Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Monday 21st December 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 21/12/20
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#EndSARS: Two Months After Lekki Massacre, Sanwo-Olu, Buratai Yet To Be Sacked And Tried For Crimes Against Humanity By Sanyaolu Juwon
In a gory event widely described as Black Teusday, Nigerians witness one of the most violent crackdown on protest since the Enugu Iva Valley Massacre in 1949. Like bloodthirsty Vamps, the army and police on October 20, descended on peaceful protesters with the kind of force and desperation only witnessed in movies and war. We lost our Brothers, Friends, Fathers, Mothers, Sons and Daughters to the uncontrollable bloodlust of a rapacious and highly vindictive ruling elites. Just like yesterday, we saw our friends lying helplessly on the floor, drowned in their own pool of blood. Armed only with flags and solidarity songs, our friends were shot without mercy and hunted like games for exercising there legitimate right to protest. It was a day when the cries of despair competed with the horrific sounds of bullets.
And as we watch our brothers fall to their death and our sisters drowned in their own pull of blood, we wondered if we had committed any crime for demanding a country where the creed of citizenship is respected and being young isnt criminalized. We wondered if we had erred by demanding an end to the culture of impunity, respect for the rule of law and democratic ethos. We marvelled at what kind of a country treats its citizens with such disdane and unprecedented cruelty. Our protest which had lingered for close to two weeks was mobilized around specific demands to end police brutality, extra judicial killings and proper remuneration for the armed forces. However, on October 20, the government sent a clear message that it wouldnt be willing to put an end to this undemocratic and babaric practice. It was clear that our two weeks protest, despite grounding the entire country, fell on deaf ears. We were not only brutalized and killed by the police, the latter and the military competed for the highest kill.
Amidst the Madness of massacre, the Lagos state government directed the Judicial Panel of inquiries to include the Lekki Massacre as part of its term of reference. Prior to this, the Lagos State Governor, Sanwoolu had denied having a single knowledge about the Lagoswide onslaught against protesters and had placed the blame at the doorsteps of the military. In a counter defense, the Military expressed grave shock at the denial of the Lagos Governor and reiterated that they stormed the streets of Lagos on the request of the Governor. It wasnt until then the Governor made a U-turn and now admitted inviting the military. This was a man who in a CNN interview, shamelessly lied to the World about his involvement in this destardly aggression and violent murder of our friends at Lekki and other parts of Lagos. What is more unfortunate albeit not suprising is the loud silence of both the Lagos House and National Assembly. None of these legislative organs devoted time to deliberate on this sad incidence. Despite admittance of complicity by the culprits of Lekki Massacre, no single action from state and national legislative arms. This was a time Nigerians completely lost confidence in its democracy and had to rely on the British Parliament to protect its interest. You will recall a similar occurrence with Sowore’s trial where it took the US parliament to deliberate and condemn the invasion of our court, disregard for court orders, rights violation and sham trial of Sowore by the tyrannic Buhari regime, whereas the Nigerian legislative arm kept mum and were observing table manners.
Of greater insult is how Sanwoolu had the temerity to direct the investigation of killings where he had played very conspicous role. And ever since the constitution of the infamous judicial panel, no single government official has been brought to book. Despite incontrovertible visual evidences and testimonies that have indicted the military and the state governor, no single conviction has happened. On the contrary, what we see is the same shameless culprits going after EndSARS protesters. We see a government that freezes account of some EndSARS Protesters, hounding several others to their homes and continue to arrest and remand scores in Prison. As we speak, there are several EndSARS protesters like Nicholas Mbah languishing in different Nigerian Prisons, while the culprits who orderd and coordinated the murder and brutalization of our friends continue to walk freely.
