Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Sunday 13th June 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 13/06/21
Read also
Residents Flee As Soldiers Invade Abia Community In Search Of Suspected ESN Members Who Allegedly Shot One Of Them
File photo used to illustrate story.
Soldiers of 14 Brigade, Army Headquarters have invaded Ohafia in Ohafia Local Government, Abia State, searching for a soldier allegedly shot by gunmen suspected to be members of the Eastern Security Network.
In a report by Daily Trust, this has caused an exodus of residents and indigenes of Elu, Amangwu, Ebem and Amaekpu, Ohafia LGA from their respective communities to neighbouring villages.
File photo used to illustrate story.
A source said, “We learnt that some boys believed to be members of the Eastern Security Network came to the popular Ebem motor park and started shooting and later left.
“Soldiers from 14 Brigade Ohafia, whose command headquarters is located in the area, later came and went after them.
“We learnt that the unknown gunmen shot a soldier with a double-barrel gun but not dead; he’s currently at Federal Medical Center Umuahia, currently receiving medical attention. Since that time, there have been sporadic gunshots from all corners.”
A civil servant from the area said the residents had suffered all manners of intimidation from soldiers, adding that marriages billed to occur in the community at the weekend had been shifted.
He also stated that many houses in the Amangwu Ohafia community were burnt. The soldiers had claimed that members of the ESN were using the houses as their hideout.
“We have suffered all manner of intimidation from soldiers. Some of our relatives have relocated to Uzuakoli, Umuahia, Aba, and anywhere they think that is safer for them. We are in the village but soldiers determine our right to movement.
“Marriages ceremonies billed to take place any time soon have been shifted indefinitely. We learnt that at Elu, soldiers went to the market and started pursuing people.
“A lot of houses have been burnt at Amangwu Ohafia community. They said that members of ESN were using the houses as their hideout, which I can’t validate. You need to call anyone from Amangwu to validate such claims. But what I can tell you right now is that Ohafia is on fire,” he said.
An indigene of Amangwu Ohafia, who spoke from his hideout, confirmed the invasion of his community by soldiers of 14 Brigade, Ohafia, with the claim that members of ESN that shot their personnel were hiding in the Amangwu community.
The source, who disclosed that they later started hearing heavy gunfire in their village in the early hours of Saturday, confirmed the burning of people’s houses, arrest and indiscriminate harassment of indigenes of their community by the soldiers.
“I don’t know the actual number. Some persons said six soldiers were killed; others said four and some ESN members were killed in the heavy gunfire. But the truth is that the Amangwu community, including Elu, Ebem and Amaepku, are all on fire.
“While we were running away from our community just like other persons, we saw a detachment of soldiers heading towards Ohafia from Umuahia end. We don’t know the fate of our people in the village. Their phone numbers are not connecting. It is feared that they have been either arrested by soldiers or other security agents in the state.
Military
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
Eleven-Year-Old, Other Kidnapped Victim Rescued By Police In Adamawa
The police have rescued an eleven-year-old boy along with one other who was kidnapped in Adamawa State.
The police also killed one of the kidnappers during a hot crossfire, the police disclosed.
A spokesperson for the police in the state DSP Suleiman Nguroge told SaharaReporters that the one Musa Male, eleven years old and Salihu Umar were kidnapped.
Nguroge said heavily armed hoodlums, numbering six, were said to have stormed Kasuwan Ladi village, in the Toungo Local Government Area of the state at about midnight on Thursday and kidnapped the two.
However, the police gave them a hot chase where they engaged them in a gunbattle leading to the death of one of the kidnappers. The police also recovered an AK47 rifle from them.
Nguroge said, “The Adamawa State Police Command, on 12/06/2021, received report from one Alhaji Ahmadu Tambaya, Chairman Pulaku Association, Toungo local government, that on 10/6/2021, between the hours of 11 to 12 pm, armed men numbering six (6) invaded the house of one Ibrahim Buba, situated along with Kasuwan Ladi village, Toungo, and fired sporadically.
“They succeeded in kidnapping one Salihu Umar, 14years old and Musa Male, 11years old.
