarming examples of the persistent security challenges that continue to afflict university campuses across the nation.

Nationwide NLC Strike Disrupts Businesses and Government Offices in Middle Belt States

The ongoing two-day warning strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has seen widespread compliance in several Middle Belt states, including Taraba, Bauchi, and Kaduna. Businesses, government offices, and even financial institutions have been affected by the strike.

In Taraba, the State Chairman of NLC, Peter Jediel, expressed the necessity of the strike to ensure workers’ compliance. He emphasized that the N2 billion allocated by the Federal Government to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory was insufficient to address the nation’s economic challenges.

Bauchi also experienced the strike’s impact, with banks and government offices locked. Various institutions, including the Abubakar Umar State Secretariat and the Federal Secretariat, were affected. The State Council of NLC, chaired by Ibrahim Maikudi, expressed satisfaction with the strike’s first day and ensured that establishments adhered to the strike.

In Kaduna, the NLC Chapter Chairman, Ayuba Suleiman, stated that the nationwide strike aimed to push for wage increases. He highlighted the challenges faced by Nigerian workers, emphasizing that their salaries no longer meet their basic needs. Workers in Kaduna were locked out of their offices by the labor union, sending a clear message to the Federal Government about the workers’ plight.

Suleiman explained that the warning strike served as a message to the government, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the high cost of living and the inadequate income of workers. National NLC leaders had already given the Federal Government a 21-working-day ultimatum to address these issues, making it clear that immediate action is needed.

Election Tribunal: Get to Know the Five Judges Presiding Over Obi and Atiku’s Case Today

Today, after a five-month-long legal battle, the Presidential Election Petition Court (Tribunal) is poised to announce its verdict, which will determine the fate of President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi in the aftermath of the February 25, 2023 presidential race.

Tinubu represented the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku ran for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Obi contested under the Labour Party (LP). The outcome could either validate Tinubu’s election or lead to various scenarios, including declaring Atiku as the winner or calling for a rerun election.

Additionally, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) filed a separate petition, asserting that the withdrawal of Masari as the initial APC Vice-Presidential candidate invalidated Tinubu’s candidacy under constitutional provisions.

In response to these petitions, Tinubu, APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have urged the court to dismiss the challenges and uphold Tinubu’s election.

Here are the five judges who will make this crucial decision:

Justice Stephen Adah: Born on June 13, 1957, Justice Adah, from Kogi State, presides over the Asaba Division of the Court of Appeal. He has a strong legal background, having been appointed a Federal High Court judge in 1998 before his elevation to the Court of Appeal in 2012. Notably, he was part of a three-man panel that allowed Obi and Atiku to serve Tinubu their petitions through substituted means.

Justice Haruna Tsammani: Born on November 23, 1959, Justice Tsammani has a distinguished career in the judiciary, serving as a High Court judge in Bauchi State in 1998 before his elevation to the Court of Appeal in 2010. He is the longest-serving justice on the panel and has notable judgments in his portfolio, including decisions related to Governor Yahaya Bello’s second term election and Value Added Tax (VAT) collection.

Justice Monsurat Bolaji-Yusuf: The only female member of the panel, Justice Bolaji-Yusuf was born on August 7, 1959, in Oyo State. She previously served as a High Court judge in Oyo State before her elevation to the Court of Appeal in 2014. Her notable decisions include invalidating actions related to the impeachment of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja in Oyo State and affirming Ifeanyi Ubah as a Senator.

Justice Moses Ugo: Born in 1966, Justice Ugo is the youngest member of the panel and hails from Bayelsa State. He served as a High Court judge in Bayelsa State before being promoted to the Court of Appeal in 2011.

Justice Abba Mohammed: Born on February 19, 1961, Justice Abba Mohammed is from Kano State. He was appointed a judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in 2010 and was promoted to the Court of Appeal in 2021. His notable cases include chairing the Nasarawa State Governorship Election Tribunal in 2019.

The nation awaits the verdict of these five judges, which will have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s political landscape.

Suffering in Silence: Nigeria’s Christians Face Escalating Extremist Killings

In 2023, over 1,000 Christians in Nigeria fell victim to attacks by Islamic extremists, resulting in a tragic loss of life , as reported by International Christian Concern. Various extremist groups, including Boko Haram and Fulani militants, were responsible for the kidnapping and murder of Christians who couldn’t meet their ransom demands.