Needless to say, the Nigerian government and the armed forces have become more ruthless and lawless since the EndSARS protest. They have now openly turned Nigeria into a police state where rights to peaceful assembly have now been officially criminalized. Police and Military have become more emboldened in abusing the rights of Nigerians and now have no business chasing crimes while the entire country falls to the countrol of insecurity, kidnappings and banditry. Nigerians arent only getting more insecure in their own country, they are also getting poorer with unprecedented economic hardship.
Conclusively, it is more than evident that Nigerians cannot continue to watch while Buhari and the APC rule us like a conquered people. We cannot continue to watch in docility and fear as the government rips us of our humanity, dignity and citizenship. We cannot continue to agonize in despair as Buhari continues to handover our country to the rule of banditry, kidnappings, poverty, lawlessness and anarchy. It is clear that the status quo is deleterious, its funeral is long overdue; RevolutionNow.
For comments and responses, contact me at ayowolesanyaolu@gmail.com.
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Nigerians Mock DSS For Not Arresting APC Spokesman Over Claim Of Governor Behind Banditry
File Photo of DSS operatives, used to illustrate story.
Nigerians on social media have criticised the Department of State Services for failing to arrest the All Progressives Congress acting Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, over a claim he made that a governor from the North-West is behind banditry in the region.
Nabena made the claim while responding to a protest organised by the Peoples Democratic Party calling for the release of the then abducted students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State.
File Photo of DSS operatives, used to illustrate story.
Nabena said he kept the name of the North-West governor as a secret because of the sensitive nature of the intelligence report.
He further alleged that the increasing spate of banditry in the North-West was politically-motivated and was exacerbated by the alleged sponsorship of the governor in question.
There are seven states in the Northwest and five of them are under the APC control. They are; Kaduna (Nasir El-Rufai); Kano (Abdullahi Ganduje); Katsina (Aminu Masari); Jigawa (Badaru Abubakar) and Kebbi (Atiku Bagudu).
The two PDP governors are Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Bello Matawalle (Zamfara).
Most Nigerians, however, wondered why the DSS was quick to arrest Obadiah Mailafia, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria after alleging that a governor from the North is the leader of Boko Haram but has refused to arrest Nabena days after his statement.
They accused the secret security agency of being biased.
Below are reactions from some Nigerians on Twitter.
Echoing the same line that mailafia made and DSS came after him, then a radio station was fined #5million!Lai Mohammed over to you!— Emeka Oduoma (@Otumma1) December 17, 2020
Where is the DSS that invited Mailafa when he said this? Buhari is also one of their sponsors! Come and arrest me!— Jasper Aniet Louis (@trueAFICIONADO) December 17, 2020
When someone said this, SSS invited him.Now you idiots are disturbing us with fake news, your government is the main supporter of banditry and terrorism. mdash; Lawal Adeyomi – 20-10-20 #EndSARS (@adeyomilawal) December 17, 2020
Please enough of all these hanky panky games. If you know and have facts that a Gov is behind this menance, why not invite the person and investigate thoroughly to get to the root of the matter. If you can’t do the needful then you are an accomplices as well. @OfficialAPCNg mdash; Oghenekevwe Gesimisi (@OGesimisi) December 18, 2020
But the same APC party maligned the former CBN manager who made this same accusation early this year. Shouldn’t this present accusation start with apologies to that man?#positionpapers#APC mdash; Chima Isaac Chinemerem (@ChinemeremChima) December 18, 2020
Where is the DSS that invited Mailafa when he said this? @MBuhari is also one of their sponsors! Come and arrest me! mdash; Jasper Aniet Louis (@trueAFICIONADO) December 17, 2020
A former CBN deputy gov, Obadiah Mailafia, said on @NigeriainfoFM that a Northern gov was a Boko Haram commander. The station was fined N5m by NBC while Mailafia is still under probe & has lost his job at NIPSS. Today, APC spokesman has said the same. What will happen? Nothing mdash; Eniola Akinkuotu (@ENIBOY) December 17, 2020
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Police Dismiss Four Senior Officers For Misconduct
The Police Service Commission has dismissed four senior police officers for misconduct and acts unbecoming of public officers.