“The Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Adamu Alhaji, immediately, deployed the Command’s machinery and augment the strength of the operatives attached to Toungo Division and Hunters of Pulaku Association and directed them to go after the Kidnappers.
“The rescue team, while engaging the kidnappers in a gun duel, rescue team luckily neutralized one out of the sixth Kidnappers and rescued the two victims unharmed. However, the remaining Kidnappers escaped with bullet wounds.
“The CP commended the DPO Toungo and members of Pulaku Association for their resilience and directs them to sustain the tempo and go after the fleeing suspects.
“The Command, while reassuring on its a commitment to protecting lives and property of the citizens, calls on members of the public to continue furnishing/reporting to police any suspicious character around their neighbourhood timeously especially anyone seen with bullet wounds.”
CRIME
Police
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
E2%80%93-army 7,403 Soldiers Wounded In Action By Insurgents Undergoing Treatment – Army
File photo used to illustrate story.
The Nigerian Army has said thousands of military personnel have been maimed in the fight against Boko Haram.
This is as the Senate, in a show of empathy, donated N10 million for the treatment of the wounded-in-action soldiers at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna.
File photo used to illustrate story.
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, led the Senate delegation to the military hospital to commiserate with wounded soldiers.
The sympathy visit was part of the activities to mark the second anniversary of the ninth Senate.
Briefing the Senate delegation, the Acting Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Colonel Stephen Onuchukwu, said some wounded soldiers required cutting edge medical facilities to keep them alive.
Onuchukwu, who is an Orthopaedic Consultant, said about 7,403 wounded soldiers in action had so far been evacuated to the 44 Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, treated while some are undergoing rehabilitation.
“While some of the wounded personnel got treated, discharged and return to action, others are maimed.
“Those in this category are the ones with spinal cord injury being assisted with Urethral Implant for them to urinate.
“Others are either waiting for complete fitting of prosthetics for lost limbs or Medical Evacuation to hospitals abroad,” he said.
Onuchukwu said despite the increased capacity of the hospital, some special procedures and treatment are still done abroad.
He appealed to the National Assembly and the federal government to assist the hospital to attain the status of UN Level 4 Hospital.
The Senate President assured Nigerians that the legislature would work with the executive to ensure that the armed forces are properly taken care of and motivated.
He added that the N895 billion supplementary budget recently forwarded to the National Assembly by the Presidency for purchase of military equipment and COVID-19 vaccines would be expeditiously considered and passed and that more funds would be appropriated for the military in the 2022 budget.
“The country’s mounting security challenges would expose the military personnel to different forms of injuries, thus the need for more medical facilities to cater for the needs of wounded soldiers.
“We can’t expect so much from you and give you little. That will be unfair. Our armed forces deserve the support of all Nigerians.
“We have to give them adequate resources to protect the country because everything needs peace and security,” he said.
The Senate delegation and the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and the General Officer, 1st Mechanized Division, Major-General Ali Keffi, later visited the wounded-in-action personnel across the various wards.
Military
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
E2%80%94-relative Nigerian Man In US Who Shot Wife, Mother-In-Law Also Shot Father-In-Law On His Knees — Relative
A Facebook user, Loretta Bankaton Green, says Udoamaka Nwamu, a Nigerian man who shot his wife and mother-in-law to death, also shot the victim’s father in the knee.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported how Nwamu attacked Kaliyah Ratliff and his mother-in-law, Nikita Green, at their home in Douglasville, Georgia, United States.
Nwamu, of East Point, Fulton County, reportedly took a handgun to his in-laws’ home in Douglasville on Sunday, where his estranged wife was staying, and fired shots into the front and back of the house on Long Lake Drive.
See Also
Sahara Reporters
Nigerian Man Kills Wife, Mother-In-law, Commits Suicide In US
0 Comments
1 Day Ago
Green, who identified as a relative to the bereaved family, said the father is currently enduring the pain from the gunshot though the police never mentioned it.
He wrote,” This is my nephew’s wife and daughter. My nephew was hit too in the leg but they didn’t mention it. He is taking one day at a time. Pray for us.”
Another Facebook user, Mary Wilcox said she knew when Kaliyah was born, “Father, please be a fence around the victims; I know this family and remember when the wife was born to please grant her siblings and father constant peace.”
