SPY NIGERIA: News

El-Rufai Increases Teachers’ Salaries By 32.5%

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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Kaduna State Government says it has increased the salary of public school teachers by 32.5 per cent.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The State Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Ja’afaru Sani, told reporters at his office on Thursday that the increment was part of ongoing reforms in the education sector.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">He explained that 27.5 per cent would be added to all teachers’ salary while the other five per cent would serve as an incentive for teachers posted to rural areas.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mr Sani noted that the increase in the salaries of teachers has placed them above other civil servants in the state, and it was aimed at attracting the best hands to the teaching profession.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></a><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">He equally announced that free accommodation and other incentives would be provided for them, especially for those serving in rural communities.</span>

News El-Rufai Increases Teachers’ Salaries By 32.5%

Kaduna State Government says it has increased the salary of public school teachers by 32.5 per cent. The State Commissioner for Education,...

BENUE KILLINGS: Police IG Exonerates Fulani Herdsmen, Orders Clampdown On Benue Militias, Vigilantes Who Bear Arms For Protection

23:25 Staff 0

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The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, yesterday ordered state commissioners of police to as a matter of urgency disarm all militias, vigilantes and other security outfits set up by governors to protect their citizens.</div>
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The IGP equally reiterated his earlier position that the renewed killings in Benue State were communal clashes. He was speaking in Abuja when he met with officers with the rank of commissioner of police and above. </div>
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He said the Nigerian Constitution made it clear that only the security agencies were empowered to carry arms and ammunition.</div>
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Idris did not, however, state whether or not the same law applied to Fulani herdsmen accused of carrying sophisticated weapons and killing innocent citizens.</div>
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He said: “We are entering a very tedious and serious situations in this country.</div>
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“The political issues are coming up to the fore and officers must gear up in our various locations, in our various responsibilities to ensure that we provide law and order all over Nigerian.</div>
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“We are now coming into a political arena. Commands should be very conversant about the arming of militiamen or vigilante.</div>
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“Before a vigilante is established by government, you must have a bi-law, which must be passed by the house of assembly.</div>
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“It is the responsibility of the commissioners of police of the commands to study these bi-laws and see how they conform with the constitution and other laws of this country.</div>
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“But whereby through the connivance of some police officers you have a command arming militiamen under several names. Our officers are to brace up to face these challenges.</div>
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“No country, no government in this country have the responsibility to approve some prohibited firearms to any Nigerian under any guise.</div>
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“It is the responsibilities of CPs of commands to put close watch on the activities of some of these governors arming individuals, which is against the laws of this country.</div>
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“All of us are aware about these prohibited firearms. You cannot give approval for any individual to own a pistol. You cannot give an approval for any individual to own an AK-47, riffle.</div>
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“These are prohibited weapons and only the government has that authority to give that approval.</div>
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“I want to call on our commissioners of police of various commands, you have to be on the watch out for these abuses at various levels.”</div>
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To justify his claim that the incidents were communal clashes, Idris said: “About two or three days back, we had an incident we are investigating in Gboko, where seven Fulani men in pubic transport traveling to Taraba State and stopped at Gboko. The youths there seeing they were Fulani just pounced on them, killed and roasted them.</div>
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“I dispatched our monitoring team to Benue and arrests were made in that area and we are going to investigate it thoroughly.</div>
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“These are clashes occurring between two members of the community. As Nigerians, we should learn to live together, we should learn to be tolerant of each other.</div>
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“When I had a briefing with the traditional rulers in Port-Harcourt, I told them they have a lot to do to bring peace and harmony within their community members.</div>
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“This country needs leaders who should unite the communities, not leaders who create divisions.”</div>
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On why he was still in Abuja, despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to him to relocate to Benue, the IGP said: </div>
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“I was there for about eight days and when I was coming back, I left the DIG there.</div>
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“I came back from Port Harcourt yesterday (Wednesday). The situations in Benue and Nasarawa states have reduced drastically.”</div>
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Source: <a href="http://sunnewsonline.com/herdsmens-killing-igp-declares-war-on-militias-vigilantes/" style="color: #0099e5; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0s ease;" target="_blank">The Sun</a></div>

News BENUE KILLINGS: Police IG Exonerates Fulani Herdsmen, Orders Clampdown On Benue Militias, Vigilantes Who Bear Arms For Protection

The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, yesterday ordered state commissioners of police to as a matter of urge...

Give Up Before You Are Consumed, Buratai Tells Shekau In Poem

08:15 Staff 0

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In what seems like a friendly warning, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai has urged the leader of Boko Haram sect Shekau to surrender now before he is consumed by the troops who have reportedly  closed in on the remnants of insurgents.<br />
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In the poem titled “End of the Road,” the COAS posted on his Facebook page, he expressed satisfaction that most of the foot soldiers of the sect have either been crushed or escaped leaving the acclaimed leader without defense.<br />
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The Army boss exhumed confidence that the era of preaching fake ideology to gullible citizens who became radicalized to take up arms against the state is over assuring that peace will return and the nation will return to its place of honour.<br />
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Read Poem below:<br />
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<b>END OF THE ROAD </b><br />
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<b>By, TY Buratai </b><br />
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It's time to surrender<br />
The deceit is over<br />
Fake ideology preached no more<br />
Surrender before the patient birds<br />
Hovering above you ready to land<br />
Easy prey you are today Shekau<br />
Your foot guards perished<br />
Your foolish pawns escaped<br />
Abandoned you to your follies and perils <br />
Victorious troops celebrate<br />
The pride of the Nation<br />
Never again for peace to elude<br />
Our land of honour to rise greater than before

News Give Up Before You Are Consumed, Buratai Tells Shekau In Poem

In what seems like a friendly warning, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai has urged the leader of Boko Haram sect Sh...