This was contained in a statement on Sunday by the PSC Head, Press and Public Relations, Mr Ikechukwu Ani, in Lagos.
Ani said that the PSC took the decisions at the 10th Plenary Meeting presided over by its Chairman, Mr Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector General of Police on Friday.
“A chief superintendent of police was dismissed for discreditable conduct, dishonesty and acts unbecoming of a public officer.
“A superintendent of police was also dismissed for conspiring with four others to vandalise a transformer and stealing. The Commission has also directed that the officer should be prosecuted.
“The two other dismissed officers included a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP )and an Assistant Superintendent of Police,” he said.
Ani said that the DSP led a team that intercepted three Mercedes Benz trucks conveying about 300,000 live cartridges believed to have been smuggled across the border from Benin Republic.
“The team was said to have impounded the trucks at the base for three days but made no entries nor a situation report on the arrest.
“The DSP rather raised a fake letter purportedly to escort the vehicles and suspects to Federal SARS Lagos with the dubious intention of ensuring their unlawful release.
“Luck, however, ran out of the team when it was intercepted at a military checkpoint where soldiers on duty insisted on verifying the contents of the trucks. The DSP and his team were said to have abandoned the trucks and fled,” he said.
Ani said the ASP was dismissed for action prejudicial to the security of the state; sabotage; dishonesty and acts unbecoming of a public officer.
He said that the PSC had also during the meeting approved the promotion of four Assistant Inspectors General of Police to the substantive rank of Deputy Inspectors General of Police.
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E2%80%94agbakoba Nigerian Government Should Remove Arabic Language From Naira Notes —Agbakoba
A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba, has urged the Nigerian government to remove the Arabic language on the Nigerian naira notes.
According to the PUNCH, Agbakoba wondered why Arabic inscription is on the naira when Nigeria is not an Islamic state.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria asked the government to replace it with the country’s indigenous languages.
He said, “I don’t think Arabic should be on the naira. We are not an Arabic country. I don’t know why that sign should be there.
“I asked similar questions when I was a member of the National Judicial Council when the question about the understanding of the Sharia Law came up, and I opposed the then CJN, Aloma Mukhtar that I didn’t see how it should be a requirement for judges of Islamic origin to understand Arabic. I’m a Roman Catholic, does it mean that a Catholic judge must speak Latin? I think these are the sort of things we need to get rid of for a united, independent nation. We are not an Arabic nation.
“So, it will be nice to get rid of all the Arabic inscriptions and symbols, or are we trying to say we are Arabic? I don’t get the point. If it were Hausa or Igbo or Yoruba language, it makes more sense, but Arabic is not part of our language. We should replace it with our language.”
Speaking further, Agbakoba said although the country’s electoral processes are not perfect, marked improvements have been recorded in a series of recent elections conducted by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“It’s a long journey. To strengthen the democratic process, many things are required. The first thing would be to strengthen the constitution. In fairness, since the last 20 years, the process has improved particularly under Attahiru Jega and Mahmood Yakubu, but I still need to see a substantial amendment to the electoral process.
“INEC is doing far too many things, that is why it has not been very competent. It is the biggest printer of papers in Nigeria, but that should not be the job of INEC. The job of INEC is like the referee in a football match. So, we need to interrogate its roles and ask whether it can do the multiple roles it is doing, and if not, what can we remove from it to make them more efficient? I think the duty of INEC should be to go and count the votes on the election day.
“The second thing is for it to be independent. We have not seen INEC be independent with the way it defends cases in court. INEC should not be defending cases in court. If both of us are contesting a senatorial seat, if I lose and I go to court, the role of INEC is to bring all the papers it used in conducting the election. INEC should not be filing any papers as a defence.
