Foreign mercenaries invade Nigeria, free Fulani leader Wakili from Oyo Prison

Hired Fulani mercenaries have been fingered as being responsible for Friday night’s attack on Abolongo correctional facility, Oyo town in Oyo State, Southwest Nigeria.

The gunmen arrived in their numbers around 11pm and started shooting sporadically. They then released inmates who fled to their various destinations.

It is understood that there was a bit of panic around the prison vicinity, as residents thought it was a robbery attempt.

The Nigeria Correctional Services (NCS), Oyo state Command, on Saturday morning confirmed the attack on the prison, stating that it is assessing the situation.

Now, fresh information coming in says the attack was planned and carried out by invading bandits.

According to Sahara Reporters, the gunmen carried out the attack specifically to free Iskilu Wakili, a prominent Fulani man accused of being among those behind most kidnappings and mindless killings in Ibarapa axis of Oyo State. Wakili, who has sight problem, was arrested by the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) in March. He was immediately handed over to the Police, and has since been in custody.

Information has it that gunmen struck on Wednesday on Oyo-Ogbomosho Road. And these invaders who attacked Abolongo prison are believed to be same terrorists who struck three days ago on Oyo-Ogbomosho road.

[PoliticsNg]

Nigeria Not Expected To Deploy Super Tucano To South-East – US Warns Buhari Government

The United States has said the Nigerian government is expected to deploy the Super Tucano aircraft only in the northern part of the country where Boko Haram terrorists have engaged in a decade-long insurgency, killing thousands and displacing millions.

According to Punch, the US Principal Deputy National Security Advisor, Jonathan Finer, at an event attended by the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, said the terms of the agreement during the sale of the 12 Tucano aircraft were explicit.

Reacting to a question on whether the Tucano fighter planes might be deployed against secessionists in the South-East, Finer said the planes were an important platform for security, particularly in the North, expressing pleasure over the conclusion of the deal.

Finer said, “We are pleased to deepen our security cooperation with the Nigerian government. I think we made it very clear our expectations about this platform where it would be used and in the right way and we are always raising concerns when we have them and that it’s true with all our security partners around the world.

“This is an important platform for security, particularly in the North and we are pleased the transaction is finally concluded.”

The Federal Government had proscribed the Indigenous People of Biafra in the South-East and despite public outcry, designated the agitation group as terrorists, fuelling fears that the Super Tucano might be deployed to harass the residents.

On Wednesday, it had also been reported that the military had not been able to deploy the Tucano planes to crush the bandits in the North-West because the agreement signed with the United States was that the aircraft, bought from the US, would be deployed against terrorists and not bandits.

This implies that the fighter planes have only been deployed to fight Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East.

It was gathered that the complaints by the service chiefs led to the recent recommendation to by the Senate and the House of Representatives that bandits should be designated as terrorists, so the planes could be deployed against the bandits.

The Federal Government had ordered 12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to aid its war against Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East. The aircraft were said to have cost $423million.

On July 22, 2021, the Nigerian Air Force said in a statement by its spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, that the first batch of six of the Tucano aircraft arrived at Kano at about 12:34pm.

Also, on October 18, 2021, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the remaining six had been received and had been deployed to the North-East.

[Saharareporters]

BREAKING: Gunmen storm Oyo prison, free over 1,000 prisoners

Not less than a thousand prisoners have reportedly escaped from the Abolongo prison in Oyo town after some gunmen attacked the correctional centre and freed all inmates.

A TVC News report said that the gunmen arrived in their numbers around 11:00 O’clock last night (Saturday, October 22, 2021) and started shooting sporadically, and released the inmates who fled to their various destinations.

“A source told TVC News that there was a little bit of panic around the prison vicinity during the time of the escape, as residents around thought it was a robbery attempt,” the report said.

As at the time of this report, the Oyo state police command was yet to release an official statement to ascertain the actual number of the escapees.