At 2018 Oodua Festival: Are Ona Kakanfo reverses Aole’s curse on Yoruba

02:40 Staff 0

The 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland and Chief Promoter of Olokun Festival Foundation, last week stormed Ile Ife, the spiritual headquarter of Yorubaland  for the annual Oodua Festival with a renewed strength and determination  to continue championing promotion of Yoruba  culture and tradition and defend the race.<br />
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Adams who was appearing in public  for the first official assignment  after his  installation as the Generalissimo of Yorubaland on January 13 by Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, the Alaafin of Oyo, in the historical town of Oyo, in his speech demonstrated dexterity and  high level of determination  to unite Yoruba race and defend it against any form of external social cultural or spiritual aggression.<br />
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Oodua Festival is an annual festival championed by Olokun Festival Foundation,  to celebrate the progenitor of Yoruba race and pray for more blessings and unity in among the  Yoruba, the annual event features traditional rites, beauty pageant lectures and entertainment and it is always celebrated in Ile-Ife. Like the previous edition, the 2018  Oodua Festival witnessed mammoth crowd of participants and tourists from different parts of the world and provide opportunities for business owners, transporters, Okada riders, food vendors and others to enjoy great patronage and huge income.<br />
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The Ooni of Ife, who always declares the event  opened  did not go otherwise in  2018 edition  as His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja 11 declared the event  open  at the Oduduwa  palace  where Aare Gani Adams has gone to pay him homage  with his entourage,<br />
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Ooni who was meeting the Aare for the first time after his installation described Adams as God’s choice and specially bred also offered special prayers for the progress of Yorubaland and unity of the people of the race.<br />
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Aare Gani Adams was accompanied to the palace by the executives and some members of Oodua Progressives Union, (OPU), a social-cultural organisation of Yoruba people in the Diaspora, with branches in 79 countries across the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe and  America.<br />
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The Chief promoter of Olokun Festival Foundation and National leader of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) started his welcome remark  with what can be termed as a reversal of Aole’s curse against Yoruba race  with a special prayer which lasted for about five minutes after which he descended on the agent of destabilisation of Yoruba race warning and urging them to desist from  working against the interest of the race<br />
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“It is a new dawn because we have come a long way in our struggles for unity among the Yorubas. Today, as I stand before you, great sons and daughters of Oduduwa, I urge you all to join me in my vision and commitment to unite the race. This is a dream not too big, and we can all make it a reality.<br />
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” In the past, Yoruba race occupied a special pride of place across the world. This was possible because of our unique tradition, cultural heritage and intelligence. We were once a blessed race among the comity of nations, in the past, we eulogised our gods and deities; we cherished hard work and diligence, we appreciated truthfulness and honesty. We honored talents and wisdom, there was a common identity between the traditional institutions and our core values are tailored towards making us a complete man. That was what translates to what Yorubas of those years called ‘The Omoluabi” a complete man.<br />
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“Today, everything has changed, the good old days have gone with the winds and our unique sense of pride had been relegated to the background and the ugly result is what we see today, we have lost everything that we can be proud of as a people and before our very own eyes the new generation of sons and daughters of Yoruba have lost touch with our history, this is too bad because our past history is supposed to be template for achieving the great future. It is good to say it anywhere in the world that  Yoruba race is blessed with a population of over 250 million people across the world, but  has that population really helped us in anyway? Not at all.<br />
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While commending the efforts of  custodians of culture and tradition including the Alaafin of Oyo  Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, for the concerted efforts  at different forums to promote  unity  of Yoruba race  Adams said “As the foremost Yoruba Obas, history has bestowed on them the role of a bridge builder and a unifying factor, therefore, I call on the other Yoruba Obas to join hands with them so that the Yoruba race  will take its place of pride  and become one of the  greatest races in the world.”<br />
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Adams, however, urged  the Yoruba people to always embrace their culture and tradition and spend more resources to promote  tourism potentials in Yorubaland, he also appealed to politicians to align with the traditional institutions and partner with the traditional rulers for common goal of ensuring grassroots development<br />
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 Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi, while addressing the crowd said Yoruba race is a special race with unique features and tradition “We are not only the oldest,we are the best, Yorubaland is the centre of the world. Our unique tradition and  culture earned us respect  and a place of pride among other tribes, it is therefore essential for us to be united and work together as a  tribe, we should  continue to communicate with God through fasting and prayer and appeasing to our gods for prosperity and progress of the land.”<br />
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Apart from the eulogy of the foremost African monarch, other custodians of culture and stakeholders who graced the occasion including  Owa of Ijeroland  lauded  Adams for his consistency in promotion of Yoruba culture and prayed for his success and long life as the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland,<br />
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The guest lecturer, Professor Adisa Ogunfolakan, in his lecture said the emergence of different pan Yoruba groups and most importantly Gani Adams led Oodua People’s Congress is restoring hope and faith that Oduduwa as root of our emergence and oneness should be held supreme preserved and adored.<br />
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While congratulating Gani Adams on his installation as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo Ogunfolakan, who is the Director Natural History Museum, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife said ” You are a round peg in a round hole, indeed, you are the Oduduwa of our time, Oduduwa did it and achieved it, I pray that the irumole olukotun, irumole olukosi will help and sustain you to achieve unity and oneness of Yoruba people.”<br />
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Dignitaries at the event include Owa Of Ajero, Oba Joseph Adewole, Onigbaye of Igbaye Oba  Joseph Morohunfoye,  Rotimi Falola, Sangodeji, Sango  of Africa Ife traditional chiefs  and others.<br />
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Tourists and participants were thrilled with fascinating performances of different cultural troupes including Oodua cultural group, and others.<br />
<br />
-Tribune

News At 2018 Oodua Festival: Are Ona Kakanfo reverses Aole’s curse on Yoruba

The 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland and Chief Promoter of Olokun Festival Foundation, last week stormed Ile Ife, the spiritual headquart...

Herdsmen Killing: Irate Benue Indigenes Burn Down 7 Fulani Herdsmen To Death In Retaliation

02:35 Staff 0

Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, on Wednesday said that seven persons were killed  by irate youths  in Gboko.<br />
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Owoseni who disclosed this while briefing newsmen in his office said the victims  were said to be travelling either to Okene or Taraba State when criminals attacked, killed and burnt them to ashes.<br />
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He further said that policemen  in the ancient town promptly raced to the scene of incident but lamented that the criminals hurled stones at their patrol vehicle.<br />
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Owoseni said, “We got information around 11am this morning that some hoodlums believed to be of Tiv stock between 9.30am and 10am stormed a garage in Gboko where they attacked seven people believed to be of Fulani extraction, killed and burnt them.’<br />
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“The  passengers were said to be in the park where they were trying to board a commercial vehicle to Okene or Taraba, police in the area of the attack got information and rushed to the place but the criminals embarked on hurling stones at the police.”<br />
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Owoseni who said some people have been arrested to help the police with useful information condemned the act and warned that the command would not hesitate to pull the full weight of the law on anyone found culpable in any criminal act.<br />
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He however said that the crisis did not have any ‘ethnic, religion or political colouration but a pure banditry’.<br />
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The police commissioner, however, said that there was intelligence report that some people in and outside the state were planning attack on some communities along Benue and Nasarwa borders.<br />
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He added that the people wanted to cash on the recent crisis in Kadarko area of Nasarawa state, adding that the people had acquired sophisticated arms for the action.<br />
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“To me this will further escalate the security challenges that we are facing in the state, it is necessary to emphasize that police will not hesitate to deal decisively with criminal elements who want to take advantage of the situation.”<br />
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Meanwhile the state government has imposed a dusk to dawn curfew in the troubled Gboko area till further notice.<br />
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According to the statement issued by the media adviser to the governor, Mr. Tahav Argezua, the curfew  would last from 6pm to 6am from 31 of January till further notice.<br />
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He stated that those exempted from the curfew are those on essential service such as hospital staff as well as those who show convincing  identification.

