Terrorism : Fulani herdsmen kill six traders in Taraba market

Suspected Fulani herdsmen on Tuesday struck at a suburb of Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, killing six traders at Iware market.

It was gathered that the deceased were also robbed of their cash.

Five of the victims are natives of Mayo-Lope, Lau local government area of Taraba State where scores were massacred and several others injured by herdsmen few days ago.

The other victim, whose name was given as Ethan Nast, is said to be a resident of Damsa local government area of Adamawa State.

A dependable source said the men, already displaced by crisis involving Fulani herdsmen in their area (Lau) on Tuesday came to Iware market with their cows to sell, do some other businesses and alleviate their suffering.

“They were trailed by their assailants all the way from Mayo-Lope where they set off, to   Iware where they were hacked to death at the market,” the source said the killers disappeared immediately after their onslaught.

Sources said the killers invaded the market as though they were traders.

Another source, an eyewitness, said, as the market began to swell with buyers and sellers, the attackers emerged from the crowd in large number and began to machete the victims.

Four bodies were counted immediately. One of the victims who was identified as Baban Lumu, a cement dealer from Mayo-Lope, was fleeing from his attackers to a nearby police outpost, but no sooner had he arrived the police station than he died of the multiple cuts. Police recovered N80,050 from him.

Another victim died in the hospital.

“The market was disrupted, as people, men and women, ran for their dear lives,” an eyewitness  told The Nation.

Armed policemen, led by a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Abubakar Inusa, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), arrived at the scene, at the nick of time.

They were seen battling hard to restore normalcy and convey the injured to the hospital.

Three persons were seriously injured. They were taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Jalingo, for treatment but one of them died in the hospital of “excess bleeding.”

The six bodies were deposited at the FMC’s morgue.

The arrival of the bodies threw the hospital in mourning mood, with many patients, particularly women, lamenting, wailing and weeping uncontrollably.

Police spokesman, David Misal, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), confirmed the attack and killings to The Nation.

Speaking with our correspondent, Misal said: “Six people were killed at Iware market by yet-to-be-identified persons.

“Some people brought cows to the market for sale but were attacked and killed when information got to Fulanis that the cows were stolen ones, he said.

Misal, who said the police were able to restore calm in the area, disclosed that the Police Command was gathering intelligence on how to trace those behind the attack and whether the attack is a spillage of the violence in Lau.

“We are trying to find out the perpetrators who took the law into their hands, instead of reporting to us, if really a case of cattle rustling was established,” he said. - The Nation

Incessant killings : Women, children flee as ‘bandits’ hit Zamfara again

Suspected bandits raided Malikawa, a village in Gidan Goga district of Maradun local government area of Zamfara state around midday on Tuesday, forcing women and children to run for cover.

The attackers reportedly fired sporadic shots, causing tension in the community.

The incident happened two months after 30 people were killed in a raid on Malikawa. Amnesty International tweeted about the latest attack, lamenting the plight of residents.

Zamfara has recorded a series of attacks in the last two years. Last week, Sa’idu Dansadau, ex-senator representing Zamfara central, said bandits have killed about 3,000 people in the state in the last two years.

Dansadau, who spoke during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, said over N1.2 billion had been paid as ransom to secure the release of residents abducted during the period.

He said the killings took place between June 2016 and June 2018.

TheCable had reported how farmers have abandoned their lands for the fear of being kidnapped. - TheCable

Na war !!! Hoodlums kill policeman, injure another, cart away their guns in Delta

Barely 48 hours four policemen were reportedly killed in Benin city, Edo state, armed hoodlums operating in Akwuku Igbo community in Aniocha North local government area of Delta state on Monday evening allegedly killed a policeman and injured his colleague on a road block in the community.

Delta state Police Commissioner, Mustafa Muhammad, who confirmed the killing of the policeman to DAILY POST in Asaba, said “the policeman is sergeant, who was on patrol duty with his colleague who was shot but survived. He is currently being treated at the Federal Medical Center (FMC, Asaba). The hoodlums came in motorcycle, and unknown to the policemen they were armed, the hoodlums unleashed their terror on them on sight, four of the policemen escaped, one injured, one killed, we are investigating the incident. We will bring the hoodlums to book.”

It was gathered that the hoodlums unleashed several gunshots upon entering the community, which in recent times has been under siege of communal crisis and armed robbery activities, before they swooped on the policemen who were on patrol duty towards evening after the heavy rainfall.

Eyewitness, Chukwuma Ike, told our correspondent that, “the hoodlums unleashed several gunshots on entering the community before they moved into the police men, they shot sporadically, operated in two motorcycles they came with. They sacked the community with uproar, after killing the policeman, they left with their guns before they police mobilized, the hoodlums had gone”.

Investigation revealed that it was the third time hoodlums were sacking the community this year 2018 and robbed many unsuspecting residents including some traders who had gone to the market on the fateful day.

