INSTANT NEWS

No less than six people have been kidnapped after gunmen stormed Karaji suburb in Kaduna State.

Among the victims of the incident, which took place less than 10 kilometres to the Government House, are five daughters of Pastor Istifanus Tiswan of the Christ Embassy Church.

They are Faith, Godsgift, Ruth, Damaris and Michelle.

The other victim is Haruna Barde, who escaped violence from his native village to take refuge in Karji as an Internally Displaced Person.

The kidnappers are yet to make contact with the families or local authorities.

Luka Binniyat, spokesperson for the Southern Kaduna People’s Union, in a statement described as worrying the deteriorating security situation in the area, which has led to the killing and kidnapping of residents.

He said:

“Kidnapping of our members almost on daily basis has become a source of severe worry for residents living on the fringes of Buyaya, Maraban Rido, Gonin Gora, Karji and Unguwan Juji, all suburbs of Kaduna that fall under Chikun LGA.

“Many have abandoned their homes to take refuge in safer areas. Meanwhile, natives of Katarma, Chikun ward, in same Chikun LGA are fleeing in droves across Kaduna river and taking refuge with their Gbagyi tribesmen in Sarkin Pawa town, in neighbouring Niger State as a result of fresh assaults over their community.

“These will add to the number of villages that our Gbagyi members have had to abandoned and flee for their dear lives after many of them have been destroyed and captured by Fulani militia in the past one year. Below are the numbers of Ggabyi communities in Kaduna State that are ravaged and destroyed by Fulani militia and occupied by them till date.”

He said so far, 45 communities have been displaced and occupied by their attackers.

They are, Kunai Ward, Kudo (Dau), Sunusi Dnakwala, Galu, Aguyita, Galuko, Galiwyi, Atopi, Onkoru, Anguwan, Badole, Manini, Hayin Damisa, Anguwan Nyako, Badimi,

Gnashi, Sarari , Giji, Dnapagbe, Badimi, Shelbula, Rafin yashi, Sabongida, Rafinyashi, Anguwan Amos, Manini, Hayin Dakachi Manini, Madalla, Abon, Kawuya, Gayam Ward in Birnin Gwari LGA Bordering Kunai in Chikun LGA, Rumanan Gbagyi, Rumanan Hausa, Malamo, Labi, Hayin Kozo, Muya, Shuwaka, Polwaya, Kaguru, Kasko, Nasarawa Kaguru and Dabbara Kaguru.

SOKAPU said the recent attacks are sequel to the killing of four Gbagyi men by armed Fulani men on October 6 and November 7.

“The men were ambushed and killed in Dande Village, which is part of Kasaya Village, in Kunai ward of Chikun LGA. They are: John Musa, 45, married with 9 children; Habila Ibrahim, 42, husband of two wives and father of 9; Maikudi Wasa, 25, single and

Samaila Audu, married to two wives and father of 7 children.

“David Umaru, 27 was injured in the incident,” the group said.

The group noted that despite the impact of the attacks, Governor Nasir El-Rufai had never visited any of the communities despite being in close proximity to the Government House.

“The effort of Operation Safe Haven under the Command of Maj. Gen. Chukwuemeka Okonkwo, who stationed enough of his men in Zangan District, in Atakad Chiefdom, Kaura LGA to make it possible for displaced atacked IDPs to return to their 9 abandoned communities. This has reduced the numbers of our occupied territories from 109 to 101 if Katarma village is added. The estimated IDPs from our affected communities are 50,000 and most of them live under sub-human conditions in IDP camps or squatting in squalor among poor communities safe enough to accept them in Southern Kaduna. Yet, it under this unspeakable atrocity against a large area of Kaduna state, Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state has never visited any of the ravaged villages, some less than 30km from government House Kaduna. It would seem that far as both Kaduna state and the Federal government is concern these citizens don’t exist, and if they do, they don’t matter. It was therefore with shock and bewilderment that we read the visits of our governor, His Excellency, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, to far away Lagos last week while touring some of the damaged property during the #EndSars demonstration which was violently hijacked by mobsters. Our governor said that he was almost moved to tears when he saw the scale of the destruction of both private and public property. We are surprised that our governor has tears to shed and can show some humanity on someone’s else tragedy, not the more humungous one that bothers on genocide and physical destruction of no less magnitude right in his state,” the group added. 