“When we sat in the Mohammed Uwais panel on Electoral Reform, we said INEC’s position must be neutral. If anybody questions INEC’s work in respect of vote counting, let the court decide it, not INEC. During the Buhari – Atiku case, INEC came and vigorously defended the elections. That’s not for INEC to do. It means it’s not neutral. Let the court listen to all, ask INEC to bring the papers and then decide,” he said.
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Police Arrest Two Suspected Cultists, Foil Traffic Robbery In Lagos
The operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) have arrested two suspected Awawa cult members in Oko-koto, Agege, hours after foiling a traffic robbery around Otedola Bridge on Lagos – Ibadan Expressway.
The suspects, Rasak Babatunde, a 22-year-old mechanic and Idowu Wasiu, 16-year-old tailor, were arrested at their hideout.
A statement by the Lagos State Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, on Sunday, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, had ordered a raid on the suspected hideouts and black spots across the state, particularly in Agege and its environs.
Adejobi mentioned that some of the areas raided included Isokoko, Oke-Koto, Abattoir, Dopemu, Elere, Oniwaya and Pen Cinema, all in Agege.
The statement read, “In the same vein, a team of the Rapid Response Squad led by CSP Yinka Egbeyemi, Commander RRS, had foiled traffic robbery on Friday 18th December 2020. The team ran into the suspected armed robbers around 11:00 p.m. at Otedola Bridge inward Ojota. The robbers hurriedly abandoned their motorcycle, with registration number, NND 268 WZ, a toy gun and some dangerous weapons.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, has ordered an immediate investigation of the suspects while reiterating his commitment to rid Lagos State of criminals and hoodlums. CP Hakeem Odumosu also admonished members of the public to be sensitive to their environment and be alive to their civic responsibility towards maintenance of law and order and public safety of the state.”
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E2%80%99s-christmas-fredrick-nwabufo Where Is Leah Sharibu? Does She Know It’s Christmas? By Fredrick Nwabufo
Fredrick Nwabufo
In the evening of February 19, 2018, 110 schoolgirls of Government Girls’ Science Secondary School, Dapchi in Yunusari local government of area of Yobe state were abducted by Boko Haram and taken into grisly captivity. Five of the girls died in the hands of their captors. But after weeks of negotiations between the government and the abductors, 104 of the schoolgirls were released except one – Leah Sharibu.
Leah refused to succumb to the vile power of her holders. She refused to deny her faith in return for her freedom. She feared God, not man or weapons of death. She held on to her God and refused to kneel before Baal. Boko Haram held her for refusing to convert.
In April 2018, Leah sent out a message of despair; a desperate call for help. She said: “I am Leah Sharibu, the girl that was abducted in GGSS Dapchi. I am calling on the government and people of goodwill to intervene to get me out of my current situation.”
“I also plead to the members of the public to help my mother, father, my younger brother and relatives. Kindly help me out of my predicament. I am begging you to treat me with compassion. I am calling on the government, particularly the president to pity me and get me out of this serious situation.”
It is yet another Christmas — the third one – but Leah, who was 14 years old at the time of her abduction, will not be receiving gifts from Santa Claus. There have been speculations that the teenager has been killed; that she has been married off to a commander of the terror group and that she is with child. All these are still speculations. Leah needs closure. Leah’s parents deserve answers; they need to be put out of their agony. Nigerians deserve closure. We cannot all move on when a young girl whose only offence is getting an education and whose government and country have failed.
Fredrick Nwabufo
Where is Leah Sharibu? Does she know it is Christmas?
BUHARI’S FAILED PROMISES TO RESCUE LEAH
1. In October 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari made a solemn commitment to bring Leah back home to her parents.
He said to Leah’s Mother, Rebecca Sharibu: “I convey my emotion, the strong commitment of my administration and the solidarity of all Nigerians to you and your family as we will do our best to bring your daughter home in peace and safety.”
2. On July 6, 2019, during the Army Day Celebrations at Ikeja Cantonment, Lagos state, Buhari who was represented by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo rehashed the same vow.
