Police Clash with Hunger Protesters in Borno, Injuring Multiple Demonstrators

In a recent incident, at least two individuals have reportedly sustained injuries following a confrontation between police officers from the Borno Police Command and a group of protesters voicing their dissatisfaction with federal and state government policies and programs in the region.

One of the injured protesters is feared to have died after being struck by tear gas canisters fired by the police in an attempt to disperse the demonstrators in the Bulunkutu area of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.

According to reports, the police resorted to using tear gas canisters and live ammunition against the protesters after all attempts to persuade them to vacate the area were unsuccessful.

The demonstrators had gathered at the location to protest the ongoing hunger crisis in the country.

This incident involving the protesters occurred shortly after a separate attack by a suicide bomber at a market in the state, which resulted in the deaths of over 17 people.

Further details are forthcoming.

Middle Belt Forum Kaduna Urges Youth to Avoid Planned Protest Amid Security Concerns

The Kaduna State chapter of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has urged young residents from the Middle Belt to avoid participating in the proposed protest against President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The MBF expressed concerns that the protest, initially intended to address security and safety issues, could be manipulated by unidentified sponsors to achieve their own ends.

In a statement following an executive meeting, Mr. Yusuf Solomon Danbaki, the Public Relations Officer for the MBF Kaduna, highlighted that while peaceful demonstrations are a legitimate means to address the nation’s current hardships and to attract government attention, the involvement of potentially violent foreign elements poses significant security risks.

Danbaki emphasized that the Middle Belt youths, renowned for their orderly and disciplined conduct, should not be linked with any inappropriate actions. He noted that the current security situation has been communicated to Dr. Bitrus Pogu, the National President of the MBF, who is currently collating information from other Middle Belt states before issuing a formal stance on behalf of the entire region.

Reports from the executive committee suggest that individuals from neighboring northern countries have already arrived in Kaduna State, potentially intending to escalate the demonstration into violence. This development, according to Danbaki, could undermine the safety of the event and dilute its intended message.

The meeting concluded with a call for unity among Middle Belt residents in Kaduna State, emphasizing the need for a collective front to promote their welfare, the advancement of Kaduna State, and the overall development of Nigeria.

Revoke Obasanjo’s Traditional Titles, Yoruba Group Tells Monarchs

The Yoruba World Congress (Worldwide), a socio-cultural group of Yoruba descent, has called on traditional rulers in Yoruba land to revoke all chieftaincy titles bestowed upon former President Olusegun Obasanjo. This request comes in response to Obasanjo’s recent actions at an event in Iseyin, Oyo State, where he ordered some traditional rulers to stand up and sit down, leading to public outrage.

The Yoruba World Congress (YWC) has urged traditional rulers to boycott any event where Obasanjo is present or has control over the microphone until he offers a public apology to the offended traditional rulers. The group emphasized the importance of upholding the prestigious cultural heritage and respect that traditional rulers deserve.

Furthermore, the YWC has called on the National Assembly to consider enacting a law to establish a Federal Ministry for Traditional Rulers attached to the Presidency. This ministry’s purpose would be to manage, protect, and preserve cultural values and heritage, separate from state-level ministries, in order to ensure that royal fathers receive the respect they are entitled to.

In a statement released on Monday, the Yoruba World Congress Worldwide expressed its rejection and dissociation from Obasanjo’s actions and called for a constitutional review regarding traditional councils. The group reiterated its demand for a sincere and remorseful public apology from Obasanjo to the traditional rulers and the entire Yoruba race. Until this apology is issued, the YWC advised traditional rulers to walk out of events involving Obasanjo, decline invitations lacking nobility, and unite in safeguarding their cultural heritage by revoking Obasanjo’s Yoruba chieftaincy titles.

Why I Refused N20m Bribe – Jos Kidney Harvest Victim’s Husband

In this interview, a Jos-based businessman, Busari Kamaru, tells James Abraham how his wife’s kidney was allegedly harvested by a fake doctor during a surgical operation

What is your name?

My name is Busari Kamaru. I’m a resident of Rikos community in the Jos North Local Government of Plateau State.

How old are you?

I’m 51 years old.

What do you do for a living?

I’m a businessman and I do car repairs as well.

You are currently at the centre of a controversy surrounding an alleged harvesting of your wife’s kidney by a fake doctor during a surgical operation. How did it actually happen?