News Herdsmen Killing: Irate Benue Indigenes Burn Down 7 Fulani Herdsmen To Death In Retaliation

Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, on Wednesday said that seven persons were killed by irate youths in Gboko. Owos...

CAN Desperate To Instal A Christian President In Nigeria – MURIC

22:24 Staff 0

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<span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;">The Muslim Rights Concern has accused the Christian Association of Nigeria of desperation in its alleged bid to instal a Christian as the president of Nigeria.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;">MURIC and CAN have been engaged in a war of words over the alleged religionisation of Nigeria’s politics by CAN.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;">But MURIC, in a statement by its Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, on Wednesday accused CAN of desperately wanting to instal a Christian president in the country.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;">This was despite the denial by CAN that it had not directed its members to vote for only Christians in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;">President Muhammadu Buhari is a Muslim and may be seeking reelection in 2019.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;">The statement by MURIC reads: “The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday denied instigating Christians to vote for Christians only in the 2019 general elections. The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) had alleged on Tuesday, 30th January, 2018 that the Christian umbrella body was instigating Christians against voting for Muslim politicians.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;">“We are not convinced by CAN’s denial though its denial did not surprise us. It is only natural. Yet in spite of the denial, Nigerians know that CAN’s body language speaks volumes. Its hate speeches are legend. Its bitter expressions underline its frustration. CAN is desperate to install a Christian president in Nigeria.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;">“Can CAN deny calling on all churches to pray for Christian victory in the wake of the Benue killings? Nigerian churches were told to spend the whole of Sunday January 7, 2019 praying for victory for Christians. The directive was issued by CAN in its January 5 press statement. That directive naturally caught our attention and we monitored the manner the prayers were offered in some Nigerian cities. We heard more curses than prayers in some noisy churches. While some prayed for victory for Christians, most churches rained abuses, invectives and curses on the Buhari administration. It was more of hysteria than the atmosphere of serenity required in places of worship. CAN has stirred up emotions in Nigerian churches.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;">“Can CAN also deny that it has openly directed Christians all over the country to go into politics? CAN openly gave that instruction on 19th January, 2018. What assurance do we have that there was no hidden message in that directive? What assurance do we have that there were no other secret messages sent round after the public directive? Who is a fool?</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;">“If religion is a private affair, why is CAN always interfering in the privacies of its followers. Why must they be directed in a matter unrelated to religion? Religion is a private matter when it pleases CAN but it is a public affair when it suits the umbrella Christian body. As far as CAN is concerned, Christians are free to organize themselves publicly but Muslims must never be allowed to come together publicly to organize their affairs. Such double standard is, to say the least, disgusting.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;">“Can CAN also disown a certain John B. Damuna who calls himself the Assistant Coordinator of the Christian Youth Organization of Nigeria Northern chapter? John Damuna in a document in our possession warns Christians that it would be a disaster if a Christian did not emerge president in 2019. He claims to be carrying out the directive of CAN. We are going to be silent about what he said concerning herdsmen and almajiris in the same document so that we do not stir another crisis.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;">“CAN should stop deceiving us. It is more honourable to admit one’s actions and statements. It is no longer religion when we say one thing and pretend we never did. Let us leave such antics to politicians. The alternative is to derobe and don the toga of politics.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;">“The last time we checked, ex-Presidents Mathew Okikiola Obasanjo and Goodluck Ebele Jonathan were still Christians. If it is true that Obasanjo ruled Nigeria for eight good years (1999 – 2007) and former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was in power for six years (2010 – 2015), CAN cannot rationalize its present craving for a Christian president. On what ground? Of the nineteen (19) years of civil rule which began in 1999, Muslims have only been in power for five (5) years while Christians have ruled for fourteen (14) years. So what is the rush all about? Turn by turn, remember?</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;">“As a last shot, we remind churches and mosques to mind their language as we march towards 2019. Our places of worship are filled up with leaders and members of all the political parties. We may be shooting ourselves in the foot if we use our places of worship to demarket any political party or any political leader. Religious leaders should rein in their firebrand activists to avoid creating unnecessary tension. We need peace now more than before.”</span>

News CAN Desperate To Instal A Christian President In Nigeria – MURIC

The Muslim Rights Concern has accused the Christian Association of Nigeria of desperation in its alleged bid to instal a Christian as the ...

Suspected Fulani herdsmen arraigned for killing pregnant woman in Ekiti

09:08 Staff 0

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The Department of States Service, (DSS) has arraigned two suspected herdsmen, Namajo Mohammadu, 32 and Abubakar Abase, 18 before an Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court over alleged murder and armed robbery.<br />
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SPY NIGERIA revealed that a Tiv pregnant woman was hacked to death by suspected herdsmen at Orin community in Ekiti State.<br />
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The Prosecution from the DSS, Mr Olaoluwa Olatunbosun told the court on Wednesday that the defendants committed the offense on Jan. 18 in Ido-Ekiti.<br />
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Olatunbosun alleged that the defendants on the said date, while armed with guns and other offensive weapons, unlawfully murdered one pregnant Tiv woman, Mrs Muwaga Felix in her farm.<br />
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He said the duo committed the offense of armed robbery against the people of the community.<br />
The offense is punishable under Section 516, 402 and 319 of the Criminal Code.<br />
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The defendants were not represented by any counsel and their pleas were not taken as well.<br />
The prosecution urged the court to remand the defendants in DSS custody pending the conclusion of the investigations.<br />
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The Chief Magistrate, Mr Ropo Adegboye ordered that the defendants be kept in custody of the DSS till the end of the investigation.<br />
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News Suspected Fulani herdsmen arraigned for killing pregnant woman in Ekiti

The Department of States Service, (DSS) has arraigned two suspected herdsmen, Namajo Mohammadu, 32 and Abubakar Abase, 18 before an Ado-Ek...

Senate Summons IGP Over Failure To Arrest Those Behind Benue Killings

09:03 Staff 0

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The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday, summoned the Inspector-General of Police IGP, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to appear before its committees on Police Affairs and National Intelligence, following the former’s failure to implement a resolution of the Red Chamber.<span id="more-38330" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span></div>
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Recall that the senate had given the IG of Police a 14 days ultimatum to arrest perpetrators of the massacre in Benue State were.</div>
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The ultimatum expired on Tuesday and no arrest has since been made.</div>
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Senate President Bukola Saraki, while making the pronouncement, said the Police chief must appear before the joint committee, on Thursday.</div>
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Saraki said the issue would not be swept under the carpet.</div>

News Senate Summons IGP Over Failure To Arrest Those Behind Benue Killings

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday, summoned the Inspector-General of Police IGP, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to appear before its committees on Pol...