Community leaders attributed the kidnapping of Christians and destruction of farm produce before harvest to Fulani militants, while Christian religious leaders viewed these actions as a form of persecution. However, the Nigerian government referred to the perpetrators as ‘unknown gunmen’ or ‘bandits.’ In Plateau State, more than 400 Christians lost their lives to Fulani militants in areas such as Mangu, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom local government throughout the year.

In northern Nigeria, seven Christians were kidnapped by Fulani militants, who forcibly took them from a restaurant in Bauchi State on August 21. These terrorists are demanding a substantial ransom of $2,600 USD (N2 million), an overwhelming sum for struggling rural families from Bassa in Plateau State. Their lives have already been devastated by terrorist activities in their hometowns, and even a simple trip for food is fraught with danger due to constant threats. Sadly, many Christian villages in the region have fallen under the control of these Fulani terrorists, leaving residents without safety even in their supposed places of refuge.

Five of the kidnapped individuals were fortunately released on August 23 and quickly taken to the hospital, but two others met a tragic end for failing to meet the ransom demands. The militants openly admitted that they were financing further attacks on Christian communities through their kidnappings.

While the National Leader of the Irigwe Chiefdom in Plateau speaks out about the persecution of Christians, the Nigerian government’s silence leaves persecuted Christians at the mercy of these armed individuals.

Why I Killed My Wife: The Sad Story Behind The Hassan Adeyemo’s Florida Tragedy

In 1998, a 21 year old Nigerian soldier named Hassan Adeyemo from Ibadan met and fell in love with an 18 year-old beautiful Hausa girl from Bauchi called Sarah. It was love at first sight.

They got married in 1999 and God blessed them with a beautiful daughter in 2000. After her, they had two other daughters and one boy, making 4 kids. Hassan loved his wife so much and told her not to work because of stress. He was providing everything she ever wanted for her and the kids…

In 2014, Hassan wanted a better life for his family, so with his wife’s agreement, he decided to send them to the U.S. Sarah and the kids entered the United States in 2014.
Before they got there, Hassan already arranged a rented house and a car for them. Sarah wasn’t working, Hassan was sending big money to them for upkeep from Nigeria every month. Despite the distance, Hassan bonded with his wife and kids. Everyone was happy.

In 2017, Hassan, who had missed his family so much, decided to relocate to America and stay with them.

Before Hassan got to America, Sarah had started hair braiding just to keep herself busy when the kids were in school. Everyone loved her and the way she braided beautiful styles. Gradually, she became a household name in Orlando, Florida. Ladies flooded her to do their hair.

The unfortunate victims of the tragedy
What she was doing for fun became something big overnight. Hassan entered the US, and things were going smoothly. Hassan who was a big man in Nigeria, left everything and came to America to start all over with menial jobs. He had no papers yet, so he was doing jobs that paid him peanuts.

God blessed them with a baby boy in 2018, making their children a total of 5. Sarah was making at least 1,000 a day with the help of her daughters who she had trained. She was very fast and efficient in braiding. With this income, she was able to support the family with all expenses because Hassan’s income couldn’t meet up with the expenses/bills.

Hassan got his papers and started Uber and delivery jobs. He worked from day to night and started contributing his quota to the family, but his contributions was like change to his wife Sarah, was making. In effect, Sarah became the breadwinner of the house.

Issues started because Sarah was always complaining that Hassan couldn’t afford her lifestyle. She became the children’s favorite because she gave them everything they asked for, while their dad could not meet up. Sarah entered the house whenever she wished. She became the boss, always calling Hassan lazy and useless, while Hassan always appealed to her for peace to reign.

Hassan, a gentleman didn’t like trouble in any form. Sarah and the children formed their own group in the house, and abandoned their dad to always sort himself out. Sarah stopped cooking for him.

Hassan became depressed and was always begging friends and family members to help talk to his wife. Hassan was always crying like a baby, saying Sarah made him feel less of a man in the house. His friends encouraged him to persevere and ignore whatever she did.

