benjack
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Friday 9 December 2016
US-led air raid in northern Syria kills 20 civilians
Nearly two dozen civilians have lost their lives when the so-called anti-Daesh US-led coalition carried out an airstrike in Syria’s troubled and militant-held northern province of Raqqah.
The attack struck al-Msheirfeh region north of the provincial capital city of Raqqah, located about 160 kilometers east of Aleppo, on Thursday and claimed the lives of nearly 20 civilians, Syria’s official news agency SANA reported on Friday.
The report added that several people also sustained injuries in the blitz. The death toll is expected to rise as many of the wounded victims are in critical condition.
The Russian Foreign Ministry later condemned the airstrike against civilian targets in Raqqah as “unacceptable.”
“These reports cause deep concern. Air and missile strikes that result in deaths and suffering of peaceful Syrians are unacceptable and deserve decisive condemnation. The suffering of civilian population must be stopped,” the ministry said in a statement.
The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on November 9 that at least 23 people, including a child, were killed when an airstrike by the US-led coalition struck the village of al-Heesha, situated about 40 kilometers north of Raqqah.
On October 4, at least 20 civilians were killed and 40 others injured after US-led coalition warplanes bombed the Kurdish-majority village of Thulthana in the northern province of Aleppo.
The development came only two days after airstrikes by the US-led coalition pounded the town of Mare’, located some 25 kilometers north of Aleppo, and left nine civilians dead.
The US-led coalition has been conducting airstrikes against what are said to be the Daesh terrorists inside Syria since September 2014 without any authorization from Damascus or a UN mandate.
The coalition has repeatedly been accused of targeting and killing civilians. It has also been largely incapable of fulfilling its declared aim of destroying Daesh.
The attack struck al-Msheirfeh region north of the provincial capital city of Raqqah, located about 160 kilometers east of Aleppo, on Thursday and claimed the lives of nearly 20 civilians, Syria’s official news agency SANA reported on Friday.
The report added that several people also sustained injuries in the blitz. The death toll is expected to rise as many of the wounded victims are in critical condition.
The Russian Foreign Ministry later condemned the airstrike against civilian targets in Raqqah as “unacceptable.”
“These reports cause deep concern. Air and missile strikes that result in deaths and suffering of peaceful Syrians are unacceptable and deserve decisive condemnation. The suffering of civilian population must be stopped,” the ministry said in a statement.
The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on November 9 that at least 23 people, including a child, were killed when an airstrike by the US-led coalition struck the village of al-Heesha, situated about 40 kilometers north of Raqqah.
On October 4, at least 20 civilians were killed and 40 others injured after US-led coalition warplanes bombed the Kurdish-majority village of Thulthana in the northern province of Aleppo.
The development came only two days after airstrikes by the US-led coalition pounded the town of Mare’, located some 25 kilometers north of Aleppo, and left nine civilians dead.
The US-led coalition has been conducting airstrikes against what are said to be the Daesh terrorists inside Syria since September 2014 without any authorization from Damascus or a UN mandate.
The coalition has repeatedly been accused of targeting and killing civilians. It has also been largely incapable of fulfilling its declared aim of destroying Daesh.
Bomb explosions kill at least 30 in northeast Nigeria
At least 30 people have been killed after two women blew themselves up in a bustling market in Nigeria's northeastern town of Madagali, an army spokesman says.
Rescue workers evacuated the bodies of 30 people and took 67 wounded victims to a nearby hospital, Major Badere Akintoye, said on Friday.
Survivor Ahmadu Gulak said the blasts hit simultaneously at opposite ends of a grains and vegetables market.
Boko Haram Takfiri militants have been blamed for the attack on the edge of the group's Sambisa Forest stronghold, which the Nigerian military has been bombing ahead of ground assaults.
Boko Haram militants have been attacking soft targets since the military has dislodged them from towns and villages this year.
Madagali was liberated last year after months in the hands of Boko Haram. It is 150 kilometers southeast of the biggest northeastern city, Maiduguri, which has been the epicenter of Boko Haram's seven-year insurgency.
At least 30 people were killed when a bus station near the same market was targeted by two women bombers in December 2015.
Boko Haram militants also opened fire on mourners at a funeral in Madagali in June, killing 18 people.
The group has recently regained momentum after it was nearly obliterated months ago by a joint military force made up of Nigerian government forces and troops from neighboring countries.
Boko Haram has pledged allegiance to the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, which is mainly active in Syria and Iraq.
The United Nations has warned that areas affected by Boko Haram face a humanitarian crisis.
Boko Haram terrorists have killed more than 20,000 people and forced over 2.7 million others from their homes.
The group started its campaign with the aim of toppling the central government in Nigeria.
Thursday 8 December 2016
Nigeria Air Force personnel kill man ‘over prostitute’
A 60-year-old man was on Tuesday killed at a brothel in Maiduguri, Borno State, after a quarrel with some personnel of the Nigeria Air Force.
The fight occurred at a popular brothel located in Simari area of Maiduguri.
Witnesses said the victim, Ibrahim Bulama, was shot dead by soldiers after they clashed over a woman at the brothel.
Air Force authorities confirmed the killing, but did not clearly admit its personnel were involved in a struggle for a prostitute.
The Commander of the 105 Composite Group, Charles Ohwo, an Air Commodore, told journalists at a press briefing on Thursday that the deceased was not shot.
He said the man died when soldiers were trying to retrieve a rifle allegedly snatched from their colleague.
According to the Nigeria Air Force account, the soldier, Kamal Usman, a Lance Corporal, was on his way home from his duty post when he ran into people having an argument.
He said the armed personnel was trying to find out what happened, when his rifle was snatched.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that, on Wednesday 7th December 2016, an airman, Lance Corporal Kamal Usman, left his duty post at about 10pm, and on his way home, when he came across some gathering near a hotel in Simari area; and in an attempt to find out what was wrong, the crowd got scared and took to their heels,” Mr. Ohwo said.
“When the airman decided to check the surroundings to find out what scared the crowd, he entered one room in the hotel and found a woman laying on a bed.
“Unfortunately, the deceased old man, Bulama mobilized some people and came back to the hotel and attacked him from the back with matchets, inflicting serious injuries on his head and snatched his rifle.
“On sensing danger, the lance corporal left and mobilized his fellow colleagues for assistance. Upon arrival at the scene, they descended on the old man, and beat him to death in the process of recovering their rifle.
“The airman is now recuperating at the air force medical facility in Maiduguri, while his colleagues who were involved in the incident have been detained pending further investigation,” Mr. Ohwo said.
Witnesses questioned the Air Force’s narratives, saying it did not explain what exactly took the armed airman to a brothel, or how exactly he got to see the woman on the bed, or what he was doing with her at the time the mob mobilised to attack him.
“The soldiers have to do their investigation very well, because all we heard was that a solder was attacked by angry mob after the old man was killed,” said a source who asked not to be named for safety reasons.
Journalists were ushered into the military clinic at the Air Force base where the accused airman, who had deep cuts on his head, was admitted. He was cuffed by the legs.
Mr. Ohwo called for calm, promising thorough investigation into the matter.
The fight occurred at a popular brothel located in Simari area of Maiduguri.
Witnesses said the victim, Ibrahim Bulama, was shot dead by soldiers after they clashed over a woman at the brothel.
Air Force authorities confirmed the killing, but did not clearly admit its personnel were involved in a struggle for a prostitute.
The Commander of the 105 Composite Group, Charles Ohwo, an Air Commodore, told journalists at a press briefing on Thursday that the deceased was not shot.
He said the man died when soldiers were trying to retrieve a rifle allegedly snatched from their colleague.
According to the Nigeria Air Force account, the soldier, Kamal Usman, a Lance Corporal, was on his way home from his duty post when he ran into people having an argument.
He said the armed personnel was trying to find out what happened, when his rifle was snatched.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that, on Wednesday 7th December 2016, an airman, Lance Corporal Kamal Usman, left his duty post at about 10pm, and on his way home, when he came across some gathering near a hotel in Simari area; and in an attempt to find out what was wrong, the crowd got scared and took to their heels,” Mr. Ohwo said.
“When the airman decided to check the surroundings to find out what scared the crowd, he entered one room in the hotel and found a woman laying on a bed.
“Unfortunately, the deceased old man, Bulama mobilized some people and came back to the hotel and attacked him from the back with matchets, inflicting serious injuries on his head and snatched his rifle.
“On sensing danger, the lance corporal left and mobilized his fellow colleagues for assistance. Upon arrival at the scene, they descended on the old man, and beat him to death in the process of recovering their rifle.
“The airman is now recuperating at the air force medical facility in Maiduguri, while his colleagues who were involved in the incident have been detained pending further investigation,” Mr. Ohwo said.
Witnesses questioned the Air Force’s narratives, saying it did not explain what exactly took the armed airman to a brothel, or how exactly he got to see the woman on the bed, or what he was doing with her at the time the mob mobilised to attack him.
“The soldiers have to do their investigation very well, because all we heard was that a solder was attacked by angry mob after the old man was killed,” said a source who asked not to be named for safety reasons.
Journalists were ushered into the military clinic at the Air Force base where the accused airman, who had deep cuts on his head, was admitted. He was cuffed by the legs.
Mr. Ohwo called for calm, promising thorough investigation into the matter.
Senate defers confirmation of Acting EFCC Chairman, Magu
ABUJA—THE Senate did not confirm the appointment of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, yesterday as expected but differed it to next Thursday. Though Magu and his team were on ground in full readiness for the exercise at the National Assembly, the screening was, however, not captured in yesterday’s Order Paper. It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had forwarded Magu’s name to the Senate five months ago for confirmation. He was appointed in acting capacity by President Buhari on November 9, 2015, following the sack of his predecessor, Ibrahim Lamorde. Speaking with journalists on why Magu’s confirmation was postponed, Deputy Senate Majority leader, Senator Bala Ibn-Na’Allah, explained that appeals from senators who were currently out of Abuja, led to the deferment. Ibrahim Magu, Acting Executive Chairman, EFCC Senator Na’Allah, who disclosed that the Senate leadership had unanimously agreed to commence the exercise next Thursday, said a letter had been sent to Magu and other members of the board of EFCC in this regard. Na’Allah said: “Let me correct it. In fact it was listed on the Order Paper and removed. The Senate is normally guided by the time frame of the work. ‘’We agreed that today (yesterday) will be the confirmation hearing of the EFCC acting chairman, Magu, but we received a lot of calls from senators who are away and who believe that they want to participate and that it is unfair for us to fix it when we know they are not around. “When we look at the demands and the number, we felt it would be wrong for us to proceed. Then we said it should be next Thursday. Again, we became too unsure as to whether Monday or Tuesday will be declared public holiday by the Federal Government in respect of the impending Eid- Malud holiday. “We have since written an official letter to the acting chairman giving him that Thursday will be the day for the confirmation hearing of his appointment.” Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, had at the end of plenary on Wednesday, disclosed that Magu’s confirmation hearing would commence yesterday.
300 commandos to join Turkey’s Operation Euphrates Shield in Syria
Turkey is dispatching hundreds of more soldiers to neighboring Syria to reinforce its first major US-backed incursion of its conflict-ridden southern neighbor.
A military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 300 special troops from the 11th Command Brigade departed Cardak airbase in the southwestern province of Denizli to the Syrian border on Thursday, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
The source, however, did not provide any information whether they had crossed into Syria, and where in northern Syria they would be deployed.
On August 24, the Turkish air force and special ground forces kicked off Operation Euphrates Shield inside Syria in a declared bid to support the Free Syrian Army militants and rid the border area of Daesh terrorists and fighters from the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and Democratic Union Party (PYD).
The offensive was launched in coordination with the US-led military coalition, which has purportedly been fighting Daesh extremists since 2014.
The incursion was the first major Turkish military intervention in Syria, which drew strong condemnation from the Syrian government for violating the Arab country's sovereignty.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on November 29 that the Turkish army marched into Syria to end the rule of President Bashar al-Assad, whom he accused of terrorism and causing the deaths of thousands.
The remarks caused consternation in the Kremlin, with Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov demanding Erdogan to clarify anti-Assad goals in Syria.
The Turkish leader backtracked on the comments two days later, asserting that the offensives there are aimed only at terrorists.
“The aim of the Euphrates Shield Operation is not any country or person, but only terrorist organizations,” Erdogan said in a speech at the presidential palace in Istanbul on December 1.
He added, “No one should doubt this issue that we have uttered over and over, and no one should comment on it in another fashion or try to derail it.”
Turkey is dispatching hundreds of more soldiers to neighboring Syria to reinforce its first major US-backed incursion of its conflict-ridden southern neighbor.
A military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 300 special troops from the 11th Command Brigade departed Cardak airbase in the southwestern province of Denizli to the Syrian border on Thursday, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
The source, however, did not provide any information whether they had crossed into Syria, and where in northern Syria they would be deployed.