He said: “Let me use this opportunity to reassure the affected families and friends that the Buhari administration will not relent in our efforts to see that all the remaining girls, including Leah Sharibu, are freed and reunited with their families.’’
3. And on February 19, 2020 – the second anniversary of Leah’s abduction, Buhari restated his vow to secure the release of the young girl – after previous failed promises.
He said: “Two years ago, 110 innocent children from the town of Dapchi were taken, against their will, by the terrorists of Boko Haram. 107 survived the ordeal. Today all but one – Leah Sharibu – are returned to their families. Now aged 16, Leah remains in the hands of the terrorists – they say because she refuses to renounce her Christian faith. We say, as the government for and of all Nigerians, that no person has the right to force another to change their faith against their will and that all life is sacred.
“This government continues and seeks to secure the release of all children and captives of terrorists – and we do so regardless of their creed or the name of their creator. As we redouble our efforts for Leah’s return, we can never allow the terrorists to divide us – Christian against Muslim, Muslim against Christian. We are all Sons of Abraham. And all Nigerians have the same worth and rights before the law, and before God.”
Platitudes, sweet words and vacuous vows; that is all the Buhari administration has to show for its rescue effort.
Has the government really done enough to rescue Leah? No. If she was a daughter of a member of the political class, would the government abandon her to fate? How come the Buhari government that is notorious for paying ransom to bandits and insurgents has not been able to deploy all resources and assets to secure Leah’s freedom? Why is there a screaming silence by the government on Leah? And when will she come home?
A few weeks ago, the US deployed its elite security team to rescue its citizen – only one citizen — held by bandits in Nigeria. The captive was successfully rescued. A responsible government is one which places value and primacy on the lives of its citizens.
Really, the failure of the Buhari administration to rescue Leah, in particular, and some Chibok girls still in captivity, will remain a blot on the government and will haunt it long after it is done and gone.
Leah deserves Christmas in the warm hands of her loved ones. How will she know it is Christmas when she is in death’s valley? How can she sing the Lord’s song in captivity?
Fredrick Nwabufo is a writer and journalist
Twitter @FredrickNwabufo
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Kaduna Imposes New Restrictions On Churches, Mosques
Kaduna State Governor Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai
The Kaduna State Government has limited the service hour of churches and mosques to one hour in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus in the state.
This was contained in a statement shared by the Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Sunday.
Kaduna State Governor Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai
According to the statement, civil servants from Grade 14 and below are to work from home from Monday, December 21.
It read in part, “Further to Covid-19 containment measures announced last week, KDSG has directed civil servants below Grade Level 14 to work from home from Monday, December 21 2020.
“Places of worship must enforce facemasks, provide sanitisers, and ensure physical distancing. The number of worshippers will be capped. Congregational worship should not exceed one hour.
“Transport operators must reduce capacity to not more than two passengers per row and not more than 50 percent of capacity.
“KDSG appeals to all residents to see Covid-19 prevention as a personal responsibility.”
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Police Investigate Apparent Murder-Suicide Of Nigerian Doctor, Wife In US
Sugar Land police are investigating the deaths of a Greatwood Nigerian couple found in their home Friday morning.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that a Nigerian Doctor in the United States, Dr Ben Okigbo, shot himself to death on Friday. The tragic incident happened at his Greatwood, Texas, United States home.
Police haven’t said how they died, but an investigator on the scene told Khou.com that it’s a possible murder-suicide.
“It’s a dynamic situation still right now. We’re getting information in, literally, by the minute, but we’re still standing by waiting to process the scene and determine more,” Sugar Land Police Sgt. Sgt. Matt Levan said.
Okigbo reportedly shot his wife, Theresa who was a licensed nurse before killing himself. Both of them hailed from Delta State of Nigeria.
