Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Saturday 27th March 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 27/03/21
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NDLEA Arrests Chadian Lady At Abuja Airport With Heroin In Private Parts
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a Chadian lady, identified as Vivien Tarmadji, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, with 234.35 grammes of heroin concealed in her private parts.
According to Punch, Tarmadji was trying to board an Ethiopian airline flight 911 en route to Addis Ababa-Italy when she was caught.
Tarmadji, who runs a saloon business in Italy since 2016 upon her relocation to the country via Libya, was nabbed by vigilant narcotics agents during an outward clearance of the airline at the boarding gate after being scanned.
In a statement by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, on Friday, said, under interrogation, Tarmadji claimed she was contacted by a man who called her from Italy to collect the drug from one man who delivered the illicit substance to her in a hotel she lodged in Lagos early in the morning before she took her flight to Abuja same day for onward journey to Italy.
She further claimed that the man brought 50 wraps of heroin for her to swallow but she couldn’t, and as such, she decided to insert 18 wraps into her private part and returned the remaining to the man that brought the drug to her in the hotel.
Tarmadji said she came into Nigeria to raise money to pay for her house and shop rents which had expired in Italy, as life has been so difficult since the coming of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said the owner of the drug was to pay her €10,000 for the successful delivery of the drug to Italy.
Another trafficker, Okojie James of Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State was arrested while boarding a Turkish airline flight en route to Abuja-Istanbul-Cyprus.
Babafemi said, “A number of illicit drugs including 1. 549kg of Cannabis Sativa; 223.80grammes of Tramadol; 192.34grammes of Rohypnol; 214.05 grammes of Flunitrazepam, all of which were concealed in tins of Bournvita and milk, packed in a bag of foodstuff were recovered from him.
“During interrogation, he claimed his friend, Mr Elvis who resides in Cyprus asked him to collect the luggage for him. According to him, Elvis’ sister sent the luggage to him in Abuja from Benin through a transport company, Big Joe Motors.
“He said he was into shawarma and noodles business in Benin before Elvis invited him to Cyprus claiming that he got him admission to school there.”
The Commander, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja Command of the NDLEA, Kabir Sani Tsakuwa, said while Okojie James was arrested last Saturday, Vivien was nabbed on Tuesday, March 23, 2021.
He added that both suspects would soon face prosecution.
Meanwhile, the NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO export shed of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja in Lagos seized abandoned five cartons of green leaves suspected to be KHAT with a gross weight of 105.70 kg.
Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, Mohammed Buba Marwa, has commended men and officers of the two airports commands and challenged them to continue with the offensive action to secure Nigeria from the damaging effects of the drug scourge.
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Father Of One Of Abducted Kaduna Students, Ibrahim Shamaki Dies Of Worsened Health Situation
A photo combination of late Ibrahim Shamaki and his daughter, Fatima.
Alhaji Ibrahim Shamaki, father of Fatima Ibrahim, one of the abducted students of Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Bando, Kaduna State, has died.
Shamaki died on Friday at his residence at Badawara, Kaduna State.
A photo combination of late Ibrahim Shamaki and his daughter, Fatima.
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His tragic death was as a result of his deterioriating health resulting from the abduction of his daughter.
The news of his death was announced by a human rights activist and lawyer, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, on his Twitter page.
Fatima was among 39 students kidnapped by suspected armed bandits at Afaka on March 11, 2021.
Some heavily armed bandits invaded the college that Thursday evening around 9:30 pm, shooting indiscriminately before abducting the students of the institution.
The Kaduna college was reported to have some 300 male and female students, mostly aged 17 and older, at the time of the deadly assault.
Samuel Aruwan, the Commissioner for Internal Security in the state confirmed that 39 students were missing following the attack.
“Further checks in the wake of the attack by armed bandits … indicate that 39 students are currently unaccounted for, including 23 females and 16 males,” Aruwan said in a statement.
Aruwan said the state government “is maintaining close communication with the management of the college as efforts are sustained by security agencies toward the tracking of the missing students.”
Two weeks after the attack, the Nigerian government and Kaduna State have failed to rescue the students from the den of their abductors. Fatima, being one of the victims was the main hope of her father as tweeted by Odinkalu.