On August 24, the Turkish air force and special ground forces kicked off Operation Euphrates Shield inside Syria in a declared bid to support the Free Syrian Army militants and rid the border area of Daesh terrorists and fighters from the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and Democratic Union Party (PYD).
The offensive was launched in coordination with the US-led military coalition, which has purportedly been fighting Daesh extremists since 2014.
The incursion was the first major Turkish military intervention in Syria, which drew strong condemnation from the Syrian government for violating the Arab country's sovereignty.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on November 29 that the Turkish army marched into Syria to end the rule of President Bashar al-Assad, whom he accused of terrorism and causing the deaths of thousands.
The remarks caused consternation in the Kremlin, with Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov demanding Erdogan to clarify anti-Assad goals in Syria.
The Turkish leader backtracked on the comments two days later, asserting that the offensives there are aimed only at terrorists.
“The aim of the Euphrates Shield Operation is not any country or person, but only terrorist organizations,” Erdogan said in a speech at the presidential palace in Istanbul on December 1.
He added, “No one should doubt this issue that we have uttered over and over, and no one should comment on it in another fashion or try to derail it.”
benjack: US advises Buhari on how to end recessionThe Uni...
benjack: US advises Buhari on how to end recession
The Uni...: US advises Buhari on how to end recession The United States of America seems concerned about Nigeria’s current state of economy which is...
The Uni...: US advises Buhari on how to end recession The United States of America seems concerned about Nigeria’s current state of economy which is...
US advises Buhari on how to end recession
The United States of America seems concerned about Nigeria’s current state of economy which is best described as a recession.
US advises Buhari on how to end recession
US advises Buhari on how to end recession
This is because the US Consul-General in Nigeria, Mr John Bray, is advising President Muhammadu Buhari on how he can move the country out of the problem that has brought hardship on the citizens.
Bray said Nigeria must start attracting more foreign direct investments if it wants to leave recession.
Currently, many investors are raising concerns over an alleged unconducive environment for business to do well.
Speaking at the Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship Alumni Association lecture in Lagos, Bray said his country was committed to assisting Nigeria in this current situation.
The US official said: “As the most populous country on the continent and as the largest economy in Africa, Nigeria clearly stands to gain from increasing its attractiveness to foreign investors.
“As in the case for the U.S. economy, FDI offers much to contribute to Nigeria’s ability to grow its economy and increase its global competitiveness.
“I hope that Nigeria will use the current recession as an opportunity to adopt and implement economic reforms to address challenges that existed before the current recession.”
The United States of America seems concerned about Nigeria’s current state of economy which is best described as a recession.
US advises Buhari on how to end recession
US advises Buhari on how to end recession
This is because the US Consul-General in Nigeria, Mr John Bray, is advising President Muhammadu Buhari on how he can move the country out of the problem that has brought hardship on the citizens.
Bray said Nigeria must start attracting more foreign direct investments if it wants to leave recession.
Currently, many investors are raising concerns over an alleged unconducive environment for business to do well.
Speaking at the Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship Alumni Association lecture in Lagos, Bray said his country was committed to assisting Nigeria in this current situation.
The US official said: “As the most populous country on the continent and as the largest economy in Africa, Nigeria clearly stands to gain from increasing its attractiveness to foreign investors.
“As in the case for the U.S. economy, FDI offers much to contribute to Nigeria’s ability to grow its economy and increase its global competitiveness.
“I hope that Nigeria will use the current recession as an opportunity to adopt and implement economic reforms to address challenges that existed before the current recession.”
Russia fueling ‘unprecedented’ terror threat against UK: MI6 chief
he head of UK’s MI6 spy agency Alex Younger says that Russia is the main contributor to an “unprecedented” terrorism threat Britain currently faces.
In his first public speech since taking office in November 2014, Younger said Thursday that Moscow’s military efforts in coordination with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government against the Daesh (ISIL) terrorists were threatening Britain’s security.
“I believe the Russian conduct in Syria - allied with that of Assad's discredited regime - will, if they do not change course, provide a tragic example of the perils of forfeiting legitimacy,” he said.
“We cannot be safe from the threats that emanate from that land unless the civil war is brought to an end,” the spymaster said of Syria’s years-long struggle with foreign-backed militant groups.
He made the remarks as the Damascus government has made significant victories in purging Takfiri terrorists from militant-controlled areas of the Syrian city of Aleppo, one of the group’s main strongholds.
Pointing that British security forces had disrupted 12 terrorist plots since June 2013, Younger said Daesh had developed a “highly organized external attack planning structure” to attack the UK and other Western countries “without ever having to leave Syria.”
In another tongue-in-cheek jab at Russia, Younger blasted countries that have been trying to undermine Western governments through cyber attacks.
The US government has also leveled such charges against Moscow. The accusations reached their peak during this year’s presidential election cycle.
Democrats and the government of US President Barack Obama constantly accused Russia of trying to disrupt Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s campaign and influence the election in favor of President-elect Donald Trump.
“The connectivity at the heart of globalization can be exploited by states with hostile intent to further their aims of deniability. They do this through means as varied as cyber-attacks, propaganda or subversion of democratic process,” the MI6 chief said.
Younger’s remarks against Russia were in contrast with Trump’s view of Syria, who deems Moscow as a key player in the fight against terror in the Arab country.
Over the past few months, London has been constantly calling on the EU to unite and repel the “Russian aggression” by deploying more military forces in Eastern Europe.
The anti-Russian rhetoric has angered the Kremlin, with Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov dismissing the allegations as “Russophobic hysteria.”
In his first public speech since taking office in November 2014, Younger said Thursday that Moscow’s military efforts in coordination with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government against the Daesh (ISIL) terrorists were threatening Britain’s security.
“I believe the Russian conduct in Syria - allied with that of Assad's discredited regime - will, if they do not change course, provide a tragic example of the perils of forfeiting legitimacy,” he said.
“We cannot be safe from the threats that emanate from that land unless the civil war is brought to an end,” the spymaster said of Syria’s years-long struggle with foreign-backed militant groups.
He made the remarks as the Damascus government has made significant victories in purging Takfiri terrorists from militant-controlled areas of the Syrian city of Aleppo, one of the group’s main strongholds.
Pointing that British security forces had disrupted 12 terrorist plots since June 2013, Younger said Daesh had developed a “highly organized external attack planning structure” to attack the UK and other Western countries “without ever having to leave Syria.”
In another tongue-in-cheek jab at Russia, Younger blasted countries that have been trying to undermine Western governments through cyber attacks.
The US government has also leveled such charges against Moscow. The accusations reached their peak during this year’s presidential election cycle.
Democrats and the government of US President Barack Obama constantly accused Russia of trying to disrupt Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s campaign and influence the election in favor of President-elect Donald Trump.
“The connectivity at the heart of globalization can be exploited by states with hostile intent to further their aims of deniability. They do this through means as varied as cyber-attacks, propaganda or subversion of democratic process,” the MI6 chief said.
Younger’s remarks against Russia were in contrast with Trump’s view of Syria, who deems Moscow as a key player in the fight against terror in the Arab country.
Over the past few months, London has been constantly calling on the EU to unite and repel the “Russian aggression” by deploying more military forces in Eastern Europe.
The anti-Russian rhetoric has angered the Kremlin, with Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov dismissing the allegations as “Russophobic hysteria.”
Iraqi airstrikes kill dozens of Daesh terrorists near Syria border
Dozens of Daesh terrorists have been killed after Iraqi aircraft pounded the positions of the Tafkiri militants near the border with Syria, the Iraqi army says.
Iraq's Joint Operations Command (JOC) confirmed in a statement on Thursday that the Iraqi Air Force had carried out two strikes on al-Qa'im the previous day.
According to the command, the first airstrike targeted a two-storey building housing 25, mostly foreign militants, led by a commander named as Abu Maysar al-Kawkazi from the Caucasus region.
Among the foreign militants who are operating in Syria and Iraq, there is a significant number of Chechens and other extremists from North Caucasus, who were previously fighting against Russian security forces.
The JOC noted that the second strike hit a hideout hosting 30 to 40 Daesh Takfiri terrorists, also mostly foreigners.
The statement strongly rejected allegations that the air force had targeted civilians in the Daesh-held area of al-Qa'im, describing the claims as propaganda by the Takifiri terrorist group.
Amaq, a news outlet affiliated to Daesh, released a video late Wednesday, claiming that dozens of civilians had died in air attacks by Iraqi jets.
The JOC has said a blast there was caused by a car bomb that either went off accidentally or was detonated by Daesh terrorists for propaganda purposes.
Iraqi officials have called for a thorough investigation into the air raids. Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri has said those responsible for the tragedy must be brought to justice, and receive due punishment.
The airstrikes came as government forces and their allies pushed ahead with a multipronged operation to flush Daesh extremists out of Mosul, which serves as their last stronghold in Iraq.
Members of the Iraqi army assist Daesh terrorists to get into a pick-up as they leave the House of Justice before going to jail on December 6, 2016 in the town of Qayyarah, south of Mosul. (Photo by AFP)
On Wednesday, Iraqi forces recaptured eight villages in northern Mosul from Daesh. The Iraq Special Forces further managed to wrest control over al-Elam neighborhood in eastern Mosul.
The commander of the Nineveh Liberation Operation, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Yarallah, announced in a statement that the area was "fully liberated" and the Iraqi national flag was raised over several buildings there.
On October 17, Iraqi army soldiers and their allied forces launched an operation to retake Mosul from Daesh terrorists.
The Iraqi forces’ advance has, however, been slowed down due to the presence of hundreds of thousands of civilians, many of whom are prevented from leaving Mosul by Daesh
Dozens of Daesh terrorists have been killed after Iraqi aircraft pounded the positions of the Tafkiri militants near the border with Syria, the Iraqi army says.Iraq's Joint Operations Command (JOC) confirmed in a statement on Thursday that the Iraqi Air Force had carried out two strikes on al-Qa'im the previous day.
According to the command, the first airstrike targeted a two-storey building housing 25, mostly foreign militants, led by a commander named as Abu Maysar al-Kawkazi from the Caucasus region.
Among the foreign militants who are operating in Syria and Iraq, there is a significant number of Chechens and other extremists from North Caucasus, who were previously fighting against Russian security forces.
The JOC noted that the second strike hit a hideout hosting 30 to 40 Daesh Takfiri terrorists, also mostly foreigners.
The statement strongly rejected allegations that the air force had targeted civilians in the Daesh-held area of al-Qa'im, describing the claims as propaganda by the Takifiri terrorist group.
Amaq, a news outlet affiliated to Daesh, released a video late Wednesday, claiming that dozens of civilians had died in air attacks by Iraqi jets.
The JOC has said a blast there was caused by a car bomb that either went off accidentally or was detonated by Daesh terrorists for propaganda purposes.
Iraqi officials have called for a thorough investigation into the air raids. Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri has said those responsible for the tragedy must be brought to justice, and receive due punishment.
The airstrikes came as government forces and their allies pushed ahead with a multipronged operation to flush Daesh extremists out of Mosul, which serves as their last stronghold in Iraq.
Members of the Iraqi army assist Daesh terrorists to get into a pick-up as they leave the House of Justice before going to jail on December 6, 2016 in the town of Qayyarah, south of Mosul. (Photo by AFP)
On Wednesday, Iraqi forces recaptured eight villages in northern Mosul from Daesh. The Iraq Special Forces further managed to wrest control over al-Elam neighborhood in eastern Mosul.
The commander of the Nineveh Liberation Operation, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Yarallah, announced in a statement that the area was "fully liberated" and the Iraqi national flag was raised over several buildings there.
On October 17, Iraqi army soldiers and their allied forces launched an operation to retake Mosul from Daesh terrorists.
The Iraqi forces’ advance has, however, been slowed down due to the presence of hundreds of thousands of civilians, many of whom are prevented from leaving Mosul by Daesh
Akpede Needs Immediate Help for Breast Cancer Treatment
Emilia Akpede, a 45-year-old mother of four is in dire need of financial and medical assistance for the treatment of breast cancer, which is fast threatening her life.
She said while she has made several efforts to treat the health concern for the past three years, financial constraint and lack of prompt diagnosis were the reasons the cancer has developed to a stage in which parts of her breast now fall off at will with accompanying intense pain too difficult to bear.
Akpede, who is currently in a faith-based home for prayers as she is unable to afford treatment for the cancer, said when she noticed a lump around her breast three years ago, she went to the the Federal Medical Centre, Ebutte Metta, but couldn’t get the needed attention as they were on strike, and was therefore advised to check back after when doctors resumed.
Since she couldn’t afford diagnosis at a private health facility, she waited till the strike was called off five months after, and by then, the breast had changed shape, texture and colour. “By the time they attended to me, I was told I had to cut off the breast because that was the only guarantee that I would be free. But I was asked to bring N100,000 at the time, which I couldn’t afford,” she said.