Nigerian Medical Doctor Shoots Wife, Kills Self In US | Sahara Reporters pic.twitter.com/OD3z9V1HoH— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) December 20, 2020
According to Sugar Land police in Texas, the deceased also attempted to kill his 21-year-old sons by strangling them after shooting his wife.
The sons survived the attack with injuries that are not life-threatening.
“On Friday morning, a daughter, who doesn’t live at home, went there after she became concerned. She wasn’t injured.
“Someone in the house called 9-1-1 Friday morning around 10 a.m. from home in the 1500 block of Brookstone Lane. When officers arrived, they found the couple’s bodies inside. They were both in their 50s.
“A neighbour said they were originally from Nigeria but had lived in the Greatwood home for about 20 years. She said she spoke to the wife a few days ago and nothing seemed out of the ordinary,” the police said.
A Whatsapp message on the tragedy obtained by SaharaReporters read, “At sunrise, this cold Saturday, Dr Ben Okigbo, a medical doctor in Houston, pulled up a handgun and fatally shot his wife. His wife was a nurse too. A few seconds later, he turned the gun on himself.
“These hours, their three children are dealing with the tragedy of losing their parents at home. We will never know why Dr Okigbo, decided to kill his wife and commit suicide after that.
“It’s my understanding that Dr Okigbo was originally from Idumuje Unor while his wife was from Akwukwu Igbo, both towns are in Delta State of Nigeria.”
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Boko Haram Terrorists In Military Camouflage Ambush Nigerian Soldiers, Kill One
File Photo used to illustrate story.
The Nigerian Army has reportedly lost one soldier in an ambush by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State.
A source told SaharaReporters that the soldiers were attacked in Garin Kuturu village, along Maiduguri-Damaturu Highway.
File Photo used to illustrate story.
The insurgents, who appeared in military uniforms, were said to have mounted a roadblock on the highway.
“About four soldiers in a civilian vehicle saw the Boko Haram roadblock while returning from a trip and asked the driver to turn back immediately to the Jakana axis. The terrorists engaged the vehicle, making some of them in the vehicle to sustain varying degrees of gunshot wounds.
“One of the soldiers died on the way to the military hospital, and others sustained gunshot wounds,” the source said.
In the past months, Nigerian soldiers have been targeted by the insurgents.
The Boko Haram insurgency in Northern Nigeria has caused over 50,000 deaths and displaced millions of individuals mainly in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.
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Nigerian Medical Doctor Shoots Wife, Kills Self In US
A Nigerian Doctor in the United States, Dr Ben Okigbo, has shot himself to death.
The tragic incident happened at his Greatwood, Texas home on Friday.
Okigbo reportedly shot his wife, Theresa who was a licensed nurse before killing himself.
According to Sugar Land police in Texas, the deceased also attempted to kill his 21-year-old sons by strangling them after shooting his wife.
The sons survived the attack with injuries that are not life-threatening.”On Friday morning, a daughter, who doesn’t live at home, went there after she became concerned. She wasn’t injured.”Someone in the house called 9-1-1 Friday morning around 10 a.m. from home in the 1500 block of Brookstone Lane. When officers arrived, they found the couple’s bodies inside. They were both in their 50s.”A neighbour said they were originally from Nigeria but had lived in the Greatwood home for about 20 years. She said she spoke to the wife a few days ago and nothing seemed out of the ordinary,” the police said.A Whatsapp message on the tragedy obtained by SaharaReporters read, “At sunrise, this cold Saturday, Dr Ben Okigbo, a medical doctor in Houston, pulled up a handgun and fatally shot his wife. His wife was a nurse too. A few seconds later, he turned the gun on himself. “These hours, their three children are dealing with the tragedy of losing their parents at home. We will never know why Dr Okigbo, decided to kill his wife and commit suicide after that.”It’s my understanding that Dr Okigbo was originally from Idumuje Unor while his wife was from Akwukwu Igbo, both towns are in Delta State of Nigeria.”
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