Human trafficking : Nigerians, Ghanaians Are Slave Masters In Libya, Returnee Says

The new slave trade-human trafficking in Libya is being carried out by many nationalities, including Nigerians and Ghanaians, according to a Cameroonian returnee, who was abducted in the country.

Foka Fotsi, who was trafficked twice, told Reuters that those in charge of one of the places where he was held included Ghanaians and Nigerians. Fotsi's story corroborated another testimony by a Nigerian in the southern state of Edo, who identified one Charles, a Nigerian as the trafficking kingpin.

Unable to find work to support his family, Fotsi decided to leave Cameroon last year, but fell into the hands of a Libyan kidnap ring before reaching Europe.

“There was torture like I’ve never seen. They hit you with wooden bats, with iron bars,” he said, removing the hood of his sweatshirt and showing the still raw red wounds on his skull.

“They hang you from the ceiling by (your) arms and legs and then throw you down to the floor. They swing you and throw you against the wall, over and over again, ten times.

“They are not human beings. They are the devil personified.”

Christelle Timdi, another Cameroonian recounted her horrendous experience in the north African country.

When uniformed men boarded the overloaded rubber dingy carrying her and her boyfriend to a new life in Europe, she thought the Italian coastguard had come to rescue them.

But the men took out guns and began to shoot. “Many people fell in the sea,” the 32-year-old Cameroonian said as she described seeing her boyfriend, Douglas, falling in the water and disappearing into the darkness.

The gunmen took Timdi and her fellow passengers back to Libya where they were locked up, raped, beaten and forced to make calls to their families back home for ransom payments to secure their freedom.

Timdi, who flew back to Cameroon last week, told her story as international outcry escalated over a video which appeared to show African migrants being traded as slaves in Libya.

Libya’s U.N.-backed government has said it is investigating and has promised to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Timdi said she had not seen the footage broadcast by CNN, but had witnessed the trade in humans while in Libya.

“I saw it with my own eyes,” she said, describing how she had seen a Senegalese man buying an African migrant.

Timdi said many traffickers posed as marine guards, police officers and taxi drivers to ensnare victims.

There were around 130 other migrants on her boat when the gunmen opened fire in the middle of the night, Timdi said.

After being taken back to Libya they were locked in an abandoned factory building where men would grab and rape the girls and women – and sometimes even the men.

“We tried to hide the younger girls among us,” Timdi said, describing the terrifying moments when the guards would scour the room with torches, searching for their next victims.

“I was heavily pregnant – that’s why I wasn’t raped. And it’s all done in front of others – they say it’s so that you know what will happen to you if you don’t pay up.”

Timdi said the facilities used by traffickers appeared to be well organized and guarded, adding that most people inside wore fake police or military uniforms.

“The place was surrounded by army-style vehicles with guns ready to fire, so we didn’t dare try and escape.”

Timdi’s family paid 1 million CFA francs ($1,800), frantically collected from relatives and friends, to free her. But she said ransoms were no guarantee of safety.

The traffickers work with a network of taxi drivers who are supposed to transfer released migrants to migrant camps – but who often re-traffick them, Timdi said.

“If they send you a good taxi, you’ll arrive at your destination, but if it’s a bad taxi the driver will sell you on to someone else,” she said.

“There are people who have been resold twice, three times. And when you call your family to tell them that you’ve been resold once again, no one will believe you, they won’t send more money to free you.”

Timdi was released by her captors in October and gave birth to a baby girl, Brittanie, in a Libyan hospital just days later.

Timdi and Fotsi were among 250 Cameroonians who were flown home this week by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as part of a voluntary return scheme for migrants stranded in Libya.

The program, funded by the European Union, provided returnees with clothing and medical checks. The most vulnerable, including pregnant women, also received around 400 euros ($475).

IOM Cameroon head Boubacar Saybou said it was launching a program to help migrants set up businesses, and will also provide start-up funding.

“We need to create opportunities for them here. That’s what’s important,” he said.

Fotsi said he hoped to follow up on the scheme. But for now his most pressing problem was finding a place to sleep.

“I pray that God gives me work that I can do here,” he said.