She therefore resorted to taking pain killers and antibiotics until sores and pus became prominent features of the breast. “Now parts of my breast falls off at will and I am going through intense pain. Since then I haven’t even gone to the hospital because I do not have a dine with me for treatment, but I don’t want to die. Please don’t let me die,” she said tearfully.
Akpede is currently in a church in Agbara, Lagos, with the hope that since she is unable to afford treatment, prayers and anointing oil will heal her.
For medical or financial support, please call her on 081812595162 or 8027006224. Her account details are; Account Number: 0014088008, Account Name: Emmanuel Akpede, Bank Name: GTB
Emilia Akpede, a 45-year-old mother of four is in dire need of financial and medical assistance for the treatment of breast cancer, which is fast threatening her life.
She said while she has made several efforts to treat the health concern for the past three years, financial constraint and lack of prompt diagnosis were the reasons the cancer has developed to a stage in which parts of her breast now fall off at will with accompanying intense pain too difficult to bear.
Akpede, who is currently in a faith-based home for prayers as she is unable to afford treatment for the cancer, said when she noticed a lump around her breast three years ago, she went to the the Federal Medical Centre, Ebutte Metta, but couldn’t get the needed attention as they were on strike, and was therefore advised to check back after when doctors resumed.
Since she couldn’t afford diagnosis at a private health facility, she waited till the strike was called off five months after, and by then, the breast had changed shape, texture and colour. “By the time they attended to me, I was told I had to cut off the breast because that was the only guarantee that I would be free. But I was asked to bring N100,000 at the time, which I couldn’t afford,” she said.
She therefore resorted to taking pain killers and antibiotics until sores and pus became prominent features of the breast. “Now parts of my breast falls off at will and I am going through intense pain. Since then I haven’t even gone to the hospital because I do not have a dine with me for treatment, but I don’t want to die. Please don’t let me die,” she said tearfully.
Akpede is currently in a church in Agbara, Lagos, with the hope that since she is unable to afford treatment, prayers and anointing oil will heal her.
For medical or financial support, please call her on 081812595162 or 8027006224. Her account details are; Account Number: 0014088008, Account Name: Emmanuel Akpede, Bank Name: GTB
Woman arrested for allegedly trying to sell 3 babies
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, (NAPTIP) in Ebonyi State has taken custody of a woman, Odinaka Ali, arrested by the police for alleged attempt to sell her three children in Enugu State.
The Desk Officer of NAPTIP, Florence Onwa, stated this in Abakaliki while briefing journalists on the rescue of her children.
The 25-year-old woman from Ezilo in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State was said to be living with her husband in Enugu State with her three children until eight months ago when her husband abandoned them to an unknown destination.
According to the NAPTIP Desk Officer, Mrs. Onwa, police arrested the woman following a tip-off by a restaurant attendant she contacted to look for a trafficker who can buy her children as she could no longer take care of them.
“She wanted to sell the baby but it didn’t work. She was so unfortunate because the person she met to assist her sell the baby reported the matter to the police,” said Mrs. Onwa.
However, the suspect denied the allegation saying though she sought financial assistance from the attendant to feed her children and pay her house rent, she never discussed selling them with anybody.
The woman, who said her husband was from Amekpo Ohafia in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State, claimed that her arrest by the police and subsequent handover to the State Ministry of Gender Affairs in Enugu State before being brought to NAPTIP Office in Ebonyi State, was a frame-up.
She said, “My husband is from Amaekpo Ohafia, Abia State. I and my husband had issues before and we later reconciled. We did not have any problem when he abandoned us in April this year”.
“When I stayed few weeks I did not see him, I started doing menial jobs with my little children to enable me feed them. I kept doing this till it became so difficult for me to continue it and I decided to return to my village”.
“I didn’t want to sell my children at the initial time because I passed through caesarian operation before giving birth to all of them. I met a girl who sells food in a restaurant and narrated my problem to her and she promised to assist me.
“l met the girl before, so she asked me to come to her and wait for a woman who will enter into discussion with me. I waited for the woman and she did not come. I did this three times and I told the girl that I will not come again”.
“She persuaded me to continue coming and I changed my heart. Before I could notice it, Policemen stormed the place and started asking me what I was doing there and the whereabouts of the three kids I wanted to sell”.
“I told the policemen that I didn’t want to sell my babies because I gave birth to them through operations. The policemen asked me to follow them to their station and I refused.
“They immediately invited a policewoman who came and asked me to follow them to the station, that I should obey before complain and I followed them to the station.
“While in the station, the girl who asked me to come to her said I told her to start looking for who will buy my children.”
The head of Child Development Department, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Godwin Igwe, called on public spirited individuals to assist the woman take care of the children.
He said, “the three children and their mother just repatriated from the Enugu Ministry of Gender and Women Affairs to Ebonyi. The woman is from Ishielu local government area of Ebonyi State. When we interviewed her, she said she is finding it very difficult to survive let alone feed her children. She said her purported husband abandoned her and the children in April”.
“She said it was very difficult for her to be carrying the third child of eight months old for menial jobs and she became a wanderer. So, the Enugu state government repatriated her. Her mother is late and the father is very old and has nothing doing.
“Her major problem is how to eke a living. She said if the government or public spirited individual can assist her, she is ready to take care of her children.
“If she is allowed to continue to wander in the streets, the children are at risk and if anybody approaches her for the children, she can easily release the children to the person and they will become victims of child trafficking. So, the Enugu government did not repatriate her out of malice or hatred but for safety of the children.”
The Desk Officer of NAPTIP, Florence Onwa, stated this in Abakaliki while briefing journalists on the rescue of her children.
The 25-year-old woman from Ezilo in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State was said to be living with her husband in Enugu State with her three children until eight months ago when her husband abandoned them to an unknown destination.
According to the NAPTIP Desk Officer, Mrs. Onwa, police arrested the woman following a tip-off by a restaurant attendant she contacted to look for a trafficker who can buy her children as she could no longer take care of them.
“She wanted to sell the baby but it didn’t work. She was so unfortunate because the person she met to assist her sell the baby reported the matter to the police,” said Mrs. Onwa.
However, the suspect denied the allegation saying though she sought financial assistance from the attendant to feed her children and pay her house rent, she never discussed selling them with anybody.
The woman, who said her husband was from Amekpo Ohafia in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State, claimed that her arrest by the police and subsequent handover to the State Ministry of Gender Affairs in Enugu State before being brought to NAPTIP Office in Ebonyi State, was a frame-up.
She said, “My husband is from Amaekpo Ohafia, Abia State. I and my husband had issues before and we later reconciled. We did not have any problem when he abandoned us in April this year”.
“When I stayed few weeks I did not see him, I started doing menial jobs with my little children to enable me feed them. I kept doing this till it became so difficult for me to continue it and I decided to return to my village”.
“I didn’t want to sell my children at the initial time because I passed through caesarian operation before giving birth to all of them. I met a girl who sells food in a restaurant and narrated my problem to her and she promised to assist me.
“l met the girl before, so she asked me to come to her and wait for a woman who will enter into discussion with me. I waited for the woman and she did not come. I did this three times and I told the girl that I will not come again”.
“She persuaded me to continue coming and I changed my heart. Before I could notice it, Policemen stormed the place and started asking me what I was doing there and the whereabouts of the three kids I wanted to sell”.
“I told the policemen that I didn’t want to sell my babies because I gave birth to them through operations. The policemen asked me to follow them to their station and I refused.
“They immediately invited a policewoman who came and asked me to follow them to the station, that I should obey before complain and I followed them to the station.
“While in the station, the girl who asked me to come to her said I told her to start looking for who will buy my children.”
The head of Child Development Department, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Godwin Igwe, called on public spirited individuals to assist the woman take care of the children.
He said, “the three children and their mother just repatriated from the Enugu Ministry of Gender and Women Affairs to Ebonyi. The woman is from Ishielu local government area of Ebonyi State. When we interviewed her, she said she is finding it very difficult to survive let alone feed her children. She said her purported husband abandoned her and the children in April”.
“She said it was very difficult for her to be carrying the third child of eight months old for menial jobs and she became a wanderer. So, the Enugu state government repatriated her. Her mother is late and the father is very old and has nothing doing.
“Her major problem is how to eke a living. She said if the government or public spirited individual can assist her, she is ready to take care of her children.
“If she is allowed to continue to wander in the streets, the children are at risk and if anybody approaches her for the children, she can easily release the children to the person and they will become victims of child trafficking. So, the Enugu government did not repatriate her out of malice or hatred but for safety of the children.”
MY HUSBAND LEFT BECAUSE I REFUSED TO GIVE HIM ORAL SEX" WIFE TELLS COURT
42-year-old woman, Fausat Ayinde, approached a Lagos Island Customary Court on Thursday for the dissolution of her 15-year-old marriage on grounds of emotional abuse.
Fausat told the court that her husband deserted her because she refused him oral sex, adding that he made her feel inferior because of his complaints and verbal abuse.
The fruit seller said that their marital problems started five years ago when her interior decorator husband came back from a trip to Port-Harcourt and asked her to suck his genital.
“My husband got back from a trip and asked me to suck him, something we have never done since we got married.
“When I refused he told me that is what other girls do to him outside, since then my husband stopped making love to me,” she said.
The mother of two said that her husband also started complaining about her dress sense and her cooking.
She added that he packed out of the matrimonial home three years ago and rented another apartment two houses from her with another woman.
Fausat said that her husband came to her house on November 8 to beat her up and pack out her belongings.
“I am tired of the marriage; I have reported him to his family countless times but he has refused to change.
“Since he left, I have been the one responsible for the upkeep of the children,” she said.
She prayed the court to dissolve the marriage, give her custody of their children Ahmeed 15, and Ahmeedat 12, adding that the husband should be responsible for their upkeep.
The husband, Lukman Ayinde, 45, told the court that the genesis of their marital problems was not sexual.
Lukman said that the basis of their issues was that his wife did not know how to take care of herself, her home, her man and children.
He said that on many occasions, he had tried to upgrade her to his taste by buying her dresses, shoes and bags.
He said that his wife was also very stubborn and had refused to change, adding, “she dresses awkwardly and is unattractive’’.
“I have complained about her dress sense severally, my wife can wear mismatched top and skirt with dirty flip flop slippers to anywhere.
“When I complain, she will say who is looking at her forgetting that I am her husband, I am looking, I cannot control her.
“I cannot introduce her as my wife to my colleagues, she sells in Victoria Island, Kofo Abayomi and she meets notable people but she has refused to package herself.
“She wears jeans skirt to bed, claiming that she is tired anytime I touch her.
“She does not know how to take care of the house, her man and the kids,” he said.
Opeyemi Olanrewaju, the court Deputy President said that Lukman was behaving like a typical African man who “sees women as sex object that he could use and dump.
“You have been with other women and you are comparing her with them, before and after you married her, she gave you two kids there was nothing wrong with her.
“Now she is no longer good for you,” she said.
The court President, Awos Awosola said that the husband should pay N220,000, as the arrears of the money for the upkeep of the children on or before December 20.
He ordered him not to visit the house again and that the children should be brought to the court whenever he wants to see them.
He urged both parties to maintain peace and adjourned the case to December 28 for further hearing
Man docked for allegedly raping his12-year-old niece
For allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl, Samson Akinse on Thursday appeared before Chief Magistrate B. O. Osunsanmi of an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State.
The accused, an unemployed man who lives in Ajegunle, a suburb of Lagos, is being tried for alleged rape and incest.
The prosecutor, Simeon Inuoha, told the court that the offence was committed on October 28 at the accused residence.
Mr. Inuoha, a police inspector, said that the accused raped this victim who happened to be his niece.
“The victim told her mother and the accused was apprehended,’’ he said.
The offence contravenes section 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The judge granted the accused to a bail of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum.
She adjourned the case to February 13 for mention.
The accused, an unemployed man who lives in Ajegunle, a suburb of Lagos, is being tried for alleged rape and incest.
The prosecutor, Simeon Inuoha, told the court that the offence was committed on October 28 at the accused residence.
Mr. Inuoha, a police inspector, said that the accused raped this victim who happened to be his niece.
“The victim told her mother and the accused was apprehended,’’ he said.
The offence contravenes section 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The judge granted the accused to a bail of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum.
She adjourned the case to February 13 for mention.
Eid-El-Maulud: FG declares Dec 12th public holiday
The Federal Government has declared Monday Dec 12th as public holiday to mark the Eid-El-Maulud celebration. This was contained in a statement released today by the Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau. He wished all Nigerians a happy and peaceful Eid-El-Maulud celebration.
The Federal Government has declared Monday Dec 12th as public holiday to mark the Eid-El-Maulud celebration. This was contained in a statement released today by the Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau. He wished all Nigerians a happy and peaceful Eid-El-Maulud celebration.