Following the recent protest by youths in some parts of the country against the operations of the now disbanded Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Alhaji Mohammed Adamu, has said that among the lessons learnt from the incident are that Nigerians are now more sophisticated and know their rights better than before.

The society, the police boss added, are also more conscious and know how they want to be policed.

Adamu, who made the remarks in a message to the passing out parade (POP) of the first batch of the Special Constabulary at the Police Training School in Minna, Niger State on Friday, therefore charged the newly recruited special constables not to abuse their positions or take it as an opportunity to abuse the rights of others.

The IGP, who was represented by the AIG Zone 7, Mr Hosiah Kama, said: “You are therefore charged as you pass out and will be deployed accordingly to work with respective police divisions, to be professionals in the discharge of your duties, always respect human rights and be courteous to the members of the public.

“Remember, you are from this state and you are known by members of the community. Strive therefore to be good ambassadors of your respective families and do not be the reason why your families should be viewed with contempt and disdain.”

Adamu also defended the decision of the police to adopt community policing, saying: “It is to bridge the gap between the police and the policed,” stressing that it would further address and solve the issues of criminality in the country.

“Community policing is a global policing model, which is problem-solving based by emphasizing the impressiveness of partnering with the community in addressing the causes of crime and reducing fears of insecurity in the society. Community policing is a policing strategy, which advocates and inclines towards crime prevention and control, then reactive policing measures which widen the gap between the police and the policed.”

Adamu therefore implored the communities to cooperate with the newly recruited special constables, adding that the only way to solve crimes and criminal incidents in the community is for everyone to work and cooperate with each other.

The Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, commended the IG for the recruitment of the special constables, who he said will be used for community policing, adding that with community policing, communities in the state that are bedevilled with insecurity can be at ease.

Bello, who was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ketso, said community policing will also bring security to the areas experiencing insecurity thereby making them more secured.

Four hundred and sixty three constables recruited from 10 out of the 25 local government areas of the state passed out at the ceremony.

Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, has disclosed plans to scrap payment of pension to former governors and their deputies in the state.

Abdulrazaq disclosed his plans in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, on Friday.

He disclosed that a bill would be sent to the State House of Assembly next week, asking lawmakers to scrap the law awarding pension packages to ex-governors.

The governor explained that the decision was in line with the call by residents of the state.

The statement reads:-

“The governor has listened to voices of the majority of the citizens opposing the pension law for former governors and deputy governors. However, the governor feels it is time for the law as it is to give way. He would rather the state commits the scarce public funds to tackling the question of poverty and youth unemployment.”

This is coming barely three days after his counterpart from Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu took a similar step.

Men of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a 70-year-old man, Hunsu Sunday for allegedly defiling his 15 years old granddaughter (name withheld) and subsequently impregnating her.

The command Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who disclosed this to newsmen in a statement issued in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said the old man was on the 10th of November, 2020.

He said, “the suspect was apprehended following a complain lodged at Ado-Odo Divisional headquarters by the aunty of the victim who reported that the victim has been living with her grandfather since the demise of her mother”.

“She stated further that the victim came to inform her that her grandfather has been abusing her sexually for quite some time and she has been having strange feelings on her recently”. Upon the complaint, the DPO Ado-Odo, SP Michael Arowojeun detailed his detectives to the scene where the randy old man was arrested”. “On interrogation, he confessed having carnal knowledge of his granddaughter but claimed that he didn’t know that the victim is pregnant”, Oyeyemi said.

He added that the victim has been taken to hospital for medical treatment. Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, Edward Awolowo Ajogun has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to the anti-human trafficking and child labour unit of the state criminal investigation and intelligence department for further investigation and prosecution.