What is happening at the moment to my wife could be traced to 26th January 2018. On that faithful morning, my wife had severe abdominal pain and stomach ache. She wanted to go and pay for my son’s school fees that same day. Seeing that she was in pain, I offered to take her to one hospital so that they would just do scanning to know what the problem was, because I don’t like just buying drugs to treat something whose cause has not been determined. So, I took her to this Murna Clinic and Hospital within the community. There, I met Dr Noah Kekere, who is in charge of the hospital. He told me he was going to conduct a scan on my wife which I agreed to. My wife proceeded into his office, and then he conducted the scan and told me that my wife had appendicitis and that he will have to do an operation on her that same day. I refused because I was not prepared for anything operation. The man told me that the appendicitis was about to burst and that he needed to conduct the operation, if not, we may lose my wife. I told him that my wife had never complained about any stomach pain and that this one just happened that morning.

At that moment I did not know what to do again, especially as the man said the appendix might burst if we did not do something urgent.

So, I excused myself and rushed outside the hospital to call my friends and my sister to inform them about the situation. They unanimously advised that I should just go ahead with the operation. I did not know what he had told my wife…when I entered the office my wife started crying saying, ‘’haba, because of how much? Let him just do it now”. Because of the way the doctor explained a lot of things, he said to me in my dialect that is Yoruba language. And I said no problem. Let him just go ahead. He charged us N160, 000. I told him that I don’t have that money and he asked for now much I could afford, and I told him N80, 000 and we agreed to carry out the surgery. He asked me to go and get the money so that before he completes the surgery. He told me the operation would start around 12noon. I called my mother and my wife’s mother before the operation. My mother came and I went into town to go and get the balance of N40, 000. I brought the money around after 12 and they had already wheeled my wife into the operation theatre. Around 5 pm that same day, the man called me that I should enter the theatre and see what was happening. What they were doing. When I entered the theatre, I saw my wife with all her intestines left outside. I ran outside because I could not bear to look at the scene. So, around 8 pm, they brought my wife outside and pushed her inside the ward. We spent a week at the Murna Clinic and Hospital. After the surgery, my wife could not stand up very well for almost four months and before he discharged us, he said I should be buying swan water for my wife to be drinking every morning. So, that is how I continued buying swan water for my wife for almost four months. After about six months, my wife started complaining again about the same abdominal pain on the right side. She complained that there is something like a wound she was feeling inside her stomach. So, I took her back to the hospital. My wife went back to the Murna clinic and hospital and laid her complaint. Another scan was conducted, and this time, he prescribed some drugs which I paid N17, 350 to buy that fateful day. I will never forget that day. After that, my wife came back home and she was relieved for almost one week, but about two to three weeks later, the stomach pain started again. She managed the pain for about one month before she went back again. This time, we decided go to the General Hospital for us to know what is happening. On getting there, they told my wife that her right side kidney is no more there and that it has been removed. My wife came back and told me.

I was shocked because my wife who has four children has never undergone any operation even during childbirth. Who could have removed her kidney? Murna Hospital was the only health facility that had carried operation on her because of stomach pain. So, we decided to go back to the hospital where the operation was conducted.

So, when we got there, at the reception, they informed us that doctor Kekere was in the theatre. I kept on shouting at the hospital. I then called a friend who said I should leave the hospital and report the matter to the police station.

What happened next?

That is how I went to the police station in the community. I met the DPO and narrated everything to him. The DPO gave me a DCO and two inspectors to go and invite the doctor. When the doctor arrived, they showed him the results that my wife did at the Jos University Teaching Hospital which showed that she had no right kidney. Doctor Kekere acknowledged that the result showed that there is no right-side kidney. He said maybe my wife was born with one kidney. We asked how he knew she was born with one kidney. He now said that we needed to conduct CT scan again. He argued that if we conduct a CT scan, it will show us whether my wife was born with one kidney or the kidney was removed. So, we went to Fertile Ground Hospital to do the CT scan. He recommended Fertile Ground and we took my wife there. After the scan, a lady came out and met my wife saying, “Madam, who did this to you. Why did you allow them to remove your Kidney? My wife said she did not permit anyone to remove her kidney; she told her doctor kekere operated on her for appendicitis and that she was not aware if her kidney was removed or not. We confronted the doctor and he could not give any explanation but kept shouting. That is when the police officer introduced himself and asked the lady saying “we came here to verify a lot of things, we want to know whether this woman is with one kidney? The lady replied and said that “this woman was never born with one kidney”. So, the police officer now asked her “how do you know that?” She explained that based on their scan, the other kidney was removed. On getting to the police station, they gathered there, trying to negotiate with me.