The former Chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission tweeted, “Earlier today, I am saddened to report, Alhaji Ibrahim Shamaki died. He is the father of Fatima Ibrahim, 1 of the abducted #Afaka39. Alhaji Shamaki lived in Badarawa, Kaduna. His health had worsened dramatically since Fatima, his primary hope, was kidnapped.” Earlier today, I am saddened to report, Alhaji Ibrahim Shamaki died. He is the father of Fatima Ibrahim, 1 of the abducted #Afaka39. Alhaji Shamaki lived in Badarawa, Kaduna. His health had worsened dramatically since Fatima, his primary hope, was kidnapped.#BringBackAfaka39 pic.twitter.com/emYL2QUBdQ— Chidi Odinkalu (@ChidiOdinkalu) March 26, 2021
He went further to say, “The conduct of government in this case of the #Afaka39 could lead many who look at these issues to conclude – rightly or wrongly – that reason the government doesn’t seem to make a priority to #BringBackAfaka39 is because they don’t sound like they belong to a favoured demographic. Sadly….”
While condemning the apathetic attitudes of the authorities, he queried how the military structures in that geographical environment the college located could not have averted the attack.
“This story shd begin with a geography lesson: the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Mando is located in the middle of military installations, including HQ of 1 Div of @HQNigerianArmy; @HQ_NDA; Command & Staff College, Jaji & @NigeriaAirforcebase.
“This geography lesson is important so that folks get a grasp of how deep or serious this is: the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization is located basically in a military garrison. How does a #MassAbduction take place in such a location without the military….?
“The morning after the abductions, @contactkdsg put out a statement claiming making some factual claims about what happened around the abductions. They claimed the military had rescued most of the abductees too. All that was false. #BringBackTheAfaka39.”
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UPDATE: Bandits Who Met With Sheikh Gumi, Niger SSG, Matane Kill 50 Vigilante Members
At least 50 bodies of dead vigilante members have been recovered by soldiers and residents of Koton Kobo in the Mariga Local Government Area of Niger state, sources told SaharaReporters on Friday.
The vigilantes were said to be returning from a search operation when they were ambushed by the Dogo Gide-led banditry group operating in Dutsen Magaji forest near Koton Kobo community.
Recall that Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, Secretary to the Niger State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Matane and security operatives had in February met with Gide and his gang members few days after 42 persons, including students and staff members of Government Science College in Kagara were abducted.
“Contrary to media report, Gumi did not go to any forest between Tegina in Rafi LGA and Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State in February. He met with bandits operating in Dutsen Magaji forest near Koton Kobo community in Mariga LGA and their leader is Dogo Gide, a former deputy to notorious armed bandit in Zamfara state?, Buhari Tsoho, aka Buharin Daji. From Dutsen Magaji to Tegina is over 200 km.
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Two Killed As Bandits Attack Motorists In Niger State
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“Gide is so powerful in that area that he collects monthly taxes from farmers and herdsmen. The recent attack was also carried out by him. After killing them (vigilantes), he refused to grant access to pick their bodies until soldiers stormed the forest on Thursday to collect the bodies. About 25 bodies have been recovered so far,” a military source had told SaharaReporters earlier on Friday.
The source added that the gunmen also attacked a military post in the community, killing a soldier.
Speaking to SaharaReporters, a resident of the area said over 50 bodies have been recovered.
He said a reinforcement team sent to rescue men of the vigilante group that were abducted also ran into an ambush and were killed the same way their colleagues were massacred.
“As at this evening, we have recovered over 50 bodies, it’s so sad. A soldier was also killed,” he told SaharaReporters later on Friday.
Vigilante groups have been formed across Niger to combat insecurity in the state.On February 17, 27 students, three staff members and 12 members of their families were abducted when gunmen stormed Government Science Secondary School in Kagara.
While one of the students, Benjamin Doma, who tried to escape was gunned down, a member of staff luckily broke loose from captivity.
The armed men were said to have invaded the school around 3 am.
The attackers were reportedly dressed in military uniforms in what looked like a premeditated attack.
The incident happened barely three days after 21 passengers heading to Minna, capital of Niger state, were abducted in broad daylight by gunmen.
The students were released after spending 10 days in captivity.
