Fulani herdsmen/ Terrorism : Oke-Ogun rejects cattle ranches, tackles Buhari, Ajimobi

People of Oke-Ogun geo-politocal zone of Oyo State on Monday rejected the establishment of cattle ranches being proposed by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in some states, including Oyo.

They made this known via a statement signed by Comrade Jare Ajayi, Spokesman of Oke-Ogun Council of Elders (OCE), made available to DAILY POST in Ibadan, the state capital.

OCE while calling on the federal government to have a change of mind on its recent decision to create cattle ranches in the country added that “The people of Oke-Ogun in Oyo State reject it in all its ramifications. Given the discord and possible bloodshed that such a proposition is likely to cause, the government ought not to contemplate it at all. Oke-Ogun also expressed regret that Oyo State is among ten states where the pilot ranches will begin. It called on the Oyo State government to reject the idea completely.

“This is in sharp contrast to the promise made by Governor Abiola Ajimobi on April 26, 2016 while speaking during the launch of the ‘AgricOyo,’ the state’s agriculture initiative held at Paago, Iseyin, in Oke Ogun zone of the state.”

OCE in the statement also “expressed surprise that the federal government that admitted the loss of lives and as much as about $14 billion (₦5.04 trillion) annually to herdsmen/farmers-related conflicts could still go ahead to think of this obnoxious project rather than finding a lasting solution to the problem”.

They added that, “The lasting solution advocated is to ban open grazing of livestock and to encourage livestock farmers to embrace modern ways of rearing animals which is ranching. But this has to be by private arrangement and not something that would be created for livestock farmers by the government.

OCE maintained that the project “will create far greater problems than it will solve”.

OCE asked the governor to stand by this position saying, “What has changed between 2016 when this statement was made and now? If anything, there are more cogent reasons now not to accommodate the kind of grazing zones or ranches being proposed by the federal government.

“In any case both the federal and Oyo State governments should know that there is no land of any size in Oke ogun for the kind of ranches being proposed. We cannot allow ourselves to be run over”.

The ten states listed by the federal for the ranching, for which it plans to spend N179billion over the next 10 years include: Adamawa, Benue, Ebonyi, Edo, Kaduna, Nassarawa, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara. - Daily Post

Ghetto republic ! Children bear the brunt of Nigeria’s environmental woes

With the soot in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, piling garbage across cities in Nigeria, and oil spills in Lagos and Niger Delta regions, Nigeria’s children risk early death.

Children are susceptible to illnesses and consequent deaths as a result of threats to the environment because of their smaller bodies, growing organs and developing immune systems.
Currently, over 1.7 million children under five, worldwide, are dying yearly as a result of environmental pollution.
In Nigeria, the statistics are even more troubling with over 94% of the population getting exposure to air pollution levels that surpass WHO recommendations, the World Bank noted in a 2015 report.

So, children in Nigerian face respiratory illnesses as they inhale all kinds of toxicities including soot – the black powdery substance that contains carbon which has been pervading the air in Port Harcourt since early 2017; and smoke from burning heaps of waste and unclean fuels such as coals – which is largely being used in rural areas.

For instance, in Okoya Thomas, Surulere, waste generated by human activity often get burnt.
“My neighbour would often not pay to get his waste disposed of properly by the waste management people and would resort to burning them,” says Veronica Bisi, (not real name because she wants to remain anonymous).

“One time, the field beside my house was rid of some grass and rather than dispose properly, the grass was burnt.”
Bisi says there are at least six children below the age of eight in the neighbourhood who have to inhale the smoke that emanates from the fire.
She says the kids have to deal with either the smell of smoke, or the effect of waste that often flows down from the garbage drums into gutters, blocking them and causing mosquitoes to thrive in the stagnancy of the water.

Either way, young children are the casualty with malaria being responsible for 30 per ent of child deaths.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), in its 2017 report titled ‘Inheriting a Sustainable World: Atlas on Children’s Health and the Environment’, says one in four deaths under five years of age is caused by unhealthy indoor and outdoor environmental pollution.