“If we don’t get work you’ll find many of us walking the streets again.”

Adapted from a Thomson Reuters Foundation report written by Inna Lazareva. - PM News

Real Madrid manager, Zidane rues missed chance to close gap on Barcelona

 Zinedine Zidane, has expressed his disappointment after his side were held to a 0-0 draw by Athletic Bilbao on Saturday evening.

The result meant Madrid failed to cut Barcelona’s eight-point lead at the top of La Liga.

Zidane also lost his captain Sergio Ramos to a red card, which forced the champions to hold on for the point in the end.

“I am very disappointed given the game we played,” Zidane said.

“We knew we had the chance to cut the gap. We did everything and deserved more today, but in the end did not manage to score that goal. We played very well, made chances, but the ball would not go in.

“I am very disappointed for the players, with the effort they put in. For them it is difficult. It would have been phenomenal to cut the gap today.There are three teams ahead who have more points, and deserve that.

“We are a bit back, but this is very long. We will have other chances to make up the gap on those above, for sure.”

37-year-old sales rep in court for alleged stealing

One Oluwaseun Adegbesan, who allegedly stole his employer’s N750,000, has been arraigned at an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The man, of Phillip Onashitu Street, Ketu, Lagos, is facing one-count charge of stealing.

The prosecutor, Lucky Ihiehie, told the court that the accused committed the offence between April and November at Multi-Task Consulting Ltd, Okunowo Street, Ikosi, Ketu.

He said the complainant, Olorunfemi Udoma, the employer of Adegbesan, reported the matter at Ketu Police Post, Lagos.

“The complainant employed Adegbesan on October 25, 2016, as a salesman to drive the company’s van and supply beer to his customers.

“The accused stole N750, 000 and converted it to his use, being proceeds from the sale of drinks.

“The complainant told the police that the accused was supposed to distribute drinks to customers and remit money.

“But he stole N750,000; the value of empty crates, bottles and beer.”

Ihiehie said efforts by the complainant to recover his money proved abortive.

“He searched for the accused. The complainant sighted Adegbesan on November 20.

“He reported the matter at the police station and officers arrested the suspect,’’ the prosecutor said.

The Magistrate, Mrs. O.S. Amzat, admitted the accused to bail at N100, 000 with two sureties.

The court adjourned the case till January 23 for mention.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravenes Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (revised). The accused pleaded not guilty.

PMAN to increase pump price of fuel from N145 to N160 per litre

The Ore depot branch of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, PMAN, has threatened to increase price of petrol from the approved price of N145 to about N160 per litre.

The chairman of the branch, Shina Amoo, told Punch that marketers in some states in the South-West would not have to increase petrol price because Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria had increased the prices of fuel sold to marketers by N16.

According to Amoo, such action would push petrol pricea to about N160 per litre.

He noted that though the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, did not increase the price they supplied the product to private depot owners.

He said the private depot owners had chosen to sell the product to marketers at N144 per litre.

He said, “We want members of the public to know that we can no longer continue to sell fuel at the government approved price.

“The private depot owners sell a litre to us at a price between N142 and N144 per litre, which should be sold at N133.28. They got the product from the NNPC at N117 per litre.

“We will transport the product from the depots to our various stations and pay workers as well as incur other expenses.

“So, how will anybody expect us to continue to sell fuel to consumers below the cost price? It is not possible. We will have to increase fuel price to about N160 per litre.”

The Chairman, therefore, called on the NNPC to expedite action on the Ore depot so that marketers in Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states would be able to lift petroleum products directly from the depot.

#EndSARS: Listen to Nigerians and probe police brutality, Amnesty tells FG

Amnesty International (AI) has called on the federal government to investigate the alleged crimes perpetrated by the special anti-robbery squad (SARS).

SARS is a unit of the Nigeria police created to fight violent crimes.
Nigerians in their numbers have taken to the social media to express discontent over the activities of the squad which they say have remained “lawless” and “careless with human lives”.

Weighing in on the agitation on Sunday, AI said it is high time government acted on the allegations.
Speaking to TheCable, Isa Sanusi, AI spokesman, recalled that it had released a report on alleged crimes of torture committed by the squad but “the complaints show nothing has been done”.

