Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Monday 1st March 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 01/03/21
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Bandits Kill Catholic Lector, Others In Kaduna
File Photo: Gunmen
Armed bandits have killed seven persons, including a Catholic lector in Igabi and Kajuru local government areas of Kaduna State.
The State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the incidents in a statement on Sunday.
File Photo: Gunmen
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According to him, gunmen invaded Kutura station in the Kajuru Local Government Area and killed three residents: Michael Shadari, Danlami Shaban and a Catholic lector, Clement Aura Bili.
He said bandits also attacked Kajinjiri village in Igabi and killed two residents identified as Ibrahim Rabi’u and Abdulrahman Mohammad.
According to the statement, Kamal Murtala, one of those attacked, sustained gunshot injuries and is receiving treatment at a nearby facility.
Similarly, in Rago village, also of Igabi Local Government Area, bandits killed two locals identified as Alhaji Ibrahim Iro and Muhammadu Rabiu.
He said the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai expressed sadness at the incidents and condoled with the families of those killed in the attacks while offering prayers for the repose of their souls.
He also quoted the governor as wishing the injured victim from Kajinjiri village quick recovery.
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E2%80%99s-and-nation-hire-adebayo-raphael The Trouble With Several Igboho’s And A Nation For Hire By Adebayo Raphael
Adebayo Raphael speaking at a public function.
If this were the era of colonial adventures, perhaps now would be what colonialists would describe as a ‘good time’ to colonize – or recolonize Nigeria. Baleful as that may sound, such would be the fate of this giant ungoverned territory; if there were to be another daredevil mix of Goldie Taubman and Frederick Lugard.
Think of Nigeria as a coffee shop with a high prospect of becoming the only of its kind with the best cappuccino or mocha any coffee lover could dream of – operating under the command of one big boss and several ‘small’ bosses, and of course suffering from gross mismanagement. The ‘small’ bosses are obsessed with unseating the big boss while the big boss is consumed by his self-seeking desire to stay in control, even at the stiff cost of gross mismanagement.
Adebayo Raphael
In this situation, the big boss would either succeed in suppressing or reaching a compromise with the small bosses and wielding control for a long time; or the small bosses, if united, would succeed in unseating the big boss and likely worsen the situation; or the coffee shop would eventually implode and cease to exist. Now, whether that would be a good or bad thing may well depend on perspective and the degree of ruin such tragedy would leave in its wake.
That’s the story of our nation today: a place endued with boundless prospects but bedevilled by unholy alliances and political compromises, all in a bid to prevent the well from running dry for the political class and avert implosion. But if the coffee shop were, in fact, Nigeria under her current ‘big boss,’ the coffee shop would be no more likely to develop its potentials than Nigeria would be to implode.
In an ideal society, politics ought to be a means to an end – a vehicle for attaining the socio-economic aspirations of the collective, not an end in itself where the political class is only obsessed with power, not minding whatever ruin it leaves in its path, as is the case in Nigeria. But methinks all that is about to change, only that the consequences may be too hard a pill to swallow. Barring imperial incursions, Nigeria teeters yet on the fringes of implosion; and the relative peace which has characterized the enduring calls for a people-oriented representative and transformative democracy may well be punctured soon.
The ethnic parochialism, unbridled recklessness and ineptitude that overwhelms institutions of government in Nigeria today, lends credence to the state of a nation that has struggled to understand independence and democracy, failing to learn from history and putting itself up for hire by the highest, or as it may well turn out, strongest bidder. Gradually, the long-wielded console of state capture is being wrestled off the deep state as we know it – and upended by a less organized yet violent clutch of opportunists – with each region forced to claim its share of them.
This nearly full-blown chaos in Nigeria, which would be as much the nemesis of the strange bedfellows who have treacherously held sway over political power for only self-serving reasons, including the hotchpotch of misfits in the incumbent government, as it is the nemesis of the gatekeepers of our democracy who have slumbered for too long. The trilogy of banditry, secessionist demagogues and an emerging cassowary misconstrued for a phoenix in the south, is a brewing avalanche that no government deserving of its appellation would ignore for cheap propaganda, untruths and misguided rounds of harassments.
Once a combatant in an intra-ethnic armed conflict and a political myrmidon ever since, Sunday Igboho’s newly found hobby of ‘defending’ the Yoruba people from ravaging herdsmen may very much be the response of a political class desperately seeking to overturn their disadvantaged lot, as it could be one of the biggest tragedies waiting to unfold in contemporary Nigerian history.
Seen by many as a necessary evil now, but if history teaches us anything, it is that a necessary evil today may as well be an undesirable evil tomorrow, especially when that necessary evil means the likes of Igboho disproportionately bestrewn across the broad stretch of our country. I shudder at the all too real prospect of a regional government led by these people, who have done very little to enunciate their visions, if they have any, for the people they claim to fight for.