In January 2022, Sarah announced to Hassan that she had bought a house. They moved into the new house, and she continued to treat him very badly. She disrespected him so much, “Leave my house if you cannot obey me, you irresponsible man,” she would often say.

She locked him out in the cold so many times and threw his things out. The children were on their mother’s side because she was the provider. Hassan became very depressed, and started having suicidal thoughts. He told his friends how life is unfair, and that he would kill himself. They advised him to leave the marriage because it was obvious that his wife was no longer in love with him, but he kept on asking, “Where will I start from? I love my wife. A woman I have invested all my life in. The only woman I ever loved. What did I do to deserve this from her?”

April 2023, Sarah told him she had bought another house that this particular house is specifically for her and her customers. She told Hassan to hold onto the boys while the girls followed her to the new house. Hassan was like, ” Why do you want to separate the family?” She said, “If everyone followed her to the new house, it will disturb my customers. She then told the husband that he could bring the boys over for weekends, but he can’t come with them, “because I need my privacy.” People tried to talk to Sarah, but she wouldn’t listen. Hassan agreed, hoping that his wife will change her mind.

On August 21, 2023, Sarah informed Hassan that she would like for her sons to move in with her, while Hassan remains in the old house. She instructed Hassan to move all of her remaining property, and that of the children from the old house where Hassan was staying to the new one, where she lives.

She then told Hassan that whenever he wished to see the children, he should let her know, so she can arrange for the visits. So, Hassan told her he would do as she had instructed, and take the remaining property of hers to the house on Friday night, which he did. Sarah didn’t let him enter the house. She took all the belongings he brought and the boys and left Hassan outside. Hassan remained at the door for almost an hour knocking, Sarah refused to open the door for him.

The following day, August 26, was Hassan’s 46th birthday. Early that morning, Sarah sent him a message, “Happy Birthday friend, we are better off as friends than lovers.” “You need to look for where you’ll be staying, because I have to get rid of the old house. I wish you well in life, I have moved on.” A few hours later, the children called their dad to get some groceries, and he told them he would bring them in the evening. At about 6:30 PM, he called the kids, that he was on his way to the house with the groceries. When he got there, he knocked, and the children opened the door for him.

Hassan then asked for their mom, they told him he was in the shower. He entered, and went to the bathroom, brought out a gun, and shot her in the head, in the chest, and in the leg. He then called 911, “Hello, I just killed the bitch.” This is the address, I am waiting for you.” He sat down on the floor beside Sarah’s body.

The cops came, and the first responders rushed Sarah to the hospital, she was still breathing. She died two hours after she got to the hospital. Mr. Adeyemo is now at the Orange County Jail in Florida. He is most likely facing a death sentence or life in prison without parole.

SOURCE: Nairaland Forum

INSECURITY: Despite Improvement, Reign of Terror Continues

By Clifford Ndujihe

TEARS flowed heavily on Friday, August 25, 2023, as 22 military personnel including a Major, two NAF helicopter pilots, and 19 soldiers, airmen and ratings were given a ceremonial national burial at the Military Cemetery, Abuja.

The deceased were among 25 officers and soldiers killed in an ambush as they were moving towards Zungeru, Niger State, to counter bandits and terrorists who were attacking communities in the area. A NAF helicopter evacuating soldiers wounded in action also crashed at Wushishi, Niger State, killing the injured security men.

Speaking at the teary occasion, Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Christopher Gwabin Musa, vowed to avenge the death of the soldiers, saying that none of those responsible for their deaths would go scot-free.

He swore: “They would be hunted down by all means. Those that did this and those that have continued to attack, kill our men, wherever they are; we will get them out, we will smoke them out, and we will ensure that they never have any other opportunity to kill any other person, that I assure you.”

Indeed, the security agencies must avenge the death of the soldiers and other victims of insecurity across the country.

Although there appears to be an improvement in the war against insecurity since President Bola Tinubu took over on May 29, 2023, it is not yet Uhuru.

Many parts of Nigeria are still killing fields as bandits, terrorists, gunmen, armed herders, criminals and insurgents unleash terror and mayhem on hapless citizens killing and kidnapping for ransom and rituals.