Sanusi said: “Since Nigerians are now complaining, it is an opportunity for the government to do the right thing and listen to citizen’s complaints about SARS which is supposed to be protecting people but ended up creating fear and unleashing violence on suspects.
“Now that Nigerians are also joining us in calling for an end to torture, the government should consider implementing our recommendations.

“The outcry shows the government did not act on our work which we did years ago. We are calling on government to listen to the cries of citizens and address these issues.”
He said the Nigeria Police Force had promised to promised to act on the recommendations (contained in the report) “but a year after, Nigerians are still complaining, which means nothing has changed”.

AI, therefore, called for a “thorough, impartial and independent” investigation of SARS,
It said: “First, we are calling for impartial and independent investigations into their alleged crimes. The government should make sure that all SARS officers accused of committing those crimes when established must be punished. That is the first most important thing that should be done.”

Meanwhile, the police have denied claims that SARS operatives are torturing innocent citizens.
Jimoh Moshood, police spokesman, told TheCable that “there have been no established case of crime against SARS”.
He said the “calls for their proscription should be condemned and disregarded by Nigerians”. - Cable Nigeria

Man Utd sign former PSG youngster

Manchester United have signed former PSG youngster Aliou Traore.

The 16-year-old midfielder made his debut for the club in their 3-2 defeat to Wolves on Saturday in the U18 Premier League Cup.

United signed the France U17 international following a lengthy pursuit after he impressed as a triallist and during a spell at their pre-season training camp in Austria.

"Traore is a boy we've been looking at for a while," U18's coach Kieran McKenna, told MUTV.

"He is a really powerful midfielder who likes to run box to box. He is very strong technically and is improving all the time.

"He's a nice man and his English is improving. He's settling in well with the boys and has taken to the club really well."

Traore turns 17 in January and will be available for United's FA Youth Cup campaign which starts on December 13 against Derby.

McKenna's side are third in the U18 Premier League North table after 10 games, two points behind the leaders Manchester City on 22 points. - Sky Sports

My breasts are draining my health, 23-year-old lady with 34K bra size laments

Sheridan Larkman, 23, from Victoria, Australia says she can no longer stand the physical and mental strain they have caused.

The mum-of-two claims that her boobs have been growing since she was just eight years old and she was a D cup by the age of 10.

And she has now claimed that a lifetime of crude comments and crippling pains have worn her down.

Sheridan has been on the waiting list for reduction surgery since she was 16, but she has now had enough and turned to the public for help.

“My breasts are draining my health,” she said.

“I have mild scoliosis, constant back and shoulder pain and I am so tired of dressing to try and cover everything so I don’t get crude comments that I’ve dealt with for as long as I can remember.”

Speaking to News.com.au she revealed that she gets messages from men around the world asking her for topless photos, adding, “I’m not like that.

“Because I have young children, it concerns me if I’m showing the tiniest bit of cleavage.

“Sometimes you can’t help that. My children are exposed to that, they might think it’s normal for men to speak like that to them one day.”

Fed up of her daily struggle, Sheridan decided to set up a GoFundMe to raise the $10,000 needed for her surgery. So far, she has already raised $2,823 towards her target.

She says: “Please, help de-stress my chest. I am 23-year-old mum of 2, I have had breasts since around the age of eight.

“I’m currently sitting at a 12K or 34K (UK). I have seen a fitter who believes I’m definitely needing a larger cup size.

“I have been seen by my GP since the age of 16 regarding a Medicare-funded reduction, but I’m yet to get any further.”

The appeal, which is ongoing, has had 405 shares on Facebook. - Daily Star

Muslims must lead the war against terrorism - Sheu Sanni

Shehu Sani, a Senator representing Kaduna Central District in the National Assembly has urged Muslims to lead the war against terrorism and retrieve their faith from those who use it for selfish ends.

The man made the appeal at the weekend while delivering a speech to a group of Sudanese intellectuals and students at the International University of Africa, Khartoum, capital of Sudan.