Isiaka Kareem, a witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and a former controller of finance and account (CFA) at the Kwara state government house, has denied making payments to the bank accounts of Bukola Saraki, former president of the senate.

Kareem told the Lagos federal high court on Wednesday that the N100 million received by Abdul Adama, an aide to Saraki, was provided for in Kwara’s budget as “security and contingency”.

The former CFA had earlier told the court that the former governor received about N100 million monthly.

The EFCC is seeking a permanent forfeiture of two houses in Lagos belonging to the former senate president — the property is located at 17A, McDonald Road, Ikoyi.

In June, the court declined an application seeking the final forfeiture of the property and asked the anti-graft agency to bring more evidence to back its claim that the houses were purchased through proceeds of corruption.

While appearing before Mohammed Liman, the judge, on Wednesday, the former CFA said he does not have any personal relationship with Saraki or know anything about the property and how they were acquired.

“Every month, when monthly allocations were disbursed, Adama would come to collect funds designated as security and contingency,” the witness said. In my office, we designated a form for everyone that came to collect funds and Adama signed the form every month for the funds he collected from my office. The allocation to government house was not static; it was less than N100 million when we started and it kept increasing over time. That was why I said it was not N100 million every month.”

The matter was adjourned till November 25.

In compliance with an order of the Federal High Court, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has released an adjusted final list of candidates for the Imo North Senatorial District bye-election.

The adjustment became necessary on the premise of the court’s determination of the case between Lady Uchenna Onyeiwu versus APC and 4 others.

The information was contained in a document signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs Rose Oriaran-Anthony, and made available to INEC Daily Bulletin.

As contained in the document, 14 political parties will field candidates for the Imo North bye-election. The parties and their candidates are: Accord party (A) – Ndubueze Chiwuba Patrick; Action Alliance (AA) – Emmanuel Ogueri; African Action Congress (AAC) – Nathaniel Chukwudi Uba; African Democratic Congress (ADC) – Chigozie Kennedy Onyinye; All Progressives Congress (APC) – Ifeanyi Godwin Araraume; All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) – Charles Chibuike Onyeirimba; and Allied Peoples Movement (APM)- Raphael Nnadozie Mbachu.

Others are: Action Peoples Party (APP) – Ernest Ndidi Ezirim; Labour Party (LP) – Okorondu Nwachukwu Sunday; New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) – Okeafor Augustine Chukwujieze; National Rescue Movement (NRM) – Charles Okechukwu Amajouyi; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – Emmanuel E Okewulonu; Social Democratic Party (SDP) – Rita Ada Ibemere Okorafor; and Young Progressive Party (YPP) – Promise Anurika Nwadigos.

An All Progressives Congress (APC) group has denounced Pastor Sam Adeyemi for adding his voice to the End SARS agitation.

On Wednesday, APC Nigeria Support, which has 1 million followers on Twitter, told the cleric not “lose focus” or “join the fray”.

The comment followed Adeyemi’s reaction to a lawsuit against 50 Nigerians who endorsed the clamour for an end to police brutality.

They include David Adeleke – Davido, Damini Ogulu -Burna Boy, Folarin Falana – Falz, Aisha Yesufu, Deji Adeyanju, to mention but a few.

A citizen, Kenechukwu Okeke, filed the case at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja.

The applicant said between the October 28 and 30 the defendants used their Twitter accounts to conspire to “commit misdemeanor, to wit promoting or acting in such a manner with the intent to assist in the promotion of an unlawful assembly under the guise or composition of #EndSARS”.

In his response, Adeyemi, Senior Pastor of Daystar Christian Centre, tweeted “Who sent this guy to file this frivolous lawsuit?”

Reacting, the APC group in an “open letter” said asking a “needless question” was “completely beneath” him.

It read:

“When a citizen has exercised his right to sue you and other people he believes are instrumental to the damage of his properties, as a pastor how can you be seen attacking a victim? As someone we all respect, you shouldn’t get yourself involved in the EndSARS propaganda. I expect that you will, by now, be playing the role of ensuring peace reigns and the government meeting the demands of the youths.

