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Showing posts from February 14, 2021

Buhari Being Cattle Owner Cannot Be Fair In Herdsmen’s Violence – CDHR

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights has said it is unfortunate that President Muhammadu Buhari being a cattle owner himself has not risen above his personal interests to tackle effectively the ongoing farmers-herdsmen’s crisis in the country. The CDHR said the President cannot be fair in handling the crisis, which has claimed a lot of lives, particularly in the southern region. The group stated these in a communique issued on Sunday after its National Executive Council meeting, and signed by its National President, Dr Osagie Obayuwana. It said, “CDHR agrees with the National Assembly that no other evidence is required in proof that the Nigerian state under President Muhammadu Buhari has not only failed woefully, but has shown through a combination of lacklustre performance characterised by incompetence and indifference, that the state under Buhari leadership cannot meet the fundamental purpose for which it was established – to uphold the security and welfare of the ...

Kidnapped Rivers NTA Reporter Regains Freedom

The Rivers State Police Command has announced the release of Mrs. Chidiebere Onyia, who was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Woji, Rivers State last Tuesday, by her kidnappers. Onyia, a nursing mother and an employee of the Nigeria Television Authority, Port Harcourt Zonal office, spent five days in captivity. The kidnappers had blocked her vehicle and taken her away, leaving her colleagues who were with her behind. Confirming the development, the spokesman for the state police command, Nnamdi Omoni, in a statement on Sunday, described Ovia’s release as a Valentine’s Day gift. According to Omoni, the kidnappers abandoned Ovia and fled on sighting the police.  See Also CRIME Gunmen Abduct NTA Reporter In Rivers 0 Comments 4 Days Ago He attributed the development to the police, saying the intense pressure mounted by the police paid off eventually. The police statement was titled ‘The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Rivers State chapter receives Valentine gift as Chid...

Anambra #EndSARS Panel Members Shock Governor Obiano, Joint Resign Over Abuses

Members of the #EndSARS panel in Anambra State have tendered their resignation letter, knocking Governor Willie Obiano for ignoring the panel and for rising human rights abuses under his watch. The five panel members in their joint resignation letter, dated February 13, 2021, noted that police brutality, extortion, and even extrajudicial killings had remained unchecked in the state, even as the “notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Awkuzu and numerous other police outfits in Anambra State have become infamous around the world for outrageous, unconscionable, and iniquitous violations of the fundamental rights of Nigerians, including the right to life.” The members who resigned are Ifediora Chijioke, Henry Ugwu, Osonwa Chukwuka, Ebelechukwu Ngini, and Chibuike Obiwuzie. Their letter was copied to the Chairman of the Panel, Awka, Anambra State; Secretary to the State Government, Awka, Anambra State; Chairman of Chairmen, Nigerian Bar Association, Anambra State branch; Ni...

We Were Beaten, Stripped Naked – Mr Macaroni Reacts To Police Torture

Popular comedian and activist, Debo Adebayo, popularly known as Mr Macaroni, has explained why he joined other #OccupyLekkiTollGate protesters on Saturday and what the arrested protesters went through in police custody. The comedian, who was arrested alongside other protesters in the early hours of Saturday, said he was initially scared and had received numerous calls from his parents, siblings and friends not to join the protest. In a video, which he posted on his official social media platforms, Mr Macaroni said he initially did not want to go out but he later joined the protest because he knew people would be there. He alleged that his phones were destroyed after he was arrested and that he also sustained bruises all around his body because he was beaten by security operatives. “The only reason I went there is because I knew people would be there and in good conscience, I don’t know. But I knew people would die and I saw it, and I can confirm it that if words did not get ...

EFCC Arrests 20 Suspected Yahoo Boys, Recovers Cars, 40 Phones, 17 Laptops, Others

Operatives of the Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  have arrested 20 suspected internet fraudsters. A statement by the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwajaren, on Sunday said the suspects were arrested on Friday at New Owerri, Eminike Estate, Norble Abode, Owerri, Imo State. According to the statement, the suspects include: Onyebuchi Victor; Isreal Victor;  Emeka Clinton; Stanley Uche;  Onyemachi Stanley; Ikechukwu Agbalieze; Franklin Ugoegbu;  Nze Collins; Nwokoro Santus and Agocha Johnson Others are: “Oscar Anumata; Emeka Clinton Nkeoga; Ogwu Chukwu Akagha Marvis; Victor Obioha; Charles Onymesi;  Awunnaya Victor;  Henry Stephni;  Jerrard Uwaima, Franklin Uzoma and Obidike Abuchi.” The EFCC said it recovered the following items from the suspects: “40 mobile phones, 17 laptops of different brands and 6 vehicles: one blue-coloured Toyota Corolla car;  one...

Bandits Attack Niger State Transport Workers, Abduct 21 Persons

Bandits have again struck Zungeru in Niger State, attacking workers of the state transport authority and kidnapping no fewer than 21 persons. SaharaReporters learnt that the bandits attacked the Niger State Transport Authority bus along Zungeru Road on Sunday and went with the persons. “Bandits struck again on Sunday, and this time, they attacked the NSTA workers. It is not clear yet whether the bandits have reached out to the families of the abducted persons,” a source said.   Niger State has been facing a wave of attacks recently.  On February 2, bandits invaded Kanyan and Sabon Gida communities in Kurebe Ward in Niger State, killing 27 residents, and injuring 20 others. SaharaReporters had learnt from eyewitnesses that the bandits also abducted no fewer than 40 persons during the attack. It was gathered that the gunmen invaded the communities around 1am on that fateful day to unleash their terror. Two Thursdays ago, there was tension in Bassa, Kukoki communiti...