[News Express]

Bandits kidnap youth corpers on way to NYSC camps

The Police Command in Zamfara on Friday confirmed that bandits had abducted two prospective corps members deployed from Benue to Kebbi and Sokoto states.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mohammed Shehu, disclosed this in a statement in Gusau, Zamfara.

Shehu said the Zamfara Police Command had received report of their abduction from the State Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Zamfara State, Namalam Taura, in Gusau.

According to the PPRO, the report indicated that two prospective corps members deployed from Benue to Kebbi and Sokoto states were among the victims abducted along Tsafe  – Gusau road on Tuesday Oct. 19, 2021 at about 22.30 hours.

Shehu said the command received the report on Friday, October 22, 2021 when the Commissioner of Police, Ayuba Elkanah, visited the Orientation Camp at Tsafe, Tsafe Local Government Area.

He said that Elkanah had visited the NYSC orientation camp to assess the existing security emplacement to ensure safety and security of the prospective corps members arriving at the camp for the two weeks orientation exercise.

“It could be recalled that on Oct. 19, 2021, at about 2230 hours, a vehicle with registration number GBK 339 ZY was blocked by armed bandits along Tsafe-Gusau road while travelling from Benue to Sokoto State.

“The vehicle was attacked while passing through Wanzamai Village in Tsafe LGA.

“And that resulted to the abduction of some passengers whose identities and number remained unknown,” Shehu said.

He said that the Command had commenced investigation into the incident with a view to establishing the actual number of persons abducted.

He said the command had deployed a team of security forces on search and rescue operation to rescue the victims.

Shehu said that CP Elkanah assured the NYSC coordinator and the corps members of police commitment to safeguard their lives.

The commissioner, however, enjoined them to be security conscious and restrict their movement while in the camp.

Meanwhile, effort to get details from the NYSC was not successful due to suspension of mobile network in Tsafe local government area.

(NAN)

NRC Announces Resumption Of Abuja-Kaduna Train Services

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced the resumption of the Abuja-Kaduna Train Services (AKTS).

This is coming 24 hours after an attack on a section of the 186-kilometer railway track led the corporation to suspend its services.

In a statement on Friday night, NRC announced the resumption of operations.

Daily Trust learnt that this was sequel to the fixing of the damaged portions of the railways.

“The Board and Management of the Nigerian railway corporation (NRC) hereby inform the general public, particularly our valued passengers that Abuja – Kaduna Train Services (AKTS) resume tomorrow, Saturday, 23rd October, 2021 as follows,” the statement read.

“From, IDU, Abuja (AK3) at 0950am. From RIGASA, Kaduna (KA4) at 1035am. Subsequent trains services continue. NRC, once again sincerely apologises for the inconvenience.”

[Dailytrust]

Teenage ‘Bandit’ Who ‘Murdered Two Persons’ Arrested In Katsina

The Katsina State Police Command has arrested a teenager over his alleged involvement in banditry.

The boy aged 14 was paraded at the command headquarters.

According to Isah Gambo, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, the minor confessed to killing two persons during one of his operations.

Gambo said the boy confessed taking part in the operation at Mallamawa in Jibia Local Government Area of the state where the persons were killed.

“The boy has confessed to us that he has participated in several attacks on villages within and outside the state where he said he could remember killing two people in Mallamawa.”

“The boy has confessed to us that he has participated in several attacks on villages within and outside the state where he said he could remember killing two people in Mallamawa.”

“He also participated in attacks on Dankulumbo and Kukar Babangida, all in Jibia local government area. He has also rustled an unspecified number of animals during several attacks,” Gambo said.

He added that the boy said he was trained as a bandit, kidnapper and cattle rustler.

The boy reportedly said he regretted his actions and wanted to be reformed.

Katsina is one of the North West States where there is a high level of insecurity.

[DailyTrust]

Secretaries of State, Defense Seek Dismissal of Nigerian Separatists’ Suit

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asked a court to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a Nigerian separatist group over the sale of aircraft the plaintiffs say will be used to persecute its supporters.