Tammy Reeves, another user, said,” The mother was my high school classmate; she was a beautiful person inside and out. Prayers for the family.”
Nwamu hailed from Asaba, Delta State and he is the son of a former High Chief.
According to the police at Douglas County, Sheriff Tim Pounds, on Tuesday, the gunshots on Sunday resulted in multiple 911 calls and deputies were dispatched to the house. Before they arrived, Nwamu had forced his way inside the home.
Deputies were met with gunfire from the house and were forced to take cover while an emergency response team and hostage negotiator were sent to the scene.
“During the negotiations with Udoamaka, a single gunshot was heard,” Pounds said.
The response team then entered the house and found Nwamu dead from what Pounds described as a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Deputies also found the bodies of Nwamu’s estranged wife, 24-year-old Kaliyah Nwamu, and her mother, 46-year-old Nikita Green.
The case remains under investigation, Pounds added.
Police, however, added that the victim, even though married, had not yet assumed Nwamu’s name.
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
June 12th: Nigeria’s Leadership – The People’s Nemesis By Pelumi Olajengbesi Esq.
#June12thProtest
June 12th is no ordinary date in Nigerian history. It embodies the sacrifices that have been made over the years for the democracy (or semblance of same) that we now enjoy, further serving as a timely reminder of the ills of military autocracy.
Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO), a Yoruba Muslim on a joint ticket with fellow Muslim, Babagana Kingibe, led his party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to electoral victory against Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC). It was a moment of hope in non ethno-religious politics and an epoch when competence and merit won over patronage and primordial tribal sentiments. With optimism agog in the prospects of a new Nigeria, military interventionism truncated the people’s victory and led on to years of hard lessons in brutish military autocracy.
#June12thProtest
It is therefore only fitting that with Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 and successive transitions from civilian to civilian governments that we anoint this most canonical of dates to remind us of our tripartite loss, and the hope and potential in our democratic experiment.
Sadly, it is inconceivable in recent times that tribal or religious sentiments do not drive local and national politics. We’ve walked back the gains of yesteryears in leaps and bounds, blundering through what little democratic gains have been had over the years in servitude to the whims of a non-performing political class.
Our people have been stripped of the dignity of selves; of assembly and association, and of protest against bad governance. We’ve become fodder in the fatalistic ambition of political jobbers and their merry band of trigger-happy cops and servicemen.
Today, I joined a multitude of protesters who trooped out in exercise of their God-given & constitutionally affirmed right to protest against bad governance and corruption. Amongst this peaceful and surging crowd of protesters, I noticed that Press Officials where clad in Bullet-Proof vests and strategically positioned away from the milling crowd of protesters. I did not have to wonder why for long. Civil protests have in fact become death-wishes and the war-time dress code of the media men covering this protest attested to this summation. No less on DEMOCRACY DAY!
So while we celebrate Democracy Day today, we must sober up to the truth that we’ve frittered away the gains of the past in hideous pursuit of ‘strong-man’ politics. We must admit that a lot more has to be done for Nigeria to come marginally within the spectrum of a true democracy. We must accept the disservice we’ve wrecked upon the sacrifices of our heroes past and yet be buoyed by the massively spreading socio-political consciousness that is setting this generation apart.
I am at once proud and invigorated by the guardians of our fragile democracy who without let and rest have registered protestations against poor political leadership and the oppression of the masses by a privileged few. We may not be where we want to be or could be, but our feet are firmly planted on the path to Uhuru.
As we rightfully commemorate this most auspicious day, the Nigerian Government must be reminded that the right to peaceful protest and assembly is fundamental to our national, regional and international laws and the Nigerian government must respect same. They must seize this moment to receive feedback from the public and be humble enough to admit their failings and work to right their wrongs.
I love the concept of One Nigeria but not at any cost. Our union, it must be said, is negotiable, and the terms must be adjusted to best reflect the wishes of the people. This are considerations that must rule reflections amongst our elected leaders today and I truly hope that the efforts of today will birth a new Nigeria tomorrow.
Pelumi Olajengbesi Esq., is a Legal Practitioner and the Principal Partner at LAW CORRIDOR, Nigeria.