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Bayelsa Community Chairman, Two Others Assault Student Over Fictional Story ‘Insulting’ Community
Robert Oru, the Chairman of Community Development Committee Otuoke, in Bayelsa State, has assaulted a student of the Federal University Otuoke, Nezie Obi for writing a fictional story which allegedly insulted the community.
According to reports, the chairman, alongside two members of the community, Richard Milliow and Imo Sunday, flogged the student for writing about his relationship with a lady and insulting the community.
It was further learnt that the people who took part in the flogging were angered by the fact that the student from Anambra state, in his story referred to Otuoke as a small place.
The student was also said to have described the water in the community as having the colour of Fanta, Ninja mosquitos and sun too hot for the skin.
Counsel for the victim, led by Ebi Robert, took up the matter and petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State command.
Robert also filed a case for the enforcement of the student’s fundamental rights.
However, instead of the Otuoke community to play a neutral role, they wrote a letter to the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Otueke, asking the school to rusticate Obi from the school.
This letter was written by the community, represented by the King HRH King Paul Ariwareni Engoye CNA (JP) (Oke-De XI), the Obanema of Otuoke, through a law firm.
The trio were found guilty for moving a motion that led to the violation of the fundamental human right of Obi.
The Bayelsa State High Court, Ogbia Judicial Division, awarded N600,000 in aggravated damages against Oru, Millow and Sunday for violating the fundamental human rights of Obi.
The presiding judge, Justice Raphael Ajuwa while delivering his judgement said “this court is awarding a cost of N500,000 against Nezie’s violators, and N100,000 for the cost of litigation totalling N600,000.”
Reacting to the judgment on Thursday, Ebi Robert applauded the student for standing up to his right despite a series of intimidation and threats.
He said: “On hearing the matter, we took up the case and petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State command, and also filed a case for the enforcement of his fundamental rights.
“I am particularly happy as a young lawyer because judgments like this show that our efforts are not in vain as human rights activists. It gives us the courage that the judiciary is indeed the last hope of the common man.
“I thank God for the victory in court today. Nezie Obi, for me, is the hero, he stood up for his right despite all the threats and intimidation. Students must understand that they have rights which are protected by law, and they should not be too careful to enforce them when the need arises.”
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Fake COVID-19 Vaccines Sold Online, Interpol Warns
File photo used to illustrate story.
The International Criminal Police Organisation, INTERPOL, has warned against the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines online.
In a statement published on its website, the organisation said such products do not protect against COVID-19.
File photo used to illustrate story.
It added that members of the public that purchase such fake vaccines are at risk of serious health hazards.
The statement read: “With criminal groups producing, distributing and selling fake vaccines, the risks to the public are clear: these can include buying a product which not only does not protect against COVID-19, but poses a serious health hazard if ingested or injected. Such products are not tested, regulated or safety-checked.
“Legitimate vaccines are not for sale. They are strictly administered and distributed by national healthcare regulators.
“Anyone buying these products online also runs the risk of potentially giving their money to organised criminals.”
The Secretary-General of the organisation, Jürgen Stock, said since the beginning of the pandemic, criminals have preyed on the fears of unsuspecting members of the public to make quick cash.
Stock said, “From the very beginning of the pandemic, criminals have preyed on people’s fears in order to make fast cash. Fake vaccines are the latest in these scams, which is why INTERPOL and HSI are warning the public to be extra vigilant.
“Anyone ordering a vaccine online rather than obtaining it from their national provider will be buying a fake product.
“The networks behind these crimes have global ambitions. No country or region can fight this type of crime alone. INTERPOL is assisting law enforcement around the world to both identify criminal networks and to dismantle them.”
In December 2020, INTERPOL raised the alarm on the plan of the criminal gangs to produce and sell fake COVID-19 vaccines.
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Cattle Breeders In South-East Nigeria Plan To Set Up Ranches
File photo used to illustrate story.
Cattle breeders in the South-East have announced plans to set up ranches in the region.
The Coordinator of the Southeast Association of United Farm Products, Traders and Livestock Dealers of Nigeria, Godwin Obasi, disclosed this on Friday when members of the association paid a courtesy visit to their National Patron, James Ugwu, to congratulate him over his election as Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party, South-East Zone.
File photo used to illustrate story.
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Obasi said members of the association were already sensitised to set up ranches to be able to supply enough livestock in the region.