The two officials, who are the defendants in the case, said a federal court in Washington has no jurisdiction to address the claim brought by the Indigenous People of Biafra, or IPOB, according to their motion submitted Oct. 18.

IPOB filed a complaint against the senior members of President Joe Biden’s cabinet in August, asking a judge to compel them to reverse the recently completed sale of a dozen A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to Nigeria’s air force. The secessionist movement’s complaint argued that the planes will be deployed against their sympathizers.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, which proscribed IPOB as a terrorist organization in 2017, accuses the group of waging a violent campaign against state personnel and assets. IPOB says it’s a peaceful movement working to establish an independent nation in southeastern Nigeria that will defend the Igbo ethnic group against discrimination by the federal government.

IPOB’s complaint said Blinken and Austin violated laws intended to protect civilians from harm caused by U.S. weapons in the possession of foreign security forces.

“It would be inappropriate for the court to weigh in on a sensitive foreign affairs matter,” the U.S. officials said in their response requesting the dismissal of the case.

[Bloomberg]

Gunmen Set Imo Police Station Ablaze, Free Suspects

Gunmen on Thursday night set ablaze the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area Divisional Police Headquarters in Imo State, situated at Umuelemai.

According to Punch, the attackers invaded the station and also set some suspects free during a heavy rainfall.The gunmen struck around 7pm.

Fleeing gunmen had on March 19, set the same Divisional Police Headquarters on fire.

Apart from freeing suspects in detention, the attackers kidnapped one of the female cops on duty on that day.
On arrival on Thursday, the hoodlums opened fire on the government facility before setting it on fire.

The cops on duty were said to have fled, making the attackers have a field day.

An indigene of the area told Punch that the hoodlums shot repeatedly at the police station.

He said “The gunshots were terrifying. We were terribly tense owing to the gunshots. They supervised the burning of the place before living.”

The police spokesperson in the state, Mike Abattam, had yet to confirm the attack but a senior official who pleaded anonymity confirmed the incident and disclosed that the authorities had commenced an investigation in the latest onslaught.

(Saharareporters)

Tell Nigerians Why You Ignored Security Intelligence On Abuja/Kaduna Railway Attack: HURIWA Tells NRC

…..Says Attack Shows Complicity Among Security Agencies

Foremost Civil Rights Advocacy Group,  HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA)  has expressed worry over the failure of both the Nigerian Railway Corporation and the security agencies in the country to act on the purported intelligence report on impending terrorist attack on the Abuja-Kaduna railway service.

The group said the NRC and the security services had all the time and resources to avert the attack but failed to act if information we gleaned from some competent sources are anything to go by. HURIWA lamented that this sort of inactiin even after getting advanced intelligence about impending attacks are a regular occurance in virtual all bloody attacks staged by armed Fulani militia across the Country thereby lending credence to widespread allegations that the attackers have funders inside the highest echelons of government.  The group has therefore urged President Muhammadu Buhari to uncover these sponsors of terrorism within his administration and flush them out.

In s statement signed by it’s national coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National media affairs Miss Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA said the action and inaction of the Nigerian Railway Corporation and the security services in the country have further shown the complicity of the security on the terrorists activities ravaging the country.

HURIWA, while making references to various newspaper publications revealing that intelligence reports about impending terrorists attacks on the Abuja-Kaduna railway services were made available two days prior to the attack yet nothing was done to avert the attack, allowing the terrorists ample time to carry out two attacks on a Kaduna bound train, thereby exposing both the commuters and the rail architectures to harm and danger.

The Civil Rights crusading platform further called on the relevant security agencies in the country to launch a thorough investigation and those found culpable for not acting on the said intelligence should be made to face the full wrath of the law. “The attack on Owerri Correctional Centre and the police command was also captured by proactive intelligence officers of the Department of State Services but as was alleged the police Inspector General then failed to act. The attack on a village near Nsukka two years ago by Fulani terrorists in which over 40 villagers were slaughtered that made the Enugu State governor Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to weep on television whilst visiting the villages, was also revealed to the governor just as the governor reportedly passed on the intelligence to all the heads of security in Enugu State clear 48 hours before the terrorists struck but no action was taken to forestall the attack. All the attacks on Plateau State and Southern Kaduna by armed Fulani militia were detected by intelligence but the armed forces failed to prevent these genocides from happening. The time to stop this vicious circle of deliberate failed intelligence or conspiratorial plots by top officers of the security services is now”.