If I were Prometheus, I would weep for Nigeria – not just because the age of negative peace is on the verge of being dislodged by the age of chaos, and hell is more likely to freeze over than those at the helm are likely to rescue the country from the doldrums, but also because the saviours that many see today, are merely a looming avalanche of disaster that many may not survive.
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The Author can be reached on Asorosobioro@gmail.com
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Adebayo Raphael
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Jangebe Abduction Will Be The Last Kidnap Case, Buhari Vows
The abduction of female students from Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe, Zamfara State, will be the last of such to happen, President Muhammadu Buhari vowed on Sunday.
According to NAN, this was contained in a statement issued by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who led a high-powered Nigerian government delegation to sympathise with the people and government of Zamfara.
He said new measures had been developed by the Nigerian government which would bring a complete end to all forms of criminality in the nation.
“The President is saddened by the abduction of the students from Jangebe and reassures you that the government has all the resources and wherewithal to contain these criminals.
“Buhari also commended Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara for his efforts against armed banditry and promised continued support to bring lasting peace.
“The federal government will continue its partnership with the Zamfara government and its citizens in resolving the security challenges facing the state,” Buhari was quoted as saying.
In his response, Matawalle appreciated the federal government’s concern, noting that very soon the abductees would regain their freedom.
He said: “I strongly believe in the president and his effort in fighting all forms of insurgence and urge him to improve on the nation’s security.
”This is by ensuring synergy among the security agencies so that confrontations with criminals can be coordinated on the ground and (in the) air simultaneously.”
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Pyrates Confraternity Knocks Buhari Over Banditry, Demands Decisive Action
The National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) has berated the Nigerian government and states in Northern Nigeria for allowing bandits to have free rein in the region.
According to the organisation, it is not enough for the government to rejoice over the release of schoolchildren without ensuring that the perpetrators face consequences for their actions.
It has, therefore, demanded a clampdown on bandits and kidnappers terrorising northern Nigeria.
The group in a statement by the NAS Capoon, Mr. Abiola Owoaje, titled: ‘Bandits Siege on Nigeria: Enough of the Empty Rhetoric’, stated that the recent abduction in Kagara in Niger State and Jangebe in Zamfara State “has again put in sharp focus the deteriorating security situation in the country, and the discernible scandalous incapacitation of government and security agencies in tackling the issue of terrorism and banditry in northern Nigeria.”
Owoaje who noted that Nigerians have had enough perfunctory statements which remain largely ineffectual, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to live up to his responsibility as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and give “appropriate marching orders to security agencies to arrest the unbridled decline into anomie, especially in northern Nigeria.”
“The bandits through their activities have declared war on Nigeria and its people. Therefore the Nigerian government must respond robustly and decisively to put an end to this cyclical show of shame. “Terrorist bandits have invaded Nigeria from within and the government and its security agencies cannot continue this comatose rhetoric of zero effectual action. Kidnapping under the guise of banditry has become a lucrative industry in Nigeria. It is utterly defeatist to negotiate with or appease the criminal elements behind it. Is ransom reward not the purpose of kidnapping in the first place? So how exactly does the government think that delivering ransom and red carpet celebrity to criminals will stop the criminality? “We call on the Federal Government and the various state governments to end all forms of negotiations directly or by proxy with these reprehensible gangs and clamp down on them using legitimate and determined compelling force of law and justice. It is incumbent on the Nigerian government to make it clear in unmistakable actionable terms that it would no longer condone the kidnapping of schoolchildren and other citizens by crushing these networks of terrorists, kidnappers, and bandits.” “While the release of the kidnapped schoolchildren of Kagara and Jangebe is cheering news, the government must deploy all necessary forces towards apprehending these criminal elements and put them on trial for their crimes against the Nigeria state. This is what is expected of serious leadership. Appeasement hardly discourages criminality. It only rewards the murderers. In the same vein, rhetoric is not a viable solution for defending the territorial and security integrity of a country. Nigerians have had enough of the rhetoric. Nigerians are fed up with this continued disregard for the life and security of Nigerians,” Owoaje said.
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Kebbi Varsity Closes Indefinitely As Mob Kills Student Over Failed Bank Transaction
The management of the Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, (KSUSTA), Aliero, has announced the indefinite closure of the institution over the death of a final-year Biochemistry student.
In a statement on Sunday, the Registrar of the university, Musa Labbo, directed all students to leave the school premises immediately.