It was the said doctor and I said no to any form of negotiation. I told them I will not say anything yet because my wife has a family and I have a family, and we need to consult them first whether they are going to agree on the negotiations because I’m not agreeing with all the things they were telling me.

What were they telling you on the negotiation?

I went to the DPO of Nasarawa Gwom community to complain. His name is Timothy. The DPO called me the following morning that he wanted to see me personally. On getting there, the man told me that since yesterday till this morning, some people have been calling him for negotiation. But he did not know what to tell them because they are offering him a certain amount of money.

He asked me what my position on the matter is because they calculated the time they removed my wife’s kidney, they said it was sold at a 6 million naira then. But now, it is worth 20 million. They said if they want to pay the money for the kidney, it will be 20 million naira. I said “look officer, I am not the type of person anyone can buy with money. Let this man come out and own up to me that he removed my wife’s kidney. What do you want me to do?” But the man (Doctor Noah Kekere started begging me, saying that the deed had been done and that I should just temper Justice with Mercy. He asked what I want him to do for me. I told him that I don’t need anything from him except to return my wife’s kidney from wherever he took it to.

The Commissioner of Police asked him if he will take my wife abroad to replace her kidney, but he couldn’t say any word. He started saying “Jesus Christ”. So, he was taken to the guard room and detained.

How long have you been married to your wife?

We have been married since the 26th November, 2005. She has four children.

How Is she doing now?

She is presently in my house. She is forty-five years now and we need help to save her life because the pain is still there. They have been telling me that only three teaching hospitals in Nigeria can help us. It’s either UCH Ibadan, or Lagos University Teaching Hospital or University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Nsukka, Enugu State. So, I’m considering taking her to Ibadan first for proper treatment.

Have you been treated personally at the Murna Hospital where your wife’s kidney was alleged removed?

No, no, I’ve never been there. It was my mother that used to go to the hospital. My mother convinced me that the man is a good doctor and that people have been talking about the man that he is a very nice person.

How have you been able to handle the issue in the community?

The Yanshanu Community chairman called me. That is Alhaji Jamilu Baba. He started investigating this issue because everybody was shocked because we took this doctor as a good man in the community. Nobody knows he wasn’t a qualified doctor until now. Anybody with small headache runs to the hospital and he cures them even without any payment. Even newborn babies were delivered in the hospital. So, nobody suspected that this man was never a doctor. It has been happening also that after operation, people will die in the hospital and nobody ever suspected this man.

Are you satisfied with the way the police is handling the matter?

For now I will say I am satisfied, especially with the Nasarrawa Police station. The DPO of Nassarawa is a man of God. He tried his best and refused to compromise. He was offered a lot of money to kill the case but he refused. That is why the matter was taken to the Commissioner of Police. And the Commissioner of Police is also trying his best. He doesn’t want to compromise because he was totally angry.

So what are your demands?

I want justice. This man has been collecting money from me for the past five years now, every month. And I have been spending money on my wife. Now that I have discovered that this is a problem of kidney, where will I get money to take care of my wife? Every day, I wake up with fears of losing my wife. I don’t know what to do. Where do I get money to take care of this woman? We are talking about huge sums of money for another kidney. Where do I get money to take her abroad for treatment? I don’t have such amount of money. They were calling millions of naira. Where do I get it from? Do you know that last year when I called this man (so called doctor) and told him enough is enough; I will take my wife to another hospital, this same man discouraged me and told me that he was going to conduct another operation on my wife?

SOURCE: Punch

Illegal Mining: Zamfara Governor Orders Shoot-at-sight Against Culprits

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, yesterday, imposed a ban on unlawful mining operations and directed law enforcement authorities to implement rigorous measures, including an order to shoot at sight against those who defy the ban.

Over time, the unlawful extraction of minerals in Zamfara State has acted as a catalyst for the rise in banditry and various criminal activities.

Governor Lawal, as conveyed by his Spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, has emphasized the urgency of putting an end to this practice and initiating measures to safeguard the security and welfare of the people of Zamfara.

He emphasized that security personnel had received clear directives to take decisive measures, including shooting anyone immediately caught participating in illegal mining.