As of August 29, no fewer than 1,406 Nigerians had been killed. These include 94 deaths recorded between May 29 and 31, 690 (June), 415 (July) and 207 (as of August 28).

The 1,406 deaths between May and August 2023 are fewer than the 2,897 recorded between June and August 2015 during the first 100 days of immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The figures are based on reported cases and data obtained from the Nigeria Security Tracker, NST, a project of the Council on Foreign Relations’ Africa programme.

The deaths arose from terrorism, banditry, Herders/farmers clashes, communal crises, cult clashes, and extra-judicial killings among others.

The 1,406 death toll is conservative because only reported cases from multiple sources were included. And many cases are under-reported or not reported at all.

Security as a top priority
In his inauguration speech, President Tinubu said he would make security a top priority because development could not take place without it.

“Security shall be the top priority of our administration because neither prosperity nor justice can prevail amidst insecurity and violence. To effectively tackle this menace, we shall reform both our security doctrine and its architecture.

“We shall invest more in our security personnel, and this means more than an increase in number. We shall provide better training, equipment, pay and firepower,” he said.

Tinubu’s efforts
To push through his promise, President Tinubu, on June 1, ordered Service Chiefs and heads of security and intelligence agencies to crush criminals and anyone involved in oil theft, saying that his administration would not tolerate criminality.

Tinubu stated this in his maiden official meeting with Security and intelligence heads led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Among those at the meeting were the then Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao; and Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba; Director-General of the Department of State Service, DSS, Yusuf Bichi; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

Before he took over, insecurity had claimed 98,112 lives in 12 years; 27,311 persons in former President Buhari’s first term; and 35,900 persons between 2019 and May 29, 2023, according to the NST.

To reverse this trend, Tinubu said he was going to embark on a lot of reforms in terms of our security architecture, and mandated the security agencies to come up with a blueprint, and redouble their efforts because, as far as he is concerned “this country should not be on its knees struggling while other countries are working and achieving greater heights.”

Tinubu sacks service chiefs
Despite the order, the killing spree continued forcing President Tinubu to sack the service chiefs on June 19 when he appointed pioneer Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, as the 10th National Security Adviser, NSA.

The new service chiefs, who were appointed on the same day as Ribadu were Major-General C.G Musa, Chief of Defence Staff, CDS; Major-General T. A. Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff, CoAS; Rear Admiral E. An Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff, CNS; AVM H.B Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff, CAS; Kayode Egbetokun, Acting Inspector-General of Police, IGP; and Major-General EPA Undiandeye, Chief of Defence Intelligence, CDI.

On August 21, Tinubu swore in Mohammed Badaru as Defence minister and Bello Matawalle as Minister of State Defence alongside 43 other ministers, charging them that their highest obligation is to restore public faith in government so that people can once again believe that the right hands in government can perform.

Tasks before security agencies, defence ministers
As it is, the security chiefs and defence ministers have their hands full. They must help the president deliver on his promises by securing the country.

Currently, Nigeria (8.065) is the 8th most terrorised country among 163 nations in the world, according to the Global Terrorism Index, GTI. Even Myanmar (7.977) and the Niger Republic (7.616) fared better than Nigeria in the GTI.

Nigeria was better than Afghanistan (8.822), Burkina Faso (8.564), Somalia (8.463), Mali (8.412), Syria (8.161), Pakistan (8.16) and Iraq (8.139).

GTI is a composite measurement made up of four indicators: incidents, fatalities, injuries and hostages. To measure the impact of terrorism, a five-year weighted average is applied.

The GTI is a comprehensive study analysing the impact of terrorism on 163 countries covering 99.7 per cent of the world’s population.

The GTI report is produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace, IEP, using data from Terrorism Tracker and other sources. The GTI produces a composite score to provide an ordinal ranking of countries on the impact of terrorism. The GTI scores each country on a scale from 0 to 10; where 0 represents no impact from terrorism and 10 represents the highest measurable impact of terrorism.

QUOTE

The 1,406 deaths between May 29 and August 2023 are fewer than the 2,897 recorded between June and August 2015 during the first 100 days of immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

As it is, the security chiefs and defence ministers have their hands full. They must help the president deliver on his promises by securing the country.

SOURCE: Vanguard