Residents of Nde village in the Ikom Local Government Area of Cross Rivers State have lamented that they were brutalised by soldiers over the sacking of Fulani herdsmen who were terrorising the area.
In a video seen by SaharaReporters, residents narrated that the soldiers flogged no fewer than 10 youths for daring to prevent the herders from grazing.
They claimed that the youths “pleaded with the herdsmen” to leave their land after their cattle destroyed almost all their produce.
They added that consequently, soldiers from the Amphibious battalion allegedly arrived in the community and beat the youths mercilessly, leaving them with serious injuries, for asking the herdsmen to leave.
“The herdsmen then went to Edor Army Barracks which is about three kilometers away to report that youths of Nde attacked them and sent them away from the Community.
The herdsmen then went to Edor Army Barracks which is about three kilometers away to report that youths of Nde attacked them and sent them away from the Community.
“Soldiers from the barracks came in truckloads on Sunday, rounded up youths and took them to the barracks, flogged them severely, leaving them injured.
“Our community is currently on fire as military men dehumanised the youths with the intent to provoke us but we pleaded with the herdsmen to leave our land after destroying our crops to avoid further attacks,” a villager said.
The Nigerian Army has yet to officially react to the invasion by its personnel.
Following report that the Nigerian Army has launched multiple military exercises covering the Southern Nigeria aimed at checking the excessive cases of attacks targeting strategic national security institutions/ personnel and the killing of civilians by unknown gunmen, abd crimes, a call has gone to the military high command to abide by rules of engagement, respect for Human Rights of civilians and adherence to the principles of Rule of law.
HURIWA has also tasked the Nigerian Army not to work under a bandwagon conspiratorial plots that the attacks and killings are carried out by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra but the Army must be open minded, look inwards and investigate the possibility that these attacks may have been masterminded by federal government officials and some governors of the South East of Nigeria who may want to undermine the public acceptance and popularity of the agitation for self determination as canvassed by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra. HURIWA expressed consternation that in the past few months many innocent Igbo youths have been killed, arrested, incarcerated and tortured by the security forces under the guise that all Igbo youths are members of IPOB just as the Rights group said even members of IPOB or ESN are entitled to the full protection of the law and therefore must never be killed extralegally by the armed forces of Nigeria which is an institution created by the GrundNorm.
Making the charge is the nation’s leading civil society group:- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) just as the group has proffered workable solution to the rising uprising in the South East which according to it would include the recommendation by the South East governors to the president of Nigeria to lift the illegal tagging/classification of the indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist group and to order the release of the detained leader of IPOB Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the institution of a genuine National reconciliation and dialogue for South East of Nigeria by both the central government and the South East governors. “The South East governors should begin by rescinding their ill-informed and malicious decision to recognize IPOB as a terrorist group after which the governors of the South East should openly recommend to president Muhammadu Buhari the deproscription of IPOB as a terrorist group as condition precedent for peace. HURIWA said it is mischievous that the same IPOB that operates freely in Europe and the United States of America are classified as a terrorist group by President Muhammadu Buhari who has yet to classify MIYETTI ALLAH CATTLE BREEDERS ASSOCIATION and Fulani herdsmen as terrorists “. Besides, HURIWA through a statement by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Adviser Miss. Zainab Yusuf, has also tasked the South East governors to hire forensic private investigators so the forensic criminologists can ascertain the members of the deep state carrying out attacks on strategic national security institution and operatives and the sporadic but well coordinates assassinations of Igbo citizens. HURIWA has therefore restated her position that IPOB is not behind the spate of violence in South East since the majority of the victims are the finest crop of Igbo people just as the group suspected that some key officials of the federal government may be funding the violence. HURIWA thereby reminds the military of their legal obligations in all internal military operations thus: “Nigerian Armed Forces when deployed for either internal or external operations, are bound by the laws of war and international law in the conduct of the operations. The laws regulate and limit the conduct of operations by acting as checks against arbitrary use of force. They are intended to minimize unnecessary suffering by combatants and non- combatants during war. The laws of war and international law are therefore sources of military law in Nigeria and include the following: a. The four Geneva Conventions of 1949. b. The two Additional Protocols of 1977 to the Geneva Conventions of 1949. c. Multilateral and bilateral agreements to which Nigeria is a signatory and have bearing on military service or operations. d. The decisions of: 1. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague. 2. Ad hoc war crimes tribunals set up by or with the backing of the UN Security Council. (3) The International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague.”
HURIWA says thus: “The four Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the protection of war victims are as follows: a. Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field.
b. Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked members of Armed Forces at Sea. c. Geneva Convention Relative to the Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of war.
d. Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War”. The two Additional Protocols of 1977 to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 are to supplement the 1949. Geneva Conventions and modernize the laws of war. Protocol I deals with the laws of war in international armed conflicts while Protocol 2 addresses the laws of war applicable in internal armed conflicts. It is nóteworthy that the four Geneva Conventions and the two additional Protocols of 1977 have been formally given effect in Nigeria by the enactment of the Geneva Conventions Act Cap G3 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. In sum, the Conventions and Protocols which are now an Act of the National Assembly, elaborately spell out the laws of armed conflicts on the use of force and the legal implication of disregarding rules regulating the means and methods of warfare, among other things. Specifically, section 3 of the Act provides a plethora of safeguides.