BREAKING: Fani-Kayode Downs With Heart Disease

05:15 Staff 0

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The outspoken opposition voice, a former Miniter and a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode is reportedly down with a "heart related" ailment, his lawyer, Norris Quakers just told court this morning.</div>
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According to <a href="https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/257167-just-fani-kayodes-heart-related-ailment-stalls-money-laundering-trial.html" style="color: #0099e5; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0s ease;" target="_blank">Premium Times</a>, the trial of a former Aviation minister, stalled on Wednesday after the defendant’s lawyer told the judge his client could not attend proceedings due to “heart-related” ailments.</div>
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Fani-Kayode’s lawyer, said the ex-minister was complaining of a heart-related pain and would provide a medical report later today.</div>
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Chief Fani-Kayode and Nenadi Usman, a former minister of state for finance, are facing a 17-count of money laundering amounting to N4.6 billion.</div>
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Also joined as a defendant is Yusuf Danjuma, a former National Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) and Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Limited.</div>
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News BREAKING: Fani-Kayode Downs With Heart Disease

The outspoken opposition voice, a former Miniter and a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode is reportedly...

Concerned Citizen Wants Masses To Sustain Faith In Nigeria, Buhari

01:45 Staff 0

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A self-styled concerned citizen, Patriot Dickson Onah has made a passionate appeal to Nigerians not to allow vein glory seekers take advantage of the skirmishes the nation has experienced to cause disaffection between the government and the led.<br />
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Onah who is a member, Faith in Nigeria, in a letter to his fellow countrymen titled, “A Clarion Call for Faith in Nigeria”, urged Nigerians to consider the strides the government of President Buhari has made to return the nation on the path of growth and not allow the flaws becloud their judgement.<br />
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According to him, when supposed leaders decide to write  letters to public officers enjoying the mandate of the people,  the masses should also find a common ground to communicate one another since they are the proverbial ground that suffers when two elephants fight each other.<br />
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“We entered the New Year on a very sad note with renewed tempo of crises in some parts of the country, particularly the herders/farmers conflicts in parts of the North”|.<br />
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He regretted that the elements of opposition has taken advantage of the security breaches and are working tirelessly to create politicise the issue.<br />
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“Even on the same insecurity he is been harshly scolded, President Buhari’s battling of Boko Haram terrorists in the Northeast has received acclaims both locally and globally.  They pour accolades on him for defeating the world’s most dreaded extremist’s sect, Boko Haram and halting its spread as well as other allied terrorism threats around the country.<br />
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“”President Buhari has brought relief to us in multiple ways. Apart from ending the regime of mindless pilfering with public resources; he is saving in the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) and Nigeria’s foreign reserves for posterity and capital projects’ like roads construction across the country and the reintroduction of rail transportation by the revival of the railways supervised by Minister of Transport, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi”.<br />
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Read full letter below:<br />
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January 29, 2018<br />
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My Dear Nigerian Masses<br />
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A Clarion Call For Faith in Nigeria.<br />
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I salute you in the New Year and wish all the people of Nigeria, especially, the poor and vulnerable masses, God’s blessings.  Life is full of vagaries, but the strong-willed shall always wither the storm.<br />
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No doubt, we entered the New Year on a very sad note with renewed tempo of crises in some parts of the country, particularly the herders/farmers conflicts in parts of the North.  There has been loss of precious lives, destructions to properties, displacements of indigenous populations and terrifying dislocation of social and communal existence in once peaceful communities. <br />
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We mourn with the bereaved and victims of these crises in Benue, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Plateau, Zamfara, Southern Kaduna and Taraba states among others. We feel the exactitude of the pains and the unbearable hardships imposed on everyone, including the families of the victims.<br />
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At such difficult times, there is every reason to talk to ourselves, reason together and act in unison, to inspire the patriotic spirit in us to weaken and cripple the common enemy of our people and the nation.  This is certainly not the time to speak in discordant voices or hurl vituperations at our leaders or ourselves. It would rather widen the cracks and do us more harm. The leaders need our support and prayers now more than ever to overcome these challenges of nation-building.<br />
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Let it not be lost on any mind and soul that nations of the world face these difficult times at intervals. But they do not last forever.  They emerge stronger and more focused. The case of Israel is apt. The collective efforts by leaders and backed by the citizenry have always surmounted these challenges.<br />
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We all wish to have peace in our homes, communities and villages. We need peace in our places of works and worship centres. Any such disruption has far-reaching consequences.  But we also know that there are people among us who feel we don’t deserve the peace or right to life. We should resolve not to dance to their macabre dance anymore. Let’s reject them and their satanic proposals. Let’s cover their faces with mud and ask them to go and spit in hell, but not on the throne of our ancestors.<br />
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Our dear President Muhammadu Buhari has found himself in these unfortunate circumstances. He is one Nigerian leader who has the country at heart.  But all over the world, leaders have supporters and friends as well as enemies or foes. The political enemies rather dig pitfalls for him to exploit its outcomes in furthering their personal political nests.  This is the time we need to be watchful, prayerful, conscious and alert. Or else, we are bound to be misled by the antics and machinations of evil opponents who are after plunging us into deep mess.<br />
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We can attest that some reactions to the prevailing crisis in Nigeria are tailored towards politics and the struggle for the political soul of Nigeria in 2019. The opposing camps are singing melodies of destruction and evil against President Buhari in order to oust him out of power and reverse the gains of democracy under his watch in the last two years.  The masses of Nigeria must stand firm to resist such unholy interference from these political hawks and power mongers, who see nothing good in the leadership of others except themselves, but offer little or nothing when they are honoured with the privilege to serve.<br />
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The simmering crises around the country are regrettable and efforts are being made by the Presidency to contain it.  Every leader has shortcomings. And that one problem could not be solved expeditiously or dexterously should not constitute blanket condemnation and nullification of a leadership. Every day, new experiences, teach fresh lessons’.    There is certitude that Nigeria will again emerge from these crisis triumphantly.<br />
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Even on the same insecurity he is been harshly scolded, President Buhari’s battling of Boko Haram terrorists in the Northeast has received acclaims both locally and globally.  They pour accolades on him for defeating the world’s most dreaded extremist’s sect, Boko Haram and halting its spread as well as other allied terrorism threats around the country.<br />
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President Buhari has brought relief to us in multiple ways. Apart from ending the regime of mindless pilfering with public resources; he is saving in the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) and Nigeria’s foreign reserves for posterity and capital projects’ like roads construction across the country and the reintroduction of rail transportation by the revival of the railways supervised by Minister of Transport, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi.<br />
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His administration has impacted numerously.  The N-Power jobs are putting smiles on the faces of families and power generation has appreciated to over 7,000 megawatts from the 2,300 megawatts of national grid by May 2015. This was after successive governments, including the one headed by the letter-writer, squandered billions of dollars to fix electricity, but no positive results for 16 years. <br />
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Look at his anti-corruption war. He has recovered looted commonwealth in quantums, no single leader of Nigeria has ever approximated since the establishment of the EFCC. Even though corruption is fighting back to regain its position of prominence in public affairs, but he has remained undaunted. Corruption is rightly the greatest enemy of Nigeria. And owe Buhari moral obligation to support him scuttle monster to a standstill.<br />
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We can only sufficiently appreciate the forces massed against President Buhari for blocking all sources of revenue leakages and corrupt acts of public officials. But now they make a mountain out of a molehill when they hear about the embezzlement of N200 million.  But we all are living witnesses to the jamboree or the free feasting on national resources during the period these veiled forces held forth at Aso Villa.<br />
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But today, they are claiming better knowledge. However, before their watchful eyes, the likes of Sen. Stella Oduah alone, as Aviation Minister could loot far more than this amount by a government midwifed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. When his protégé Femi Fani Kayode is grilled for embezzlement of public funds, he does not even feel remorseful. <br />
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This is the time to stand up for President Buhari. We cannot afford to sacrifice him to these vermin in power. We must look at the Nigerian Project and interest as larger as and bigger than any individual.  We should not hesitate to troop out en masse to demonstrate our support for Mr. President, anytime, it is necessary. The battle line has been drawn between light and darkness and the die is cast.<br />
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We must insist   in our actions and support that President Buhari must continue beyond 2019 to lead Nigeria to the Promise land. We should say No and reject any Coalition to backwardness, proposed by any self-cantered leader, who oppressed and enslaved us for the 16 years of the PDP’s misrule.  This is a clarion call for us to rise up in defence of our democracy against retrogressive forces before they return us to another phase of an inglorious history.<br />
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The clock is fast ticking and its 2018 already and the best time that the hawks usually   come out to perfect our backwardness. Let’s avoid them like plaques. Let’s tell them in clear dictions that   #WeStandWithNigeria and cannot go back again to the dungeon of darkness. #WeStandWithBuhari because of our implicit confidence in him to resolve all the emerging problems orchestrated by these masked forces and the latter-day prophets of doom. Disillusionment is not the solution now, but positive thoughts and actions. <br />
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Once again, I appreciate your patience, endurance and support to these twin projects- standing to be counted for Nigeria and the Buhari Presidency.<br />
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Yours ever<br />
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Patriot Dickson Onah<br />
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Member, Faith in Nigeria<br />
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Citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria<br />
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News Concerned Citizen Wants Masses To Sustain Faith In Nigeria, Buhari