“The directive is necessary to ensure the safety and security of the good people of Zamfara and deter potential wrongdoers from committing such acts.“It is also a swift action to enable the State Government to be in total control of state resources and block activities that endanger the lives and properties of the people.
“Illegal mining is undeniably one of the driving forces behind the rampant banditry plaguing Zamfara State. We must take swift, decisive action to curb this menace and restore peace and security to our communities.” he said.
Backstory
Earlier this month, Mr Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, issued a 30-day ultimatum to illegal miners in the country, urging them to join established mining cooperatives or risk severe legal consequences.

The minister also introduced a new initiative to establish a surveillance task force, comprising law enforcement personnel and other pertinent agencies, with the primary objective of enhancing security in the nation’s mines.

Alongside this, the minister unveiled a seven-point transformation agenda, which includes a 30-day ultimatum for miners and the deployment of security operatives.

Expressing astonishment, he questioned why a nation rich in valuable resources such as gold, bitumen, lithium, and uranium had not harnessed these assets for the betterment of its citizens.

“I am giving illegal miners in this country just 30 days’ grace to join cooperatives or find another vocation. Also, the proposed task force will be domiciled in the ministry and will comprise operatives of all the relevant security agencies.
“For the last time, let me declare again that the ministry is giving such persons 30 days grace to join a miners’ co-operative or find another vocation to do.“On the expiration of the period, the full weight of the law will fall on anyone seen on a mining site without a determinable status. This message will be interpreted into Nigerian languages and broadcast on the radio to ensure no one is ignorant of this directive,” Alake said.

SOURCE: Nairametrics

Tragic Loss: 17 Year Old Secondary School Student Commits Suicide In Benue

A 17-year-old student of Government Secondary School, Gboko, Gboko Local Government Area, (LGA), of Benue State, Terhemba Tyochivir on Thursday committed suicide.

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Sewuese Anene, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Friday.

She stated that the case had been reported to the E Division Police Station in Makurdi, adding that the details of the incident remained sketchy.

Anene further explained that when the boy’s parents discovered him, they rushed him to Bishop Murray Hospital in Makurdi. However, doctors at the hospital confirmed his death.

Despite efforts to speak with the father of the deceased, Kula Tyochivir, he declined to comment and expressed a preference to discuss the matter at a later time.

SOURCE: New Telegraph

Devastating Land Conflict Between Cross River and Benue State Escalates, Claims 10 Lives

A tragic loss of life was reported yesterday as the ongoing territorial disagreement between the Ijiegu-Yache community from Yala Local Government Area in Cross River State and Mbaaka community from Konshisha Local Government Area in Benue State escalated. The conflict, primarily between young individuals, resulted in seven fatalities and has taken a total of 10 lives since its commencement on Sunday.

The violent confrontation has led to the destruction of at least 15 homes as the youth from these communities clash. Reports indicate that 10 individuals, including women from both communities, have been injured, some severely by machetes.

This enduring dispute, which has resulted in significant loss of life and property, has left many people hospitalized over the years. Augustine Adula, a community leader in Yache, disclosed to Vanguard that the conflict erupted during a church service.

Adula narrated: “A group of our young individuals sought to understand why the Tiv settlers had stopped paying the usual royalties for residing on our lands. In response, the Tiv individuals detained one of our youths, assaulted him, resulting in his death. This obviously incited a violent backlash. However, they were ready for this and launched an attack that killed seven of our people and destroyed 15 homes.”

Leonard Anyogo, Secretary of Yala and Cross River North Elders Forum, confirmed the unfortunate violence. Anyogo revealed that deputy governors from both states had previously made peace appeals in the community as they worked on resolving the issue. He stressed that the land in question historically belonged to Yache, and was previously the boundary between the Southern and Northern Protectorates.

Anyogo also confirmed that the state government and security forces have intervened in the situation. State Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo, verified the incident and asserted that officers have been sent to the area to help restore peace. Ugbo appealed for calm, emphasizing that violence will not resolve the issue, and only through peaceful dialogue will a solution be found.

Wike Calls For Emergency Meeting As Landslide Kills 30 In Abuja

A landslide as a result of illegal mining activities in the Kuje Area Council of Abuja has killed at least 30 people, according to the Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Abdullahi Sabo.

Sabo said that the landslide occurred recently and that the miners who were killed did not have a mining licence.

He called on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take action to prevent further deaths from illegal mining. The council chairman made the disclosure during a familiarisation meeting with the minister on Thursday in Abuja.

Responding to the alleged incident, Wike promised to call for an emergency security meeting with the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Commissioner of Police in the FCT.

