Terrorism : Again Fulani herdsmen sack 2 Kogi communities, kill 10

Some suspected Fulani herdsmen early hours of Monday attacked two communities in Kogi west, killing ten people.

It was reliably gathered that the herdsmen invaded two Tiv settlement, one in Ilai outskirt of Mopamuro and the other in Ido-Gbede of Ijumu local government councils at about 4am on Monday.

Source close to the two local government councils disclosed to DAILY POST that the herdsmen numbering over 50 invaded the two communities heavily armed with AK47 and opened fired on people killing 10 persons.

They equally damaged goods worth several millions of naira and also stole some food stuff from both communities during the attack.

Some of the victims in a phone chat with DAILY POST said they were surprised that the Fulani herdsmen attacked them.

According to the victims, “the herdsmen invaded our community at about 4am on Monday morning and immediately they arrived, they started shooting sporadically which made people to be running for their lives.”

They disclosed further that 10 persons were killed during the attack on the two communities, stressing that the Fulani herdsmen were fully armed with dangerous weapons such as AK47, cutlasses, Axe and other dangerous weapons.

Meanwhile, the Administrator of Mopamuro Local Government, Hon Moses Sunday David has condemned the attack.

Reacting to the attack by some suspected Fulani herdsmen, he said that, “I am surprised that the attack came barely a week after we had a peace/security meeting at the Elulu’s palace to forestall this kind of unfortunate occurrence”.

In a prompt on the spot assessment of the damage, the Administrator in company of Alhaji Taofik Isah, Administrator Ijumu local government council and ALGON chairman said “We shall work with the Security agencies to see that we rejig security architecture to see that people and properties are safe”.

Hon Moses Sunday David said he had contacted relevant government agencies immediately, as he assured people of the readiness of government to see that the menace become a thing of the past.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relation officer of Kogi State ASP William Ayah when contacted on the attack, said the Command was yet to receive any report from the two communities, adding that he was not aware of the incident. - Daily Post

How ‘ritualists’ gouged out eyes of Borno IDP

Residents of 202 housing estate in Maiduguri, Borno state capital, are yet to recover from shock following the alleged forceful removal of the eyes of a 58-year-old internally displaced person (IDP) who is mentally challenged.

The incident was said to have occurred on Thursday,  less than 24 hours after lifeless body of a 7-year-old girl was found in Mairi ward in the metropolis.

Gulumba Galtimari, a resident of 202, said the IDP was seen calling for help after the culprits reportedly plucked out his eyes with sharp objects.

“We saw the man screaming helplessly with no one to come to his aid. We tried our best to know his name or where he came from to enable us reach out to his families but to no avail,” Galtimari said.

Yahya Muhammad, another witness, said all effort to get him to the hospital, proved abortive.

Muhammad explained that “good Samaritans” helped the victim with food and pain reliever before they were able to locate his family.

“We took him to the state specialist hospital and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, but we were told that the hospitals were on strike so they cannot attend to him. We also put an extra effort and took him to the State Phychiatric hospital, but we learnt that the facility had not been operational since four years ago due to the Boko Haram insurgency. We later took him to the Eye Hospital but they said they don’t have bed space to admit him.

“Eventually, we took him back to where we picked him from and dropped him there. All we could do to him at that moment was to give him food and some pain reliever just to reduce the pain and stablise him.

“Two days after, we were able to locate his family members in Konduga. After we told them what happened, they said there was nothing they could do because they are financially incapacitated to take care of him.”

Reacting to the incident, Damian Chukwu, the state commissioner of police, said detectives were probing the case, and another incident involving the murder of a lady in her hotel room.

Chukwu said the lady was found dead with her throat cut off in a hotel room in Maiduguri.

He, however, said the cases are isolated.

“These cases don’t usually happen, this incident is an isolated incident. Investigation is on-going to unravell the perpetrators,” Chukwu said.

However, Ibrahim Wada, a resident of Tasham Bama, denied Chukwu’s claim, adding that more than 12 such cases had been recorded in the area in 2018.

Wada said that the high incident of serial ritual killing in the area required urgent intervention from the police.

