Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Monday 25th January 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 25/01/21
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Residents Lament As Policemen, Hoodlums Damage Ogun Community Road
Residents of Feru community in the Ado-Odo Local Government Area of Ogun State have bemoaned the actions of some officers of the Nigeria Police Force who escorted some thugs and land grabbers to damage the road connecting the community to town.
The residents were left bewildered when some hoodlums used heavy construction equipment to damage the road linking the community to Itele, Idi-Iroko, Atan and other major economic hubs of the state, in the presence of some heavily armed policemen.
According to the residents, the policemen are attached to the Itele and Sango-Ota police divisions.
The residents said the road was constructed by one Alhaji Gbenga Ibuoye of Gbenga Ibuoye Nigeria Limited in 2019 after his company was granted the licence to operate a small scale mining site in Feru.
They lamented that the destruction of the road will not only hamper economic activities in the community but also make them vulnerable to attacks by gunmen.
The local head (Baale) of Lafenwa, Itele, Mr Gafaru Tijani, said the road that was damaged was of immense benefit to all the people living within the area as he urged the Ogun State Commissioner of Police to intervene and ensure police officers indicted are reprimanded.
He said, “We want the government to bring to justice the perpetrators of the act of vandalism. The road has been helpful to us as our people were able to transport our farm produce to the town to trade.”
On his part, the local head (Baale) of Feru village, Mr Mutui Adeyemi, described the road vandalism as a criminal act.
“Why should the road constructed by an individual that benefits the whole community be maliciously damaged by land grabbers?” he asked.
He appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun to ensure all officers involved in the vandalism of the sections of the road should be made to face the law.
Ibuoye, whose mining firm constructed the road, alleged that some influential individuals in the state are keen on hijacking his mining site for themselves.
He stated that the individuals connived with the police to take over his land, claiming it belongs to them.
Ibuoye said, “I purchased these 19 acres of land from the families of Gbadamosi Onigbeyin, Odunifa Faloun, and Falola and proceeded to obtain a red copy from the office of the Surveyor-General.
“After I constructed the road, some land grabbers led by one Kazeem Oluomo, Nuru Adeoye, Idowu Akanle and others suddenly surfaced out of the blues to challenge our rights over the land, claiming to be the legitimate owner even without a proof to justify such claims.
“They boasted about having the backing of a top police officer in the community, who they all refer to as Area Commander Monday Agbonika.
“Agbonika has been sending officers to harass us and making it difficult for us to operate smoothly despite that I have a court judgment and certified true ownership of the lands.”
Confirming the deployment of police officers to the community, the Area Commander, ACP Muyideen Obe, while speaking to journalists, said the officers were sent to take over the mining site belonging to Ibuoye.
He denied having knowledge of the road vandalism, noting that there was a directive from the Inspector General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, to take over the mining site.
“Nobody vandalised it. There was a court order with a possession order that that place is taken, so that directive came from the Inspector General of Police.
“Policemen went there, and then decided to cut that place because if somebody said he has a mining licence, does he have possession over that land? Does he have authority and possession over that property?
“I don’t know who has briefed you; (but) it is a directive from the Inspector General of Police that that possession order must be carried out,” ACP Obe said.
Abimbola Oyeyemi, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun, when contacted, said he had not been briefed about the matter but promised that an investigation would be launched.
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E2%80%99t-done-anything-us-other-create-enemies-herdsmen-%E2%80%93-miyetti-allah Buhari Hasn’t Done Anything For Us Other Than Create Enemies For Herdsmen – Miyetti Allah
Saleh Alhassan
The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore herdsmen group has said President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to do anything to improve the conditions of the herdsmen other than create enemies for them.
The National Secretary of the group, Saleh Alhassan, said this in an interview with The PUNCH, adding that herdsmen were being marginalised in the country under the leadership of President Buhari.
Saleh Alhassan
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He noted that it was wrong to link herders to President Buhari, saying herders had been more marginalised under the administration of President Buhari.
He said, “We don’t support crime. So, I’m not saying there are no Fulani that are criminals, there are, like other tribes, but don’t destroy their profession. It’s not good for the country. If everything bursts, it’s to the advantage of the herders because we are not even enjoying the federation.