A self-styled concerned citizen, Patriot Dickson Onah has made a passionate appeal to Nigerians not to allow vein glory seekers take adva...

BREAKING: Nasarawa Fresh Attack, Many Killed

01:42 Staff 0

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There has been fresh attack  in Kadarko Community of Keana Local Government Area, Nasarawa State. It is feared that seven people lost their life.</div>
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The incident happened on Tuesday where seven people is feared killed and two others injured</div>
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The attack is perceived to be a reprisal as it occurred after cattle rustlers killed 73 cows, injured 18 other cows in the same community on Sunday morning.</div>
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In the Tuesday attack, Yamadaga village in Kadarko community was invaded by the suspects as early as 1:00 a.m. to unleash mayhem, leaving seven persons dead and two others injured.</div>
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The State Governor Tanko Al-Makura has, however, paid a visit to the affected Kadarko community on Tuesday. </div>
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NAN</div>

News BREAKING: Nasarawa Fresh Attack, Many Killed

There has been fresh attack in Kadarko Community of Keana Local Government Area, Nasarawa State. It is feared that seven people lost their...

We Know The Sponsors of Herdsmen But Can’t Arrest – Police Chief Reveals

11:22 Staff 0

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<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">A former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Samuel Afolayan (retd.), has alleged that the Nigeria Police knows the sponsors of the dreaded Fulani herdsmen committing atrocities across the country but cannot arrest them.</span><br />
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He said he was pointedly told by the police that the sponsors of the herdsmen though known, could not be arrested when he reported the numerous attacks on his farm to the Kwara State Police command.</div>
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He noted that the police said their sponsors were highly placed individuals.</div>
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Afolayan stated this in an interview with PUNCH Newspaper.</div>
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He said he was told this when he reported the destruction of his farmland to the police.</div>
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The ex-naval chief said there has been numerous attacks on his farm by herdsmen but he has been silent on the attacks to avoid escalating the tension in the country but decided to speak out for the first time in January.</div>
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He explained that he has had to seize some of the herders’ cows to stall the attacks but they forcefully reclaimed them.</div>
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He said the owners of the cows were highly placed persons residing outside the state. According to Afolayan, he told the police to bring one of them in for questioning but was told that it would be difficult.</div>
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“I said that is injustice. How do you remand a boy that is of no consequence when the boy had already told you that the owner of the cows is in Zamfara State?</div>
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“He gave the number of his employer and I said the police should invite the man who owns the cows and they were telling me that it would be difficult. What is difficult in that? The police can arrest anybody wherever he or she lives in Nigeria.”</div>
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Afolayan maintained that the federal government was not doing enough to address the attacks while calling on it to take drastic actions.</div>

News We Know The Sponsors of Herdsmen But Can’t Arrest – Police Chief Reveals

A former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Samuel Afolayan (retd.), has alleged that the Nigeria Police knows the sponsors of the dreaded...

Fulani stabs driver to death in Ondo

09:59 Staff 0

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DETECTIVES from the Ondo state Police command are on the trail of a Fulani man, suspected to be a herder, who allegedly killed a driver, Victor Ajisafe, at Road Block area, in Ibadan garage, in Akure South local government area of the state.<br />
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Ajisafe was said to have met his untimely death at the garage after a minor disagreement ensued between him and the suspected Fulani herdsman.<br />
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According to a source, who explained that the suspect attention was drawn to a comment by Ajisafe which infuriated the Fulani man to drag out his dagger.<br />
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He said the suspect pursued the driver around the garage and eventually stabbed him in the neck, leading to the death of the driver.<br />
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He said “It was one of the Fulani’s friends named Usman Olaniyi that told him in his native language that Victor was abusing him. This annoyed the Fulani and he drew his sword from the sheath.<br />
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“He started pursuing him around the garage until he caught up with him, and without hesitating, he stabbed him on the neck severally, while the driver bled to death before help could reach him at the hospital .”<br />
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He, however, said that Olaniyi was among those who rescued Victor and rushed him to the hospital, where he finally gave up the ghost.<br />
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ALSO READ: Police nab Islamic cleric with human parts in Lagos<br />
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Speaking on the death of her husband, Oluwatoyin Ajisafe, said her husband was gruesomely murdered by the suspect over a minor issue.<br />
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She explained that her 34-year-old husband from Ondo town, was a prominent member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) at the Ibadan garage, at Road Block Area of the state capital, before he met his untimely death while his killer disappeared after the alleged killing.<br />
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She said “I was informed about my husband death by his brother, who told me that he was stabbed in the neck by one Fulani man but has been rushed to the hospital.<br />
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“I later discovered that my husband lost a lot of blood and couldn’t make it to the hospital and was confirmed dead at the hospital<br />
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The wife of the deceased however called on security operatives in the state and the state government to ensure that the killer of her husband is apprehended and prosecuted accordingly.<br />
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She said “We appeal to government and the police to quickly arrest the Fulani man who killed my husband in his prime. He must face the dire consequences of his actions”<br />
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Confirming the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Femi Joseph, disposed of that the friend of the suspect, Usman has been arrested by the police from the command.<br />
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He, however, said detectives from the command have been working round the clock to arrest the fleeing Fulani man who has been at large.<br />
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Joseph said the command had also begun an investigation into the matter while it was discovered that Usman, who incited the Fulani man has been helping the police to arrest the suspect.<br />
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He, however, said that Usman would be charged to court if his friend could not be found.