WHO defines air pollution as “the contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere.”
“A polluted environment is a deadly one – particularly for young children,” Margaret Chan, WHO’s former director-general had said in reaction to the report.

And according to the organisation, harmful exposure to incineration can start in the mother’s womb and increase the risk of premature birth.
“When infants and pre-schoolers are exposed to indoor and outdoor air pollution and second-hand smoke they have an increased risk of pneumonia in childhood, and a lifelong increased risk of chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma,” Chan had said.
This played out in the case of children resident in the Ikosi, Ketu, the part of Lagos, where Olusosun, a massive dumpsite is located.

In March, the residents of the region had to deal with inhaling copious amounts of carbon as the dumpsite went up in flames.
Joseph Okoghenun, a father of two kids and a journalist, lamented the situation.
He said his kids battled respiratory diseases as they breathed in toxic amounts of carbon.
“For two weeks in March fire gutted Olusosun dumpsite,” Okoghenun says.

“The effects of the inhalation on the health of residents of the affected areas is worrisome.”
Okoghenun added that his children suffered from incessant cough and other respiratory diseases.
In those two weeks, “the residents of Ikosi (Ketu), Ojota and some parts of Ikeja, among others, inhaled dangerous amount of carbons from the incineration.

According to WHO, exposure to air pollution could increase children’s lifelong risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer. The organisation categorised carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide as pollutants that are of major public health concern and that can cause often fatal respiratory diseases. - Cable Nigeria

Jungle republic !!! Plateau attacks: Death toll rises to 200, as military deploy additional troops

Death toll in Plateau attacks is said to have risen to over 200 as tension continues to mount across the country following the killings in the north central state.

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin has authorized the deployment of additional Special Forces to Plateau State to beef up the strength of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH).

The additional troops, who arrived Jos, capital of Plateau State on Monday were received and briefed by the Commander OPSH, Major General AM Atolagbe on their new assignment.

A statement from the defence spokes person, Brigadier General John Agim said “the Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to assure all law abiding citizens of Plateau state of their safety.”

The statement also said misguided youths “who have offered themselves to be used as thugs are hereby warned that anyone apprehended will receive the full weight of the law.”

“Herdsmen and farmers are also warned not to take laws into their hands; rather suspected persons should be reported promptly to security agencies.” The statement said. - Daily Post

Nigeria overtakes India in world’s extreme poverty ranking

Nigeria has overtaken India as the country with the largest number of people living in extreme poverty, according to a new report by the World Poverty Clock.

The report says extreme poverty in Nigeria is growing by six people every minute, the highest number in the world.

At the end of May 2018, the survey showed that Nigeria had an estimated 87 million people in extreme poverty, compared to India’s 73 million.

The report further stated that the Democratic Republic of Congo, may soon overtake India as number two.

In the list of top 10 extremely poor countries, Nigeria leads with 86.9 million people and is closely followed by D.R Congo with 60.9 million people.

Ethiopia is next with 23.9 million people, followed by Tanzania with 19.9 million.

Mozambique comes next with 17.8 million while Kenya has 14.7 million people living in extreme poverty.

The least four are Uganda, South Africa, South Sudan and Zambia with 14.2, 13.8, 11.4 and 9.5 respectively. - Daily Post

Gunmen murder Imo monarch, abscond with corpse

Unknown gunmen suspected to be hired assassins on Sunday afternoon, murdered the traditional ruler of Mgbe community, Eze Bredan Ibekwe in Orlu Council Area of Imo state throwing the sleepy community into turmoil.

The gunmen after killing the monarch went away with his corpse which was later found where it was dumped along the Orlu -Owerri expressway, a few kilometers from his palace.

The assailants also made away with the king’s royal bead, wrist band and his phone.

There was palpable tension in the community when our correspondent visited the palace of the murdered traditional ruler on Monday. Bemused villagers who wore heavy faces refused to comment on the killing.