But Obi David Azuka, the traditional Ruler of the community, who spoke to DAILY POST said, “We are appealing to the security agents to redouble their efforts to help bring to book the hoodlums. We sleep at present with one eye open. The situation here is frightening, we also appeal to the state government to come to our aid. During nightfall, these hoodlums shoot sporadically into the air, thereby creating tension in the community.”

Other residents of the community described their present situation as pathetic, and called on security agents to redouble their efforts to help arrest the hoodlums. - Daily Post

Miserable country !!! I’m dying of hunger – US ’94 Olympic star cries out

Nigerian boxing star at the US ’94 Olympic, Jerry Okorodudu, has said he is dying of hunger over the non-payment of his 10 months’ salary by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Okorodudu, Nigeria’s boxer in the 1994 Los Angeles Olympic Games, U.S, said he is owed salary arrears by the sports ministry without any explanation.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the situation had deprived him of providing for his family, adding that he had “resorted to begging in order to eat and feed his family’’.

It will be recalled that the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games bronze medalist had in 2016 gone cap in hands begging the same ministry to pay him 14 months’ salary arrears.

The matter was later resolved and he got his salary arrears then.

“I have travelled to Abuja severally and also written letters to the ministry but nothing is forthcoming, all they do is to keep referring me to different people in the ministry.

“I am dying of hunger and can no longer cater for my family because my salary has not been paid in the last 10 months.

“I have represented this country during my active years and should not be treated this way, this is bad.

“A similar thing happened in 2016 where I petitioned the ministry and the court ordered them to pay me the 14 months salaries they owed me as at then ,’’ he said.

The former boxer, who also won two gold medals at the African Championship in 1982, lamented the treatment from the sports ministry in spite of his contributions and sacrifices for the country.

“My pensionable job in the ministry was changed to a contract; the Nigeria Boxing Federation has also sidelined me by removing me from every competition.

“I represented this country well as an athlete and a coach, but it is a pity that this is happening to me and other former sportsmen and women in the country,’’ he said. - Daily Post

I kidnapped my boss’ son to teach him a lesson – Suspect

Two suspects have been arrested by police in Niger State for kidnapping a 10- year -old boy.

One of the suspects, Yushau Bala, who claimed to be the mastermind of the abduction, confessed that he kidnapped the victim, Afdal Mohammed Hadi, to punish the parents who had accused him of theft in their house.

Yushau, who worked as a security guard in the resident of one Mohammed Hadi, said he had never been accused of stealing in his life and when he was accused and sent out of the house, he decided to stage the kidnap as payback.

“That is why I decided to punish them by kidnapping their son,” he stated.

Yushau said he recruited the other suspect – Sale Bala – for the job, adding that it was Bala that made the phone call to the victim’s parents.

According to the police, the suspects kidnapped the boy and took him to unknown place.

They demanded a N150,000 ransom. - The Nation

Transfer news : Courtois agrees to Real Madrid move

Thibaut Courtois has agreed to join Real Madrid this summer, according to reports in Spain.

Libertad Digital, a Madrid-based outlet claim that a deal could be confirmed within a matter of hours, according to sources close to the deal.
The player has made it clear that he wants to join Real Madrid and has decided that he will be playing in Spain next season.

Courtois has been expected to leave Chelsea this summer after failing to agree a new contract at Stamford Bridge.

The Belgian shot-stopper is due to enter the final months of his current deal at Chelsea and the Blues do not want to lose him for nothing next summer.

The deal to take Courtois to Spain is believed to be worth around €40 million and Courtois is reportedly due to earn around €250,000 a week in Madrid.

The player has been keen to return to Spain for some time in order to move closer to his family who are based there. - Read Sport

Slime toys could be poisonous to children

Parents warned about high levels of chemical in some slime toys.

Parents are being warned that some children's slime products may contain up to four times the legal amount of a chemical which can cause convulsions and sickness.

Consumer group Which? tested 11 products, and found that eight of them breached EU regulations on the amount of boron they contain.

Boron is found in borax, the ingredient commonly used in slime manufacture to give the product its stickiness.

Which? said that Toysmith Jupiter Juice had more than four times the permitted level of boron with 1400mg/kg. This was followed by CCINEE Pink Fluffy Slime, which was found to contain 1000mg/kg, and Cosoro Dodolu Crystal Slime Magic Clay, which was found to contain 980mg/kg.

One product purchased on the online marketplace, Hulk Green Halloween Slime, met the standard. Slime from high street retailers, The Works and Smyths, were also found to be safe.

Large quantities of boron can be poisonous. Symptoms include skin inflammation and peeling, tremors, convulsions, headaches, diarrhoea, vomiting, and even depression.

Nikki Stopford, director of research and publishing at Which?, said: "Parents buying slime for their children should have peace of mind that these toys are safe, so they will be shocked to find that the health of their children could be put at risk by these slimes. There must be fundamental changes to the product safety system.

"Manufacturers must stop making unsafe products and the Government and retailers simply have to do a far better job of getting anything identified as a risk off the shelves and out of people's homes."