News Fulani stabs driver to death in Ondo

DETECTIVES from the Ondo state Police command are on the trail of a Fulani man, suspected to be a herder, who allegedly killed a driver, V...

Kidnapping Menace: Doctors To Get 24 Hours Security

09:35 Staff 0

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Ben Ayade, Cross River State governor, has approved a 24-hour security coverage for medical doctors and other professionals in the state in order to end kidnapping.<br />
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According to a statement by the State Security Adviser, Mr. Jude Ngaji, the approval follows series of meetings with the governor and doctors in the state on how to cur the menace.<br />
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Doctors under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association in the state had recently gone on strike to protest against the kidnapping of two of their colleagues, Dr. Usang Ekanem and Dr. Emem Udoh, within the space of one week.<br />
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Ngaji said governor Ayade ordered increased security at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital and other public health institutions in the state.<br />
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The state security adviser said security personnels will be responsible for up doctors who are on night duty from their residences.<br />
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He noted that the emphasis would be on those residing in vulnerable areas in the state.<br />
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Ngaji said, “The governor had a meeting with medical doctors and I also did the same. First, we had to make them understand that it was not as if doctors were being targeted for kidnapping as it was perceived.<br />
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“We have some recent cases of doctors being kidnapped. One was the doctor in Akamkpa while the other was the lady who was released after one day. The lady was returning from duty at about 1.30am when she was abducted.<br />
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“That same night that she was kidnapped, the security agencies met, took a decision and swung into action. That same night, about 11 persons were arrested for various criminal offences, although not within the Calabar metropolis. We have discovered that we have made the town too hot for them that they have relocated to neighbouring communities.<br />
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“What we have done, especially for the doctors, and we intend to do for all corporate organisations, is that the governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, has approved a 24-hour security services for doctors in the teaching hospital and other hospitals.<br />
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“We now have the responsibility of going out to pick up doctors, especially the ones on duty, no matter how late. We would pay special attention to doctors who live in vulnerable areas.<br />
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“So, if a doctor is on duty and has the challenge of leaving where he or she is, the designated security men will go and pick up the doctor and also take him/her back home safely.<br />
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“This is a novel idea that we have just introduced and I am sure it is the first of its kind in the country. We are not doing it for doctors alone, other professionals will benefit from it. The Homeland Security personnel that are stationed all over the metropolis will take charge of that.”

News Kidnapping Menace: Doctors To Get 24 Hours Security

Ben Ayade, Cross River State governor, has approved a 24-hour security coverage for medical doctors and other professionals in the state i...

EFCC To Grill Patience Jonathan Over Fake Firm Used To Launder N300m From NPS, Niger Delta Ministry, Others

04:29 Staff 0

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to interrogate the former First lady, Patience Jonathan following the unregistered companies, one of which got N300 million contracts, are allegedly owned by her.<br />
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The firms according to The Nation Newspaper are Euroricia Concept Limited, Pasturage Vert and Mabel Construction Limited, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).<br />
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Mrs Jonathan is under probe for allegedly using one of the firms to secure contracts from the Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) for the fencing of Kuje Prison and supply of beddings to some other facilities.<br />
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Funds were also allegedly diverted from the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to the “bogus” firms.<br />
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The EFCC has released Mrs Jonathan’s sister Esther Oba after interrogation. She was arrested last week at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in connection with alleged laundering of over N359, 397,458.26 through two firms linked with her sister.<br />
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Her passport was not returned to her to restrict her movement to the country pending the conclusion of the investigation.<br />
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A source close to the latest findings said:  “Contracts were given to companies owned by her but not registered.<br />
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“Our detectives went to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), searched the database and discovered that these companies were unregistered.<br />
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“The companies are Euroricia Concept Limited, Pasturage Vert and Mabelt Construction Limited. Funds were diverted into these companies from some government agencies, including the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the Nigerian Prison Service (NPS) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).”<br />
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The EFCC believes that Mrs. Jonathan used one of the companies to get an unspecified amount of money for a project named Rural Information Technology Centres across the country.<br />
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The NPS could not defend some of the N300m contracts given the firm.<br />
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EFCC investigators are to interrogate Mrs. Jonathan in connection with alleged laundering of over N359, 397,458.26 through two firms.<br />
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The companies are AM-PM Global Networks Limited and Finchley Homes Limited.<br />
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About N317, 397,458.26 was traced to the suspect in AM-PM Global Networks Limited.<br />
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She is expected to explain how she came about the management of N42million in Finchley Homes Limited.<br />
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“We are probing some of the assets of Esther Oba and we may approach the court to place all these assets under Interim Assets Forfeiture in line with Sections 28 and 34 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004 and Section 13(1) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004,” the source said.<br />
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The ex-First Lady had through her Chief Press Secretary, Belema Meshack-Hart. denied having any link with a N200m IT contract from the National Information Technology Development Agency.<br />
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The statement said: “In their concocted report they claimed that the former first lady is a sole signatory of Magel Resort Limited, a hotel owned by her late mum, Mama Charity Oba. This is untrue as the former first lady had no dealings with the hotel until the demise of her late mum after which the Hotel was handed over to her with the presentation of the death certificate of her mum.<br />
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”It was also alleged that N200m IT contract was awarded to Magel Resort Limited, this is a figment of the imagination of EFCC as no such contract was awarded to the company. EFCC must stop this media trial and blackmail aimed at tarnishing the image of the former first Lady and get down to the business of conducting proper investigation.”<br />
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The Nation

News EFCC To Grill Patience Jonathan Over Fake Firm Used To Launder N300m From NPS, Niger Delta Ministry, Others

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to interrogate the former First lady, Patience Jonathan following the unregistere...