Senator Sani disclosed that the African continent was faced with a variety of challenges, with terrorism and irregular migration being the major ones.

Terrorism, he noted, not only represented a threat to global peace and stability but also Muslims and Islam.

The senator counseled that while there is an urgent need for humanity to unite and defeat terrorism, it is Muslims that must lead the battle.

He said: “Islam is confronted by two dangers on two fronts from the inside and from the outside.

“The inside forces are those who manipulate and misuse the religion in furtherance of their extremist or political or violent agenda. And the outside are those with a mindset set and conditioned to hate Muslims and anything associated with Islam.

“Terrorists are anarchists. Their cruel actions and atrocious violence create bad perception and impression for the faith they falsely lay claim to.

“Muslim intellectuals and scholars and students must lead the battle to retrieve their faith and cast the light of peace and tolerance in the hearts of all believers in the faith,” he said.

“Muslim intellectuals must spearhead the neutralization and liquidation of knowledge and schools of thought that encourage extremism and terrorism.

“Nigeria, my country, has suffered from violence resulting in the death of tens of thousands and displacement millions.

“The dangers of silence, neutrality, and cowardice is that the forces of darkness will be left unchallenged to define our present and dictate our future,” Senator Sani said

Doner kebabs could soon be banned across Europe due to links with heart disease

A late-night kebab could soon be a thing of the past, according to legislation which has been put forward by the European Union.

According to Metro, the legislation would make doner kebabs – which originated in Turkey — illegal across Europe, because of the phosphates that they contain and their links to cardiovascular disease.

The popular dish — often consumed after a night out — is made up of shaved kebab meat in a pita, usually with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and a variety of dressings.

An estimated 1.3 million doner kebabs are sold every day in the UK from more than 20,000 outlets, according to The Guardian, while 200,000 people work in the multi-billion euro industry across Europe.

Meanwhile, according to German daily newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau, there are around 16,000 doner restaurants in Germany, with three million doner kebabs served daily.

The EU's Executive Commission originally proposed to officially authorise the use of phosphates in the lamb, mutton, beef, or veal that goes onto a shop spit. However, earlier this week the Health Committee voted 32-22 to oppose it, expressing concerns that approving the meat would put Europeans at greater risk of heart disease, according to recent health studies suggesting a link between the two.

Takeaway owners are saying that doner meat needs the additives to "keep it juicy and full of flavour, both while being transported and on their rotisseries," Metro reported.

Some are even accusing the EU of "doner discrimination," since some sausages contain phosphates would still be allowed.

The most vocal owners are in Germany, where the doner kebab is incredibly popular. However, the dish has also spread to London and New York.

"They are looking for ways to hurt Turkish businesses here," Berlin kebab bistro owner Baris Donmez said.

"Such a ban would be the biggest pile of garbage imaginable."

The full European parliament will meet to vote on the issue in two weeks. If the proposal is rejected, it will be sent back to the commission — and the future of the beloved kebab will remain up for debate. - Business Inside UK

UK, US warn: Insurgents planning to bomb Abuja

The UK government has warned its citizens to stay away from crowded places in Nigeria during the Christmas and New Year festivities.

It said there are plans by unnamed insurgent groups to bomb the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In a travel advisory to its citizens, the UK government listed worship places, malls and markets amongst other places that should be avoided.

“The risk of terrorist attack increases around religious festivals, so will be elevated in the run up to and throughout the Christmas and New Year holiday period,” it read.

“Terrorist groups have threatened to conduct bombings and attacks in the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) area during this period.

“You should avoid places where crowds gather, including religious gatherings and places of worship, markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, transport hubs and camps for displaced people.”

Similarly, the US embassy in Nigeria has asked its citizens to be security conscious and “remain aware of your surroundings”.

The advisory read: “The US Mission urges all US citizens to exercise caution in and around shopping centers, malls, markets, hotels, places of worship, restaurants, bars, and other places where crowds gather in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), from now through the Christmas and New Year’s holiday season.