A tweet of that nature is not responsible and does not fit the personality you project. Being a pastor doesn’t excuse you from answering to the court of law. We should learn to deal with issues accordingly and appropriately. By now, we all know it is easy to unravel who is behind who and what in this new media age. Pastor Adeyemi, if it bothers you that much, you can find this out in less than 24 hours. But in my opinion, there are more pressing questions to be asked. We cannot afford for people like you to also lose focus. PLEASE SIR, DONT JOIN THE FRAY! Nigeria needs to be SAVED.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says that the N4 billion unspent money in its 2020 Budget is meant for recruitment of staff.

Mr Mohammed Umar, The Acting Chairman Of The Commission, Disclosed This On Wednesday In Abuja During Its Budget Defence, Before The House Committee On EFCC.

Umar said that the staff recruitment, which should have taken place in the year, was stalled by the COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged the globe in the course of the year.

According to him, the commission was in the process of conducting the recruitment when COVID-19 took over, and that is why it still has N4 billion left unspent.

He said that the EFCC had also made submission to the committee detailing assets recovery, convictions secured, cases in court among others by the commission.

Umar listed some of the challenges faced by the EFCC to include lack of special courts to prosecute corruption cases, lack of personnel, poor release of funds for capital projects among others.

He said that the five per cent meant to be retained in the agency as part of money recovered had not been given to the commission as done in other places.

“I don’t think the five per cent to be retained in EFCC for assets recovery has been approved, because we have not gotten any money outside the budget approved,” he said.

The acting chairman however, proposed a total of N29.861 billion for 2021 operations.

Umar said that EFCC had 15 offices in the country, adding that it could not capture some states because it was better to equip those already established.

“It is better we equip the 15 offices than acquiring more, because some are not adding values to our investigations, so we are thinking of closing them.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rep. Zakaria Nyampa (PDP-Adamawa) had queried why the EFCC had N4 billion unspent in the 2020 budget approved for the commission.

“Going through your document in 2020, I discovered there are N4 billion unspent money for personnel and N879 million unused under overhead, I don’t know what you are going to do with this,” Nyampa said.

Meanwhile, Rep. Ibrahim Dutse, the Chairman of the House committee, said it was ready to assist the EFCC to do its job, adding that any money voted for the commission must be released.

He said that the committee would intervene in any challenges faced by the commission to enable it discharge its duty effectively to the country.

A mother and her four-year-old daughter were kidnapped and gang-raped for two weeks after attackers lured the woman with false promises of well-paid work at a hospital in Pakistan.

Police said on Tuesday November 10, that a man has been arrested with two other accomplices still wanted for the violent crime which took place in Kashmore, a district in Pakistan’s Sindh province.

Pakistani news network Samaa identified the suspect as Rafiq Malik, adding that police are questioning him over the attack after he was remanded in custody for three days.

The report said the woman who was a hospital worker from Karachi was persuaded to attend to someone after the suspects offered her a large sum of money for the work. After she agreed to the offer, the woman and her daughter were abducted by the group.

It was also reported that protests broke out after the lead investigator Umar Sheikh suggested the woman was to blame for the attack, saying she should have travelled on a busier road during the day.

Amnesty International released a message in support of protesters saying:-

Former Lagos State governor Bola Tinubu has described the move by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to repeal the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension Law 2007) as “bold and courageous”.

The law provides for payment of pension and other entitlements to former governors and their deputies.

Mr Sanwo-Olu told the State House of Assembly of his intention on Tuesday during his presentation of the proposed N1.155 trillion 2021 budget.

Tweeting on Wednesday, Tinubu expressed his support for the governor’s plan and congratulated him on the budget proposal.

The Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Tolu Odebiyi, has frowned at the perceived special treatment accorded some firms to import and export items despite the current border closure.