The Rights group therefore asked the military not to apply excessive use of brute force or to torture innocent people in the South East of Nigeria just as it reminded the Nigerian Army that all eyes are watching them and they will be subjected to international legal reprimand should they abuse human rights.
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state on Sunday, October 3, claimed that some persons are plotting to assassinate him.
Orton made this allegation at the Sesugh Maria Pilgrimage Center Ayati, Gwer East local government area of the state, AIT News reports.
The Benue governor also claimed that those who are behind this plot are planning to hire killers from Sudan to attack him.
However, Ortom said he has made up his mind to serve the people of the state even if he dies in the process.
He stated:
“No going back on this matter. It doesn’t matter; if I perish I perish. With all the threats against me. If I perish, I perish. I’m just like Shedrack, Mishack and Abednego.
“Last week I was told that people were hired from Sudan to come and eliminate me…”
“I remain committed to the service of my people. I’m committed because they elected me and I will do their bidding. No one will intimidate me. and make me stop until justice is given to our people in Benue state.”
Gunmen suspected to be terrorist herdsmen have killed two persons in an attack on Ungwan Taila, Zangon Kataf local government area, Kaduna, says the Nigerian Army.
Specifically, troops of Operation Safe Haven announced the attack and casualty.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the attack in a statement he issued on Sunday.
Mr Aruwan stated that the troops arrived in the village to find that the bandits had killed two residents.
“Receiving the report, Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed deep regret at the further loss of life from such attacks in the area. He prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to their family,” said the statement.
It added, “In the meantime, the troops will continue search-and-rescue operations in the area. Citizens will be briefed on further updates.”
Gunmen have attacked the residence of Joe Igbokwe, the Special Adviser on Drainage and Water Resources to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in Nnewi, Anambra State
There was said to have been heavy gunfire during the attack.
Igbokwe in a Facebook post on Sunday said some parts of the building were burnt by the gunmen.
He added that CCTV cameras captured the arsonists arriving in a vehicle at his residence in the town.
He said, “Here it is. My Home in Nnewi has been sacrificed. No life was lost. To God be the glory.
“IPOB invaded my house in Nnewi about now. I am sure they raised down the my house giving the jerrycans of petrol I saw being offloaded from their Sienna car via CCTV. To God be the glory. I am still alive.”
This comes shortly after the All Progressives Congress (APC) party chieftain blamed all attacks in the South-East region on the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
“SENATOR ABARIBE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT I AM FROM SOUTH EAST AND I AM ALSO A CRITICAL STAKEHOLDER IN THE REGION AND NIGERIA. YOU KNOW IT AND I KNOW IT ALSO THAT IPOB IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BLOODSHED IN THE SOUTH EAST. THIS IS THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. LET US FOR ONCE FEAR GOD AND SPEAK THE TRUTH SO AS TO PUT THE ENEMIES TO SHAME,” he had posted earlier on Sunday.
Efforts to reach him on his mobile phone were not successful as he did not answer his calls.
Three suspected kidnappers have been nabbed following a joint raid of their hideout in forests located in Nasko Local Government Area of Niger State.
Monday Kuryas, police commissioner in Niger disclosed this to reporters in Minna on Sunday.
He said the police squad in the Nasko Division and members of the local vigilante group, numbering about 97, ransacked the Manini, Isana and Etere forest hideouts of the suspects on October 2.
“Three suspects were arrested after the raid, including one Abubakar, Aliyu Abubakar and Mohamed Aliyu,” Mr Kuryas offered. “The suspects confessed to have kidnapped one Alhaji Mohammed Bariki of Magaman Daji village, Nasko LGA where they collected N5 million ransom and one Usman Maiyana of Ibana village Nasko LGA where they collected N 3 million as ransom.”
“The sum of N 100,000 was recovered from them which was part of the ransom,” he added.
Mr Kuryas said that the command has deployed an anti kidnap squad to the area to ensure the arrest of others at large and recover their arms.
“We appeal strongly for more working support and cooperation from members of the public who should give us intelligence information that could aid in apprehending miscreants in their midst.
“We are battle ready to confront any persons or group of miscreants undermining the peace of our state, through well- coordinated security approach to enhance peaceful coexistence among our people,’’ Mr Kuryas said.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a suspected fake soldier, Hayatu Galadima and his accomplice, Hamisu Adamu.
They were in possession of hard drugs, ammunition and communication equipment suspected to be for use by bandits in Kaduna State.
NDLEA’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja that the duo was arrested around Gwagwalada, on the outskirts of Abuja on Thursday, September 30.
He stated that items recovered from them included 21 RLA 7.45mm ammunition concealed in a water bottle; 16 packs of new two-way radio (walkie- talkie); four army-coloured head masks and wallet containing an army identity card.
Mr Babafemi added that also found in the possession of the duo were ATM cards issued by FCMB, First Bank, ECO bank, UBA, Skye Bank and one U.S. dollar.