“We the citizens are rapidly losing faith in the ability of the police to detect and punish ritual killer,” Wada said.- Cable Nigeria

35-year-old man docked for alleged assault on wife with hot semovita

A man, Bawa Joshua, on Monday appeared in an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court, for allegedly pouring hot semovita on his wife, Grace.

The defendant had pleaded not guilty to a count charge of assault.

The prosecutor, Insp. Johnson Okunade, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on May 7, at about 8:00 p.m., at Ayoomodara St.,  Ado-Ekiti.

He said the defendant quarreled with the complainant, and in the process poured hot semovita on her, which caused her harm.

The prosecutor applied for adjournment to enable him to study the case file and present his witnesses.

The defendant’s counsel, Mr Kayode Oyeyemi, urged the court to grant bail to his client, and promised that he would not jump bail.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Adesoji Adegboye, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N50, 000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case until June 15 for hearing.

He said that the offence contravened Section 415 of the Criminal Code, Law of Ekiti State, 2012. - NAN

Anglican Bishop : Buhari fighting corruption, terrorism with kid gloves

The Anglican Bishop of Awka Diocese, Rt. Rev. Alexander Ibezim has lashed out at the federal government over what he described as their failure to keep its promises to Nigerians.

The Bishop said the federal government has not fought corruption to the level it promised Nigerians, while ealso expressing concerns about the way it was handling the herdamen menace that has led to the killing of several innocent citizens in Nigeria.

Bishop Ibezim who spoke in his Presidential Charge at the 2ndSession of the 11th Synod of the Diocese, holding at St. Peters Church Amawbia, said that rather than fight corruption, the government was habouring actors in the field.

He said, “It does seem the fight against corruption for which this administration was voted into power has slowed down, if not jettisoned. People had expected prompt prosecution and incarceration of offenders, to deter others, but what we witnessed was a situation where some key officials of this administration were involved in unwholesome acts, capable of tarnishing the image of government.

“The latter did not respond effectively or looked the other way, thereby eroding the confidence of the people in the fight against corruption. A government that is serious in fighting corruption should not engage in lopsided appointments, reducing some sections of the country to second class citizens or entrenching ethnic chauvinism in its policies.”

On the activities of the Fulani Herdsmen, the cleric said, “As Nigeria is still reeling from the Boko Haram insurgency and its numerous atrocities, the country plays host to another terrorist group as yet unrecognized.

“Fulani herdsmen, nomadic cattle grazers, have been named one of the deadliest terror groups in the world comparable to Boko Haram, ISIS, the Taliban and al-Shabaab. The group has wrecked enough havoc to be acknowledged by the global community as the fourth deadliest terror group in the world.

“Fulani herdsmen brutally kill natives of invaded farming communities including women and children in various states across the country. They are armed with sophisticated weapons and usually attack their target communities at a time they are most vulnerable such as at midnight or on Sundays when they are in church, killing people indiscriminately and burning houses and looting properties.

“Most worrisome is the brutality and impunity with which the assailants operate without regard for the law and the sanctity of life. The Nigerian Police and even the military seem powerless to defend the victims from being mercilessly slaughtered in their homes.”

He further said, “It is unfortunate that this level of criminal impunity is happening in a sovereign nation with a constitution which declares that the security and welfare of the citizens shall be a major responsibility of the state.

“Perhaps we need to ask why the police and the military are incapable of protecting the farmers from violent attacks by Fulani herdsmen. Is it true that the Fulani militia is better armed and sometimes outnumbers the police?

“Why is it difficult for the federal government to contain the terror of the Fulani militia? Who are those arming the Fulani herdsmen to unleash mayhem on innocent and defenceless Nigerians?

“Nigerians are tired of speeches and condolence messages to victims. Lost lives are not retrievable. If this country will continue to remain one, then those who perpetrate crime must be dealt with accordingly without minding whose ox is gored.” - Daily Post

PL news : Arsenal to pick between Arteta and Bundesliga manager to replace Wenger

Arsenal have reportedly narrowed their pursuit of Arsene Wenger’s replacement down to two front-runners: Mikel Arteta and Julian Nagelsmann.

According to claims from Sky Sports, the Gunners are looking to take a fresh approach ahead of next season and will look to appoint a young, innovative manager.