“This is to inform all students of the university that the management has directed the closure of the school indefinitely.“Therefore, all students are hereby directed to leave the university with immediate effect,” the statement said.Also, the Public Relations Officer of the University, Malam Hussaini Adamu-Zuru, said students of the university had earlier gone on a rampage in Aliero town when they learnt of the death of their colleague.It was gathered that the deceased, identified as Sharif Sale-Kanya, who was about to take his final papers, bought a handset in Aliero town on Saturday and subsequently made payment through bank transfer.The deceased reportedly switched off the phone immediately after purchase and went into the examination hall.A few hours later, when he switched on the handset, he realised that the money he transferred for the payment of the handset had been reversed due to network failure.The deceased was said to have returned to Aliero town to pay for the handset in cash.“On getting to the place, a mob of youths descended on him, shouting barawo (thief) and he was beaten into a coma.
“He was rushed to the General Hospital, but was confirmed dead shortly after he was admitted,” an eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
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Group Demands Yari’s Arrest Over Alleged N22.5 Billion Fraud, Blames Ex-Governor For Insecurity In Zamfara
The Centre for Public Accountability has called for the arrest of former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, over the alleged diversion of over N22.5 billion funds meant for the development of parts of the state into a private account.
The group, which is a coalition of 16 frontline civil society organisations, alleged that Yari had perpetrated the act when he was governor of the state from 2011 and 2019.
In a statement, the group’s Executive Director, Olufemi Lawson, said banditry arose because of the poor performance of the successive administrations in the state and continual lootings.
Lawson explained that the people of Zamfara suffer the consequences of such embezzlement and cannot further keep silent over the issue.
The statement read, “We all are aware of the heightened threat of insecurity, occasioned by the activities of armed bandits particular in the northwest region of our country, the recent being the abduction of about 317 schoolgirls.
“We are sad that the issue of insecurity in Nigeria is becoming a threat to everyone and we must not fold our arms while some elected public officials elected to serve us continue to deprive us of the basic needs because of their irresponsibility.
“The reason why kidnapping, armed robbery, and banditry have continued to fester, is because of this wanton looting of the state by some of the governors who cared less about the security and the welfare of our people as enshrined in the constitution.
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It added: “Our focus is on Zamfara state because of the level of banditry in the state. Our findings, which were corroborated by Zamfara citizens, indicated that the issue of banditry arose because of the lacklustre performance of the successive administrations in the state and became worse during the regime of the former Governor Abdulaziz Yari that he had to relocate from the state to Abuja, thereby abandoning Zamfara citizens to their fate.
“You will also recall, that it was widely reported recently that Mr Yari was invited and grilled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for several hours over alleged criminal diversion of state funds while in office. Our findings based on another document have shown how another N22.5 billion was diverted from the coffers of the state which is now in the public domain.”
Lawson explained that if the N22.5 billion which was part of the refund from the Nigerian government had been ploughed back into the state, it could have helped to boost the economy and create opportunities for the teeming population in Zamfara State who are allegedly at the receiving end of bad governance over the years.
He added that the COVID-19 pandemic had now worsened the already bad situation.
He also stated that corruption had become endemic in the country which he claimed had retarded progress for a long time.
“We have discovered that if we are to make progress, there’s a need to re-evaluate our leadership recruitment process with a view to setting a minimum standard.
“Going by Sheik (Ahmad) Gumi’s recent assertion, the bandits are asking for blanket amnesty. What has the state denied them, you may want to ask that we should now grant them blanket amnesty for terrorism in the country. This only points to one direction—failure of leadership,” Lawson said.
He, therefore, called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and other relevant agencies to conclude their investigation of Yari as soon as possible.
“This is the only way to restore our dignity that hard work pays as opposed to the level of corruption which we are witnessing now. It will also serve as a deterrent to those who may want to toe such an ignoble path now or in the nearest future,” the group said.
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New Pictures Show Boko Haram Recruiting, Training Kids
The dreaded Boko Haram terrorist group has released some photographs showing children undergoing religious and combat training in a camp.
According to reports, the images show relatively young children dressed in combat-style clothing and balaclava participating in martial arts training, weapon handling training, and religious education class.
At least two instructors and one child had what appeared to be the Zastava M21, likely captured from Cameroonian security forces, HumAngle reported.
The Zastava M21, built based on the Kalashnikov design, has appeared in previous pictures shared by Boko Haram factions or reported to have been recovered by security forces. Some children were also shown holding different Kalashnikov pattern assault rifles with under folding, side-folding, and fixed wooden stocks.
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State had in September 2020 warned that Boko Haram was recruiting children, saying the problem of insurgency could escalate.
He had said, “The only solution we have now is to ensure the safe return of our people to their homes in a dignified manner. If nothing is done believe me sincerely we shall face a very serious challenge even more than what we are facing now.”