He also urged the council chairmen to work with him to eliminate illegal mining in the FCT.

In a related development, Wike advised the chairmen of the six area councils in the FCT to constitute a Surveillance Committee in their respective councils to curb insecurity.

He gave the advice while responding to the challenges outlined by the council chairmen during the meeting.

According to Wike, the surveillance committee will help in checking insecurity and activities of illegal mining in communities, which creates an avenue for insecurity.

The chairman of Kwali Area Council, Danladi Chiya, had outlined inadequate funds, sanitation, public transportation, land allocation and insecurity, particularly kidnappings, as the major challenges affecting the area councils.

Chiya disclosed that 19 persons were kidnapped in Bwari Area Council on Thursday and urged the minister to come to their aid.

On land allocation, the chairman said that people’s backyards, graveyards, and even churches were being allocated to individuals.

Wike assured the chairmen that he would work with them to address the challenges facing the area councils.

He also called for the cooperation and support of the council chairmen, saying that “we cannot achieve anything without the support of the area council chairmen, it is not possible.”

“We must collaborate and work together for the interest of our people,” he said.

SOURCE: The Whistleblower

2,484 Sacked Civil Servants Write Benue Govt for Reinstatement, Threaten Legal Action

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The 2,484 Benue civil servants who were sacked by Governor Hyacinth Alia in June have written to the state government to demand their reinstatement within 30 days to avert a legal action.

The position of the aggrieved workers was contained in a letter by their counsel, Mr. Samuel Irabor, to the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, sighted by Vanguard Wednesday in Makurdi, with the caption, ‘Notice of Demands and 30 Days Pre-Action Notice.’

The workers stated that they were lawfully employed by the state government between December 2022 and March 2023 and were issued employment letters to that effect and they carried out their schedule of duties without hindrance or queries.

The affected workers also demanded for the payment of their salaries and allowances, stressing that their employment followed due process.

They expressed the hope that the Benue State Government would grant their demand for reinstatement and not let the matter drag to the courts.

Part of the letter by the counsel read, “It is the complaint of our client that by a press statement on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 the Government of Benue State arbitrarily terminated their contract of employment for no cause even though their employment was considered, approved and authorized by the Benue State Executive Council which is the highest decision-making body of the Benue State Government.

“Painfully, our clients are owed arrears of salaries and allowances from their various period of employment till the time of this notice.

“Flowing from the above, we have our clients’ instruction to apply for their re-instatement and payment of their arrears of salaries and allowances through the facility of our law firm. In the event of non-conformity with the demands above, our clients issues this 30 days pre-action notice.

“Take notice that at the expiration of the pre-action period, we have the instructions of our clients to initiate, and maintain till judgment, legal action to ventilate the above demands. .

“It is our implicit trust that due process will prevail in the resolution of the issues herein laid out. We therefore believe that the Benue State Government will do the needful.”

SOURCE: Vanguard

Adamawa State Chaos: Journalist Assaulted within Government Complex by Alleged Political Henchman

Hamidu Mukhtari, an alleged political enforcer known colloquially as Dogo, has reportedly assaulted a journalist within the premises of the Adamawa State Government House in Yola. The victim, Ibrahim Mista Ali, was purportedly targeted following his critique of the state governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.

Ali was in the building to report on a press conference by the Secretary to the Government, Awwal Tukur. He claims to have been physically abused by Dogo, who had previously warned him against publishing negative content. According to Ali, Dogo slapped, punched, and manhandled him, with the incident happening in the presence of security officials.

Dogo has a reputation for conducting several attacks against individuals seen as adversaries of the governor. He is currently on administrative bail following a 2021 arrest for possession of a large quantity of cannabis by the NDLEA. The then state commander of NDLEA, Muhammed Bello, confirmed Dogo’s arrest, stating that he was found with 166 kg of cannabis sativa.

Dogo, who allegedly wields significant influence, was supposedly involved in the kidnapping and degradation of a senior official of the Department of Security Service (DSS), Halilu Musa, and a senior INEC commissioner, Professor Zuru, during the tumultuous governorship supplementary election in April.

Sources claim that Dogo’s influence is so vast that he can bypass protocols and even intimidate security personnel within the government house. He was reportedly granted an office as the Director of Youths Mobilisation by the state’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) after his bid to become youth leader was rejected.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Humwashi Wonosiko, refrained from commenting on the issue, asserting that it was a personal dispute and not a governmental concern.