He noted that the South-East had the capacity and land to produce enough food for local consumption and for export, adding that it could not afford to rely on others perpetually for its food needs.
He said, “We must produce what we eat. We are looking at a point in our lives when we shall be producing massively for export.
“That is why the campaign within our association is organic farming so that our products will be accepted across the board.”
Also speaking, the PDP South-East Secretary, Ugwu, who was also the first chairman of Udenu Local Government Council in Enugu State, urged governors in the South-East to initiate policies and programmes that will promote agriculture.
He said: “I believe that the governors are aware that there is a need for food security in the region.
“Given what happened at the onset of COVID-19, everybody came to realise that access to food is important. Without food or a garden around your house, you are in trouble.
“That thing which you think money could buy, that money could not buy it at that time.”
Ugwu added that he would use his new position in the PDP to enhance the activities of the association to ensure food sufficiency in the region.
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EFCC Seeks Information On Looters, Money Launderers From Nigerians Abroad
Abdulrasheed Bawa
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has called on Nigerians in the Diaspora to assist and support its fight against money laundering and other financial crimes.
Its Executive Chairman, Abdurrasheed Bawa, noted this on Thursday, while speaking at a virtual programme titled ‘Expert Training and Advocacy on Tracking and Recovery of Illicit Funds and Assets,’ organised by the Human & Environmental Development Agenda, HEDA, in collaboration with the EFCC, MacArthur Foundation, Kent Law School, Open Society Initiative for West Africa, OSIWA, the Corner House and other stakeholders.
Abdulrasheed Bawa
EFCC
This was contained in a statement made available to SaharaReporters on Friday by the anti-graft agency’s Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwajaren.
According to the statement, the EFCC boss, who was represented by Dr. Enakeno Oju, a staff member of the Commission, urged Nigerians in the Diaspora to continue to support the fight against economic and financial crimes.
“As critical stakeholders, we are urging the Nigerians in the Diaspora to continue to support the fight against economic and financial crimes and to be assured of the EFCC’s support and commitment. We must collectively strive to achieve the Nigerian dream,” he was quoted as saying.
Highlighting the importance of the collaboration, the EFCC boss told participants that the agency has provided a Diaspora Information Desk at the Commission “to attend to issues of concerns from the Diaspora and to further ensure that Nigerians in the Diaspora are able to safely invest in Nigeria and improve the image of Nigeria among the comity of nations”.
Bawa also called on Nigerians in the Diaspora to assist the Commission with vital information about Nigerian looters.
“I am therefore calling on you to assist the EFCC in getting vital information about Nigerian looters who stash our stolen monies and properties in the United Kingdom and other foreign countries. Nigerians in the Diaspora cannot afford to sit on the fence. They are closer to the scene of Crime, therefore, must play an active role in the war against graft and provide vital information to the EFCC that will assist in the recovery of our stolen wealth abroad,” he said.
Bawa also bemoaned the challenges Nigeria is facing as a result of illegal movement of funds from Nigeria to other countries and the new techniques deployed by organised criminal groups in siphoning the wealth of the country to other countries.
He noted that the situation constitutes “a severe and damaging drain on the Nigerian economy”.
“Organised criminal groups have developed intricate channels of illicit flows that deprive African economies of crucial resources for development,” he said.
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E2%80%99t-shrink-because-pollution-nigerian-s**-educator-reacts-contrary-viral Human Penis Can’t Shrink Because Of Pollution, Nigerian S** Educator Reacts To Contrary Viral Report
Paul Adeyemi Itiolu (Arakunrin NG)Paul Adeyemi Itiolu (Arakunrin NG)
A s** educator, Paul Adeyemi Itiolu (Arakunrin NG) has said pollution has nothing to do with how the human body should function.
Itiolu was reacting to recent outcome of a research carried out by an environmental scientist, Dr Shanna Swan, claiming penises were shrinking and genitals becoming malformed because of pollution around the world.
Paul Adeyemi Itiolu (Arakunrin NG)
The environmental scientist had warned in a new book detailing the challenges facing human reproduction.
She said that fertility rates were falling due to the impact of a chemical used in manufacturing plastics.
“The chemicals, called phthalates, impact the endocrine system in humans. Basically, it means a lot of babies are being born with noticeably smaller penises,” she said.