New Fares For Lekki, Ikoyi Tollgates Released

21:43 Staff 0

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<span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;">The Lekki Concession Company on Sunday released details of the new tolls to be paid by motorists using the Lekki-Epe Expressway and Ikoyi Link Bridge in Lagos.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;">The details were contained in a statement by the company.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;">In the new fare regime, which becomes effective February 1, cars and tricycles owners are to pay N200 for using the Lekki-Epe Expressway as against N120 being paid now.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;">For the Ikoyi Link Bridge, these categories of users are to pay N300, as against the old rate of N250.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;">Sport Utility Vehicles owners will pay N250 to use the Lekki-Epe Expressway instead of N150 being paid now.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;">For the Ikoyi-Link Bridge, the owners of SUV will have to pay N100 more in addition to the present N300.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px;">Heavy duty trucks/buses with two or more heavy axles will attract N1,000 on the Lekki-Epe Expressway.</span>

News New Fares For Lekki, Ikoyi Tollgates Released

The Lekki Concession Company on Sunday released details of the new tolls to be paid by motorists using the Lekki-Epe Expressway and Ikoyi ...

Indictment: Ekiti Slams 19-Count Charge Of Stealing N4.9b, Others On Fayemi, Ex-Commissioner

21:38 Staff 0

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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Less than two weeks after releasing a white paper on the report of the Justice Silas Oyewole Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Finances of Ekiti State during the administration of the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, as governor of Ekiti State, the State Government has filed criminal charges of corruption against Fayemi and his Finance Commissioner, Dapo Kolawole.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The 19-count charge: HAD/05c/2018, in which Fayemi and Kolawole were accused of stealing, abuse of office, criminal contempt, among others, was filed before the State High Court, Ado Ekiti on January 26, 2018.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fayemi and his Finance Commissioner were accused of misappropriating the sum of N4.9 billion being the proceeds of Ekiti State Bond for the sum of N20 billion earmarked in the Bond Prospectus for various projects in the State that were either not done or partly done.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While releasing the white paper on January 15, 2018, the government had directed that the state’s Ministry of Justice should institute appropriate legal action(s) against Fayemi and others, adding that Fayemi and Kolawole should be made to account for the whereabouts of the fund allocated to projects in the N25 billion Bond Prospectus, which were either not executed or partly executed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Count 12 of the criminal charge, which bordered on conspiracy to steal and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code law, Cap C. 16 Laws of Ekiti State, 2010, reads: “That you Dr John Kayode Fayemi and Mr Vincent Dapo Kolawole, while holding the offices of the Executive Governor of Ekiti State of Nigeria and Commissioner for Finance</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">respectively, sometime between 2011 and 2014, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, conspired to steal the sum of N2,750,000,000.00 (N2.75 billion) being the sum of money earmarked in the Bond Prospectus titled; ‘Ekiti State Government of Nigeria, Offer for Subscription of N20,000,000,000 (N20 billion). 14.5% Fixed rate Bond Due 2018 Under the Ekiti State Government of Nigeria N25,000,000,000.00 Bond Issuance Programme ‘and released for the construction of Ultra-Modern Market in Ekiti State, which you never built; and thereby committed an offence.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also on the N25 billion bond, Fayemi and Kolawole were accused of stealing the sum of N716,688,790.92 out of the N750 million earmarked in the Bond Prospectus and released for the construction of Ekiti State School of Agriculture out of which only N33.311,209.08 was allegedly spent, N198,860,023.00 being outstanding fund from the N500 million earmarked in the Bond Prospectus and released for the construction of Ekiti State Liaison Office in Lagos, out of which only N301,139,977 was expended for the said construction.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Furthermore, out of the N767, 970,167.47 earmarked in the Bond Prospectus and released for the renovation of Governor’s Office, only N87, 622,912.25 was spent, leaving outstanding sum of N681,347,255.22. For the renovation of Ado Ekiti Water Works, N335.5 million was earmarked and released while only N155, 523,558 was spent, leaving outstanding sum of N197, 979,441.77 and N468.6 million earmarked for construction of Ero Water Works, which was not done.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fayemi and Kolawole were also charged with criminal contempt for refusing to appear before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, an offence punishable under Section 13 of the Commission of Inquiry Law, Cap C. 10, Laws of Ekiti State, 2010, Section 126(2) of the Criminal Code laws, Cap C. 16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2010 and Criminal Contempt punishable under Section 133 of the same criminal code.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It should be recalled that the Ekiti State Government banned the duo of Fayemi and Kolawole from holding public office in the State for 10 years, for their refusal to appear before the Commission of Inquiry, even after the determination of the case challenging the inauguration of the commission of inquiry before the Ekiti State High Court.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The white paper said: “Government views accountability and probity as the hallmark of good governance. Therefore, the government decided to set up the Judicial Panel of Inquiry in line with its law enacted in 2012.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Both Dr Fayemi and Mr Kolawole are recommended as unfit to hold any public office in the state for their refusal to appear before the Commission of Inquiry. Their disrespect to the constituted authority and the undignified roles they played in the whole contracts saga which were obviously against the interest of the state they were supposed to protect. They should be barred from holding public office for a specified period.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While submitting its report on December 13, 2017, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry had said that the former governor must account for the whereabouts of N2.75 billion allocated from the N25 billion bond obtained by the government for the execution of contract for the construction of Ultra-Modern market in Ado Ekiti, which was never executed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The commission of inquiry also said the contractor in respect of the furnishing of the government house built by the Fayemi’s administration should be made to refund a sum of N324.8 million, noting that the contract should not have been more than N280 million.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The panel said it found out that KITWOOD Nigeria Limited to which the furnishing contract of over N600 million was awarded had no traceable address and that “the address on the Letter of Award is a virgin land at opposite the new Central Bank along new Iyin Road, Ado Ekiti.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the purchase of vehicles, the panel said: “Claim by Coscharis Motors that it supplied 235 and/or 250 vehicles was fraudulent and that fraught with so many contradictions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“That Coscharis Motors supplied some vehicles outside Ekiti State especially, at Ibadan Liaison office when Ekiti State Government does not have a Liaison office in Ibadan. In respect of this, seven vehicles were supplied outside the State and signed for by unknown persons.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“That Coscharis Motors only supplied 219 vehicles to the Ekiti State government and that 17 Joylong Buses were supplied to the Ekiti State Government as gift but later carted away.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the controversial N852.9 State Universal Education Board fund, the commission said it was clear that the Government of Dr. Fayemi hoodwinked the Federal Government into paying its own matching grant by obtaining N852,936,783.12 loan from Access Bank on November 25, 2013 without perfecting documentation in respect of the loan, thereby flouting the provisions of Section 11(2) of the UBEC Act, 2004.</span><br />
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News Indictment: Ekiti Slams 19-Count Charge Of Stealing N4.9b, Others On Fayemi, Ex-Commissioner

Less than two weeks after releasing a white paper on the report of the Justice Silas Oyewole Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Finan...