“We are even bidding for the restructuring of the country; let every part go, so we can say this is where we are. As it is now, there is no form of marginalisation we are not seeing in this country. Everywhere we are being marginalised. You think we will accept Nigeria where we don’t have access to land to feed our animals and you think there will be peace?
“Quite fundamentally, if we leave today now and if there is no oil revenue, won’t they pay attention to animal rearing? If we restructure the country and the South-West region says they won’t accept cattle unless they are brought to the market or supermarket, it’s okay by us.
“The mistake people make is that they think when they put pressure on herders they are getting at President (Muhammadu) Buhari. Buhari has no relationship with the herders. That is the truth. When people say he is our grandpatron, was Jonathan from the South-South, not our grandpatron?
“If the President is a Fulani, it doesn’t in any way affect the life of a herder. In fact, they are worse off under Buhari. What are they benefitting? They don’t access any government facility or social amenity, yet they are responsible for the bulk of animal protein we produce in this country. I think it’s deliberate for people to think otherwise.”
He maintained that “Buhari has not done anything for us other than creating enemies for us. Herders are being chased around. Let us look at the larger picture and not allow enemies to penetrate us. If Buhari loves the herders, he would have created the grazing reserves for them.”
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E2%80%99west-governors-meet-miyetti-allah-monday Vacation Order: Akeredolu, Other S’West Governors Meet Miyetti Allah On Monday
As the seven-day ultimatum issued by the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, to Fulani herdsmen to vacate the state’s forest reserves expired on Sunday, there is an indication that South-West governors would meet with the national leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria on Monday.
It was gathered that the meeting would be held in Akure, the state capital.
According to The PUNCH, a source stated that the meeting was meant to find lasting solutions to the incessant killings, kidnapping, and crises between herdsmen and farmers in the region.
The Ondo State Chairman of MACBAN, Alhaji Bello Garba, who confirmed the development, said the national leadership of the association had arrived in Akure in preparation for the peace meeting.
He said, “The National Chairman of Miyetti Allah is in town now and I cannot talk about what we want to discuss at the meeting but I can assure you that we are going to address the press tomorrow after the meeting.”
Akeredolu had last week ordered that the herdsmen should vacate all the forest reserves in the state.
He also banned underage grazing, night grazing, and movement of cattle on the highways and within the cities in the state.
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E2%80%94fani-kayode-warns Expect More Sunday Igbohos In S’West If Killer Herdsmen Are Not Prosecuted —Fani-Kayode Warns Buhari’s Government
Femi Fani-Kayode
A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has warned the President Muhammadu Buhari government to expect more Sunday Igbohos to rise up, if killer Fulani herdsmen are not arrested and prosecuted.
Fani-Kayode added that the South-West welcome peace-loving Fulani people but “those that kill, steal, rape and destroy must leave and they must be brought to justice by the authorities.”
Femi Fani-Kayode
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Chief Sunday Adeyemo, more popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has in the last week become a prominent name in the South-West for issuing a seven-day ultimatum to killer Fulani herdsmen in the Ibarapa area of Oyo State to leave.
The former minister stated this in an article he wrote on Sunday, titled “Sunday Igboho and the threat of war.”
He said, “For soldiers to escort murderous Fulani herdsmen back to a community in Ogun State from which they were earlier evicted and then to publicly whip members of that community for evicting them simply beggars belief.
“Have the people of the South-West now become slaves in their fatherland? Have we finally been conquered and occupied?
“It is utterly mind-blowing. It is wicked. It is evil. It is unacceptable. How much more bloodshed, carnage, violence, insults and humiliation are the people of the South-West expected to take? Soldiers are whipping our people like dogs in the street in order to reinstate those that are killing, raping and maiming them?
“Is our Army a Nigerian Army or a Fulani Army? Are the Fulani superior to all others? Are they above the law? Is the Presidency a Nigerian Presidency or a Fulani Presidency?