US black woman faces jail after being dragged naked by police
An African American woman in New York City could spend a year in prison for allegedly assaulting an officer after being dragged from her apartment and left naked in a public hallway by a dozen “rookie” officers.
Denise Stewart, 50, is on trial in Brooklyn Criminal Court on charges of assaulting an officer in July 2014 when they attempted to arrest her on charges of beating her child.
Stewart’s 12-year-old daughter said her mother and older sister beat her in the head with a belt, according to the criminal complaint.
“All of this happened during the course of a training exercise involving rookies with little or no experience who were out and about looking for hands-on experience,” Stewart’s attorney, Amy Rameau, said Wednesday during her opening arguments.
Police were called to Stewart’s apartment building for a separate incident when a noise was heard from her door, said Rameau. The officers knocked on her door and demanded entry.
Stewart, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes and uses an oxygen tank, was just getting out of the shower when she answered the door in a towel.
“You will see this police culture and how police conduct themselves in communities like East New York and Brownsville versus the Upper East Side,” said Rameau.
The incident, which was captured on a neighbor’s mobile phone, caused Stewart to drop her towel, leaving her exposed with only white underwear. Stewart’s older son tried to intervene and was also arrested.
“The police officers involved conducted themselves deplorably. This is about the blue wall of silence. None of them will come forward with the truth, blunder and embarrassment to the NYPD,” said Rameau.
The incident comes at a time when anti-police sentiment is high across the US due to a surge of unjustified killings of unarmed African Americans and other minorities over the past several years.
An African American woman in New York City could spend a year in prison for allegedly assaulting an officer after being dragged from her apartment and left naked in a public hallway by a dozen “rookie” officers.
Denise Stewart, 50, is on trial in Brooklyn Criminal Court on charges of assaulting an officer in July 2014 when they attempted to arrest her on charges of beating her child.
Stewart’s 12-year-old daughter said her mother and older sister beat her in the head with a belt, according to the criminal complaint.
“All of this happened during the course of a training exercise involving rookies with little or no experience who were out and about looking for hands-on experience,” Stewart’s attorney, Amy Rameau, said Wednesday during her opening arguments.
Police were called to Stewart’s apartment building for a separate incident when a noise was heard from her door, said Rameau. The officers knocked on her door and demanded entry.
Stewart, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes and uses an oxygen tank, was just getting out of the shower when she answered the door in a towel.
“You will see this police culture and how police conduct themselves in communities like East New York and Brownsville versus the Upper East Side,” said Rameau.
The incident, which was captured on a neighbor’s mobile phone, caused Stewart to drop her towel, leaving her exposed with only white underwear. Stewart’s older son tried to intervene and was also arrested.
“The police officers involved conducted themselves deplorably. This is about the blue wall of silence. None of them will come forward with the truth, blunder and embarrassment to the NYPD,” said Rameau.
The incident comes at a time when anti-police sentiment is high across the US due to a surge of unjustified killings of unarmed African Americans and other minorities over the past several years.
Wednesday 7 December 2016
Boyfriend stabs NDDC lover to death for refusing to make him ‘next-of-kin’ to her account
PORT HARCOURT— Boyfriend to a female staff of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Miss Sophia Phillips Horsefall, and two others were, yesterday, arraigned at a Port Harcourt magistrate’s court by Department of State Services, DSS, for stabbing her to death after she had refused to make him, the boyfriend, her next-of-kin to her bank account as well as her refusal to give him one million (N1 million) he had demanded from her. The accused, Sotonye Martin, Innocent Oluche and Wachukwu Ugochukwu committed the murder on November 8 this year. The late Sophia Philips Horsefall Counsel to the DSS, Mr C. S. Eze, told the court that the first defendant, Mr. Sotonye Martin, lured the deceased, who he had a 13-year-old daughter for, to the house of the second defendant, Innocent Oluche, where he allegedly stabbed her to death. He claimed the first and second defendants later buried the deceased in a shallow grave, noting that they invited the third defendant, Wachukwu Ugochukwu, a spiritualist, to perform some rituals. According to him, the accused were brought before the court on a three-count charge which included “stabbing to death with a jack knife and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316 and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code Law, Laws of Rivers State 1999.” The accused did not take plea. Chief Magistrate F. Alikor referred the casefile to the state Director of Public Prosecution, saying her court did not have jurisdiction to entertain matters over murder which was the second charge. She remanded the accused in prison custody and adjourned the matter indefinitely. Elder brother to the deceased, Mr Amatu Phillips, while speaking to newsmen, alleged that his sister was murdered by the boyfriend of 13 years, Mr. Martin because of her wealth. He claimed she had some money in her account and confided in the boyfriend who later kept on pestering her for financial support. According to him, after the sister had allegedly given him money several times, he came again demanding for N1 million which she refused. He alleged that the boyfriend later lured her to his friend’s house, offered her a fruit juice drink which, unknown to the sister, was drugged. He alleged that when the boyfriend noticed that she was dizzy from effect of the drug, he stabbed her on the neck, demanding her ATM card and password. He claimed the boyfriend had before that day persuaded his sister to change the name of her next of kin on her bank details to his name.
PORT HARCOURT— Boyfriend to a female staff of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Miss Sophia Phillips Horsefall, and two others were, yesterday, arraigned at a Port Harcourt magistrate’s court by Department of State Services, DSS, for stabbing her to death after she had refused to make him, the boyfriend, her next-of-kin to her bank account as well as her refusal to give him one million (N1 million) he had demanded from her. The accused, Sotonye Martin, Innocent Oluche and Wachukwu Ugochukwu committed the murder on November 8 this year. The late Sophia Philips Horsefall Counsel to the DSS, Mr C. S. Eze, told the court that the first defendant, Mr. Sotonye Martin, lured the deceased, who he had a 13-year-old daughter for, to the house of the second defendant, Innocent Oluche, where he allegedly stabbed her to death. He claimed the first and second defendants later buried the deceased in a shallow grave, noting that they invited the third defendant, Wachukwu Ugochukwu, a spiritualist, to perform some rituals. According to him, the accused were brought before the court on a three-count charge which included “stabbing to death with a jack knife and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316 and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code Law, Laws of Rivers State 1999.” The accused did not take plea. Chief Magistrate F. Alikor referred the casefile to the state Director of Public Prosecution, saying her court did not have jurisdiction to entertain matters over murder which was the second charge. She remanded the accused in prison custody and adjourned the matter indefinitely. Elder brother to the deceased, Mr Amatu Phillips, while speaking to newsmen, alleged that his sister was murdered by the boyfriend of 13 years, Mr. Martin because of her wealth. He claimed she had some money in her account and confided in the boyfriend who later kept on pestering her for financial support. According to him, after the sister had allegedly given him money several times, he came again demanding for N1 million which she refused. He alleged that the boyfriend later lured her to his friend’s house, offered her a fruit juice drink which, unknown to the sister, was drugged. He alleged that when the boyfriend noticed that she was dizzy from effect of the drug, he stabbed her on the neck, demanding her ATM card and password. He claimed the boyfriend had before that day persuaded his sister to change the name of her next of kin on her bank details to his name.
IPOB dares Army, launches Operation David Dance
Onitsha — The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, worldwide and its Directorate of State, DOS, said it has launched Operation David Dance in response to the Army’s Operation Python Dance. It, however, advised its members and other Biafrans to avoid anything that would make them clash with the Operation Python Dancers , saying it has discovered a grand plan by the military to murder more south easterners in the name of providing security . IPOB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Mr Emma Powerful, said: “We have launched our own “Operation David Dance” which is recognized by God Almighty in the Bible. It was used by King David to dance against Goliath and all his bragging at the battle front. “We are also aware that the world knows that the annual report from Amnesty International against the cold blooded killing of unarmed members of IPOB in Biafra land by the Nigerian security agents is correct and even the soldiers know that the report did not reveal details and other atrocities of the blood thirsty soldiers “Our Operation David Dance will do to the military what David did to Goliath in the battlefield. The only difference is that we are not using weapons, but the spiritual warfare backed by Chukwu Okike Abiama that disgraced them with the Amnesty International report. “The world will never stop blaming them for killing innocent civilians and this is now gathering momentum around the world. That is why they are running to cover the crime committed in a broad daylight.” Army dedicates phone lines in S-East Meantime, the Nigerian Army has dedicated some telephone lines to the South-East by way of modifying Operation Python Dance in the zone. A statement by Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, has urged the public to call any of the dedicated GSM lines for information and help during its operation in the south east. The statement read: “The general public is hereby requested to please call any of the following dedicated GSM phone numbers for any information or request for help during the ongoing Exercise Python Dance in the South-East : .Headquarters 14 Brigade, Ohafia, Abia State— 07068688482. .Headquarters 302 Artillery Regiment, Awka, Anambra State— 07011115583. .Headquarters 24 Support Engineer Regiment, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State —09053974736. .Headquarters 82 Division Garrison, Enugu, Enugu State —08063282844. .Headquarters 34 Brigade, Owerri, Imo State— 08171609638 and 08065642870.” Rights group condemns military siege But a rights group, the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network, CRRAN, has asked the Federal Government to tell Nigerians the reasons for the current siege on the South-East by the military when there was no major political or civil unrest in the region, saying the development was a major assault on the freedom of movement of Ndigbo as a people. In a statement, entitled: “Militarization of South East Nigeria: A Clear Case of Grave Violation of the Rights to Freedom of Movement and Freedom from Discrimination,” in Enugu, CRRAN President, Olu Omatayo, noted: “The South-East states of Nigeria, which had hitherto been very peaceful, has come under siege as the men of Nigerian Army took over major roads of south east states with massive deployment of its’ personnel in its’ so-called “Operation Python Dance.” According to the statement, “the question that readily comes to mind is: what is the reason for this deliberate assault on the freedom of movement of the inhabitants of this region? “To enter the southeast of Nigeria through the only road from western Nigeria, the head bridge, Onitsha is like a carmel passing through the eye of a needle. Massive presence of the military which mounted several road blocks in this region suggests a region under siege. “The several roadblocks have created terrible traffic hold up in the affected areas. “The present Federal Government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, though a civilian regime, has not come to terms that in any democratic society, the fundamental rights of the citizens prevail. There has not been any incident or glaring acts of threat to the peace by any group in the region to support this invasion.”
Onitsha — The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, worldwide and its Directorate of State, DOS, said it has launched Operation David Dance in response to the Army’s Operation Python Dance. It, however, advised its members and other Biafrans to avoid anything that would make them clash with the Operation Python Dancers , saying it has discovered a grand plan by the military to murder more south easterners in the name of providing security . IPOB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Mr Emma Powerful, said: “We have launched our own “Operation David Dance” which is recognized by God Almighty in the Bible. It was used by King David to dance against Goliath and all his bragging at the battle front. “We are also aware that the world knows that the annual report from Amnesty International against the cold blooded killing of unarmed members of IPOB in Biafra land by the Nigerian security agents is correct and even the soldiers know that the report did not reveal details and other atrocities of the blood thirsty soldiers “Our Operation David Dance will do to the military what David did to Goliath in the battlefield. The only difference is that we are not using weapons, but the spiritual warfare backed by Chukwu Okike Abiama that disgraced them with the Amnesty International report. “The world will never stop blaming them for killing innocent civilians and this is now gathering momentum around the world. That is why they are running to cover the crime committed in a broad daylight.” Army dedicates phone lines in S-East Meantime, the Nigerian Army has dedicated some telephone lines to the South-East by way of modifying Operation Python Dance in the zone. A statement by Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, has urged the public to call any of the dedicated GSM lines for information and help during its operation in the south east. The statement read: “The general public is hereby requested to please call any of the following dedicated GSM phone numbers for any information or request for help during the ongoing Exercise Python Dance in the South-East : .Headquarters 14 Brigade, Ohafia, Abia State— 07068688482. .Headquarters 302 Artillery Regiment, Awka, Anambra State— 07011115583. .Headquarters 24 Support Engineer Regiment, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State —09053974736. .Headquarters 82 Division Garrison, Enugu, Enugu State —08063282844. .Headquarters 34 Brigade, Owerri, Imo State— 08171609638 and 08065642870.” Rights group condemns military siege But a rights group, the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network, CRRAN, has asked the Federal Government to tell Nigerians the reasons for the current siege on the South-East by the military when there was no major political or civil unrest in the region, saying the development was a major assault on the freedom of movement of Ndigbo as a people. In a statement, entitled: “Militarization of South East Nigeria: A Clear Case of Grave Violation of the Rights to Freedom of Movement and Freedom from Discrimination,” in Enugu, CRRAN President, Olu Omatayo, noted: “The South-East states of Nigeria, which had hitherto been very peaceful, has come under siege as the men of Nigerian Army took over major roads of south east states with massive deployment of its’ personnel in its’ so-called “Operation Python Dance.” According to the statement, “the question that readily comes to mind is: what is the reason for this deliberate assault on the freedom of movement of the inhabitants of this region? “To enter the southeast of Nigeria through the only road from western Nigeria, the head bridge, Onitsha is like a carmel passing through the eye of a needle. Massive presence of the military which mounted several road blocks in this region suggests a region under siege. “The several roadblocks have created terrible traffic hold up in the affected areas. “The present Federal Government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, though a civilian regime, has not come to terms that in any democratic society, the fundamental rights of the citizens prevail. There has not been any incident or glaring acts of threat to the peace by any group in the region to support this invasion.”