He asked the Federal Government to develop a comprehensive policy based on objective criteria to enable other deserving businesses to apply for similar waivers.

He specifically described as unfair, the recent exemption of some firms by the Federal Government from the ongoing border closure arrangement.

The Senato, who has been fighting for the reconsideration of the stringent border closure policy since August 2019 when the policy came into effect, stated this in an interview with our correspondent on Wednesday.

He expressed his objection to what he termed ‘selective exemption’ of a certain company from border closure when thousands of small businesses in his constituency had gone into extinction because of the Federal Government imposed land border policy.

He said:

“It is in fact a breach of the law, as contained in Chapter 4 Section 42 (1) of the Constitution.

“The section states that any law that gives preferential treatment to a particular individual, company or group is a breach of the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Bayern Munich’s Germany midfielder Joshua Kimmich will be out until January after undergoing knee surgery.

The 25-year-old went off in the 36th minute after a challenge with Erling Haaland during his side’s 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.

Bayern said Kimmich had successful surgery on his right lateral meniscus on Sunday.

He will miss Germany’s friendly against Czech Republic and Nations League ties against Ukraine and Spain this month.

Bayern returned to the top of the Bundesliga with the victory over rivals Dortmund.

England’s Nations League match against Iceland is in doubt because of the UK government’s new travel ban on non-UK visitors coming from Denmark.

The restrictions relate to concerns over a new coronavirus strain that has spread from mink to humans. Iceland are set to play Denmark in Copenhagen three days before facing England at Wembley on 18 November.

“Unlike other travel to the UK, there will be no exemptions to this quarantine policy,” the guidance says.

Since June, elite sportspeople have been exempt from coronavirus-related travel restrictions.

The Football Association is awaiting clarification from the government. The latest rules, which took effect at 04:00 GMT on Saturday, will be reviewed after a week, the Department For Transport said.

European football governing body Uefa’s coronavirus protocols state that international matches can be rescheduled at a date fixed by Uefa, or be played at a neutral venue if necessary.

xOn the 8th of November 2020, 300 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria.

Till date, 64090 cases have been confirmed, 59910 cases have been discharged and 1154 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The 300 new cases are reported from 6 states- Lagos (255), FCT (27), Oyo (10), Kaduna (5), Ondo (2), Kano (1).

A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities.

300 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;

Lagos-255
FCT-27
Oyo-10
Kaduna-5
Ondo-2
Kano-1

64,090 confirmed
59,910 discharged
1,154 deaths pic.twitter.com/ILq1YuzG5d

— NCDC (@NCDCgov) November 8, 2020

Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle has said that dialogue with bandits is still relevant just as he secured the release of 26 Katsina girls from bandits, IgbereTV reports.

A statement issued on Sunday, November 8, by Zailani Bappa, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, said the girls, aged between 8 and 12, were released to the Zamfara State Government without payment of ransom.

“The girls who were kidnapped by bandits in Faskari local government area of Katsina state were brought into the bushes of Zamfara state but were miraculously discovered by the state Government and got released through negotiations held under the state Commissioner Of Police and the state Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs who are in constant dialogue on behalf of the Government with bandits in the state on the need to embrace peace and live a normal life,” the statement said.

Governor Matawalle, who received the rescued girls said his administration will not abandon the peace dialogue with bandits as fire power alone cannot solve the problem of banditry in the state.

“This is a testimony to our vision for engaging the bandits in peace dialogue. For those who believe we are wrong to dialogue with the bandits, the securing of these minors who are all girls, unhurt, is indeed, priceless.” he said.

The 26 rescued girls were medically checked and provided with new clothes. Governor Matawalle ordered for their safe return to Katsina state.

This latest rescue brings the total number of those released by bandits in the last one week to more than 40.

Fleeing residents of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno state have revealed that armed Boko Haram sect have on Sunday night launched an attack on the town with fear of severe casualties.

Gwoza is one of the Council areas declared as Boko Haram caliphate until it was liberated.

The incident according to sources started at about 10pm with heavy sounds of gunshots and explosions from the side of the terrorists and security operatives.