“This is because right now the insurgents are recruiting many of our children into the sect because of the increasing unemployment rate.”
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Yobe Government Shuts All Boarding Schools
Yobe Governor Mai Mala Buni
The Yobe State Government has ordered the indefinite closure of all boarding schools across the 17 local government areas of the state.
Although the reason for the closure was not stated, it may not be unconnected with the recent abductions of students in Zamfara and Niger states.
Yobe Governor, Mai Mala Buni
A source in one of the schools told Daily Trust that the directive to shut schools reached them earlier in the day.
According to him, parents with support from security operatives came earlier in the morning and evacuated students from Government Girls Unity College, Damaturu.
He, however, said the directive will not affect Senior Secondary School 3 students.
Niger, Zamfara and Kano are some of the states that also shut schools recently.
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Police Arrest 40 For Drug Peddling, Others In Abuja Raid
The police command in the Federal Capital Territory has arrested over 40 suspects for their alleged involvement in criminal offences.
The command’s spokesman, Mariam Yusuf, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
According to her, the suspects were arrested during coordinated raids and patrols in Abaji, Gwarinpa, Asokoro, Jabi-Daki Biyu and Mabushi axes, between February 18 and February 24.
She said they were arrested for offences ranging from car snatching, drug peddling, armed robbery and public nuisance.
Yusuf also listed exhibits recovered from the suspects to include: one white Toyota Hilux, one ash Toyota Corolla, one locally fabricated rifle, 21 unexpended cartridges and one fabricated marking gun.
She said two of the suspects were arrested for snatching a vehicle after attacking and trampling on their victim in the Lugbe axis.
According to her, another vehicle, a silver Toyota Corolla, was recovered from the suspects.
The police spokesperson disclosed that all the suspects had been arraigned except the car snatching syndicates that would be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation.
She called on FCT residents to remain calm, law-abiding and ensure compliance with all COVID-19 protocols.
Yusuf reiterated the commitment of the police command to protect lives and property within the territory.
She called on residents to report emergencies, distress and suspicious movements to the police on 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653 and 08028940883.
The PPRO said erring police officers could also be reported to the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) on 09022222352.
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E2%80%94-falana-led-group-condemns-arrest Buhari Called For Jonathan’s Resignation But Was Not Jailed — Falana-led Group Condemns Arrest of Ganduje’s Ex-aide
Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond chaired by human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has condemned the arrest of former aide to Kano State governor, Salisu Tanko-Yakasai, by men of the Department of State Services.
The group stated that Tanko-Yakasai had legitimately exercised his constitutional right by speaking against perceived faults in the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.
In a statement on Sunday, the group reminded Buhari that the All Progressives Congress and its leaders repeatedly called for former President Goodluck Jonathan’s resignation between 2013 and 2014 but were never subjected to any form of intimidation for exercising their freedom of expression.
The group described Tanko-Yakasai’s arrest as discriminatory, noting that there have been stringent calls for President Buhari’s resignation from civil rights advocates, legislators, retired military officers and political party leaders including chieftains of the APC. The statement partly read, “ASCAB has confirmed that Mr. Tanko- Yakasai is being held incommunicado in an undisclosed detention facility.
“Having regard to the fact that civil rights advocates, retired military officers and political party leaders, including chieftains of the All Progressives Congress have repeatedly asked President Buhari to call it quits due to the worsening insecurity in the country there is no justification whatsoever for the arrest and detention of Mr. Tanko- Yakasai.“In both Chambers of the National Assembly, there have been strident calls by legislators for President Buhari’s resignation or impeachment on the grounds that criminal gangs have taken over the monopoly of violence in the country. Since such concerned citizens were never arrested the ongoing harassment of Mr. Tanko-Yankasai is high-handed, discriminatory and illegal.
“It is on record that the APC and its leaders, including General Muhammadu Buhari; National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Malam Nasir El-Rufai and Alhaji Lai Mohammed repeatedly called for former President Goodluck Jonathan’s resignation between 2013 and 2014. Yet they were never subjected to any form of intimidation for exercising their freedom of expression at the material time.”
The group warned that calls for President Buhari’s resignation is likely to continue to be made by other concerned individuals and groups over the security situation in the country.
It urged the government “not to be intolerant of criticism in respect of their office so as to ensure that they are accountable to the people. They should not be made to feel that they live in an ivory tower and therefore belong to a different class. They must develop thick skins and where possible, plug their ears with wool if they feel too sensitive or irascible.”
It added: “In view of the foregoing, we demand the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Tanko-Yakasai from illegal custody.
“However, if the State Security Service has evidence that the political detainee has committed any criminal offence known to law, he should be transferred to the police for proper investigation and possible prosecution without any delay.”
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