“The Constitution does not grant the Fulani or anyone else the right to commit murder in Nigeria or to turn the South-West into their killing fields. The Constitution does not regard Yoruba blood as being cheaper than others and neither does it prescribe that the Yoruba people are to be treated like sacrificial lambs and killed at will.
“Some Yoruba leaders want to be President or Vice President in 2023 and are therefore prepared to keep quiet and tolerate this rubbish that is being done to our people.
“Peace-loving and law-abiding Fulani people are welcome in the South-West but those that kill, steal, rape and destroy must leave and they must be brought to justice by the authorities. If this does not happen expect many more Sunday Igbohos to rise up.”
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Oyo Communal Clash Claims Two Lives, Police Vehicle, Amotekun Office Burnt
Oyo state on the map
No fewer than two young men were killed in a communal clash between the residents of Ago-Are and Tede areas of Oyo State, SaharaReporters learnt on Sunday.
An eyewitness told SaharaReporters that the clash started on Friday and went on till Sunday.
Oyo state on the map
SaharaReporters Media via Google Map
A resident of Tede, who simply identified himself as Sola, told SaharaReporters in Ibadan on Sunday that the clash had to do with a cow market that was relocated from Tede to Ago-Are.
The source said following the development, a police vehicle and the office of the Western Nigeria Security Network, also known as Amotekun, were set ablaze.
“As we speak, the communities are on fire. Two people were killed while an Amotekun office was set ablaze. Though it has nothing to do with Fulani, this is worrisome,” he said.
Meanwhile, the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Ngozi Onadeko, who led the Nigerian government delegation to Igangan, where the house of Seriki Fulani of Oyo State, was burnt on Friday, said normalcy would return to the affected communities.
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Gunmen Kidnap Edo Immigration Service Spokesperson
The Public Relations Officer, Edo State Command of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs. Bridget Esene, was kidnapped by gunmen on her way to church on Sunday morning.
According to Vanguard, the gunmen trailed her while she was going to church around the Iqueniro area, off Agbor Road, accosted her and draģged her out of her car.
They were said to have put her in their car and then to an unknown destination.
As of press time, the kidnappers have yet to make any call to ask for a ransom.
A source at the Immigration Service, while confirming the incident, said, “She was abducted on her church premises around Agbor Road area this morning. Her whereabouts are unknown as her abductors have yet to speak with her family.
“Her car has been recovered where it was left at Agbor Road by-pass area and we learnt that her abductors headed towards Benin-Auchi Road axis, off the by-pass.”
As of the time of filing this report, the Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, had yet to answer calls to his mobile number.
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E2%80%99s-vacation-order-herdsmen-legal-and-constitutional-festus-ogun Analysis: Akeredolu’s Vacation Order To Herdsmen Is Legal And Constitutional By Festus Ogun
The seven-day ultimatum given to Fulani herdsmen to vacate forest reserves within Ondo State by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN has since generated heated controversies. While the Federal Government declared that the Governor lacks the constitutional power to issue quit notice to anyone in the State, the Governor and some other socio-cultural groups like Afenifere insisted that the vacation order remains valid. The purpose of this intervention, therefore, is to attempt a legal dissection of the constitutional validity of the vacation order vis-à-vis the public interest concerns arising from the policy.
First, the right to freedom of movement without hindrance anywhere within Nigeria is guaranteed under our constitutional jurisprudence. Thus, Section 41(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (amended 2011) provides that “every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom”. Indeed, all citizens of Nigeria are constitutionally entitled to settle, live and move freely anywhere and everywhere in Nigeria without any fear of rejection, ostracisation or discrimination.
However, the rights to freedom of movement and personal liberty enshrined in the Constitution are not absolute. Section 45 of the Constitution provides that there could be a legal instrument providing for the derogation to these rights in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health or for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedom of other persons. The Court of Appeal in KALU v. FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA & ORS (2012) LPELR-9287(CA) succinctly held that “the rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement, guaranteed respectively by Sections 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution, are not absolute”. The court further explained that Section 41(2)(a) of the Constitution says that the right to freedom of movement may be deprived under a law that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society imposing restrictions. Therefore, no argument of constitutional or human rights breach can be maintained “when it is apparent that the right has been deprived of in accordance with the procedure permitted by law.”