Breaking: DSS, Army kill Don Wanny’s brother

08:39 Staff 0

Oluchi Igwedibia, alias Obatosu, the younger brother of the notorious criminal and cultist, Don Wanny has been gunned down by a combined team of the Army and Department of State Security, DSS, who trailed him to Sabo Iyakpe, Etsako West in Edo State on Sunday.<br />
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According to a Government House, Port Harcourt press release, signed by Simeon Nwakaudu, the Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike commended the DSS and the Nigerian Army for the joint operation that led to the killing of Igwedibia.<br />
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The younger brother of late Don Wanny who was among the 32 cultists declared wanted by the State Security Council was killed at Sabo Iyakpe, Etsako West in Edo State on Sunday, following accurate DSS intelligence.<br />
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Igwedibia played a prominent role in the New Year killings by Don Wanny gang in Omoku.<br />
Wike declared that none of those declared wanted by the Rivers State Security Council would go free, saying that they would all be brought to justice.<br />
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The governor further declared that the N20 million bounty placed for credible information that would lead to the arrest of the wanted cultists was still in place.<br />
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He stated that all those who participated in the New Year Mayhem at Omoku and any other security infraction in the state would be traced and brought to justice.<br />
Wike stated that the government would continue to work with security agencies and other stakeholders to ensure that Rivers State remained safe.

News Breaking: DSS, Army kill Don Wanny’s brother

Oluchi Igwedibia, alias Obatosu, the younger brother of the notorious criminal and cultist, Don Wanny has been gunned down by a combined tea...

Pro-Nigerian Group to organize rallies for President Buhari

08:32 Staff 0

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A self-style pro-national interest movement, “Faith In Nigeria” has declared its support to mobilize Nigerians across the country for President Muhammadu Buhari across party and ethnic lines.<br />
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This is the first non-partisan and non political interest  group to do so as to sustain the healing process of the country under PMB.<br />
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Addressing journalists in Abuja on Sunday, Mr. Peter Bawa, Director of Communicatons and Strategy for the Group explained that Faith in Nigeria sees the need for a citizens' re-awakening platform to galvanize massive support for the President based on his superlative performance particularly in the security sector where Boko Haram has been defeated.<br />
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He disclosed that the rallies will be holding rallies in four different cities of the country, which includes Lagos, Calabar, Kaduna and a grand finale in Abuja on Thursday.<br />
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According to him some citizens misunderstand the necessary adjustments to living within their real income as hardship, stressing that the group hopes to use the rally to enlighten Nigerians on the poor understanding of the consequences of dismantling the corruption infrastructure which has been entrenched over the years.<br />
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He said the rally became neccessary to celebrate President Buhari and his administration in view of the giant strides the country has recorded under his purposeful leadership, adding that the foundation laid by Mr. President must be built upon without breaking strides.<br />
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According to him, under the Buhari administration, Nigerians have seen the economy regain solid ground with the anti-corruption crusade of Mr. President.<br />
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He said, "this is opposed to the past where looters are only named without diligent prosecution, those who had dared to pilfer from the national till have been made to forfeit their loots while standing trial with the most diligent prosecution we have ever seen so far. <br />
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 "President Buhari's commitment to diversifying the economy is the most commitment we have seen till date and we dare say the results are already manifesting for those that took the initiative to invest in local production of things that were once imported. There has been an increase in the export of Nigeria's agricultural produce and we believe it is a matter of time before semi-finished and later finished produce from Nigeria will take the world by storm.<br />
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"our stature in the international community has seen an upward spurt and we believe that things can only improve even further going forward. This is tied to the combined improvement in other sectors. Savings in the foreign reserve has climbed to new highs as investors now see the country as a safe haven to grow their businesses."<br />
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Bawa however challenged the President to be decisive and firm with those that are terrorist supporters and those that hide behind free speech to incite hatred along ethnic and religious lines. He did the government must take a firm stance against those that are sabotaging the economy under any guise.<br />
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He therefore stated that, "our public activities will commence with a mass rally in Lagos on Monday, Calabar, Kaduna and a grand finale in Abuja on Thursday where the National Flag will be presented to Mr. President, symbolic of our endorsement for his administration to continue beyond 2019 and sustain its good works in the land."

News Pro-Nigerian Group to organize rallies for President Buhari

A self-style pro-national interest movement, “Faith In Nigeria” has declared its support to mobilize Nigerians across the country for Pre...

2 more Nigerians executed in Saudi Arabia •15 others next in line

03:56 Staff 0

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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Nearly four months after a Nigerian was executed in Saudi Arabia for alleged drug-related offence, two more have been killed in a similar manner, sending fears to no fewer than 15 other Nigerians being detained in parts of the Middle East country.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Prison Sources in Saudi Arabia confirmed to <em>Saturday Vanguard</em> that the two Nigerians, whose names have been given as Ibrahim Ciroma and Maimidu Issah, all from the Northern part of Nigeria, were executed last week. The prison source said that while one was brutally terminated on Tuesday, the other Nigerian faced the hangman’s noose on Thursday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The summary execution of the two Nigerians came nearly two weeks after a prison source in Medina leaked the names of 15 Nigerians, who are currently on death row at the Medina Prison, awaiting the long knife any moment from now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Saturday Vanguard</em> had on January 13 this year, published a Save-Our-Soul letter despatched by the embattled Nigerians awaiting execution in Riyadh to President Muhammadu Buhari and pleaded with him to intervene and save their lives by repatriating them home to save their jail terms in their father land or be killed at home and given decent burials instead of being killed as cows in a foreign land.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">In response, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, affirmed the determination of the government to wade into the matter and save the lives of the imprisoned Nigerians in Saudi Arabia. The minister promised to dispatch officials from the Nigerian Embassy in Riyadh to liaise with their Saudi counterparts so as to prevent the inmates from being executed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">“The Minister of Foreign Affairs has directed the Nigerian Mission in Riyadh to look into the detained suspects’ case urgently,” the Spokesman for the Ministry, Dr. Tope Adeleye Elias-Fatile, said in response to enquiry on the matter. “The Nigerian Government will continue to engage the Saudi authorities in negotiations so that they will not be executed,” the Foreign Ministry assured.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">However, more than two weeks after the report was made to the Nigerian Government and with no action coming from Abuja, the additional two Nigerians drug suspects were sent to their early graves. It was learnt that following the directive of the Federal Government to the embassy in Riyadh to intervene and save the troubled Nigerians from death row, the Nigerian embassy simply requested for the file numbers of the inmates from the prison officials and nothing else was done about it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">One of the suspects told <em>Saturday Vanguard</em> on Friday that an indication that more of the detainees might be executed any moment from now was that their files had been removed from the prison in Medina and its computer system. “For your information, the removal of the inmate files from the system in Saudi means that the affected persons could be summarily executed any moment from now. Please plead with President Buhari and the government of Nigeria to save us from being killed this wicked way. Delay is dangerous,” the suspect pleaded. (Saturday Vanguard)</span></div>

News 2 more Nigerians executed in Saudi Arabia •15 others next in line

Nearly four months after a Nigerian was executed in Saudi Arabia for alleged drug-related offence, two more have been killed in a similar...