“Terrorist groups have threatened to conduct bombings and attacks in this area during this period.” - Cable Nigeria

Becoming a polygamist wasn’t my design - Jide Kosoko

Veteran Nollywood actor, Prince Jide Kosoko, has stated that being a polygamist was not his destiny, adding that he was not supposed to be married to many women judging by his upbringing.

The actor said following the death of his wife, Henrietta, he was forced to remarry because his house was gradually turning into a brothel.

Speaking with Punch, the comic actor said as a human being, he felt bad when some persons accused him of using his wives for money rituals.

He said God is currently handling Kemi Olunloyo and others, who tried to rubbish his name.

The script interpreter said, “I have been blackmailed many times, but I sailed through.

“They have called me a ‘ritualist’ before, which means I am a murderer.

“Initially, as a human being, I felt bad. But my skin is too thick for all that rubbish. Instead of feeling bad, I will go on my knees and pray to God to give His judgment.

“And I always see these people get their judgment. I don’t want to mention names. I don’t know anything about what is happening to Kemi Olunloyo and I don’t follow her on social media. Apart from her, there are other people who have rubbished my name in the past

“Becoming a polygamist wasn’t my design. With my upbringing, I am not supposed to be a polygamist.

“Though my father was a polygamist, he didn’t marry the number of women I have married.

“My first wife, Sola’s mother, was working with the Nigerian Customs Service. She was not involved in my industry and then I would travel for two months.

“So, I was tempted to take a second wife . But unfortunately for me , in the circumstances I cannot explain till today, I lost two wives within a year.

“You can imagine that! So, I decided not to remarry again, though I had girlfriends; I was a ladies ’ man.
“Two of my girlfriends were very close to the house and my friends too would come with their girlfriends.

“So, we were almost turning the house into a brothel. Later, my doctor, a lady, visited me and advised me to remarry.

“She said it was the best for me, insisting that I was too young to be without a woman. I lost my two wives in 1992 and 1993 respectively, and I was not up to 40 then.

“I agreed to take a wife in the long run, but I had two women who were intimate with me – Henrietta and Alhaja Bimbo. Since I couldn’t say no to either of them, I married two wives again.”

Pictured : Lawyer jailed for saying any woman wearing ripped jeans should be raped

An Egyptian lawyer has been sentenced to three years in prison for saying that women who wear ripped jeans should be raped in punishment. Nabih al-Wahsh, a prominent conservative, was also fined 20,000 Egyptian pounds (£839; $1,130).

Pro-rape lawyer Nabih al-Wahsh jailed for saying any woman wearing provocative cloth should be raped The lawyer made the remarks on a TV panel show in October, during a debate on a draft law on prostitution. 

“Are you happy when you see a girl walking down the street with half of her behind showing?” he said. He added: “I say that when a girl walks about like that, it is a patriotic duty to sexually harass her and a national duty to rape her.” Wahsh said that women who wore revealing clothing were “inviting men to harass them”, and said “protecting morals is more important than protecting borders”. The prosecutor brought charges against Mr. Wahsh after a public outcry. The National Council for Women’s Rights condemned the remarks, saying they were a “flagrant call” for rape, in violation of “everything in the Egyptian constitution”. 

The council has now filed a complaint about the statement to the Supreme Council for Media Regulation about the broadcast which aired on 19 October. Wahsh has previously called the Holocaust “imaginary” and declared himself a proud anti-Semite. “If I see any Israeli, I will kill him,” he said during a separate TV panel show. In October last year, Wahsh was involved in a TV studio brawl with a cleric, after the cleric suggested women should not necessarily have to wear a headscarf. - Vanguard

About 29m Nigerians are physically-challenged - Gbadebo

The founder of Renola Cerebral Palsy Initiative, AVM Femi Gbadebo has put the number of People Living with Disability in the country at 29 million out of the 190m population of the country.

The man spoke today in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State, during the 2017 celebration of the International Day of People Living with Disability.

Gbadebo also revealed that of the estimated population of Lagos, which he quoted the World Health Organisation as putting at 21 million in 2016, he said 3.3 million “Lagosians” are considered to be moderately or severally disabled.

The theme of the celebration is “Transformation Towards Sustainable And Resilient Society for All”.