Monarchs in the South West of Nigeria have blamed politicians for the recent #endSARS protest and unrest in the region that led to the destruction of properties in Lagos and other parts.

They also called for the urgent restructuring of the country to give more powers to the states.

The kings spoke at a post mortem meeting at the weekend in Lagos on the protests.

The monarchs expressed disappointment at the manner politicians had turned politics into money making venture at the expense of the interest of the youth.

They said that the high rate of unemployment among youths caused the agitation in the EndSARS protest. The governors have taken the right steps with this meeting. However, they have been far away from we monarchs. You should not wait till election days before you reach out to us. This type of meeting should come regularly. We know the good and the bad in our communities but we are under-utilised,´´ Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, said.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, said the destruction had put the region in a complex situation. It is a complex and complicated matter. Our children are jobless and many are hungry. The problems are too much for the states. The states are not independent. The structure we run in Nigeria cannot allow state governors to do much for their states,´´ he said. The Oluigbo of Ugbo, Oba Akinruntan Obateru, urged the Inspector General of Police to conduct detailed investigation into the incident and fish out those behind the protest.

The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu said that “truth is very bitter,´´ noting that majority of the problems were caused by politicians.

Nigerian gay rights activist, Bisi Alimi and his husband acquired a second home in London as they mark their 4th wedding anniversary.

Bisi shared photos of the interior of the house while reminiscing on how far he’s come.

Bisi said he has gone from that “homeless boy” to a “house owner in London twice”.

He thanked Nigeria’s Funmi Iyanda who invited him on her TV show, New Dawn, to talk about his sexuality years ago.

Sharing photos of his house, he wrote:

“No better way to celebrate our 4th yr anniversary than acquiring our second home in London. I can’t believe I have moved from that homeless boy, who had the graciousness of his friends who offered him their sofas, to a house owner in London and not once, but twice!!. I especially want to thank @funmiiyanda, this boy won’t be standing here without you. @stefhirs your friendship is what every human being needs, and @instaforakin all I can say is thank you. Your dream is valid y’all. Your sweat and tears will fertilise the soil and bring forth fruits, just keep at it.”

An officer of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Sunday was attacked by pedestrian touts at Jakande area in Lekki.

According to an eyewitness, the officer was controlling traffic while the man sitting wanted to cross the road.

It was gathered that the pedestrian approached the officer to stop the vehicles for him to cross the road, a request which was blatantly objected.

The officer whose name is yet to be identified as at press time asked the man to use pedestrian bridge not too far from the spot, Naijaloaded learnt.

The man refused to use the pedestrian bridge, threatening the officer, and a lot of altercation came to play.

The man was heard saying officers will soon be chased out of the road just the way police officers were chased out.

It was further gathered that two unknown men joined the pedestrian to attack the officer. The officer ensured he held on to one of them who was later arrested with the help of soldiers.

See photo below;

The destruction exercise was carried out at Kalebawa in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of the state by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

He said,

“Consumption of alcohol and all other intoxicants could distort the mental capability of a person and that it is forbidden in Islam”.

See photos below.

 

WTF is this! I mean this is absolutely bullshit, unconscionable and unacceptable. Look at what religion is doing to Africans.

I can’t just imagine how the Northern leaders reason at times. Poor sense of reasoning and judgement. Why didn’t they sell off the beers to the people in the Southern Nigeria that drinks beer and use the money realised from the sales for the poor masses in the Northern states or the very state that made the seizure of the confiscated beer bottles? Huh🙄

Beer is very bad to your religion in the North but public stealing of federal and state resources by your political leaders is not bad in your religion? Hypocrites!

They collect Tax and Vat from Alcoholic companies? Lol an extremely hypocrisy of the highest order. I think it’s time we disintegrate this country for good.

In my opinion, this is a misplaced please, unimaginable and unacceptable. If I own any of those beer companies, I will drag Kano state government to court and they will pay for damages.

How about you? What’s your take on this?