Lawcorridor@gmail.com.
Opinion
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
Pelumi Olajengbesi
Disable advertisements
:
BREAKING: June 12 Protesters Intercept Busload Of Northerners Going To Lagos, Recover Guns
A bus conveying some northerners from Gombe State to Lagos has been intercepted in Akure, the Ondo State capital, by the June 12 protesters.
Locally made guns were found in the bus.
PHOTONEWS: #June12thProtest Protesters In Ondo Arrest Northerners Traveling From Gombe To Lagos With Locally Made Guns, Hand Them Over To Amotekun Corps pic.twitter.com/fATpQ4XAv1— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) June 12, 2021
The protesters handed the suspects to the operatives of the security outfit, Amotekun.
The suspects are being interrogated.
WATCH: #June12thProtest Protesters In Ondo Arrest Northerners Traveling From Gombe To Lagos With Locally Made Guns pic.twitter.com/IuhwRT2lur— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) June 12, 2021
ACTIVISM
Insecurity
Breaking News
News
Reports
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
2021 Hajj: Saudi Arabia Bars Travellers From Nigeria, Others
File photo used to illustrate story.
Saudi Arabia has placed travel restrictions on Nigeria and other countries from performing 2021 Hajj over coronavirus concerns.
This follows an announcement from Saudi Arabia on Saturday that it will allow 60,000 vaccinated residents of the kingdom to perform the annual hajj.
File photo used to illustrate story.
According to the official Saudi Press Agency, the Hajj ministry said this year’s pilgrimage would be “open for nationals and residents of the kingdom, limited to 60,000 pilgrims”.
With this, travellers from Nigeria have been barred from performing hajj for the second time in a row.
Last year, the kingdom also hosted downscaled hajj amid the coronavirus pandemic, preventing thousands of Nigerian pilgrims from participating.
The pilgrimage, scheduled to be held at the end of July, would be limited to those who have been vaccinated and are below 65 years of age with no chronic illnesses, it said.
The hajj, which is a must for able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime, typically packs millions of pilgrims into congested religious sites and could be a major source of contagion.
Only up to 10,000 Muslims took part last year, a far cry from the 2.5 million who participated in the five-day annual pilgrimage in 2019.
In a relaxation of coronavirus curbs last October, Saudi Arabia opened the Grand Mosque for prayers for the first time in seven months and partially resumed the all-year-round umrah pilgrimage.
The limit on umrah pilgrims is 20,000 a day, with a total of 60,000 worshippers allowed to perform daily prayers at the mosque.
The umrah usually attracts millions of Muslims from across the globe each year. Authorities said the umrah would be allowed to return to full capacity once the threat of the pandemic has abated.
The revered Black Stone in the Kaaba – which is customary but not mandatory to touch during the pilgrimage – remains out of reach.
“In light of what the whole world is witnessing with the coronavirus pandemic… and the emergence of new variants, the relevant authorities have continued to monitor the global health situation,” the hajj ministry said Saturday.
“Considering the large crowds that perform hajj, spending long periods in multiple and specific places… required the highest levels of health precautions,” it added in the statement carried by SPA.
A scaled-down hajj represents a major loss of revenue for the kingdom, already reeling from the twin shocks of the virus-induced slowdown and a plunge in oil prices.
The hajj and the year-round umrah pilgrimages together rake in some $12 billion (10.3 billion euros) annually.
Last year, the foreign press were barred from the hajj, usually a huge global media event.
Saudi Arabia has so far recorded more than 460,000 coronavirus infections, including 7,536 deaths.
The health ministry says it has administered more than 15 million coronavirus vaccine doses in a country with a population of over 34 million.
Hosting the hajj is a matter of prestige for Saudi rulers, for whom the custodianship of Islam’s holiest sites is their most powerful source of political legitimacy.
But a series of deadly disasters over the years, including a 2015 stampede that killed up to 2,300 worshippers, has prompted criticism of the kingdom’s management of the pilgrimage.
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
E2%80%94-zulum Boko Haram Recruited Spies, Weapon Smugglers With N5,000 — Zulum
Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has emphasised the need to continue to fight poverty in the country, lamenting that some people have been recruited into the Boko Haram group with just N5,000.