So, does the Ondo State Government have any law reasonably justifiable in a democratic society that provides for the derogation of the right to freedom of movement? The answer is a “Yes”.
By virtue of Section 1 of the Land Use Act, 1978 all lands within the geographical territory of a state in Nigeria is vested in the Governor. The section provides thus: “all land comprised in the territory of each State in the Federation are hereby vested in the Governor of that State and such land shall be held in trust and administered for the use and common benefit of all Nigerians in accordance with the provisions of this Act”. On the usage of the land, Section 12(1) of the Act empowers the Governor to grant licence or permits to anyone entering or using a land. Interestingly, Section 12(5) the Act vests upon the Governor the power to cancel any such licence if it fails to comply with the conditions of the licence. Instructively, Section 28 of the Act provides that “it shall be lawful for the Governor to revoke a right of occupancy for overriding public interest”.
Second, by virtue of Section 2 of the Trade Cattle Tax Law of Ondo State, 1969 (amended 2006), the imposition of “movement permit” of cattle traders is established. In fact, Section 9 of the Law empowers the State Executive Council to make regulations for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of the law. It is also important to note that Section 9 of the Law criminalizes failure to pay the trade cattle tax or failure to take such trade cattle to the appropriate control post for inspection purposes.
Furthermore, under the Ondo State Forestry Law regime (Forestry Law of Western State and National Forestry Policy, 2006), it is a criminal trespass for an individual to occupy a forest reserve without obtaining permit from the State Government through the State Forestry Department. When an individual, whether an indigene or otherwise, enters into the forest reserve without permission consequent upon which such a person is capable of tampering with the forest produce and ecosystem, it is an act of trespass punishable under the law. In fact, in cases of forests and open lands that are not “reserved”, no individual can invade such a land without lawful permit from the private owner, communal authorities or the government as the case may be. Anything short of a lawful permit before occupying a land that does not belong to you is a criminal trespass.
From the foregoing, it can be safely deduced that the Governor of Ondo State was right in law to have issued a vacation order to illegal occupiers of the State’s forest reserve. Does this mean the right to freedom of movement is breached? Absolutely not: the derogation to the enjoyment of the right is backed up by law. It must be emphasised that the rights to freedom of movement and personal liberty of the herdsmen have not in any way been breached as those who wish to continue occupying the forest reserve are entitled to make an application to the Forestry Department under the Ministry of Agriculture in order to obtain the lawful permits. Disobedience to the lawful order by the Governor exposes one to arrest and prosecution.
Governor Akeredolu took an Oath of Office under the Seventh Schedule of the 1999 Constitution to protect, preserve and defend the people through unalloyed submission to the spirit of our laws. If indeed Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution makes it a duty of the government to provide adequate security for the people, exploring the relevant provisions of the law to protect the people from the clutches of kidnappers, bandits, murderers and terrorists should not only be regarded as a courageous move but equally a rare display of patriotism.
It is a common knowledge that the forest of Ondo State is the hiding place of those terrorising the peace of our people. It is not expected that the Governor folds his hands and watch till his State gets completely destroyed by an inferno. Thus, the eviction policy is only a commendable move to beef up the security situation of the State. Anyone opposed to the vacation order is either in love with the terrorists or simply an enemy of the Nigerian people.
In the final analysis, the Governor must be told that the power to impose a vacation order in this regard does not extend to outrightly evicting anyone from the geographical territory of the State bearing in mind the fact that all Nigerians have the right to move freely everywhere and anywhere in Nigeria. As laid down by Supreme Court in the popular case of MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS V. SHUGABA ABDURRAHAMAN DARMAN (1982) 3 N.C.L.R., 915 at 1009, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu lacks the constitutional power to outrightly and totally evict anyone from the four walls of Ondo State as that would amount to an unpardonable infraction on the Constitution which shakes the peaceful coexistence of Nigeria. But, his legal might to enforce obtaining of permits before occupying forest reserves is unimpeachable.
Festus Ogun is a lawyer-in-equity and human rights activist. festusogunlaw@gmail.com.