Wenger confirmed last month that he would be leaving Arsenal at the end of the 2017/18 season and with the final game played on Sunday, the Gunners will aim to ramp up their aims of appointing a new man in swift fashion.

Arteta, who played for Arsenal during his professional career, is understood to be an option under serious consideration. The Spaniard is currently working on Pep Guardiola’s coaching team at Manchester City.

Nagelsmann is stated to be a manager who the Gunners are contemplating a swoop for, also, with the young German having led Hoffenheim to yet another excellent season in the Bundesliga.

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It’s stated by Sky Sports that Luis Enrique was a target for Arsenal, but the Spaniard’s wage demands were simply excessive. - Read Sport

Customary court dissolves 24 year-old marriage

An Okitipupa Customary Court has dissolved the 24-Year old marriage between Mrs. Ronke Omowomo and Mr. London Omowomo   on the grounds of constant beating, excessive provocation and lack of care on her and the children.

The petitioner, Mrs. Ronke Omowomo was able to discharge the burden of proving that she had long suffered  and endured for 12 years, therefore cannot  continue any longer.

The claims which the respondent Omowomo was unable to defend even though he was given the opportunity but failed to do so.

The marriage which is blessed with five issues – which are all minors except the first child.

In his judgment , Mr. Adedeji .O. Adebisi  said since all efforts to reconcile both parties by the court has failed and not granting the petitioner’s prayers may lead to further exceptional hardship and depravity.

He said “It is worthy of note that the court cannot compel unwilling and suffering party in a marriage to continue suffering in the marriage, more particularly when the party responsible for the suffering has not successfully been able to rebut the fact that the petitioner is suffering under him ”

Adedeji added that since the children of the marriage are all minors except the first child ” I am therefore of the opinion that the dissolution is necessary since all the minors are females who should not see marriage from the angle their father is heading it.

“The scene of their father constantly beating their mother in their presence will lead to a psychological effect thereby affecting their current situation and position in life generally.

“The prospect for reconciliation is very slim and if the marriage is not dissolved, it will be impossible for the petitioner to remarry and live respectably, then she will remain a prisoner of the respondent “.

Adedeji ruled that the marriage is hereby dissolved and the issue of the custody of the four children who are minors is granted to the petitioner, Mrs. Ronke Omowomo. 

However, he said the respondent can visit them as much as he desires during reasonable hours.

He said the first child who is 18 years old is free to decide who he wanted to be with  or where he want to be stressing that that the respondent shall pay a sum of N25,000 every month through the court to the petitioner as feeding up keep for the children of the dissolved marriage starting from the June .

He added that the respondent shall also pay a minimum of 60 percent sum in any expenses that arises to be paid for the educational, health and social advancement of the children.

Adedeji added that the petitioner must be responsively for the remaining 40 percent of such expenses. - The Nation

Fayose asked us to pick N1.2b in Akure Airport – Zenith Bank

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday heard how Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, allegedly instructed officials of Zenith Bank to receive the N1.2billion sourced from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) preparatory to the 2014 governorship election in the state.

A senior official of Zenith Bank, Lawrence Akande, made this disclosure while testifying as the second prosecution witness in the trial of Fayose’s aide, Abiodun Agbele.

Agbele is arraigned alongside others on 11-count charge of laundering about N1.2 billion.

The prosecution said the money formed part of the N4.7billion allegedly transferred from an account belonging to ONSA, to the account of Sylvan McNamara, a company allegedly owned by son of a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliyu Obanikoro.

Lead in evidence by prosecution lawyer, Wahab Shittu, Akande said he received a telephone call on June 17, 2014 from Fayose, directing him to liaise with Agbele to pick up some money in Akure.

Akande, who said he serves in Ibadan as Zenith Bank’s Zonal Head, added: “On June 17, 2014, Mr. Ayodele Fayose called me and said that I should liaise with Mr. Abiodun Agbele about a deposit to be made in the bank.

“He (Fayose) said the deposit will be coming through Akure. And I called Biodun Oshode, who is in Akure to liaise with Mr. Abiodun Agbele. And that is all I know about this issue.”

He said Fayose, Agbele and the governor’s wife are customers of Zenith Bank. - The Nation