However one of the villagers, who claimed to have witnessed the killing, said that the gunmen shot at the monarch severally at close range and hurriedly carried his corpse which was still dripping with blood into their car and zoomed off.

According to the source that pleaded for anonymity, “the most annoying part of it is the way they dumped his body on the Orlu-Owerri expressway like a common thief .This has never happened before. It is a sacrilege. Igbo culture forbids it and we want the Police to bring the perpetrators to book”.

The Nation findings revealed that the community has been embroiled in communal crisis which has pitched one village against another.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations officer, Andrew Enwerem, confirmed the killing, stating that the state Commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galandanchi had ordered a thorough investigation into the killing.

According to him, “We received the information of the killing of the traditional ruler of Mgbe community and immediately mobilized to the scene of crime. So far two people have been arrested in connection with the gruesome murder of the monarch. The CP has called for a thorough investigation into the killing and any one found culpable will be made to face the full wrath of the law”. -The Nation

Woman dumps 12-day-old baby in latrine

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a woman, Amudalat Taiwo, 21, for dumping her 12-day-old baby inside a pit toilet.

The incident occurred on June 20, at 28, Isheri Street Ilaro.

Taiwo was said to have thrown the baby into the pit because she could not cater for the newborn.

It was gathered that Taiwo was apprehended following reports from her landlord, Oshunshina Olawale, who went to urinate at the wee hours of the day only to hear cries of a baby inside the latrine.

Olawale was said to have made an entry at the Ilaro Police Station, prompting the Divisional Officer, Sunday Opebiyi, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), to lead a team to the scene.

According to the command’s spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), the toilet was broken and the baby rescued.

He said: “Investigation revealed that the suspect gave birth to the baby. She was arrested and she claimed that she was an orphan married to one Taiwo Owolabi, a married man with five children.

“She said the husband was not taking care of her and the baby. That she has no mean of catering for the new born and decided to discard the child.

“The said husband has been arrested for failure to provide necessary welfare, while the case has been transferred to Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labour Unit of State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID).

“The baby is in a stable condition at Stella Obansanjo Orphanage.” - The Nation

Abattoir republic !!! Buhari to Nigerians in diaspora: You won’t lose

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that anything done for the good of the country will be ultimately rewarded, and redound to the good of those behind it.

He spoke on Monday at the State House while receiving three groups made of Nigerians in the diaspora, and some professionals hitherto based abroad, but who have returned home in recent times.

The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, stated: “You have been working quietly, supporting the government physically and materially, and you are doing it for your own country. Head or tail, you won’t lose. Please continue to do your best for the country.”

Speaking on behalf of Diaspora Alliance Group, Mr Ade Omole, said the organization was a think-tank in the United Kingdom, which formulates policies to help Nigeria.

He said that they currently have recommendations to help the country in the areas of agriculture, youth empowerment, community development, and education.

“We also educate people in the diaspora on the good work the Buhari administration is doing for Nigeria. You are rebuilding the country. We supported you in 2015, and we will also support you in 2019,” Omole said.

Dr Badewa Adejugbe-Williams, speaking on behalf of returnee professionals from the diaspora, said they were excited and willing to contribute to national development.

“Our main goal now is investing in Nigeria. We are planning a Nigeria-Diaspora Summit on Investment soon. We are quite pleased with infrastructural development round the country. We want to attract people in diaspora to bring their money, and invest here,” she said.

Dr Salihu-Dasuki, who spoke on behalf of young people in the diaspora, lauded President Buhari for signing the Not-Too-Young-To-Run bill into law, assuring that young people would soon begin to utilize the legislation.

On his part, Dr Charles Cudjoe, unfolded how all Nigerians can have access to health care through minimal deductions from the credit on their cell phones, which would be deposited in a health bank in their favour. Such savings would then be accessed whenever they needed medical attention.

President Buhari said the health initiative was very interesting, adding that “policies on health and education for the people are also dear to us.” - The Nation