Ibadan Yoruba/Hausa Clash: Residents boo Akeredolu, Makinde over late intervention

Residents of Shasha, Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State on Sunday booed the state governor, Seyi Makinde, and his Ondo State counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu, over their lateness to address the ongoing crisis in the area. SaharaReporters gathered that the governors arrived at Shasha, where the clash occurred, around 12pm on Sunday but the Yoruba residents there inisited that the governors must visit the Yoruba traditional leader in the council before going to the Seriki Shasha. Our source said after Makinde left the palace of the Yoruba traditional leader, he left without seeing the Seriki Shasha, which generated angry reactions from the Hausa community. Muhammed Kabiru, who is Hausa, told SaharaReporters that Makinde “did not do well today”.  “The Yoruba community did not allow Makinde to see Seriki Shasha. After they booed him, some Yoruba leaders ushered him to the Yoruba traditional leader and the governor did not go to see the Seriki Shasha. As someone who is ...

Sex Scandal: Pastor Petitions CAC To Remove Apostle Suleman As Overseer, Shut Down Church

A former pastor of the Omega Fire Ministries, Mike Davids, who has accused the General Overseer of the church, Apostle Johnson Suleman, of sleeping with his wife, has petitioned the Corporate Affairs Commission to remove Suleman as one of the managers of the church. Davids, in the petition dated February 12, obtained by SaharaReporters, added that the CAC should shut down the church and appoint interim managers. The pastor had earlier accused Suleman of sleeping with his wife, Faith Edeko, who currently heads an Abuja branch of the church. The petition to the CAC is titled, “Petition for the immediate investigation and removal of Apostle Johnson Suleman, a trustee of Incorporated Trustee Of Omega Fire Ministry and for closure of church and appointment of interim managers to manage the affairs of church.” He said, “My petition against Apostle Johnson Suleman and the Trusteeship of the Church is as follows; I became lawfully married to my wife, Pastor Mrs. Faith Onus Davids, u...

#OccupyLekkiTollgate: After Molesting Protesters, Police Vow To Investigate Video Of Harassed, Tortured Demonstrators

The Lagos State Police Command on Sunday made a face-saving promise to investigate a viral video of some protesters at the #OccupyLekkiTollgate protest who were put in a vehicle, stripped and harassed. The police said in a release that it would bring to justice those responsible for the harassment of the protesters. The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, stated this hours after the police operatives had locked up the harmless protesters for hours and also refused to allow them access to lawyers initially. Adejobi, after the video of police harassment went viral, said the police would investigate the incident. He said, “The attention of the Lagos State Police Command has been drawn to a viral video where some arrested ‘EndSARS protesters’ were being molested in a bus by some individuals after their arrest. “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, who was piqued by this unprofessional and inhuman act, has ordered the Deputy Commissioner o...

Police Blame Bank For Kidnap Of Its Worker In Katsina

The Katsina State Police Command has blamed one of the old generation banks for the abduction of one of its workers living at Shagari quarters on the outskirts of Funtua, Katsina State, last Thursday. According to the Nation, the spokesman for the command, Superintendent Gambo Isah, said the failure of the bank to provide decent and secure accommodation for their staff members often exposes them to several security risks He said, “The bank staff was (sic) staying outside the metropolitan area, in fact on the outskirts of Funtua that is insecurity prone and the bandits kidnapped him. “In fact, I have called to speak with the manager of the bank. “For somebody who is new in an environment where he is not an indigene of Katsina not even from the North to be employed by the organisation and left to hang out in any questionable environment does not speak good of such organisation. “The banks must have to secure a very good environment for its staff like what we used to have in o...

It’s Shameful To Arrest, Arraign Protesters But Pamper Terrorists —PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party has described the arrest, humiliation, and trial of #OccupyLekki protesters on Saturday, as a sad reminder of what Nigerians went through in the hands of military dictators. The Lagos State Chairman of the PDP, Adedeji Doherty, reacted to the occurrence, in a release on Sunday, titled, “#OccupyLekki: Lagos PDP slams Sanwo-Olu over arrest, humiliation of protesters, demands discontinuation of their trial.” The chairman said, “It is a shameful irony that a government that is pampering terrorists could send policemen armed to the teeth against civilians who only expressed their displeasure over a government decision. “Lagosians will never believe that a time will come in the state when citizens’ rights to peaceful protests will be muscled by a supposed democratic government. “It is now clear that all that matters to the APC (All Progressives Congress) government of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is the billions of naira generated at the Lekki Toll Gate...

Lekki Tollgate: Arrest Bala Mohammed, Abbas, Not Protesters, Says HURIWA

Governor Bala Mohammed The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria has condemned the clampdown and arrests of peaceful protesters at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos State. The HURIWA National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, on Saturday in Abuja described the alleged conspiratorial silence of the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services to the open backing of armed herdsmen by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, and the call for arms by the Kano State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Abbas, as condemnable. Governor Bala Mohammed The group accused the Nigerian government was showing double standards in its handling of the farmers/herders’ crisis in the country.  It also said that gross violations of the human rights of protesting peaceful and law-abiding citizens threatened constitutional democracy. HURIWA compared the current administration’s bloody attacks on peaceful protesters in Lekki Tollgate, Lagos, and in almost the e...