The governor stated this while delivering an address to mark the 2021 democracy day and the second anniversary of his government.
Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum
Zulum claimed a lot had been achieved in terms of infrastructural development of the state and securing the people from the Boko Haram attack.
He said, “From records, we had experienced instances when insurgents offered as low as between 5,000 and 10,000 Naira to recruit some spies and smugglers of weapons.
“We needed to ensure that our good citizens had the support they needed, and they were not exposed to potential attractions for the incentives of insurgents.
“There was the risk that insurgents could, after making IDPs socially and economically vulnerable, also explore that vulnerability by offering food and cash incentives to recruit fighters who could even serve as their spies in communities.”
On his achievements, the governor said, “With shared commitments and with the strong goodwill, support and prayers from you, the people of Borno State, we are delivering 556 capital projects with 70% of the total already completed while 30 per cent are at various completion levels.
“Our projects, done with your support, include 194 capital projects on education, which encompass rehabilitation, completion, and new construction of Mega-size government technical colleges and primary schools in different communities.
“We have 63 capital projects on governance and another 63 capital projects on roads, transport, rural and urban development. Fifty-nine capital projects are being delivered on water and environment; while on health, we are delivering 58 capital projects that include the establishment of 74 primary healthcare centres across local government areas, rehabilitation of 8 General and specialist hospitals in MMC, Biu, Damboa, Monguno and Magumeri.”
Boko Haram
Insecurity
Insurgency
Politics
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
June 12, Yoruba Nation Agitators Ground Commercial Activities In Abeokuta
Major markets and shops in many parts of Abeokuta, Ogun State, were shut as Yoruba nation agitators and youths protested in the city.
The youths and agitators held June 12 protests in Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode, Sango, and other parts of the state.
From a video obtained by SaharaReporters, a handful of protesters armed with #BuhariMustGo and #YorubaNation placards flooded the streets of Abeokuta.
The protesters started from the Moshood Abiola Stadium at Abeokuta before moving on to other city areas.
PHOTONEWS: #BuhariMustGo Protesters In Ogun State Storm Abeokuta Streets, Sensitise People On Good Governance #June12thProtest pic.twitter.com/MY8BGGbuQc— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) June 12, 2021
In another report by Punch, businesses were grounded in major markets such as Itoku Adire/Kampala market, Kuto, Sapon and Lafenwa.
It was also gathered that major markets in Ijebu-Ode, Ilaro, Sango, and other places were affected over the fear of a clash between pro and anti-government protesters.
As early as 7:30 am, joint security teams embarked on a show of force around the state capital and some parts of the state to curtail the activities of the protesters.
In another video obtained by SaharaReporters, Yoruba Nation Now protests were held in Washington, United States of America, with the agitators calling for a referendum.
Some of the agitators carried placards written, ‘1999 constitution is a fraud’, ‘1914 amalgamation is a fraud’ among others.
ACTIVISM
Politics
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
Zamfara Governor Suspends Emir Of Zurmi Over Alleged Ties With Bandits
Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle
Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, has suspended the Emir of Zurmi, Atiku Abubakar Muhammad, over his alleged involvement with bandits.
The governor has also appointed a senior councillor in the emirate, Bello Suleiman, to oversee the affairs of the emirate, Tribune reported.
Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle
In a statement issued by the Acting Secretary to the State Government, Kabir Balarabe, the government constituted a high powered committee to investigate the allegations level against the suspended emir.
The committee, which was given three weeks to submit its report, would be chaired by the former deputy governor of the state, Ibrahim Wakkala Muhd.
Other committee members are Mukhtar Ahmad Anka, a former Deputy Governor; Faruku Musa Dosara, Zamfara State House Leader; Mamman Tsafe, Special Adviser Security; Yusuf Abubakar Zugu, Special Adviser Chieftaincy Affairs.
Others are Representative of the Police Representative of the DSS, Representative of Civil Defence Corps, and Musa Liman Shinkafi Permanent Secretary, Security and Home Affairs is to serve as Secretary.
Politics
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
Read also
You can also check