Another US F/A-18 jet crashes off coast of Japan
A US Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet aircraft has crashed off the coast of southern Japan and a search and rescue mission is underway to find its pilot, US military officials say.
The jet went down on Wednesday afternoon, when it was flying about 120 miles southeast of the city of Iwakuni, which is located in Yamaguchi Prefecture and hosts a Marine Corps air station.
A search and rescue mission was underway to find the pilot, whose whereabouts were unknown after ejecting the jet.
The Hornet was assigned to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa, and the pilot was on a routine training mission when the “mishap” occurred, according to a statement by the military.
Marine Corps aviation experts could not immediately determine the cause of the crash.
This was the 9th crash involving F/A-18 variants over the past six months (including a Canadian CF-18lost in late November), further baffling American military officials who have yet to offer an explanation for the aircraft’s high crash rate.
On November 9, two F/A-18 Hornets belonging to the Marine Corps crashed near San Diego. Another one from Swiss air force was lost on August 29, days after a US Navy F/A-18C crashed on August 2.
In early June, an F/A-18 from the US Navy’s Blue Angels acrobatic team went down, killing its pilot. Less than a week before that, another Marine Hornet had crashed in California.
Alarmed by the high number of crashes between June and October, the US Marine Corps temporarily grounded all of its non-deployed Hornets. Two more jets crashed few days after the ban was lifted.
According to the US Naval Institute (USNI), the crashes last year slashed the number of available Hornet aircraft for training purposes to 85, far fewer than the 171 required.
To fill some of the gap, the Marine Corps has asked Boeing to upgrade 30 retired Hornets to a new standard, helping the force to keep up with the demand until the much-delayed F-35 replacements arrive.
A US Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet aircraft has crashed off the coast of southern Japan and a search and rescue mission is underway to find its pilot, US military officials say.
The jet went down on Wednesday afternoon, when it was flying about 120 miles southeast of the city of Iwakuni, which is located in Yamaguchi Prefecture and hosts a Marine Corps air station.
A search and rescue mission was underway to find the pilot, whose whereabouts were unknown after ejecting the jet.
The Hornet was assigned to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa, and the pilot was on a routine training mission when the “mishap” occurred, according to a statement by the military.
Marine Corps aviation experts could not immediately determine the cause of the crash.
This was the 9th crash involving F/A-18 variants over the past six months (including a Canadian CF-18lost in late November), further baffling American military officials who have yet to offer an explanation for the aircraft’s high crash rate.
On November 9, two F/A-18 Hornets belonging to the Marine Corps crashed near San Diego. Another one from Swiss air force was lost on August 29, days after a US Navy F/A-18C crashed on August 2.
In early June, an F/A-18 from the US Navy’s Blue Angels acrobatic team went down, killing its pilot. Less than a week before that, another Marine Hornet had crashed in California.
Alarmed by the high number of crashes between June and October, the US Marine Corps temporarily grounded all of its non-deployed Hornets. Two more jets crashed few days after the ban was lifted.
According to the US Naval Institute (USNI), the crashes last year slashed the number of available Hornet aircraft for training purposes to 85, far fewer than the 171 required.
To fill some of the gap, the Marine Corps has asked Boeing to upgrade 30 retired Hornets to a new standard, helping the force to keep up with the demand until the much-delayed F-35 replacements arrive.
We’ll actualize Biafra without shooting a gun – IPOB
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, worldwide and its Directorate of State, DOS has said that it would not achieve Biafra’s sovereignty through warfare and bloodshed but will rather achieve it through globally accepted procedures.
It said the United Nations has a set of approved self-determination processes and hence, urged the Nigerian Government and its military to be civil and play by the globally accepted approaches in their dealings with self-determination seeking groups like it.
Members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, at St Peter's Square Rome, during their visit to Pope Francis at theVatican.
Members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, at St Peter’s Square Rome, during their visit to Pope Francis at theVatican.
In a statement by IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Emma Powerful, it said “we are aware that some individuals fear that the Biafra actualization project will turn bloody like done in the 1967 and 1970, but we want to assure them that it will not be so because the international law gives room for the restoration of Biafra through the stipulated lay down processes that will be applied without shedding blood.”
“Biafran by nature have respect for human life. We are not war-mongers like as known by the world unlike the people who are persecuting us who have no respect for human life.”
“Biafrans do not like to shed blood, and the actualization of Biafra will not change us. What happened in the past was the extreme pushing of the Biafran to the wall, but times have changed, we must achieve Biafra without shooting a gun.”
“We therefore want to take this opportunity to let Biafrans, Nigerians and the entire world know that Biafra’s restoration is not by war, the United Nations law permits the rights for the self determination of the indigenous people around the world, and ours will never be an exception.”
“The United Nations and the international community have made self determination possible for other countries around the world and it must be possible for Biafra. There is nothing stopping up, not even the mass killing by the Nigerian military will stop us; not even the directionless All Progressives Congress, APC government will stop us.”
“The continued incarceration of our God-sent leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, who has shown that he is unruffled, that he is committed and ready to give his life and comfort for the actualization of Biafra, will stop us from achieving Biafra Independence.”
“Not the repeated failed attempt to kill Nnamdi Kanu by the present administration in Nigeria, and now the resort to continue to detain him by intimidating judges in Nigerian by the present APC government will stop actualization of Biafra.”
“We thank God for the type of leader we have who is not ready to compromise, whose determination has toughened thousands of Biafrans to follow his footsteps.”
“IPOB now have with the encouragement of Mr. Kanu millions of youths who will help achieve Biafra. So, the Nigerian government is wasting it’s time incarcerating Mr. Kanu our God-ordained leader.”
The IPOB’s statement equally stated that, “Singapore was created out of Malaysia, Pakistan was created out of India, Bangladesh was created out of Pakistan, East Timor was created out of Indonesia, Sudan was created out of Great Egypt, Eritrea was created out of Ethiopia, South Sudan was created out of Sudan, Southern Cameroon was carved out of Nigeria and Namibia was once part of South Africa.”
It further stated that “Gambia was once part of Senegambia, Ukraine was once part of USSR, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia were once together in Yugoslavia, Crimea was once part of Ukraine, Czech and Slovakia were once together as Czechoslovakia and today they are all independent countries and most of them did not fight a war before they were freed.”
“Biafra fought a war of defense in 1967 to 1970 under the supreme command and the great and unmatchable leadership of late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the undisputed Biafra warlord, whom we are proud of today and will remain forever and therefore we cannot fight another war to get freedom.”
“Our freedom must come without a war or gun shot. Nnamdi Kanu will lead us to achieve independent Biafra. Incarcerating him is just postponing the evil day for those behind his ordeal.”
“We have no doubt that very soon it will be written in the history, that Biafra was part of Nigeria because unity by force is slavery and it is unacceptable by Biafrans. We can be neighbours and do inter trading and other important things in common, but it is not by force to stay together as one country.”
“Nevertheless, the Biafrans all over the world have made up their minds to be free from economic strangulation, killings, humiliation, marginalization, injustice in the Nigerian project against the Biafrans. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will see his children through,” the statement concluded.
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, worldwide and its Directorate of State, DOS has said that it would not achieve Biafra’s sovereignty through warfare and bloodshed but will rather achieve it through globally accepted procedures.
It said the United Nations has a set of approved self-determination processes and hence, urged the Nigerian Government and its military to be civil and play by the globally accepted approaches in their dealings with self-determination seeking groups like it.
Members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, at St Peter's Square Rome, during their visit to Pope Francis at theVatican.
Members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, at St Peter’s Square Rome, during their visit to Pope Francis at theVatican.
In a statement by IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Emma Powerful, it said “we are aware that some individuals fear that the Biafra actualization project will turn bloody like done in the 1967 and 1970, but we want to assure them that it will not be so because the international law gives room for the restoration of Biafra through the stipulated lay down processes that will be applied without shedding blood.”
“Biafran by nature have respect for human life. We are not war-mongers like as known by the world unlike the people who are persecuting us who have no respect for human life.”
“Biafrans do not like to shed blood, and the actualization of Biafra will not change us. What happened in the past was the extreme pushing of the Biafran to the wall, but times have changed, we must achieve Biafra without shooting a gun.”
“We therefore want to take this opportunity to let Biafrans, Nigerians and the entire world know that Biafra’s restoration is not by war, the United Nations law permits the rights for the self determination of the indigenous people around the world, and ours will never be an exception.”
“The United Nations and the international community have made self determination possible for other countries around the world and it must be possible for Biafra. There is nothing stopping up, not even the mass killing by the Nigerian military will stop us; not even the directionless All Progressives Congress, APC government will stop us.”
“The continued incarceration of our God-sent leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, who has shown that he is unruffled, that he is committed and ready to give his life and comfort for the actualization of Biafra, will stop us from achieving Biafra Independence.”
“Not the repeated failed attempt to kill Nnamdi Kanu by the present administration in Nigeria, and now the resort to continue to detain him by intimidating judges in Nigerian by the present APC government will stop actualization of Biafra.”
“We thank God for the type of leader we have who is not ready to compromise, whose determination has toughened thousands of Biafrans to follow his footsteps.”
“IPOB now have with the encouragement of Mr. Kanu millions of youths who will help achieve Biafra. So, the Nigerian government is wasting it’s time incarcerating Mr. Kanu our God-ordained leader.”
The IPOB’s statement equally stated that, “Singapore was created out of Malaysia, Pakistan was created out of India, Bangladesh was created out of Pakistan, East Timor was created out of Indonesia, Sudan was created out of Great Egypt, Eritrea was created out of Ethiopia, South Sudan was created out of Sudan, Southern Cameroon was carved out of Nigeria and Namibia was once part of South Africa.”
It further stated that “Gambia was once part of Senegambia, Ukraine was once part of USSR, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia were once together in Yugoslavia, Crimea was once part of Ukraine, Czech and Slovakia were once together as Czechoslovakia and today they are all independent countries and most of them did not fight a war before they were freed.”
“Biafra fought a war of defense in 1967 to 1970 under the supreme command and the great and unmatchable leadership of late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the undisputed Biafra warlord, whom we are proud of today and will remain forever and therefore we cannot fight another war to get freedom.”
“Our freedom must come without a war or gun shot. Nnamdi Kanu will lead us to achieve independent Biafra. Incarcerating him is just postponing the evil day for those behind his ordeal.”
“We have no doubt that very soon it will be written in the history, that Biafra was part of Nigeria because unity by force is slavery and it is unacceptable by Biafrans. We can be neighbours and do inter trading and other important things in common, but it is not by force to stay together as one country.”
“Nevertheless, the Biafrans all over the world have made up their minds to be free from economic strangulation, killings, humiliation, marginalization, injustice in the Nigerian project against the Biafrans. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will see his children through,” the statement concluded.
Israel warplanes hit airbase near Damascus
Syria’s state television says Israeli military aircraft have targeted an airbase near the capital Damascus.
The attack took place on Wednesday, the television reported, verifying earlier unconfirmed reports that the Israeli air force had launched the raid against the el-Mezzeh outpost from the Lebanese airspace.
Large explosions rang out after the attack. Syria’s al-Ikhbariyah television channel said the explosions hit fuel depots at the base.
Lebanese al-Mayadeen channel, meanwhile, reported that Israeli airstrikes had hit an important Syrian military airport in the capital.
Last week, Israeli fighter jets carried out missile attacks from Lebanese skies against two targets close to the highway connecting Damascus to the Lebanese capital Beirut. Syria’s official news agency SANA cited an unnamed military source as saying that the missiles fell on the Saboura area west of Damascus.
The source said the Israeli assault was an attempt to “divert attention away from the successes of” government forces on the battleground against Takfiri militants.
Devoted to the cause of ousting the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Israel has been a staunch supporter of the Takfiri terrorists fighting in the Arab country. The regime provides treatment to the terrorists in the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, parts of which it has occupied since 1967.
In the past, Israeli jets have time and again carried out sorties inside the Syrian territory under various pretexts. Back in May, an Israeli strike against Damascus claimed the life of Mustafa Badreddine, a senior Hezbollah commander.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement, which fought off two Israeli wars in 2006 and 2008 at home, has been successfully helping Syria to defend itself in the face of terrorists and to prevent the spillover of the crisis into Lebanon.