Also recovered from them were Indian hemp, tablets of tramadol, three MTN, two 9mobile and one Airtel SIM card packs and one iPhone 12 pro cell phone.
“Others include one Samsung A31, one Nokia phone, seven Nigerian Army pass letters, five handbags and one “Bagco’’ bag containing personal belongings, as well as a gallon of palm oil.
“One of the suspects, Galadima, claimed to be an army Lance Corporal serving in Ibadan, and that they were taking the exhibits to Kaduna and Kano,’’ Mr Babafemi stated.
He stressed that preliminary investigation indicated that the suspects may have contact with bandits in the North-West parts of the country.
He stated that the suspects were possibly moving the ammunition and the two-way radios to bandits who were presently excommunicated due to the suspension of telecommunications services in Zamfara, Sokoto and Kaduna states.
He quoted NDLEA Chairman, retired Brigadier-General Buba Marwa, as directing the FCT Command of the agency, which made the arrest, to transfer the suspects to relevant authorities for further investigation.
This, he said included the Nigerian Army and another intelligence agency which had earlier placed the two men on their watch list, for further investigation.
rmed attackers on Sunday set alight the police and State Security Service field offices in Nnewi, witnesses told Peoples Gazette.
The incident occurred at about 1:00 p.m. when hoodlums stormed the offices, overpowered personnel and torched “everywhere,” a witness said.
“The attackers said they don’t want to see any Nigerian flag standing in the area,” a witness said.
Figures as to death and injuries could not be immediately ascertained by The Gazette. Spokespersons for the police and the SSS did not immediately return a request seeking comments.
The attack marked yet another escalation of hostilities raging over separatist agitations across the region, as well as attacks by armed herders, cultists and other violent criminals.
President of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union, SOKAPU, Comrade Jonathan Asake has given an eyewitness rundown of the activities of bandits and kidnappers in Kaduna State in 2021.
Asake described the security situation in the State as strange and pointed to the alleged insensitivity of leaders to the plight of most communities.
According to Jonathan, children in some communities have been out of schools for the past five years due to the atrocious activities of terrorists, while mainly communities have been chased out of their original communities by armed terrorists and most of these attacks and displacements go unreported in the media.
Comrade Asake spoke at the 2021 human rights lecture organised by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, with the theme: “Nigerian School Children; Insecurity and Human Rights”, held in Abuja.
“In line with the topic, our children, particularly school children, and what insecurity has caused in their rights,” he began.
“I’ll make no attempt to talk about last year or the year before or attempt to go out of Kaduna State.
“I’ll only say what is happening in Kaduna State and this year alone. And you will be able to put them up together.
“On the 30th of January this year, kidnappers went into a school just very close to Kaduna called Good Shepherd Seminary and kidnapped 4 seminarians there.
“One of them was killed because the kidnappers wanted to show that if ransom is not paid, they’re very serious, they’ll kill the rest. The dead body was kept on the roadside. Ransom was paid and the others were freed.
“On the 11th of March this same year, kidnappers went to the school of forestry where 39 students were kidnapped and on the 20th of April that the students of Greenfield University were kidnapped.
“On July 5, they went to a town called Danutshi and kidnapped 126 Bethel Baptist Students and it’s been over two months now. They’ve released many of them. They’re releasing them in batches. The first payment was N100m paid by the parents totally abandoned by the government.
“They have 11 of them two months after. Now if you think this picture is a very gorry one, this is just a tip of the iceberg. This is just the ones you’ve heard being reported of the atrocious activities of what we call bandits and kidnappers in Kaduna State.
“But on a daily basis, communities are being chased out and chased into neighbouring communities and for some it has lasted for over five years with all the children being out of schools.
“Most of these communities are being chased into IDPs camps, no schools, no facilities, no food and imagine children that have been out of school for five years running. And this is the story. Farmers have also been chased out.
“Farming communities have left their schools and schools have been shut down for a very long time in Kaduna State. We don’t get to hear this in the media. The ones we hear are when schoolchildren are kidnapped .
“And oftentimes these people are arrested, paraded and interrogated and that’s the end. Some of them the’re paraded and you see the video going viral in the media social media and after that you see the same person being paraded again. So something strange is happening.
“The rights of children are being violated. It Is insensitive on the part of some of our leaders where we know that people have been displaced and there is no facilities and nothing is done.
“Journalists that have attempted to report the atrocities that have been going on have been arrested and thrown into detention. That’s why I said this is just a tip of the iceberg.”
Southern Kaduna artists; Lilac (Tha Class Teacha), Ziriok and Tacyturn have released a music rap video titled ‘About Us’. The track depicts the ongoing killings of genocidal proportion of Southern Kaduna indigenous people by Fulani jihadists.
The artists said because they are from Southern Kaduna, they have decided to use their music talent to contribute in creating awareness and drawing the attention of the world to the incessant killings of their people.
“ABOUT US” is a song that expresses the pains, agony and the mass killins ongoing in Southern Kaduna.
The video as directed by SBK was released few days after 38 people were killed in Madamai and Abun communities in Southern Kaduna. According to them “The song is a hip-hop setting in the right emotions as we pray for Nigeria.” The audio was produced by Qupic.