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Three Ogun Residents Arrested For Beating Phone Thief To Death
Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested three residents of Iju Ota for allegedly beating a suspected phone thief, Samuel Ajibade, to death.
The police said the three suspects: Ugo Obi, Chinonso Jude and Chibuke Samson, were arrested on Friday, after the incident.
According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a release, it was the deceased’s father, Gbenga Ajibade, who reported the matter at the Onipanu divisional headquarters.
“The three men, all of MTN Street, Iju Ota, were arrested following a report.
“His son, Samuel, was alleged by the suspects to have stolen two handsets, consequent upon which the three suspects jointly beat him to the state of coma. He stated further that the deceased was rushed to the Ota General Hospital for medical attention but he was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty soon after he got to the hospital.
“Upon the report, the Divisional Police Officer of the Onipanu division led his detectives to the scene where the three suspects were quickly arrested. It was the quick response of the police that saved the suspects from being lynched by an angry mob who had gathered to apply jungle justice on them immediately they heard that the victim was dead.
“The corpse of the deceased had been deposited at the Ota General Hospital mortuary for post mortem examination. Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation and diligent prosecution.
“The CP therefore warned that the command will not tolerate any form of jungle justice on anybody suspected of any type of crime. He appealed to members of the public to always report anyone suspected to have committed crime to the law enforcement agency for proper investigation and prosecution rather than taking the law into their own hands.”
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Five Injured As Gas Explosion Rocks Rivers Community
At least five persons were said to be injured after a fire incident at a gas station in Rumuodomaya, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on Saturday night.
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) said it had already commenced investigation into the incident and that its officials were at the scene.
It was learnt that three trucks at the gas station were burnt beyond recognition, in addition to other losses.
Eyewitnesses said at least five persons, including a security guard at the gas station, who suffered severe burns in the incident were rushed to the hospital.
The incident happened around 8.45pm with a loud sound which caused panic among residents of the area with some fleeing their homes in fear.
According to The PUNCH, the cause of the explosion could not be immediately ascertained as of the time of filing this report.
The explosion is coming barely three weeks after a gas leak at a facility operated by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas in Elibrada in the Emuoha Local Government Area of the state.
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E2%80%93-bolu-doyin-okupe%E2%80%99s-son Many Homosexuals In Nigeria Hiding; I Knew I Was Gay At 10 – Bolu, Doyin Okupe’s Son
Bolu Okupe, the son of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s spokesman, Doyin Okupe, has said that he knew that he was gay when he was just 10 years old.
He added that that there are many gays in Nigeria living secretly because of public condemnation and criticism.
Bolu shared more insight into his sexuality which he went public with a few days ago.
In an interview with The PUNCH, Bolu disclosed that he knew he was gay at the age of 10, noting that he never chose to be gay, “the same way people don’t choose to be straight”.
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I Feel Sorry For You – Doyin Okupe’s Gay Son Hits Back At Critic
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He said, “From the age of 10 or 11, I knew I was different, and if you speak to more people in the l******, gay, bisexual and transgender community, they will tell you the same thing. It starts around pre-puberty years. We would progress more as a society if we spoke more to each other and judged less.
“If people take time to have conversations with people of the LGBT community and understand their point of view and perspectives, you will realise that most of us are really not trying to harm anyone and there is no ‘agenda’. We simply just want to exist and be entitled to the same basic human rights as everyone else.
“I did not choose to be gay. No one chooses their sexual orientation. The same way people do not choose to be straight, you just know. Sexual orientation is not something that one can ‘reconsider’. This is the way I am and it is the way I have always been and will always be.
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Nigerians React As Okupe Slams Son For Being Gay
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“I will just say that I love and appreciate everyone of my family members, my father inclusive, because if not for him, I definitely would not be able to live the life that I currently live. So, I will never utter anything disrespectful (to him) on any platform.
“Being gay is not ‘Western’ or ‘European’. There are many gay people in Nigeria, they just do not have the ability to openly live that way due to fear of criticism and judgments similar to the reactions that I received. I hope one day homosexuality can be decriminalised in Nigeria. However, I know that we have a long way to go before we get there.”
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