The attack took place on Wednesday, the television reported, verifying earlier unconfirmed reports that the Israeli air force had launched the raid against the el-Mezzeh outpost from the Lebanese airspace.
Large explosions rang out after the attack. Syria’s al-Ikhbariyah television channel said the explosions hit fuel depots at the base.
Lebanese al-Mayadeen channel, meanwhile, reported that Israeli airstrikes had hit an important Syrian military airport in the capital.
Last week, Israeli fighter jets carried out missile attacks from Lebanese skies against two targets close to the highway connecting Damascus to the Lebanese capital Beirut. Syria’s official news agency SANA cited an unnamed military source as saying that the missiles fell on the Saboura area west of Damascus.
The source said the Israeli assault was an attempt to “divert attention away from the successes of” government forces on the battleground against Takfiri militants.
Devoted to the cause of ousting the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Israel has been a staunch supporter of the Takfiri terrorists fighting in the Arab country. The regime provides treatment to the terrorists in the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, parts of which it has occupied since 1967.
In the past, Israeli jets have time and again carried out sorties inside the Syrian territory under various pretexts. Back in May, an Israeli strike against Damascus claimed the life of Mustafa Badreddine, a senior Hezbollah commander.
Lagos driver brings out manhood for passengers to see (photos)
A Lagos driver, who absolutely does not give a hoot about anything in this world, was said to have openly brought out his manhood. He started rubbing it as passengers board his board in broad day light this morning, December 8.
Lagos driver brings out manhood for passengers to see (photos)
The driver brought out his manhood to the surprise of all passengers
According to Instablog9ja, this story was shared by a female eyewitness. She wrote:
“So today I boarded I bus from Ojota going Oshodi – Maryland the bus took quite sometime to get filled up with people. I sat in the front so I was beginning to get uncomfortable waiting for the bus to get filled up then I told the driver I want to get down. He begged me not to, so I sat down.
PAY ATTENTION: Get all the latest gossips on NAIJ Gossip App
"Few minutes later, he started scratching his groin then before I knew anything, he just brought it out in the open and started rubbing it (Buh he wasn’t masturbating). You needed to have seen the expression on my face at first I was scared, I just brought my earpiece out and started listening to music on my phone he kept on looking at me the session lasted for about 20min. I just sha managed to take a picture of it.”
See the uncensored picture of the driver's manhood here.
A Lagos driver, who absolutely does not give a hoot about anything in this world, was said to have openly brought out his manhood. He started rubbing it as passengers board his board in broad day light this morning, December 8.
Lagos driver brings out manhood for passengers to see (photos)
The driver brought out his manhood to the surprise of all passengers
According to Instablog9ja, this story was shared by a female eyewitness. She wrote:
“So today I boarded I bus from Ojota going Oshodi – Maryland the bus took quite sometime to get filled up with people. I sat in the front so I was beginning to get uncomfortable waiting for the bus to get filled up then I told the driver I want to get down. He begged me not to, so I sat down.
PAY ATTENTION: Get all the latest gossips on NAIJ Gossip App
"Few minutes later, he started scratching his groin then before I knew anything, he just brought it out in the open and started rubbing it (Buh he wasn’t masturbating). You needed to have seen the expression on my face at first I was scared, I just brought my earpiece out and started listening to music on my phone he kept on looking at me the session lasted for about 20min. I just sha managed to take a picture of it.”
See the uncensored picture of the driver's manhood here.
Tuesday 6 December 2016
Nigerian soldiers, policemen arrested for ‘raping, sexually exploiting’ women displaced by Boko Haram
The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Ibrahim Idris, said two policemen, three army personnel, one prison official, one Air Force personnel, a staff of Borno Ministry for Agriculture and two members of the Civilian JTF have been arrested for sexually abusing women and girls displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency.
A report published in Human Rights Watch, in October, detailed how government officials abused and raped women living at IDP camps in Borno State.
The report documented sexual abuse, including rape and exploitation, of 43 women and girls living in seven internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Four of the victims told Human Rights Watch that they were drugged and raped, while 37 were coerced into sex through false marriage promises and material and financial assistance.
President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the I-G and the affected state governors to investigate the allegation.
Police set up a special panel to investigate the alleged abuses.
Speaking Tuesday at the Inspector-General of Police Conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Mr Idris said police would liaise with the Army and Air Force to make their personnel available for a thorough investigation.
Mr. Idris said after the investigation, any suspects found guilty of the offence would be dismissed and taken to court for prosecution.
“We are going to conduct a thorough investigation and if anyone is found guilty we will dismiss him then take him to court,” he said.
He said the police had put in place some mechanisms, including the deployment of female police officers to IDPs camp, to check future occurrences.
On the Rivers re-run election, Mr. Idris said the police force had begun the deployment of personnel to the state for peaceful and fair election.
He said there was need for collaboration between the police and sister security agencies for the election.
Mr. Idris, who declined to comment on the alleged withdrawal of the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Gov. Nyisom Wike of Rivers, said the police had a good working relationship with all the 36 state governors.
He advised state commissioners of police to ensure that Nigerians were not subjected to hardships on the roads during the Yuletide.
“You should ensure that no hardship is created for citizens of Nigeria, try and ease movements on the roads,” he said.
The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Ibrahim Idris, said two policemen, three army personnel, one prison official, one Air Force personnel, a staff of Borno Ministry for Agriculture and two members of the Civilian JTF have been arrested for sexually abusing women and girls displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency.
A report published in Human Rights Watch, in October, detailed how government officials abused and raped women living at IDP camps in Borno State.
The report documented sexual abuse, including rape and exploitation, of 43 women and girls living in seven internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Four of the victims told Human Rights Watch that they were drugged and raped, while 37 were coerced into sex through false marriage promises and material and financial assistance.
President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the I-G and the affected state governors to investigate the allegation.
Police set up a special panel to investigate the alleged abuses.
Speaking Tuesday at the Inspector-General of Police Conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Mr Idris said police would liaise with the Army and Air Force to make their personnel available for a thorough investigation.
Mr. Idris said after the investigation, any suspects found guilty of the offence would be dismissed and taken to court for prosecution.
“We are going to conduct a thorough investigation and if anyone is found guilty we will dismiss him then take him to court,” he said.
He said the police had put in place some mechanisms, including the deployment of female police officers to IDPs camp, to check future occurrences.
On the Rivers re-run election, Mr. Idris said the police force had begun the deployment of personnel to the state for peaceful and fair election.
He said there was need for collaboration between the police and sister security agencies for the election.
Mr. Idris, who declined to comment on the alleged withdrawal of the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Gov. Nyisom Wike of Rivers, said the police had a good working relationship with all the 36 state governors.
He advised state commissioners of police to ensure that Nigerians were not subjected to hardships on the roads during the Yuletide.
“You should ensure that no hardship is created for citizens of Nigeria, try and ease movements on the roads,” he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday asked Nigerian elite to stop making what he called expensive demands from his administration because things would no longer be done in the old way.
He warned them to stop insisting that things should be done the old way which impoverished the nation.
The President spoke during a meeting he had with a group of Nigerians in the Diaspora, on the margins of the 3rd Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa in Dakar, Senegal.
Stop making expensive demands from me, Buhari tells Nigerians
According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said his administration was on the right track to improve the image of the country by entrenching accountability and probity in governance.
He told the 11-man Nigerian delegation of association leaders resident in Senegal and Cote D’ Ivoire, that the last 16 years of poor handling of the nation’s resources and infrastructure have continued to impact negatively on the country.
The President, “This administration is pleased we won the election, we are pleased Nigerians are cooperating with us. But the problems are so enormous that we need the cooperation of Nigerians, particularly the elite.
“They (elite) should reflect on the condition of the country, and stop making expensive demands because things cannot be done the old way.”
On the welfare of Nigerians in the Diaspora, Buhari assured them that the Federal Government would continue to promote good neighbourliness and improve the negative perception about Nigerians abroad.
“Nigerians are known for their competitiveness and I am very passionate about Nigeria. I will continue to preach good neighbourliness and work hard to improve the numerous human and material resources in the country,” he said.
He warned them to stop insisting that things should be done the old way which impoverished the nation.
The President spoke during a meeting he had with a group of Nigerians in the Diaspora, on the margins of the 3rd Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa in Dakar, Senegal.
Stop making expensive demands from me, Buhari tells Nigerians
According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said his administration was on the right track to improve the image of the country by entrenching accountability and probity in governance.
He told the 11-man Nigerian delegation of association leaders resident in Senegal and Cote D’ Ivoire, that the last 16 years of poor handling of the nation’s resources and infrastructure have continued to impact negatively on the country.
The President, “This administration is pleased we won the election, we are pleased Nigerians are cooperating with us. But the problems are so enormous that we need the cooperation of Nigerians, particularly the elite.
“They (elite) should reflect on the condition of the country, and stop making expensive demands because things cannot be done the old way.”
On the welfare of Nigerians in the Diaspora, Buhari assured them that the Federal Government would continue to promote good neighbourliness and improve the negative perception about Nigerians abroad.
“Nigerians are known for their competitiveness and I am very passionate about Nigeria. I will continue to preach good neighbourliness and work hard to improve the numerous human and material resources in the country,” he said.
Multiple casualties as earthquake rocks Indonesia's Aceh province
A strong earthquake has rocked northern Indonesia leaving as many as 25 people dead and dozens more injured .
The 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck the province of Aceh in the early hours of Wednesday, causing many buildings to collapse and prompting people to run outdoors in panic.
Reports say several people are still trapped alive inside buildings. The casualty count is expected to increase as rescue teams will be evacuating the buildings using heavy machinery.
Images show that mosques, homes, and shops have been nearly flattened due to the severity of the quake.
The national disaster management agency has ruled out the possibility of a tsunami. It also added that at least five aftershocks had followed the earthquake.
Aceh is located on the northwestern side of the Sumatra Island and is particularly prone to quakes.
Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are quite common in Indonesia which is located on the so-called “Ring of Fire", an area in the Pacific Ocean basin where frequent seismic and volcanic activities are recorded.
Some twelve years ago, a massive earthquake triggered a tsunami that killed 170,000 people in Indonesia, most of them in Aceh. The disaster also took the lives of tens of thousands of people in Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and several adjacent countries.
A strong earthquake has rocked northern Indonesia leaving as many as 25 people dead and dozens more injured .
The 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck the province of Aceh in the early hours of Wednesday, causing many buildings to collapse and prompting people to run outdoors in panic.
Reports say several people are still trapped alive inside buildings. The casualty count is expected to increase as rescue teams will be evacuating the buildings using heavy machinery.
Images show that mosques, homes, and shops have been nearly flattened due to the severity of the quake.
The national disaster management agency has ruled out the possibility of a tsunami. It also added that at least five aftershocks had followed the earthquake.
Aceh is located on the northwestern side of the Sumatra Island and is particularly prone to quakes.
Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are quite common in Indonesia which is located on the so-called “Ring of Fire", an area in the Pacific Ocean basin where frequent seismic and volcanic activities are recorded.
Some twelve years ago, a massive earthquake triggered a tsunami that killed 170,000 people in Indonesia, most of them in Aceh. The disaster also took the lives of tens of thousands of people in Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and several adjacent countries.
Monday 5 December 2016
Nigeria is angry with Igbo’s growth, development – Former minister
ENUGU-THE former Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo has said that there would be no Nigeria without Igboman, who were made special people by God to build economy of the country. He said that other ethnic nationalities in the country envy the Igbo nation because of their resourcefulness, dignity of labour and rich cultural heritage. Professor Nebo who was also the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, made this known while speaking to newsmen at the South East Development and Leadership Initiative (SELDI) 2016 in Enugu with the theme “Integrating the Southeast Economy for Sustainable Growth and Development”. Prof Nebo He urged all Igbo sons and daughters from different walks of life to return home and invest with a view of making our homeland great again. “Nigeria is angry with the Igbo’s growth and development. It is obvious. It is only in Nigeria that a traditional ruler will open his mouth and say that if you do not vote for this person, then we will drown you and throw you into the lagoon. A traditional ruler who is suppose to be the promoter of peace and custodian of the people’s culture and tradition”. “It is high time we woke up and believed in ourselves. The Igbos are great people all over the world. About 80% of Igbo wealth is in the Diaspora. We invest outside the country without coming back home. We need to adopt the “think home philosophy”, come back home and develop our land. “We need to build and develop love for one another. The philosophy of “igwebuike” (togetherness) is still there. There shall be capacity for mentorship for our younger generation. The former Minister, who described the summit as timely and apt, also advocated for an improved educational system that will ensure that capable individuals are produced from institutions of learning. “We need to build an educational system that is relevant. It is not just enough to churn out graduates into the labour market. We need to develop our education system and curriculum in science, innovation and mathematics”, he said. In an address, the Lead Promoter of SELDI, Mr Ikenna Modebelu, said “SELDI’s vision recognizes the challenges of the southeast region and aims to tackle them by promoting leadership that will foster development in areas of investment, infrastructure development, economic growth, value re-orientation, emerging market opportunities and youth empowerment through intensive advocacy campaigns”. “The promoters of SELDI believe that there is leadership deficit across all classes in the region including elites who have failed to lead by example. SELDI is committed to the “Think home, build home” philosophy and believes that time has come for the southeasterners to come together and join hands in developing the region for the good of present and future generations”, his address read.