HURIWA said if the safety of train users can no longer be guaranteed then the railway corporation should as a matter of urgency shutdown services on the Abuja-Kaduna railway pending when security improves.

Armed Fulani Terrorists Are Becoming More Daring-: HURIWA

…..Condemns Bombing Of Kaduna/Abuja Train

HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has said that the attack and killing of over 45 Hausa farmers in Sokoto State and the bombing of the ABUJA/KADUNA train shows that the activities of armed Fulani attackers and terrorists have grown from strength to strength.

The Rights group said it is therefore disappointing and totally unacceptable that President Muhammadu Buhari continues to dither in classifying armed Fulani militia as terrorists so that clear cut military actions are employed to check their expansion. HURIWA deplores the habitually unending empty rhetorical threats intermittently oozing out from the desk of the Senior special assistant on Media to President Muhammadu Buhari informing Nigerians that Mr. President will ‘deal’ with the so called armed bandits who in actual fact says HURIWA are some of the most cruel terrorists in the World in the last half a century. 

In a media statement issued by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf,  HURIWA insisted that the President Muhammadu Buhari is surrounded by Northern Ethnic bigots as internal security chiefs who share same Ethno-religious affinity with members of the increasingly advancing armed Fulani group causing grave damage to North West State including the recent attacks in Sokoto and the train coming to Abuja the nation’s capital from the erstwhile Northern regional capital of Kaduna. These terrorists,  the group insists are heavily pampered and protected by government at the highest levels. 

HURIWA is of the strong opinion that President Muhammadu Buhari does not get sound, qualitative, objective security advice which demands that he needs to hire a much more competent, professional and patriotic National Security Adviser who must necessarily not share his same Ethno-religious affiliation.

Citing media reports of the bombing of the ABUJA bound train from Kaduna HURIWA recalled that there was pandemonium from passengers when the security men in the VIP coaches shouted for all to take cover after the loud sound just  as lights and the air conditioning systems immediately went off, leaving passengers in the heat and darkness. Policemen in the VIP coaches reportedly shouted to unsuspecting passengers to get down when the loud bang occurred. HURIWA quoted a passenger as stating thus: “We all fell over each other, while some ran to other coaches, thinking that the train was under attacked.”

HURIWA applauded the former Senator representing Kaduna central in the eight session of the Senate of the Federal Republic Senator Shehu Sani for his courage and patriotism in announcing the possible bomb attack which targeted the train in which he too was a passenger who narrowly escaped being harmed by the armed Terrorists. 

The Rights group then asked- “Does it make any sense anymore why our President, the head of the Nigerian State and an elected leader of modern day Nigeria, retired military General Muhammadu Buhari is dithering in clearly classifying these bad boys operating in the North West who are mostly Fulani as terrorists? What is the plausible excuse for the Commander -in- chief not to take steps to concretely wipe out these terrorists or is it the case that certain actual terrorists are much more favoured because they come from the Fulani Ethnic stock much more than other so – called ‘terrorists’ who were hurriedly labelled ‘terrorists’ by the current government and the full force of the military unleashed on them even when they are to the best of the knowledge of everyone are not terrorists but campaigners for self determination or self rule?”

“Mr President should be told in plane English that the pampering of Fulani terrorists by his government will backfire because by the time these pampered mass murderers finish with the North West and North Central,  they will then move their locations to other regions in Southern Nigeria and this will instigate civil war that may destroy the fragile stability that Nigeria is witnessing. The earlier they are declared as terrorists and crushed decisively and not by audio or fake military strikes as it is now, the better for the health, stability, unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria “.