Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Tuesday 9th March 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 09/03/21
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#BuhariMustGo: Women, Students Mark International Women’s Day With Protest In Abuja, Plan #OccupyNigeria Season 2
Some women in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja on Monday staged a protest against hunger, hardship and insecurity in the country, calling for the immediate resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari over his perceived incompetence.
The protest, which held at Gwako Community in Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT, was part of the activities planned by the residents to register their anger and displeasure at the government’s neglect of women’s affairs.
The protesters described the insecurity and economic situation in the country as worrisome and uncalled for.
Speaking with journalists, their spokesperson, Stell Ajadi, said lack of basic amenities such as potable water, electricity, good roads and healthcare facilities in the community, led to the protest.
Ajadi condemned the President’s silence over the persistent attacks by bandits and herdsmen on communities and citizens across the country.
She said, “We need empowerment, no money to do business. We don’t have potable water. The government deliberately abandoned and neglected us in the community. We are wives and mothers and we are suffering.”
Similarly, the female students of the University of Abuja staged a peaceful protest to mark this year’s International Women’s Day at the mini campus of the school located at Gwagwalada to demand adequate security in all educational institutions.
The students, who chanted “Buhari Must Go” as they moved around the campus, condemned the incessant killings and kidnapping of students from their schools by armed bandits in Niger and Zamfara states.
Some of the inscriptions on their placards read: “Buhari must go”, “Our children must be safe in schools”, “Say no to bad government and insecurity”, and “Women are the bearer of seed of eternity.”
One of the protesters identified as Victoria David, said security operatives are seemingly helpless and incapable of handling the insecurity that plaguing the country.
She called on security agents to double their efforts and change their strategies in securing the country from disgruntled elements.
“Security agents seem helpless, our people are being killed and kidnapped on a daily basis without any solution in sight. Buhari must resign,” she said.
Similarly, some activists in the FCT on Monday, painted walls of major areas with ‘Buhari Must Go’ inscriptions to create awareness.
Checks by SaharaReporters within the city showed that the graffiti was scribbled conspicuously all over the walls of major bridges, walls and bus stop at Wuse 2, Federal secretariat, Central Area and Area 3.
The hashtag #BuhariMustGo recently trended and gained traction on Twitter and other social media platforms following the worsening security situation in the country.
Activists have continued to mobilise Nigerians across the states to get ready for another round of protest tagged “#OccupyNigeria Season 2” to demand good governance and accountability.
They also condemned Buhari’s deafening silence in the heat of unwarranted killing and kidnapping of innocent Nigerians by bandits and killer-herdsmen.
It will be recalled that security operatives on February 13, 2021, brutalised and arrested unarmed young Nigerians who had gathered at Lekki toll gate in Lagos following the decision by the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses to reopen the tollgate.
The decision was met with stiff opposition by Nigerians who participated in the hijacked #EndSARS protest.
According to them, the toll gate should not be opened until all victims of the #EndSARS Protest get justice.
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E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98secret-trial%E2%80%99-march-31 Court Adjourns El-Zakzaky’s ‘Secret Trial’ To March 31
A Kaduna State High Court has adjourned the ‘secret trial’ of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and his wife, Zeenat, to March 31 to enable prosecution close its case.
The lead prosecution, Chris Umar, who is also Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Justice, confirmed the adjournment shortly after the trial that lasted for more than six hours on Monday, Daily Trust reported.
According to him, the prosecution has so far presented 14 witnesses in the case. He said the court had admitted several items in evidence, but declined to mention the items.
Meanwhile, El-Zakzaky’s counsel, Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), told reporters that items including video recordings, dane guns, SIM cards were admitted in evidence by the court.
Falana said his team will open defence in the case after the prosecution closes its case on the adjourned date.
The ‘secret trial’ of the IMN leader and his wife, Zeenat, began on November 18, 2020 at the High Court.
The Kaduna State Government charged El-Zakzaky and Zeenat with eight counts bordering on alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of the public peace, among other charges.
The state has so far presented 14 witnesses, including two Army officers, a retired director of State Security Service, police officers and a medical doctor who testified in secret before Justice Gideon Kurada.
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How Police Frustrated Efforts By Young Woman Allegedly Raped, Assaulted By Employer To Get Justice
A young lady, Oluwatoyin Oloyede, who was allegedly assaulted and raped by her employer, Jimoh Oloja, for several years has cried out for help in her pursuit of justice.
Oloyede was also stripped naked and humiliated in public.
According to her, her efforts to get justice have constantly been frustrated by the Investigating Police Officer, Oritsetsola Gabriel Maduku, in charge of her case, who allegedly keeps demanding money from her at every step of the case.
In a report received by SaharaReporters, it was stated that Oloyede served as a home help for the Oloja family where she was repeatedly raped by Jimoh with the knowledge of his wife.
Oloyede said she became worried about her safety, fearing that there might be hidden motives as she suspected it might have been for ritual purposes.
This, according to her, made her flee the house of the alleged abuser with a sum of N100, 000 belonging to him. She said it was a fair amount to cover for the services she was originally employed for.
She said Jimoh and his wife, however, continued to call her, which made her threaten to expose the duo for all their alleged atrocities.
Oloyede was thereafter lured by the Olojas to come for compensation which led to public abuse and humiliation. She was stripped naked and beaten by a team of women identified as Kemi Omisore, Omowunmi Omisore, and Orosola Bolanle Jadesola who were allegedly engaged by Jimoh to humiliate Oloyede in January 2021.
The victim was also allegedly forced to delete the evidence she had against the Olojas from her phone by a police inspector, Bukola, who watched as the women beat the victim with brooms and other objects while she was naked.
She was also arrested and forced to write an undertaking never to reveal her experience with the Olojas to anyone.
A petition written on her behalf by her Mrs V. I. Folorunsho for solicitors, N. O. Folorunso & Co, said, “The name of the assaulted lady in this video is Ms Oloyede Oluwatoyin Elizabeth. She was reportedly employed as a house help by the family of Mr Jimoh Oloja, where she was repeatedly raped by the same man on the conspired efforts of his wife. As this goes on, according to Oloyede, she became so worried about her safety as it started getting obvious that there are hidden motives for the conspired effort by the couple for the constant sexual abuse with other suspected ritualistic tendencies.
“She decided to flee after series of unbearable sexual abuses by Mr Jimoh Oloja and took about the sum of N100,000 which she believed is fair for the exchange of the services she was originally employed for. After this, Mr Jimoh Oloja wouldn’t stop disturbing Ms Oluwatosin until she threatened to expose her ordeals and the dirty deeds of the Olojas. This got him scared as he thereafter became suddenly nice and uttered soothing words and promises to lure Ms Oluwatoyin to come back for what he tagged discussion for ‘settlement and adequate compensation’ for her years of service. She innocently went back and on getting there, Mr Jimoh had recruited ‘professional beaters’ to ‘deal’ with Ms Oluwatoyin after framing her for theft.
“After she was heavily molested and dehumanised by this crew of beaters, she was later arrested and was forced to write an undertaking never to reveal her experience with the Jimohs to anyone. And the phone where she had wisely saved certain evidence she thought might be useful was formatted by one Inspector Bukola on the paid request of Mr Jimoh.
“When this case was reported to us. We filed a petition at the State CID against Mr Jimoh and his accomplices and they were arrested. After this, the IPO in charge of the case, the person of Oritsetsola Gabriel Maduku, won’t stop extorting Ms Oluwatosin, asking for money to mobilise himself and his men for anything at all they want to do on the case. She paid and provided for transportation for the police officers on a number of occasions and requests for mobilisation from these police officers seem unending.”
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Bayelsa Community Shuts Down Conoil Facility Producing 30,000 Barrels Per Day
Scores of Youths and women from Koluama communities and satellite camps in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Monday invaded the crude oil production facility owned by the Conoil
Producing Limited over its alleged refusal to renew an expired Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) it had with the host communities.
The breached oil facility known as Angle 2 field, operated by Conoil since 2012, has a crude production capacity of over 30,000 barrels per day.
The angry residents stormed the facility around 1 pm on Tuesday armed with placards with inscriptions such as “No GMoU, No Crude oil exploration”, Conoil pack, and Go, We are tired of suffering” and “Koluama people are suffering”.
They demanded that the facility should stop all operations peacefully.
Despite the heavy presence of armed soldiers and other security personnel, the officials of Conoil obliged and shut down its operation. The noticeable gas flaring was put off.
The protesting Koluama indigenes however vowed to occupy the oil platform until their demands on scholarships and education issues, employment of indigenes, and the provision of electricity through the building of turbine was met by the company through the signing of a new and workable GMoU.
The Youth President of Koluama Community, Comrade Kiwei Emmanuel Philip, told newsmen that the community was tired of the manipulation of the Conoil management since the former GMoU expired over 14 months ago.
“We have come here to occupy and sack the Conoil. They are operating in our community without a GMoU. Our people do not even have a person working in the company at the moment. We cannot accommodate them anymore,” he said.
The women, led by China Ezekhia, said the women and the youths were suffering as most of them were unemployed.
The Oil and Gas Chairman of Koluama communities, Ebimielayefa D*** Ogbeyan, while addressing the security personnel on duty, said the communities had embarked on the action because all efforts to seek an amicable settlement had failed.
“From inception, Conoil has never employed our indigene. We sat together and agreed on a GMoU, but they failed to implement it all. And now, it expired over 14 months ago and they have refused to sign another one,” she said.
“We have done all that is needed to be done but they refused. We have met with leaders of security agencies, governments, and other stakeholders to prevail on Conoil but they refused. The stakeholders agreed with us on this action. The community wants them to pack peacefully, We know we are not getting anything and we are not expecting anything. They cannot be getting so much from oil exploration from our land and we are not getting anything.
“We are here to carefully and peacefully ask them to pack without bloodshed. There should be no quarrel or fighting. The people of Koluama communities are tired of Conoil.”
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Nigerian Army Berates Sheikh Gumi For Alleging Bandits Were Killed, Attacked By Non-Muslim Soldiers To Cause Chaos
The Nigerian Army has berated Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, for alleging that non-Muslim soldiers were responsible for the attacks against bandits.
Gumi had during a meeting in February with some suspected bandits in Tegina forest, a border town between Niger and Kaduna states accused non-Muslim soldiers of killing and attacking Muslim bandits.
He alleged that the non-Muslims soldiers were stirring confusion with the aim of wreaking havoc.
“What I want you people to understand is, soldiers that are involved in most of the criminalities are not Muslims. You know, soldiers have Muslims and none Muslims. The non-Muslims are the ones causing confusion just to ignite a crisis,” the Islamic cleric had said.
Reacting in a statement on Monday, army spokesperson, Mohammed Yerima, said the security agency does not deploy troops along ethnic or religious lines.
He urged Gumi and others not to bring the image and reputation of the army into disrepute.
The statement read, “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a viral video cilp showing the renowned and respected Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi alleging that non-Muslim soldiers were responsible for the attacks against bandits. In the video clip, the Islamic scholar was seen telling the bandits that the soldiers involved in most attacks against them were non-Muslims. He further stated that they should be aware that soldiers are divided into Muslims and non-Muslims.
“While the Nigerian Army would not want to take issues with the respected Sheik Ahmed Gumi, it is however important to restate that the Nigerian Army as a national institution does not deploy its troops along ethnic or religious lines. Therefore Sheikh Ahmed Gumi and other opinion merchants are please enjoined to exercise restraint not to drag the image and reputation of one of the most reliable national institutions into disrepute.
“The Nigerian Army remains the pride of the nation and has continually defended the territorial integrity of this great nation. Comments suggesting to mudslide the image and reputation of the Nigerian Army are not only inimical but tended towards creating bad blood amongst Nigerians.
“Furthermore, most operations conducted by the Nigerian Army are done in strict adherence to rules of engagement, code of conduct and respect for the fundamental human rights of the citizenry without any exception. It is therefore, disturbing that an opinion leader would deliberately want to disparage the Nigeria Army to portray it in a bad light.
“The Nigerian Army wishes to use this opportunity to advise opinion leaders to be more courteous while expressing their views, taking into cognisance the imperative for national security, particularly at this difficult time when our gallant troops have redoubled their efforts to tackle the myriads of security challenges facing our dear nation. What our troops need now is public support to discharge their responsibility effectively and in the most professional manner.”
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NDLEA Arrests Drug Trafficker With Three Parcels Of Cocaine At Lagos Airport
Bag containing three parcels of cocaine
A suspected notorious drug trafficker, Hassan Bishi Taiwo, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) for being in possession of three parcels of cocaine concealed in a false bottom created in his suitcase.
Hassan was intercepted at the E-Arrival Hall of the MMIA upon his arrival onboard an Ethiopian airline flight around 1.30pm on Friday.
Bag containing three parcels of cocaine
NDLEA
According to the Commander, MMIA command of the agency, Ahmadu Garba, the suspect has been plying his illicit trade through some Middle East countries.
“The suspect came into Nigeria through Addis Ababa but he actually travelled to Addis Ababa from Abuja. Upon a thorough search, we discovered another ticket on him while our findings also show that he has been plying his criminal trade through some Middle East countries.”
Also, narcotic officers attached to a courier company in Lagos have intercepted 500 grammes of unaccompanied cocaine going to the United Arab Emirates and concealed inside the walls of packed cartons containing clothes.
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Police Invite Social Media Influencer Over Tweet Against APC Supporter
The Lagos State Police Command has invited a social media influencer, Pamilerin Adegoke, for questioning over hos tweet against a staunch supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari.
SaharaReporters gathered that Adegoke was invited over something he posted on Twitter against a woman identified as Iyabo Awokoya, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Awokoya had earlier in a tweet promised to ‘deal’ with the social media influencer.
“Is there anyone who please who knows Dr Pam Pam personally and knows his telephone number. I need to make an example of someone,” she had posted.
According to a letter dated March 4 and signed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Fayoade Adegoke, the Twitter influencer was asked to report at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Yaba on March 09, 2021.
“This office is investigating a case in which your attention is needed to facilitate and bring the matter to a logical conclusion. You are hereby requested for interview by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, Lagos, on 9th March, 2021 at 10:00am, through the O/C D8 Section with phone No. 081233862**,” part of the letter read.
Reacting to the invitation, Adegoke tweeted, “I’ve been invited by the Nigeria Police (?@policeng?) via the State CID, Panti, Lagos to answer questions regarding an undisclosed issue. Recall that ? @iyaboawokoya? had vowed to instigate the police against me. I’ve been advised by my lawyer ?@InibeheEffiong? not to react further.”I’ve been invited by the Nigeria Police (@policeng) via the State CID, Panti, Lagos to answer questions regarding an undisclosed issue. Recall that @iyaboawokoya had vowed to instigate the police against me. I’ve been advised by my lawyer @InibeheEffiong not to react further. pic.twitter.com/a3eFl1BNiw— Dr PamPam | Omo Iya Ologi (@UnclePamilerin) March 8, 2021
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E2%80%94gani-adams Four Men Killed In Ibarapa After Arrest Of Fulani Warlord, Wakili —Gani Adams
Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has raised the alarm over the killing of four men at Idiyan village, Igangan, Oyo State by men believed to be Abdullah Iskilu Wakili’s men.
The four men were hacked to death around 2 am on Monday at the village.
Two of the men killed were said to be members of the community police in the area.
Adams, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, said the four men were killed in the most gruesome manner, adding that the audio and pictorial evidence at his disposal indicated that the killers had been terrorising the village and its environs.
They have also collected over 800 million naira as ransom from their captives.
He said, “Wakili’s men have displaced more than a million residents in the over 10 villages in Oke Ogun.They have raped, and killed residents at will. The late Alhaja Sherifat, and the late Dr. Fatai Aborode and several others were killed, and they are still on rampage till today. They have been terrorising our people for more than six years. Wakili was a comedian, pretending to avoid being investigated. He was hail and hearty, but started pretending shortly after he was captured.
“It is sad that kidnapping and killing still continue unabated without any clue as to the time it will end.Today, four men were hacked to death at Idiyan villafe, and it is sad and most unfortunately that the police have not been able to unravel the killers till the present time.”
Adams expressed worry that the security situation in the South-West was becoming worrisome, maintaining that the situation could have been so worse if not for the efforts of the OPC.
The Yoruba generalissimo, however, warned criminal herders to stay away from the region, disclosing that OPC and other local security operatives would continue to ensure that the region is safe for residents.
Adams, while reacting to the arrest of four members of the OPC who nabbed an alleged Fulani kidnapper, Wakili, said it was purely an admittance of failure for the police to arrest ‘our gallant men that had assisted them in nabbing the notorious kidnapper, Wakili and three of his men.
“By detaining the OPC members, it shows that the police are ready to frustrate the efforts of the people. The police that are supposed to commend the joint security team for complementing their efforts went ahead to detain them unjustly, alleging arson and killing of an unknown person, and up till now, the police have failed to unravel the killers of the four men. People are beginning to lose confidence in the ability of the police; it will be distrastrous for the police to lose the respect of the people.”