ENUGU-THE former Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo has said that there would be no Nigeria without Igboman, who were made special people by God to build economy of the country. He said that other ethnic nationalities in the country envy the Igbo nation because of their resourcefulness, dignity of labour and rich cultural heritage. Professor Nebo who was also the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, made this known while speaking to newsmen at the South East Development and Leadership Initiative (SELDI) 2016 in Enugu with the theme “Integrating the Southeast Economy for Sustainable Growth and Development”. Prof Nebo He urged all Igbo sons and daughters from different walks of life to return home and invest with a view of making our homeland great again. “Nigeria is angry with the Igbo’s growth and development. It is obvious. It is only in Nigeria that a traditional ruler will open his mouth and say that if you do not vote for this person, then we will drown you and throw you into the lagoon. A traditional ruler who is suppose to be the promoter of peace and custodian of the people’s culture and tradition”. “It is high time we woke up and believed in ourselves. The Igbos are great people all over the world. About 80% of Igbo wealth is in the Diaspora. We invest outside the country without coming back home. We need to adopt the “think home philosophy”, come back home and develop our land. “We need to build and develop love for one another. The philosophy of “igwebuike” (togetherness) is still there. There shall be capacity for mentorship for our younger generation. The former Minister, who described the summit as timely and apt, also advocated for an improved educational system that will ensure that capable individuals are produced from institutions of learning. “We need to build an educational system that is relevant. It is not just enough to churn out graduates into the labour market. We need to develop our education system and curriculum in science, innovation and mathematics”, he said. In an address, the Lead Promoter of SELDI, Mr Ikenna Modebelu, said “SELDI’s vision recognizes the challenges of the southeast region and aims to tackle them by promoting leadership that will foster development in areas of investment, infrastructure development, economic growth, value re-orientation, emerging market opportunities and youth empowerment through intensive advocacy campaigns”. “The promoters of SELDI believe that there is leadership deficit across all classes in the region including elites who have failed to lead by example. SELDI is committed to the “Think home, build home” philosophy and believes that time has come for the southeasterners to come together and join hands in developing the region for the good of present and future generations”, his address read.
Igbos are the most truthful Nigerians
Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo, on Monday described the Igbos as “the most truthful, committed and trust -worthy people but often misunderstood in the country.’’ Speaking when he received the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, in Government House, Owerri, Okorocha said that Imo had witnessed tremendous progress under his leadership.
President Buhari with L-R: Senator Sam Egwu, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Chief of Staff Abba Kyari and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe as President Buhari receives in audience Deputy Senate President Senator Ike Ekweremadu and 7 other Senators He described Imo as as “one of the safest states’’ in Nigeria, where there was no more kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and baby factory syndrome. He attributed the relative peace and security in the state to the efforts of the security agencies, especially the Nigerian army. He commended the military for the successes being recorded in the fight against insurgency and terrorism in the North East. He noted that such successes had not being achieved in Syria and other parts of the world battling terrorism. Okorocha also commended the army for the “Exercise Crocodile Smile” and newly introduced “Exercise Python Dance” in the South-South and South-East zone. He urged the security agencies to do whatever they could to secure the pipelines to enable free flow of oil to generate revenue for the nation. He promised to continue to support the army. Earlier, Buratai told the governor that he was in the state for the 2018 Chief of Army Staff Conference. He told the governor that “Python Dance” was a training exercise to update troops in the South- East on the rudiments and basics of their job. Buratai said that during the conference the army would offer free medical services to the people of the state.
Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo, on Monday described the Igbos as “the most truthful, committed and trust -worthy people but often misunderstood in the country.’’ Speaking when he received the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, in Government House, Owerri, Okorocha said that Imo had witnessed tremendous progress under his leadership.
Russia No. 1 ‘existential threat’ to America: US Air Force
Russia’s rising military power, including its nuclear arsenal, makes the country “the number one” existential threat to the United States, according to US Secretary of Air Force Deborah James.
Speaking to Reuters at the annual Reagan Defense Forum in California on Sunday, James accused Russia of conducting cyber attacks against the US and expressed deep concern about rising military confrontations between the two countries.
“Russia is the number one threat to the United States. We have a number of threats that we're dealing with, but Russia could be, because of the nuclear aspect, an existential threat to the United States,” James said.
She called recent unsafe encounters between Russian and American aircraft “very worrying,” saying there needed to be more dialogue between the two sides in order to prevent these incidents of “very dangerous airmanship” from leading to an all-out war.
James made the remarks after a series of similar warnings by her and other high-ranking US military officials at the conference.
Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the conference that Russia was determined to limit NATO and prevent the US from projecting power around the world.
"They are operating with a frequency and in places that we haven't seen for decades," he said, while pointing to the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Syria.
Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson echoed those points, saying more communications with Russia would be “valuable.”
The US navy cut all communications with the Russian navy after the Crimea region voted in a referendum to join Russia in 2014, according to Richardson.
This year, tensions continued to mount after Russian and US aircraft buzzed each other over the Baltic, while Washington accused Moscow of trying to interfere in the US presidential elections.
US President Barack Obama (2nd L) shaking hands with Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) as they attend the first APEC Leaders' Retreat in Lima, November 20, 2016. (Photo by AFP)
Bickering over nuclear issues has also increased markedly in recent months.
In late October, Moscow moved batteries of nuclear-capable missiles to its western borders with the NATO, in response to a years-long military buildup by the US-led military alliance on Russia's doorstep.
The US, in September, flew three long-range nuclear bombers over Eastern Europe to participate in NATO military exercises.
The back and forth further escalated in early October when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the suspension of a Cold War deal with the US to dispose of weapons-grade plutonium.
Russia’s rising military power, including its nuclear arsenal, makes the country “the number one” existential threat to the United States, according to US Secretary of Air Force Deborah James.
Speaking to Reuters at the annual Reagan Defense Forum in California on Sunday, James accused Russia of conducting cyber attacks against the US and expressed deep concern about rising military confrontations between the two countries.
“Russia is the number one threat to the United States. We have a number of threats that we're dealing with, but Russia could be, because of the nuclear aspect, an existential threat to the United States,” James said.
She called recent unsafe encounters between Russian and American aircraft “very worrying,” saying there needed to be more dialogue between the two sides in order to prevent these incidents of “very dangerous airmanship” from leading to an all-out war.
James made the remarks after a series of similar warnings by her and other high-ranking US military officials at the conference.
Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the conference that Russia was determined to limit NATO and prevent the US from projecting power around the world.
"They are operating with a frequency and in places that we haven't seen for decades," he said, while pointing to the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Syria.
Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson echoed those points, saying more communications with Russia would be “valuable.”
The US navy cut all communications with the Russian navy after the Crimea region voted in a referendum to join Russia in 2014, according to Richardson.
This year, tensions continued to mount after Russian and US aircraft buzzed each other over the Baltic, while Washington accused Moscow of trying to interfere in the US presidential elections.
US President Barack Obama (2nd L) shaking hands with Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) as they attend the first APEC Leaders' Retreat in Lima, November 20, 2016. (Photo by AFP)
Bickering over nuclear issues has also increased markedly in recent months.
In late October, Moscow moved batteries of nuclear-capable missiles to its western borders with the NATO, in response to a years-long military buildup by the US-led military alliance on Russia's doorstep.
The US, in September, flew three long-range nuclear bombers over Eastern Europe to participate in NATO military exercises.
The back and forth further escalated in early October when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the suspension of a Cold War deal with the US to dispose of weapons-grade plutonium.
Sunday 4 December 2016
As civilian president, Buhari is using economic recession to punish Nigerians – Fayose
Ado-Ekiti- Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has faulted the Federal Government decision to effect increment in Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax, pension and National Housing Fund (NHF) deductions, which were applied on gross salary, making some of the workers to have as much 30 per cent reduction in salary and that as a ‘military head of state, Buhari used gun to deal with Nigerians, bu now as a civilian president, he is using economic recession to punish Nigerians and adding salt to injury by using inhuman taxes to reduce workers salary.’ He described the policy as obnoxious and capable of impoverishing the already pauperised workers, especially now that the country is being pummelled by economic recession. The governor said it was wicked and inhuman for any government to increase taxes on workers salary at this period of economic recession when “workers take home can no longer take them home,” adding that; “The federal government should stop believing that the only way it can take Nigeria out of recession is to impose obnoxious taxes that will further impoverish the people.” In a statement issued on Sunday by the governor’s Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, he said; “If government does not have capacity to increase workers salary at this trying period, it should not also increase taxes that will cause decrement in what workers earn.” Fayose Salary of federal government workers was reportedly reduced through increment in PAYE tax, pension, National Housing Fund (NHF), formerly based on consolidated, which were applied on gross salary. Some of the workers had as much as 30 per cent pay cut. Reacting, Governor Fayose said it appeared that the President Mohammadu Buhari led All Progressives Congress (APC) federal government’s desire was to kill Nigerians with obnoxious taxes. He said; “As military head of state, Buhari used gun to deal with Nigerians, now as a civilian president, he is using economic recession to punish Nigerians and adding salt to injury by using inhuman taxes to reduce workers salary. “Buhari’s government increased petrol price from N87 to N145 per litre, kerosene; diesel and gas price was increased, electricity tariff was increased, N50 stamp duty was imposed on bank customers, N65 levy was imposed on every withdrawal on ATM, various bank charges introduced, custom duties increased and now workers’ PAYE tax has been increased. “I sympathise with the federal government workers who only got to know about reduction of their salaries when they got credit alert last month, but they should remember that I warned them. “Workers are already facing hardships owing to the economic recession, which has caused exchange rate to rise to as much as N480 to $1. The implication of this is that the purchasing power of a worker that is earning say N100,000 per month has reduced to less than N50,000 per month, meaning what such a worker bought at N10,000 this time last year is now should at N25,000. “I therefore call on the federal government to reverse this decision so as to reduce the level at which the workers are suffering.”
Ado-Ekiti- Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has faulted the Federal Government decision to effect increment in Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax, pension and National Housing Fund (NHF) deductions, which were applied on gross salary, making some of the workers to have as much 30 per cent reduction in salary and that as a ‘military head of state, Buhari used gun to deal with Nigerians, bu now as a civilian president, he is using economic recession to punish Nigerians and adding salt to injury by using inhuman taxes to reduce workers salary.’ He described the policy as obnoxious and capable of impoverishing the already pauperised workers, especially now that the country is being pummelled by economic recession. The governor said it was wicked and inhuman for any government to increase taxes on workers salary at this period of economic recession when “workers take home can no longer take them home,” adding that; “The federal government should stop believing that the only way it can take Nigeria out of recession is to impose obnoxious taxes that will further impoverish the people.” In a statement issued on Sunday by the governor’s Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, he said; “If government does not have capacity to increase workers salary at this trying period, it should not also increase taxes that will cause decrement in what workers earn.” Fayose Salary of federal government workers was reportedly reduced through increment in PAYE tax, pension, National Housing Fund (NHF), formerly based on consolidated, which were applied on gross salary. Some of the workers had as much as 30 per cent pay cut. Reacting, Governor Fayose said it appeared that the President Mohammadu Buhari led All Progressives Congress (APC) federal government’s desire was to kill Nigerians with obnoxious taxes. He said; “As military head of state, Buhari used gun to deal with Nigerians, now as a civilian president, he is using economic recession to punish Nigerians and adding salt to injury by using inhuman taxes to reduce workers salary. “Buhari’s government increased petrol price from N87 to N145 per litre, kerosene; diesel and gas price was increased, electricity tariff was increased, N50 stamp duty was imposed on bank customers, N65 levy was imposed on every withdrawal on ATM, various bank charges introduced, custom duties increased and now workers’ PAYE tax has been increased. “I sympathise with the federal government workers who only got to know about reduction of their salaries when they got credit alert last month, but they should remember that I warned them. “Workers are already facing hardships owing to the economic recession, which has caused exchange rate to rise to as much as N480 to $1. The implication of this is that the purchasing power of a worker that is earning say N100,000 per month has reduced to less than N50,000 per month, meaning what such a worker bought at N10,000 this time last year is now should at N25,000. “I therefore call on the federal government to reverse this decision so as to reduce the level at which the workers are suffering.”
Trump and Muslims
Donald Trump has been elected the 45th president of the United States. It came after a controversial campaign that included contentious remarks about Muslims.