All the products which failed the tests were bought from the online retailer Amazon. All have now been removed from their UK website, although some are still available from the US site.

An Amazon spokesperson said: "All Marketplace sellers must follow our selling guidelines and those who don't will be subject to action including potential removal of their account.

"The products in question are no longer available." - Sky News

FG : Executive Order 6 most potent weapon against corruption

The Federal Government has described Presidential Executive Order Number 6 of 2018 as “the Administration’s most potent weapon against corruption to date.”

The government said it was not surprised at the “pockets of opposition” to the Order, signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on July 5.

Information and Culture Minister Alhaji Lai Mohammaed told reporters in Lagos that “Those opposed to it (the Order) say it is unconstitutional, dictatorial and amounts to the usurpation of the powers of the legislature and the judiciary.

“The truth is that, having realised the potency of the Order in giving muscle to the fight against corruption, the corrupt and their cohorts have become jittery.

“They have every reason to be. Henceforth, it won’t be business as usual.

He said the Executive Order Number 6 will have immediate effect on 155 high profile corruption cases involving over N595 billion.

“This is a huge amount by any standard. It is higher than the N500 billion allotted to the Administration’s Social Investment Programme in the 2018 budget.

“It is also higher than the N344 billion allocated for the construction and rehabilitation of roads nationwide in the 2018 budget,” he said.

The minister reiterated that the Order is not unconstitutional, dictatorial and ultra vires as claimed by the opposition.

“The President has the power, under Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution as amended to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.

“This extends to the execution and maintenance of the Constitution, all Laws made by the National Assembly (including but not limited to Section 15(5) of the Constitution.

“Executive Order Number 6 is constitutional. Anyone who feels otherwise can seek redress in court,” he said.

Mohammed said Buhari was not the first democratically-elected President to issue Executive Order adding that former Presidents Shehu Shagari and Olusegun Obasanjo issued such Orders.

“In 1980, then President Shagari issued an Executive Order to modify the Public Order Act. This was unsuccessfully challenged in court by then Governors of Ogun and Borno States.

“In 1999, then President Obasanjo issued Executive Orders to abolish the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) and to proclaim May 29 as Democracy Day.

“It is also important to state that past and present Presidents of the United States, after which our presidential system of government was fashioned, have been issuing Executive Orders since the time of the country’s first President, George Washington.”

He explained that the Order aimed to, among others, restrict dealings in suspicious assets subject to investigation or inquiry bordering on corruption.

The minister said it would preserve such assets from dissipation, and to deprive alleged criminals of the proceeds of their illicit activities which can otherwise be employed to allure, pervert

The minister reiterated the commitment of the Administration to winning the war against corruption and to ensuring that justice is not defeated or compromised by persons involved in a case or complaint of corruption.

He appealed to all Nigerians to support the Administration’s efforts “to tackle the cankerworm of corruption to free national resources for national development”. - The Nation

INEC to ‘curb’ vote buying

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Tuesday that politicians in Ekiti State developed several clever means to buy votes in last weekend’s governorship election in the state.

However, the Commission commended the security agents for responding to reports sent to them during the election.

The National Commissioner of INEC, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, told journalists in Bénin City, Edo State, that the Commission is taking the issue of vote buying seriously.

May, who is also the Chairperson of INEC Legal Services Committee, said the electoral body was already considering ways to curb vote buying during elections.

She said adequate enlightenment and education of the electorates should be carried out to make them understand the need to make their vote counts and not about money.

She said the Osun State governorship poll would be better because of the state are more “sophisticated than that of Ekiti.”

She said: “INEC is taking issue of vote buying very seriously. I am just coming as part of the Supervising National Commissioner for Ekiti and these things occur.

“We are having another conference on electoral offences. Vote buying is another electoral offence and we are looking at ways to curb it. Politicians keep trying their best. Politicians were clever in Ekiti. They have ingenious ways to sort themselves out. We will go back and review it and see how we can stop vote buying with the best of our ability.” - The Nation

Made in China !! China’s national oil company to increase investment in Nigeria by $3bn

China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC), the third largest national oil company in China, has announced plans to add $3 billion worth of investments to its existing oil and gas operations in Nigeria.

According to a statement released by Ndu Ughamadu, spokesman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Sunday, Yuan Guangyu, chief executive officer, CNOOC, made this known during the company’s visit to the corporation.

According to Guangyu, the Chinese oil firm had already invested over $14bn in its Nigerian operations, owing to the fact that the country remained its “most strategic and important overseas business undertaking.”

He said the additional $3 billion would open up more opportunities for the company which focuses on exploitation, exploration and development of crude oil and natural gas.

Maikanti Baru, group managing director, NNPC, represented by Victor Adeniran, chief operating officer, ventures autonomous business unit, NNPC, received the delegation from CNOOC.

He thanked the Chinese major for its interest in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, adding that the corporation was “open to new investments” and would maintain strong partnerships with it. -TheCable