Adams, however, urged the police to release the OPC members, and concentrate on ridding Igangan forests of bandits and kidnappers.
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Uber Driver Jailed Three Months Over N20, 000 Love Scam
Justice M. A. Odegbola of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State on Monday, March 8, 2021 convicted and sentenced one Michael Tosin Lawal, an Uber driver, to three months in prison.
He was convicted after he pleaded guilty to an amended one count bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, preferred against him by the Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The lone charge reads, “That you, Michael Tosin Lawal ‘M’ sometime in the year 2020, in Ibadan, Oyo State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained gift cards from one Trevor, a white male by falsely representing to him that you are a white female by the name Cyndy Tyler from the United States of America, which pretence you knew to be false.”
Following his plea, Justice Odegbola convicted and sentenced him to three months in prison. He also ordered the convict to restitute the sum of $50 (about N20,000) to his victim through the EFCC and forfeit items recovered from him to the Nigerian government.
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40 Youths, District Leader Arrested In Gombe For Protesting Against Imposed King, Cleric Alleges
File photo used to illustrate story.
No fewer than 40 youths in Tangale community and a district head for Todi in the Biliri Local Government Area of Gombe State, have been arrested by security operatives over the kingship tussle in the area.
The Director-General, Centre for Justice on Religion and Ethnicity in Nigeria, Pastor Kallamu Musa Ali Dikwa, who disclosed this in an interview with SaharaReporters on Monday, said those arrested had been detained in a cell in the FCT.
File photo used to illustrate story.
The people of Tangale had, some weeks ago, protested the alleged imposition of a Muslim of minority extraction in Tangale, a predominantly Christian community in Gombe State as king.
According to them, the minority candidate that has no link to the Tangale throne was imposed by the Gombe State Government despite the fact the candidate had only 2 votes while the authentic candidate and son of the late monarch, Dr Idris Maiyemba had 5 votes out of a possible 9.
The youths requested that the governor, Yahaya Inuwa, should confirm Musa Idris Maiyamba as the new Mai (monarch of) Tangale.
The protest, which was later hijacked by unscrupulous elements, led to the death of three persons.
However, young and innocent people in the community were arrested in connection with the deaths, Pastor Dikwa stated.
He said, “Forty youths were arrested by operatives of the Gombe State Department of State Services, along with the district head of Todi village, Obadiah Naaman Toyyo and his people do not know his whereabouts but I know they are in the DSS detention cell in Abuja.
“The government is trying to frame Toyyo for causing the recent crises initiated by Governor Inuwa in Billiri. We will not allow them to use government power to continue to intimidate us as Christians. The government sent an appointment letter to Mallam Danladi Maishanu not Maiyamba, the people’s choice.
“The appointment letter sent by Governor Yahaya to Mallam Danladi Maishanu was dated 02/03/2021. Yahaya claimed that based on recommendations of kingmakers of Tangale Chiefdom, he approved the appointment of Maishanu, whereas, Yahaya knows that he lied to the people of Gombe State and to the entire Nigerians.
“The kingmakers of Tangle Chiefdom didn’t vote nor recommend Danladi Maishanu for the seat of Mai Tangale. Governor Yahaya wants to promote an Islamic agenda on Tangale chiefdom.
“We know what they are trying to achieve. The governor of the state, Inuwa Yahaya wants to destroy Tangale people and their land. This was the way a past Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, started.
“During his tenure, he was discriminating against Christians, especially in terms of appointment and in so many ways sponsored the late Moh’d Yusuf, leader of Boko Haram to preach against Christians/Christianity.
“Governor Inuwa is trying to bring disaster to Gombe State but God will surely deal with him very soon. We are also aware of the plans of most of the Muslim governors in the North to take over Christian chiefdoms for Islam by all means!
“Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State did the same thing by forcing a Fulani man on Adara People in Kajuru LGA as Emir of Adara people after the killing of their first-class chief but the people of Adara land resisted his Islamic agenda.
“Till date, there is no chief in Adara land because their agenda failed. They also tried this in Adamawa State in two LGAs, Guyuk and Numan, but Governor Umaru Fintiri refused to connive with the Muslim traditional rulers in manipulating the process, instead, he appointed the people’s choice.”
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