Within days of his electoral win, media reported increasing cases of Islamophobia and abuse of Muslims in the US. Women wearing hijab have been beaten up and their headscarves ripped off while being told to leave the country.
And the threat to Muslims is not limited to the US. Trump's arrogant and openly abusive remarks against Muslims seem to have given license to far-right groups in Europe, too, to be openly abusive towards Muslims. And the rise of such political groups is creating fear among all Western Muslims.
What does the Trump presidency mean for American Muslims and Muslims elsewhere? Will he backtrack on his threats against Muslims or actually go ahead with them? And even if he doesn't directly discriminate and threaten Muslims in his country, what will the effect of his victory be on the rest of Western and even global Muslims given the divisive and Islamophobic campaign that he ran
Within days of his electoral win, media reported increasing cases of Islamophobia and abuse of Muslims in the US. Women wearing hijab have been beaten up and their headscarves ripped off while being told to leave the country.
And the threat to Muslims is not limited to the US. Trump's arrogant and openly abusive remarks against Muslims seem to have given license to far-right groups in Europe, too, to be openly abusive towards Muslims. And the rise of such political groups is creating fear among all Western Muslims.
What does the Trump presidency mean for American Muslims and Muslims elsewhere? Will he backtrack on his threats against Muslims or actually go ahead with them? And even if he doesn't directly discriminate and threaten Muslims in his country, what will the effect of his victory be on the rest of Western and even global Muslims given the divisive and Islamophobic campaign that he ran
Saturday 3 December 2016
BIAFRA: Igbo leaders, agitators reject Buhari’s position, insist on restructuring
Leaders of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and a former Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nduka Eya, are among Igbo people who have rejected President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement that those agitating for Biafra should perish the idea because it would not be a reality, saying Buhari was day-dreaming. IPOB, in a statement by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, said that Buhari and the people around him are far from the reality about what is happening now and what is about to happen in Nigeria concerning the restoration of Biafra. President Muhammadu Buhari (M) as he join in a group Photograh with Obi of Onisha, HRM Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, Leader of the South East Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Dr Ebereche Dick `HRM Eze Sam Ohiri, HRH Chulwuemeka Ike and others as President Buhari receives South East Traditional Rulers at the state house in Abuja According to IPOB, the statement credited to the President during a meeting with South-East traditional rulers that his visitors, should advise their subjects to forget the issue of Biafra had proved that Buhari and his the people around him were far away from the reality on ground. “They forgot that there is no how Nigeria can be one again because of the cheating from the people ruling the country. They also forgot that there are those who came to rule Nigeria in perpetuity are of the knowledge that Nigeria is not going to be one country in the near future”, the group said. “There is no way a country where cheats, quota system, imbalance of states and local government areas and lopsided sharing are the order of the day can be one indivisible entity. “Those who created 19 states in northern part and 17 states in the southern part of Nigeria and more local government areas are aware before the creation that one day Nigeria will be a devided nation. “With the fraudulent falsification of Nigeria census figures against the Biafrans since the colonial era, they know very well that one day Nigeria will be a thing of the past. “We are also aware that those at the corridors of power in Nigeria are aware that Nigeria is sinking but refused to tell the president the truth on the ground about the coming of Biafra. Eya, a former Secretary General of Ohanaeze, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard, yesterday, on the President’s statement, said Buhari was “day-dreaming.” The Secretary of Ohanaeze in Enugu State, Hon. Fidelix Ojobo, spoke in the same vein, saying the Ndigbo would continue to agitate for Biafra since the agitation is guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution. The former Secretary General said, “The man (Buhari) is day-dreaming. He has the solutions to Nigeria’s problems in the resolutions of the last National Conference through restructuring but he is not doing anything.. “Biafra is a reality, people should not be angry because time shall tell. Abacha gagged Nigeria in his own time until God called him and MKO Abiola. Nobody should worry about whatever he says but if he thinks that Biafra is something to be wished away, then Biafra will overtake him. All I can say is that oppression stops when the oppressed says no.” Meanwhile, Enugu State Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Hon Ojobo, said Buhari was merely airing his opinion as an individual, adding that Nigerians and Igbo in particular would continue to agitate for their constitutional rights. President Buhari the Chairman & the Executive Secretary of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers, at the State House “The issue of Biafra is not a bad agitation and it is also not violent. The Igbo will keep agitating. Biafra has come to be whether he supports Biafra or not,” Ojobo said. He then advised the President to remember that “we are operating democratic system of government and he should organise a constitutional conference and seek people’s views, because a referendum will help immensely to solve problems of this country.” Ojobo also urged Buhari to address the issue of Igbo marginalisation in the area of political appointments, federal civil service recruitment, infrastructural development, especially roads among many other issues, instead of insisting that those agitating for their civil right (Biafra) should perish the idea. In his own reaction, Chief Boniface Odo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, said that although he was not involved in the agitation for Biafra, he was in support of every move by Ndigbo to agitate against marginalisation by successive federal administrations including the present APC. “APC has inflicted a lot of hardship on Nigerians, especially Ndigbo. APC is like one of the seven plagues that afflicted the people of Egypt in the Bible. We in a country where people are committing suicide due to hunger and one man is busy using coercive powers on those they are meant to protect their lives, it will not work. Our people must continue to agitate.”
Leaders of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and a former Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nduka Eya, are among Igbo people who have rejected President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement that those agitating for Biafra should perish the idea because it would not be a reality, saying Buhari was day-dreaming. IPOB, in a statement by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, said that Buhari and the people around him are far from the reality about what is happening now and what is about to happen in Nigeria concerning the restoration of Biafra. President Muhammadu Buhari (M) as he join in a group Photograh with Obi of Onisha, HRM Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, Leader of the South East Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Dr Ebereche Dick `HRM Eze Sam Ohiri, HRH Chulwuemeka Ike and others as President Buhari receives South East Traditional Rulers at the state house in Abuja According to IPOB, the statement credited to the President during a meeting with South-East traditional rulers that his visitors, should advise their subjects to forget the issue of Biafra had proved that Buhari and his the people around him were far away from the reality on ground. “They forgot that there is no how Nigeria can be one again because of the cheating from the people ruling the country. They also forgot that there are those who came to rule Nigeria in perpetuity are of the knowledge that Nigeria is not going to be one country in the near future”, the group said. “There is no way a country where cheats, quota system, imbalance of states and local government areas and lopsided sharing are the order of the day can be one indivisible entity. “Those who created 19 states in northern part and 17 states in the southern part of Nigeria and more local government areas are aware before the creation that one day Nigeria will be a devided nation. “With the fraudulent falsification of Nigeria census figures against the Biafrans since the colonial era, they know very well that one day Nigeria will be a thing of the past. “We are also aware that those at the corridors of power in Nigeria are aware that Nigeria is sinking but refused to tell the president the truth on the ground about the coming of Biafra. Eya, a former Secretary General of Ohanaeze, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard, yesterday, on the President’s statement, said Buhari was “day-dreaming.” The Secretary of Ohanaeze in Enugu State, Hon. Fidelix Ojobo, spoke in the same vein, saying the Ndigbo would continue to agitate for Biafra since the agitation is guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution. The former Secretary General said, “The man (Buhari) is day-dreaming. He has the solutions to Nigeria’s problems in the resolutions of the last National Conference through restructuring but he is not doing anything.. “Biafra is a reality, people should not be angry because time shall tell. Abacha gagged Nigeria in his own time until God called him and MKO Abiola. Nobody should worry about whatever he says but if he thinks that Biafra is something to be wished away, then Biafra will overtake him. All I can say is that oppression stops when the oppressed says no.” Meanwhile, Enugu State Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Hon Ojobo, said Buhari was merely airing his opinion as an individual, adding that Nigerians and Igbo in particular would continue to agitate for their constitutional rights. President Buhari the Chairman & the Executive Secretary of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers, at the State House “The issue of Biafra is not a bad agitation and it is also not violent. The Igbo will keep agitating. Biafra has come to be whether he supports Biafra or not,” Ojobo said. He then advised the President to remember that “we are operating democratic system of government and he should organise a constitutional conference and seek people’s views, because a referendum will help immensely to solve problems of this country.” Ojobo also urged Buhari to address the issue of Igbo marginalisation in the area of political appointments, federal civil service recruitment, infrastructural development, especially roads among many other issues, instead of insisting that those agitating for their civil right (Biafra) should perish the idea. In his own reaction, Chief Boniface Odo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, said that although he was not involved in the agitation for Biafra, he was in support of every move by Ndigbo to agitate against marginalisation by successive federal administrations including the present APC. “APC has inflicted a lot of hardship on Nigerians, especially Ndigbo. APC is like one of the seven plagues that afflicted the people of Egypt in the Bible. We in a country where people are committing suicide due to hunger and one man is busy using coercive powers on those they are meant to protect their lives, it will not work. Our people must continue to agitate.”
ADC to Chief of Army Staff Ronnie Dankabo & former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff's daughter set to wed
One of Northern Nigeria's most handsome and eligible bachelors, Ronnie Dankabo is about to get married!
The groom-to-be who is in his early 30's has achieved quite a lot for himself. He is the ADC to Chief of Army Staff of Nigeria, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai and is a well respected Captain in the Nigerian Army.
His bride-to-be Halima Sheriff is the daughter of former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff. She is a Fashion Designer and a graduate of the Canadian University in Dubai.
The couple will be getting married this December.
One of Northern Nigeria's most handsome and eligible bachelors, Ronnie Dankabo is about to get married!
The groom-to-be who is in his early 30's has achieved quite a lot for himself. He is the ADC to Chief of Army Staff of Nigeria, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai and is a well respected Captain in the Nigerian Army.
His bride-to-be Halima Sheriff is the daughter of former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff. She is a Fashion Designer and a graduate of the Canadian University in Dubai.
The couple will be getting married this December.
Terrorists vow to never surrender Aleppo
Takfiri militant commanders in Syria’s divided city of Aleppo have vowed to never leave the city as Russia announces readiness for talks with the US over the terrorists’ withdrawal.
"I asked the factions, they said 'we will not surrender'," said Zakaria Malahifji, the political officer of the Turkey-backed Fastaqim group in Aleppo on Saturday.
"The military commanders in Aleppo said 'we will not leave the city. There is no problem with corridors for civilians to leave, but we will not leave the city'," he added.
Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow was ready to enter talks with Washington over the militants’ withdrawal from Aleppo.
Aleppo, Syria’s second largest city, remains split between government forces in the west and foreign-backed terrorists in the east, making it a frontline battleground.
Russia's Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov attends the Mediterranean Dialogues (MED), a three-day conference on security in the Mediterranean region, on December 2, 2016 in Rome.
“Moscow is ready to immediately send our military experts and diplomats to Geneva to work out joint actions with our US colleagues in line with the [new] American proposals, which would ensure the withdrawal of all militants without exception from eastern Aleppo, and would provide unimpeded humanitarian supplies to the city’s residents and ensure the establishment of normal life in eastern Aleppo,” he said.
Lavrov noted that Russia has made the decision after a meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Rome, during which Kerry “passed on to us proposals from Washington that are in line with the suggestions from Russia’s experts.”
Meanwhile, the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights announced that Syrian government forces are now in control of over 60 percent of the city’s militant-held eastern part.
The conflict in Syria, which flared up in March 2011, has claimed the lives of more than 400,000 people, according to an estimate by UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura.
Takfiri militant commanders in Syria’s divided city of Aleppo have vowed to never leave the city as Russia announces readiness for talks with the US over the terrorists’ withdrawal.
"I asked the factions, they said 'we will not surrender'," said Zakaria Malahifji, the political officer of the Turkey-backed Fastaqim group in Aleppo on Saturday.
"The military commanders in Aleppo said 'we will not leave the city. There is no problem with corridors for civilians to leave, but we will not leave the city'," he added.
Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow was ready to enter talks with Washington over the militants’ withdrawal from Aleppo.
Aleppo, Syria’s second largest city, remains split between government forces in the west and foreign-backed terrorists in the east, making it a frontline battleground.
Russia's Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov attends the Mediterranean Dialogues (MED), a three-day conference on security in the Mediterranean region, on December 2, 2016 in Rome.
“Moscow is ready to immediately send our military experts and diplomats to Geneva to work out joint actions with our US colleagues in line with the [new] American proposals, which would ensure the withdrawal of all militants without exception from eastern Aleppo, and would provide unimpeded humanitarian supplies to the city’s residents and ensure the establishment of normal life in eastern Aleppo,” he said.
Lavrov noted that Russia has made the decision after a meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Rome, during which Kerry “passed on to us proposals from Washington that are in line with the suggestions from Russia’s experts.”
Meanwhile, the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights announced that Syrian government forces are now in control of over 60 percent of the city’s militant-held eastern part.
The conflict in Syria, which flared up in March 2011, has claimed the lives of more than 400,000 people, according to an estimate by UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura.
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