Dr. Swan researched the effect by examining phthalate syndrome, which is found in rats whose fetuses were exposed to the chemical.
She found they were likely to be born with shrunken genitals.
But speaking to SaharaReporters on Friday, Itiolu popularly known as Arakunrin NG, said there is no harm – natural and man-made – pollution can cause to the human private parts.
The s** educator said, “According to the significance and stipulating ideas set aside by the World Health Organisation (WHO), it’s when an infant system (health) is tampered with, as a result of malnutrition that reduction sets in the system.
“Whatever you happen to call it, todger, wang, willy, or dangler, the penis is an odd-looking bit of kit. But beyond the japes and sniggers, it is, of course, vital to the survival of our species.
“When you consider the penis as an evolutionary adaptation, it has done remarkably well. Penises are born ready. It is common for babies to exit the womb with an erection. Yes, very possible.
“Even before the moment of birth, ultrasound scans sometimes show a foetus with a fully formed erection in the womb.
“Measuring the growth of infants and children is an important part of child health surveillance. Inadequate infant growth due to poor nutrition leads to under-nutrition in children.
“There’s no harm any or both natural and man-made pollution can cause to the human private parts. There’s no way the corpus spongiosum can be tampered with. No direct access to it. Without s** or masturbating, no man will ever come easily and no access for sperm to get out of the sac.”
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Angry Residents Kill Two Bandits In Katsina
A mob of angry villagers has allegedly killed two bandits in the Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina state.
The gunmen were killed following an attempted kidnap of a customs officer in the area.
According to a trending video, residents of a neighbouring community, Mazoji got information about the bandits’ operation and mobilised to the area.
They were said to have given the suspected bandits a hot chase, caught and killed them.
“These are kidnappers who went and kidnapped a customs officer in Matazu, but credible information reached the next village of Mazoji and the villagers mobilised against them.
“When we are united, we can help to quickly end this nonsense,” a voice was heard saying in the video.
Katsina is one of the states most affected by terrorism and banditry in Nigeria’s North-West region.
On December 11, 2020, some bandits kidnapped 344 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara. They were released about a week later.
However, on December 19, 84 Islamiyya students of Hizburrahim Islamiyya in Mahuta village, Dandume Local Government Area of the state were also kidnapped but rescued shortly after.
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Ex-Niger Delta Militants Vow To Resume Attacks Over Aborted Amnesty Programme
File Photo: Niger Delta Militants
Beneficiaries of the Niger Delta third phase presidential amnesty programme have threatened to demand the return of their arms and ammunition from the Nigerian government and return to the creeks to cause havoc if the government does not finalise the demobilisation process for them.
The group while commending the interim administrator of the presidential amnesty programme, Col Milland Dixon Dikio, said It was unfortunate that over 11 years after surrendering their arms, the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration process has not been completed.
File Photo: Niger Delta Militants
The National Chairman of the group, Mr Tonye Bobo, while speaking during a visit to members of the Federated Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Yenagoa on Thursday, urged the amnesty office to document those who surrendered their arms and ammunition but have yet to be documented into the programme to ensure complete peace in the Niger Delta region.
He said despite the fact that the interim administrator of the scheme, Dikio has tried in solving most of the issues confronting the ex-agitators, but the office should be funded to do more.
He also demanded that the third phase of beneficiaries of the programme should be included in education and vocation training programmes for its delegates.
He said: “It’s unfortunate that we have stayed for 11 years plus and the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration is not completed, we are just trying to calm our followers, but our patience should not be considered to be foolishness.
“That is why when we saw the vision of Col. Dikio for the amnesty programme, we decided to key in to restore peace in the region.
“I want to assure you, if the needful is not done, there will be more agitations, we are only trying to calm our people for us to change the narrative. We are seeking maximum support from the government to the office of the Interim Administrator of the Amnesty programme. All the funds that are required and due to the office should be released.”
He said some of the militants who had embraced peace “have been crying that if the government is not reasoning with them, they will be demanding for their arms and ammunition that they submitted to the government”.
“We want to partner with the government and create a relationship that will be free of violence, so that people will know that what they are thinking about us is not what we are.
“Some of our people have applied since 2012 for education scholarships, up till date, these things have not been met,” he said.
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